A.T.C. WIND UP

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 34, 19 December 1944, Page 5

A.T.C. WIND UP

SQUADRON 35 ENTERTAINS

DEMONSTRATION OF EQUIPMENT

A large number of parents and others! interested were visitors to the A.T.C. Headquarters and afterwards the guests of the Squadron at the Winter Show Buildings on Thursday evening when an exhibition and demonstration of equipment followed by an impromptu dance were held to mark the final A.T.C. parade for the present year. For the. occasion, all the equipment belonging to Squadron 35 w r as laid out with explanatory notes attached and the public were given the opportunity to inspect them. Cadets were also appointed to explain the workings of the various pieces of apparatus, and as a result, parents were able to see for themselves the type of work which is being taught in the squadron. Among the equipment on display were two radio-telephones such as are used in aircraft to contact the ground and also each other in flight. Each was working in a separate, many visitors for the first time in their lives, had the chance of speaking to each other by radio. Also on display were Browning machine guns, Sten guns, a bomb sight, different types of compasses ? instruments and model while in the Pyrotechnic Section, various kinds of bombs and flares were laid out. In the Armament Section, the weapons were in the hands of capable cadets who stripped the machine guns to show the visitors the ■working parts. After some time had been spent at the Headquarters, and the public had had time to thoroughly inspect everything (including the building itself), the Squadron was fallen in and marched down to the Winter J Show Buildings where the two flights j were drawn up in front of the dais. W/O G. B. Mead then introduced officers attached to Squadron 35, following which the Commanding Officer, P/O. S. Whitworth, officially presented various awards and promotions Avon during the year. Thirteen jjromotions were- awarded plus a prize for the best Aircraft Recognition scrapbook kept during the year. This Avas won by L.A.C. Ivan Meyer, L.A.C. Meyer Avas also successful in. that he was the first cadet to be jjlaced on the Honours Board. The Honours Board award is made once eA T ery three months to the cadet, exclusive of N.C.O.S Avho has shown himself during that period, to be the foremost and best all-round member of the squadron. A second Honours Board award is made to the best flight under the same conditions. 'B' Flight Avas the first flight to be successful in this direction. Continuing Avith the proceedings, a demonstration in drill movements Avas given by a squad of cadets, nearly all of whom have attended drill and discipline courses at a North Island R.N.Z.A.F. Station. The squad Avent through a complicated series of movements, under the able tongue of Warrant Officer Graham Mead, and although the majority of the spectators were rather tied up at the finish through endeavouring to follow it through turn after turn .9 the one only half executed before the next Avas ordered the boys themselves appeared to know what they were doing and performed the movements faultlessly. At. the conclusion of this an imX promptu dance. Avas held Avith Flight Sergeant Len Parker giving out on the piano and W/O Graham Mead in charge of the microphone. A light supper was served towards the close of the evening and served as Avelcome refreshment to thirsty ■dancers. The last Avaltz came long be-' fore anyone Avas ready to leaA T e but the C.O. made up for this by voluntarily crooning the chorus through the microphone. The National Antcm brought the evening to a close at a moderately early hour, and everyone heartily agreed that the Avind up was a 'jolly good slioav.'