The Squadron
I have the honour of welcoming you to our website.
1804 (Four Heatons) Squadron has been active in one form or another since 1941.
The Squadron was formed on July 14 1941 at Thornfield Road school, Heaton Moor, being registered in early August 1941 as No.1804 (3rd Stockport Four Heatons) Squadron under the command of Flt Lt (later Sqn Ldr) F S Caves.
The Squadron was part of a wartime Stockport Wing which consisted of 162 (Stockport) in Cheadle, 550 (Stockport Grammar), 616 (Stockport School), 1095 (2nd Stockport) in St Thomas’s school,1804 (3rd Stockport Four Heatons) in Heaton Moor, 1980 (Reddish) and 2141 (Offerton) Squadrons, until the Wing was disbanded at the end of WW2, leaving only 162 Squadron.
In April 1963, Cadet recruiting was re-started in the Heatons by Flt Lt J Barlow and began operating as a detached flight of 162 Squadron until, in August 1965, the unit was re-dedicated as No.1804 (Four Heatons) Squadron.
The Squadron based its headquarters in the old Rugby pavilion on the grounds of Heaton Moor Rugby Club, which had been used by the TA, Army and US Army during WW2. It stayed there until 1991.
In 1991, the Squadron relocated to South Reddish in to a brand new building which was opened by and dedicated to Wing Commander David Penman OBE DSO DFC RAF (Rtd). Penman House remains as the Squadron HQ today.
1804 Squadron is a vibrant and successful ATC Squadron, with a strong mix of young men and women from all walks of life. It is one of only two Squadrons that have had a Dacre Sword winner (the best Cadet in the Corps) in East Cheshire & South Manchester Wing and continues to be a unit that others strive to emulate.
I call on all young men and women between 13 and 16 years of age to take this challenge - are YOU good enough to be an 1804 Sqn Cadet? Can you take the rough with the smooth, laugh through the tough times and grab all opportunities put your way? If the answer is yes, then you need to call us to become a Cadet and start experiencing all that we can offer.
That is my challenge, and I look forward to meeting you.
Flight Lieutenant Shaun A White RAFVR(T)
Officer Commanding