Air Scout

Country

Worldwide

Founded

1911 (first Airman's Badge)

Air Scouts are members of the international Scouting movement with a particular emphasis on an aviation themed programme and/or flying-based activities. Air Scouts follow the same basic Scouting programme as normal Scouts, but they devote certain amounts of time focused on their air activities.

Air Scouts often wear a slightly different uniform from the rest of the Scouting movement and/or may have additional badges/insignia.

Most air activities are ground based like visits to airports and air museums, radio controlled model flight, aero modelling and camping on airfields. Depending on age group, country and Scout group the activities can also include parachuting or flights in light aircraft, helicopters, gliders or hot air balloons.

There are claims that Major Baden Fletcher Smyth Baden-Powell, youngest brother of the founder of The Boy Scouts Association of the United Kingdom, Robert Baden-Powell and an aviator, first brought flying-based activities into Scouting. However, as late as July, 1932, Baden Baden-Powell wrote, in the Scouter:

An Airman's badge was introduced by The Boy Scouts Association in December 1911. However, these did not introduce Air Scouts.

Suggestions to have an Air Scout Branch within The Boy Scouts Association were first put forward in May 1927. They were not accepted for fear the Branch might be 'led away by attractive non-essentials' and there was insufficient manpower in the Movement to maintain it. However, by the late 1930s, Scout Troops in the vicinity of airfields and gliding clubs were encouraged to include air activities in their programmes and an 'Air Patrols' pamphlet was produced. In the Scouter of December 1937 there was an announcement about 'Air Patrols' by L A Impey, Headquarters Commissioner for Scouts:

The Boy Scouts Association eventually introduced Air Scouts in 1941.

The 4th World Scout Jamboree in 1933 was the first international gathering where Air Scouts were represented. On 9 August Robert Baden-Powell visited the Air Scouts, in the company of Pál Teleki Hungarian Chief Scout and László Almásy (known as The English Patient), who was a leader of the Hungarian Air Scouts.

Scouts Australia has a few active Air Scout groups. Air Scouts Canberra is located in Deakin, Australian Capital Territory. There are two Air Scouts Groups in Western Australia, Bullsbrook and Morley Groups. There is one Air Scout Group in Victoria, 3rd Chelsea Air Scouts, located in Melbourne bayside suburb of Chelsea. There are also Air Scouts in individual Scout Groups.

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Wikipedia