HUNDREDS turned out to young cadets celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Air Training Crops - now known as the Air Cadets - with a parade through Taunton on Saturday.
The march set off from Bridge Street, making its way through the town centre to a drum head service in Vivary Park.
Around 450 cadets and adult volunteer staff from squadrons across Somerset and Devon took part, saluting VIPs including the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Somerset Neil Dowdney, Air Chief Marshall Sir Peter Squire and Taunton Deane Mayor Cllr Vivienne Stock-Williams at the Burma Memorial in front of the Market House.
Mr Dowdney praised the cadets for their spirit of adventure and self-motivation and thanked the adult volunteer staff for giving freely of their time and providing excellent training opportunities for the cadets.
Following the parade and thanksgiving service, the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight provided several flypasts featuring a Spitfire and Hurricane historic aircraft.
The movement was formed during the Second World War to train young men for service in the RAF, but it is now one of the largest national voluntary youth organisations in the country.
It has a membership of approximately 40,000 aviation minded young people who enjoy flying, gliding, sport and adventure training.
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