The History of Easingwold Air Cadets - Central & East Yorkshire ...

The picture above shows Cadet P. Spenceley, Corporal A. Ingham, Cadet C. Hattersley, Cadet R.
Taylor and Flight Sergeant McFarland with some of their fifteen models at the parents open
evening on Tuesday 21st April 1970. (Courtesy York and County Press)
Conversion Unit out of RAF Wratting
Common when it crashed, after
being lost in cloud and low on fuel on
19th October 1944. It was flown by
Flight Sergeant P. D. Young who
was killed along with all his crew
except the rear gunner.
This aircraft was to play a part in the
squadron’s history. One of the
propeller roots was used as the base
for the Squadron mascot, a
preserved kestrel. The work was
carried out by David Astley, a
professional taxidermist and son of
Ernest Astley, a civilian instructor
who had joined the squadron in
November 1969. He was later
commissioned in July 1971. With a
face-lift in 2000 the Squadron
mascot still looks proudly down on its
cadets.
During 1971 the squadron, now 34
cadets strong, continued to flourish.
News was to be received that excadet
Derek Earp had completed his
training in the RAF and had been
awarded his pilots wings.
With the squadron increasing in size
the need to move from the Parish
Hall to more permanent
accommodation was paramount in
the planners eyes and it was hoped
that a new hut would be available in
the not too distant future. At that time
Flight Lieutenant Kidd, who had a
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