Cadets in Canada
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In 1940, the Minister of National Defence for Air, Charles G. Power, who was very much aware of the need for this type of Air Cadet training, called in a group of influential civilians and asked them to set up a country-wide voluntary organization to sponsor and develop this growing movement. The response was immediate, and a civilian organization was soon created to work on a partnership basis with the RCAF. As it later developed, this partnership was to be the main reason for the striking success of the Air Cadet Movement in Canada. On the 19th of November, 1940, an Order-in-Council was passed authorizing the organization of the Air Cadets
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History of 204
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204 Kamloops (Black Maria Squadron) received their charter on November 12, 1942. Rumor has it, the squadron was parading since the late 1939 or 1940 as a way of getting teenage boys and young men ready for the Air Force. The Squadron has been parading since its conception except for one year at the conclusion of WWll.
The Black Maria was the name of Vice Air Marshall Raymond Collishaw’s Sopwith Triplane. The WW1 squadron was part of the ‘Black Flight’ Squadron, as all the planes were painted black. The Black Maria was the name of an enclosed van to transport prisoners in England, here we called them Paddy Wagons. The squadron had cadets who went to 419 Moose Squadron “City of Kamloops Squadron” in England. The first CO was W/C John “Moose” Fulton who was raised in Kamloops. |
Despite the fact that 204 Black Maria Squadron has always had strong support from the community of Kamloops along with dedicated staff and volunteers it was forced to move on seven (7) occasions for various reasons.
The first for the squadron was Stuart Wood School. Our second was the Kamloops United Church, from there we went to the Boys & Girls Club on MacArthur Island until 2014 when the City of Kamloops demolished the building. 204 then moved to the Westsyde Elementary School until 2019. The next move took us to Heffley Creek Elementary School. During the pandemic, we were without a home until 2022 when moved to the CFC location at the airport. We are now sharing a facility with the Army Cadets (2305) Sea Cadets (137) and the Navy League Cadets (102) at the Kamloops Cadet Hall. |
Squadron Name• Kamloops
• Moose Fulton - representative of our close connection with the City of Kamloops, Fulton Field (Airport) and 419 Moose Squadron • Kamloops Lions • The newest name, 204 Black Maria was adopted in 1976 |
Notable 204s• Claude Richmond, a former Speaker of the House and Kamloops MLA
• Colonel Adam Carlson, served as the Deputy Commander CJCR and now serves as the Director Royal Canadian Air Force Training |
Royal VisitsIn its 82 years of existence 204 has had 3 Monarchs; King George Vl, Queen Elizabeth ll, and King Charles lll. The Squadron is also very proud to boast that they have had the privilege of visits by 3 members of the Royal Family.
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