
ABOUT
US
Flight Lieutenant N Orford-Williams RAFAC
Officer Commanding
Flt Lt Orford-Williams has been with the squadron since joining a s a cadet in 2012. Since joining the squadron he has completed the Air Cadet Pilot Navigation Training Scheme. As a cadet he rose to the rank of Sergeant and achieved the Bronze, Silver & Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. He too over command of the Sqn in 2022. He currently works creating content recommendation algorithms at the BBC.
Flight Sergeant D Rookes RAFAC
Squadron Warrant Officer
FS Rookes has been involved with the ATC since 2005 and was a Cadet Flight Sergeant at 16F, completing the 4 day marches in Nijmegen and a gliding scholarship. FS Rookes completed 16 hours of glider flying and several hours of powered flight time including in a Merlin helicopter of 28 Sqn RAF. FS Rookes was also a snare drummer in the 16F and Middlesex Wing bands, winning the best solo drummer award at Wing Field Day 2008 and meeting the then Commandant Air Cadets, Air Commodore Stewart, who was of the opinion that all drummers are mad. FS Rookes is a police officer in the Met.
Rev C Francella
Squadron Chaplain
The Reverend Cortland Fransella has been Padre to 16F Squadron since July 2023. He is Assistant priest at the Chapels Royal, HM Tower of London and is a Deputy Priest in Ordinary to HM the King. He has degrees in Modern and Mediaeval Languages, in Philosophy and Religion and in Psychology and spent more than 40 years in public service. He believes strongly in the importance of organisations such as the RAF Air Cadets for giving young people opportunities to learn values of cooperation, loyalty, aspiration and personal achievement. He sees his role as helping the cadets to expand their understanding of society and their place in it, whatever their own faith background - or none.