These three air cadets were preparing to take part in a 100-mile, four-day hike across Holland.

Chris Foster, Bruce Benstead and John Havens were among eight members of 150 (City of Oxford) Air Training Corps chosen to join the 50-strong Great Britain team in the Nijmegen march in 1968.

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They had been training for six months and were about to set off to compete with troops and cadets from Europe, the Middle East, America and Australia in the event.

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The RAF Air Cadets is made up of two areas. The ATC is the RAF’s cadet force, divided into six regions, and more than 900 squadrons within communities around the UK. The Combined Cadet Force (RAF) is the RAF’s section of CCF and is made up of cadets from all three services.

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This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF