It was formed on 26 February 1941 as University College Nottingham Air Squadron then became Nottingham University Air Squadron in 1948; the unit's regalia has consequent echoes of Robin Hood.[citation needed]
In the 1950s there were 17 university air squadrons. With the advent of ground-breaking jet aircraft in the 1960s, places for the unit were much sought after.[citation needed] In November 1967 the unit took its present name, to include the University of Leicester and Loughborough University.[2] It held its annual dinner at the University of Nottingham.,[3] often with one of the university vice-chancellors present.
Previous to 2001, training was in Nottinghamshire. It takes around 35 students a year, from September to early October. The unit has 8 staff, and meets each week, close to the west entrance of the University of Nottingham.
Alumni
Sqn Ldr Jon Bond from Epping in Essex, Red Arrows pilot 2018–2021 and leader from 2024, Air Transport Management at Loughborough University in 2005, joined the RAF in 2007[4]
Air Chief Marshal Simon Bryant, Geography at the University of Nottingham
Flt Lt Sean Cunningham, Red Arrows pilot, [5] he studied Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Nottingham Trent University
Helen Gardiner[6] who, aged 27, made the first interception by a female RAF pilot on Tuesday 10 September 1996 at RAF Leuchars, with navigator Martin Harris in 43 Sqn. Helen, educated at Worksop College,[7] had joined the squadron in May 1995, after studying Economics from 1987-90 at the University of Nottingham;[8] as Flying Officer Helen Dobbs, she was the RAF's first female fighter pilot in 1993;[9] aged 24, she had qualified in June 1993 from RAF Chivenor; by May 1998 there were four RAF female fast jet pilots; Helen was the only one to fly the Tornado F3
Flt Lt Patrick Kershaw, Business Administration at De Montfort University, joined the RAF in 2006, Red Arrows from 2022
Air Vice-Marshal Suraya Marshall, Law at the University of Nottingham, navigator from 1994 on the Tornado F3, Commandant from December 2019 to October 2021 of Royal Air Force College Cranwell
Sqn Ldr Henry Prince, Loughborough College (joined the Nottingham University Air Squadron), Red Arrows from 1965 in the first team[10][11][12] and Yellowjacks[13]
