Rare cloth 176 Squadron ATC badge From the Hove (Brighton & Hove) Squadron, based on the East Sussex coast.
Origins
176 Squadron has been part of the local community since 1938, when it was formed as part of the Air Defence Cadet Corps (ADCC). In 1941, the ATC was established under Royal Warrant by King George VI and the ADCC squadrons were rebadged. Thus began 176 (Hove) Squadron, though it narrowly missed out on being one of the first fifty “Founder” Squadrons. It took its present number and the motto Caelum est Terminus (“The Sky’s the Limit”). The squadron’s first Officer Commanding was Flt Lt Winters RAF.
Wartime badge context
Given the squadron was active from 1938/1941, this badge dates from the WWII era and would have been worn by teenage cadets in Hove who were receiving basic RAF-oriented training during the war years, potentially feeding into actual RAF service once they came of age.

The squadron was originally located in the Marmion Road Drill Hall, before moving to premises off Holmes Avenue in the 1960s. Today it is based just off Neville Playing Fields in Hove.
The badge itself
The reverse (image 2) shows the embroidered number in red and blue thread visible through the hessian backing, which is typical of wartime-era British military/cadet cloth badges. The worn, frayed edges and the style of embroidery are consistent with a genuine 1940s piece. These oval squadron patches were sewn onto the upper sleeve of the ATC uniform.