RAF Grapple Y Nuclear Vet gives a talk to cadets, 28 Apr 2025

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Monday's parade saw 1368 cadets receive an insight into post WWII with a talk by Mr Jennings who was working on Canberra air sampling aircraft during the Grapple Y Nuclear Tests, a British atomic weapons trial conducted on Christmas Island in the Pacific Ocean on 28 April 1958, as part of Britain's programme to develop a hydrogen bomb. A video was shown. Not many young people get to hear first hand what it was like to witness a nuclear explosion and a great way of connecting the young with history. It was an insightful talk with some humorous reflective moments from his experiences in the RAF and life in general. The Wing Commander for Warwickshire and Birmingham Wing, Wg Cdr Lee Cassidy, had the pleasure of presenting him with a Nuclear Veteran's Medal and he gave some awards to 1368's younger cadets.



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