11F (Brooklands) RAF Air Cadets Join

About & history

Eighty-plus years at the birthplace of British aviation

11F (Brooklands) Squadron was formed in the summer of 1938. In March 2025 we marched back into the place we started.

A squadron with a flight plan

We are 11F (Brooklands) Squadron, RAF Air Cadets, part of Surrey Wing in the London & South East Region. We parade at Brooklands Museum in Weybridge — the site where Britain's first purpose-built racing circuit, the Wellington bomber and Concorde all came to life.

Our Officer Commanding is Flt Lt Barry Poulter RAFAC.

The RAF Air Cadets is open to young people from age 12 (Year 8). You do not need to want to join the RAF, and most cadets never do — they come for the flying, the camps, the friends and the qualifications.

Join us What we do
The 11F (Brooklands) Squadron crest: a crowned badge reading Brooklands Squadron and Air Training Corps, with 11F either side of an eagle, above the motto Timorem Fugat Scientia
Timorem Fugat Scientia — the squadron motto. [TODO: confirm the translation you want to use, e.g. “Knowledge puts fear to flight”]

The 11F timeline

From the first banked lap at Brooklands to a march-in parade in 2025.

  1. 1907

    Brooklands opens

    Brooklands becomes the world's first purpose-built motor racing circuit. Aviation arrives on the site a year later, in 1908.

    Vickers would go on to build the Wellington bomber here, along with Hurricanes, the VC10 and Concorde.

    Aerial photograph of the Brooklands circuit: a banked oval track enclosing the airfield, with sheds and factory buildings along one side
    The circuit from the air — the banked oval with the airfield inside it. [TODO: confirm the date of this photograph and any credit it needs]

  2. Summer 1938

    11F is formed

    11F is formed as one of the founding squadrons of the Air Defence Cadet Corps, with help from the Brooklands motor-racing and flying community.

    Our first Officer Commanding is Maj F.G. Maunde-Thompson, who learnt to fly at Brooklands in 1936. The squadron's headquarters is a workers' cottage plus two wooden huts, with a rifle range out the back.

    Archive photograph: 11F on parade in 1938 outside the squadron's wooden huts and the workers' cottage at Brooklands
    The original HQ: one cottage, two huts, one rifle range.

  3. The early years

    Run by racing legends

    Three of the biggest names in British motorsport helped run the squadron: John Cobb, Sir Malcolm Campbell and Michael Mays.

    During the war, Sir Malcolm Campbell stored his Blue Bird land-speed record car in one of the squadron's huts.

  4. 1 September 1941

    The ATC is born

    The Air Defence Cadet Corps becomes the Air Training Corps. As a founder squadron, 11F keeps the “F” in its name — and still carries it today.

    Placeholder image: archive photograph of an early Air Training Corps parade at Brooklands
    The “F” marks a founder squadron.

  5. 1978

    A new hut across the airfield

    The squadron moves to a new hut on the other side of the airfield.

  6. 29 October 1988

    Fifty years — and two Tornados

    11F marks its 50th anniversary with a parade, and a flypast by two Tornados from RAF 11 Squadron.

    Placeholder image: archive photograph of the 50th anniversary parade and Tornado flypast in 1988
    The 50th anniversary parade, October 1988.

  7. Later years

    Brooklands College

    For many years the squadron is based at Brooklands College in Weybridge — still in the town, but away from the old airfield.

  8. 29 March 2025

    Home again

    11F returns to Brooklands Museum, marked by a march-in parade.

    11F is the only cadet unit in the country operating from its original home.

    Placeholder image: the march-in parade at Brooklands Museum on 29 March 2025
    The march-in parade, 29 March 2025.

  9. Today

    The next chapter

    Cadets parade every week at Brooklands, a few metres from Concorde and the sheds where the Wellington was built.

    [TODO: a line or two about the squadron today — current activities, recent achievements. Keep it factual and cleared with the OC.]

Same site. Same name. Eighty-seven years later, 11F parades where it started — the only cadet unit in the country at its original home.

Heritage on the doorstep

Brooklands Museum is home to Concorde, the Brooklands banking and the Vickers story. We parade in the middle of it.

Find us

Were you an 11F cadet?

We would love to hear from former cadets and staff, and to see any photographs or documents you still have.

Get in touch

National picture

The RAF Air Cadets is one of the UK's largest youth organisations, with squadrons across the country.

raf.mod.uk/aircadets

Visit us

Come and see for yourself

Message us and we will invite you along to a parade night. Bring a parent or guardian, wear something comfortable, and have a look around.

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