Due to some technical problems it has been quite some time since a news article has been posted but finally I have managed to get things sorted and wanted to inform everyone of the Canadian visit that took place earlier on in the year.

Below is the press release issued by OC 398, Flt Lt. M Hoskins

Pictures will be available soon!

Over two years in the planning and following the exchange of hundreds of emails between  CO 398 Sqn ATC &, project officer 707 Sqn RCAirC.  28 cdts and 8 staff of 707 MGen Richard Rohmer Sqn RCAirC arrived at RAF Halton This was to be their base for the next two weeks local IACE hosted by 398 (Staines and Egham) Sqn.

The following two days were spent sight seeing in London.  On the Friday evening 707 Sqn departed for Brunswick camp at Pirbright ATR for a weekend of team building with 398.  During the weekend the cdts found themselves challenged by the confidence course, some taking more encouragement than others to complete the course.  The cdts paraded at the Air Forces Memorial Runnymede and toured Windsor before having the opportunity to test their skills on the range.

The following three days were spent taking in the museums and sights of London, No11 group bunker at RAF Uxbridge all under the watchful eye of 398 Sqn Training officer.
The sights were highlighted by visits to the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast, The Globe theatre, London dungeons & the Cabinet War rooms.
Transport around London was also an experience. Using a travel pass Cadets experienced Buses, Trains, & using the London underground during rush hour. The tour covered many miles of walking between sites, this providing a chance to view No 10 Downing Street, Buckingham Palace, Whitehall, Trafalgar Square & Piccadilly Circus. Some shopping was undertaken in Carnaby Street & Oxford Street.
As a change from eating in the JR’s mess, one dinner was taken at an Italian restaurant in Covent Garden.

The beginning of the second week saw a very early start in order to catch the ferry for France.  The opportunity was taken to visit the Canadian national memorial at Vimy on route to the D Day beaches of Normandy.
Following two days spent visiting the beaches, memorials and cemeteries of Normandy it was time to head back to the UK only stopping for a lightening tour of Paris.

The final day saw the cdts heading to the IWM at Duxford before returning to RAF Halton where they were invited to tour the NATO joint Air HQ on exercise at RAF Halton.

The final evening reception saw cdts and staff from the two squadrons joined by the station commander Grp Capt Gammage.