History | 423squadron

423 Squadron History

On 5 February 1941 the Air Training Corps (ATC) was officially

established, with King George VI agreeing to be the Air Commodore-in-Chief, and issuing a Royal Warrant setting out the Corps' aims.

The Aims of the Air Training Corps, as set out in the Royal Warrant and approved by HM the Queen, the British sovereign, are:

To promote and encourage among young men and women a practical interest in aviation and the Royal Air Force (RAF).
To provide training which will be useful in both the services and civilian life.
To foster a spirit of adventure and to develop the qualities of leadership and good citizenship.

The Air Training Corp's motto is "Venture, Adventure".In 2013, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh is honorary Air Commodore-in-Chief and has served in this role since 1953. However in 2016 The Duchess of Cambridge(Now Princess of Wales) took over the mantle and is now a firm favourite with Cadets.

19th February 1941 423sqn was born.

First CO was Dr McLaren housed in the old Elgin townhall where

the present Police station

until 1945 end of the war and

423sqn disbanded for

no recorded reason.

September 1947 Sqn Ldr George Garvock

re-formed the squadron in a old

Nissen hut in Bishopmill on the Lossiemouth

Road and was CO till

Flt Lt Ken Green took over till 1968 assisted for a short while by

FO Bernard Woolfson and another move this time to

Bishopmill Primary school.

Flt Lt John Bailey was now the CO and although we wanted girls in

the squadron it was against the rules of the day.

Oh how times have changed.

Sadly John died whilst in charge and so....

Flt Lt Murray Webster took the reigns, ably assisted by FO Innes

Thomson, FO Ronny Loughton and FO Eric Pert

Flt Lt Innes Thomson was the next CO and during his time GIRLS

were allowed unto the ATC!!! Innes also started the

affiliation with 423sqn Royal Canadian Air Force

who fly Sea King anti submarine aircraft. They kindly

allowed 423sqn Elgin to use their eagle in our badge.

Our Motto is Semper Procedens "Always Try"

About 1990

Flt Lt Gerry Marley was the CO and a move to the TA centre was

made. Gerry's leadership provided the squadron with it organisation

and ethos which are still valuable today.

Flt Lt Dave Parry took command and had a successful time in

wing and regional competitions.

Flt Sgt Kim Reid ran the squadron for a short time.

Flt Lt Max Woolfson took the reigns in 2007 when he retired from the Royal Air Force after 37 years, 27 of them flying as crew on the

Nimrod aircraft. He saw the squadron and other units weather the Covid pandemic and other trials and tribulations. He retired in November 2025 after 43 years involvement with the Air Training Corps and 18 years in charge of 423 Squadron.

After Max Woolfson retired, there was a short period of re- organisation within the ATC and early in 2026, Adult Warrant Officer Michael Gardiner took command. AWO Gardiner comes to the squadron with a wealth of experience and qualifications and is already impacting the squadron, ably assisted by Sqn Ldr Peter Armitage(an RAF Service instructor), FS Stuart Hodgson, Sgt Morgan Wood, AS1 Curran and some new staff members