Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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This was formed on 1 July 1923 at RAF Base Leuchars for service with HMS Furious equipped with Parnell Plovers.
Date | Location |
1 Jul 1923 | RAF Base Leuchars |
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
None allocated | RAF Base Leuchars | Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
No personnel listed |
Source - Air Force List July 1923
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Nieuport Nightjars | RAF Base Leuchars | Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Fg Off | Cecil B Horsfield | 23 Jul 1923 |
Source - Air Force List January 1924
Some Nieuport Nightjars were received in April 1924
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Nieuport Nightjars | RAF Base Leuchars | Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Bruce R Caswell | 7 Mar 1924 | Officer Commanding |
Fg Off | Cecil B Horsfield | 23 Jul 1923 | |
Fg Off | Guy F Reeves | 7 Mar 1924 | |
Fg Off | 7 Mar 1924 | later A/Cdre |
Source - Air Force List May 1924
The Nightjars were withdrawn in September 1924
Source - January 1925 Air Force List
Source - February 1925 Air Force List
Source - March 1925 Air Force List
Fairey Flycatchers replaced the Plovers in March 1925
Source - April 1925 Air Force List
Source - May 1925 Air Force List
Source - June 1925 Air Force List
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey Flycatcher | RAF Base Leuchars | Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Bruce R Caswell | 7 Mar 1924 | Officer Commanding |
Fg Off | Nigel H N Fletcher | 11 Apr 1924 | |
Fg Off | Rupert St A Malleson | 21 May 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Charles J N Akinson | 21 May 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Aylmer M Rundle | 21 May 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | William D Baxter | 18 May 1925 |
Source - Air Force List July 1925
Date | Location |
13 Sep 1925 | HMS Furious |
15 Oct 1925 | RAF Base Leuchars? |
6 Nov 1925 | HMS Furious |
28 Nov 1925 | RAF Base Leuchars? |
8 Jan 1926 | HMS Furious |
30 Mar 1926 | RAF Base Leuchars |
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey Flycatcher | RAF Base Leuchars | Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Bruce R Caswell | 7 Mar 1924 | Officer Commanding |
Fg Off | Rupert St A Malleson | 21 May 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Charles J N Akinson | 21 May 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Hon John M Southwell | 30 Jul 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Aylmer M Rundle | 21 May 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | William D Baxter | 18 May 1925 | |
Fg Off | Thomas H Villiers | 14 Nov 1925 | Lt, RN |
Source - March 1926 Air Force List
Date | Location |
12 Jun 1926 | HMS Furious |
15 Jul 1926 | RAF Base Leuchars |
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey Flycatcher | RAF Base Leuchars | Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Bruce R Caswell | 7 Mar 1924 | Officer Commanding |
Fg Off | Rupert St A Malleson | 21 May 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Charles J N Akinson | 21 May 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Hon John M Southwell | 30 Jul 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Aylmer M Rundle | 21 May 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | William D Baxter | 18 May 1925 | |
Fg Off | Raymond A Aldridge | 15 Mar 1926 | Lt, RN |
Source - Air Force List July 1926
Date | Location |
xx Aug 1926 | RAF Donibristle |
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey Flycatcher | RAF Donibristle | Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Bruce R Caswell | 7 Mar 1924 | Officer Commanding |
Fg Off | Rupert St A Malleson | 21 May 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Charles J N Akinson | 21 May 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Hon John M Southwell | 30 Jul 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Aylmer M Rundle | 21 May 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | William D Baxter | 18 May 1925 | |
Fg Off | Raymond A Aldridge | 15 Mar 1926 | Lt, RN |
Source - December 1926 Air Force List
In February 1927 it was split into No 404A and No 404B Flights. No 404A joined HMS Furious whilst No 404B joined HMS Argus for service in the China Station in the defence of Hong Kong.
No 404A Flight | No 404B Flight | ||
1 Feb 1927 | RAF Donibristle | 1 Feb 1927 | HMS Argus |
5 Jul 1927 | Wei-hai-Wei |
No 404A Flight
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey Flycatcher | RAF Donibristle | Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Fg Off | Cyril B Tidd | 16 Mar 1927 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Aylmer M Rundle | 21 May 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Raymond A Aldridge | 15 Mar 1926 | Lt, RN |
No 404B Flight
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey Flycatcher | HMS Argus | China Station |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Charles E W Foster | 26 Jan 1927 | Officer Commanding |
Fg Off | Charles J N Akinson | 21 May 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | William D Baxter | 18 May 1925 |
Source - Air Force List July 1927
No 404A Flight | No 404B Flight | ||
19 Oct 1927 | HMS Furious | 5 Jul 1927 | Wei-hai-Wei |
21 Oct 1927 | RAF Donibristle | 27 Jul 1927 | HMS Argus |
6 Mar 1928 | HMS Courageous | 2 Aug 1927 | RAF Base Kai Tak |
8 Mar 1928 | RAF Donibristle | 20 Mar 1928 | HMS Argus |
24 Apr 1928 | RAF Calafrana | ||
26 Apr 1928 | HMS Argus | ||
4 May 1928 | RAF Donibristle |
Nos 404A & B Flights reunited in May 1928 joining HMS Courageous in the Mediterranean.
Date | Location |
15 May 1928 | HMS Courageous |
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey Flycatcher | HMS Courageous | Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Charles J N Akinson | 1 Feb 1927 | Officer Commanding, Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Cyril B Tidd | 16 Mar 1927 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | William D Baxter | 18 May 1925 | |
Fg Off | Owen C Jones | 1 Jan 1928 | Lt, RM |
Fg Off | Guy Willoughby | 11 Dec 1927 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Robert C Giles | 1 Sep 1927 | Lt, RM |
Fg Off | John D'A Keary | 9 Sep 1927 | |
Fg Off | Philip G Lucas | 17 May 1928 |
Source - Air Force List July 1928
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey Flycatcher | HMS Courageous | Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Charles J N Akinson | 1 Feb 1927 | Officer Commanding, Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Cyril B Tidd | 16 Mar 1927 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Owen C Jones | 1 Jan 1928 | Lt, RM |
Fg Off | Guy Willoughby | 11 Dec 1927 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Robert C Giles | 1 Sep 1927 | Armament Duties, Lt, RM |
Fg Off | John D'A Keary | 9 Sep 1927 | |
Fg Off | Philip G Lucas | 17 May 1928 |
Source - September 1928 Air Force List
Date | Location |
5 Sep 1928 | RAF Hal Far |
7 Sep 1928 | HMS Courageous |
30 Oct 1928 | RAF Hal Far |
19 Nov 1928 | HMS Courageous |
14 Jan 1929 | HMS Eagle |
15 Jan 1929 | RAF Hal Far |
31 Jan 1929 | HMS Courageous |
25 Feb 1929 | HMS Eagle |
1 Mar 1929 | RAF Hal Far |
31 Mar 1929 | HMS Courageous |
3 May 1929 | RAF Hal Far |
14 Jun 1929 | HMS Courageous |
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey Flycatcher | HMS Courageous | Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Laurence C Sharman | 1 Feb 1929 | Officer Commanding, Lt Cdr RN |
Fg Off | Owen C Jones | 1 Jan 1928 | Lt, RM |
Fg Off | Robert C Giles | 1 Sep 1927 | Lt, RM |
Fg Off | John D'A Keary | 9 Sep 1927 | |
Fg Off | Henry C Toppin | 1 Jan 1929 | Lt, RN |
Source - Air Force List July 1929
In August and September 1929 it spent two weeks based ashore at Gaza to assist in quelling a rebellion in Palestine.
Date | Location |
21 Aug 1929 | RAF Hal Far |
26 Aug 1929 | HMS Courageous |
28 Aug 1929 | RAF Ramleh |
31 Aug 1929 | Gaza |
9 Sep 1929 | HMS Courageous |
28 Sep 1929 | RAF Aboukir |
8 Oct 1929 | HMS Courageous |
1 Nov 1929 | RAF Calafrana |
22 Nov 1929 | HMS Courageous |
29 Nov 1929 | RAF Hal Far/Calafrana |
20 Jan 1930 | HMS Courageous |
30 Jan 1930 | RAF Base Gosport |
7 Apr 1930 | RAF Donibristle |
xx xxx 1930 | RAF Base Gosport |
7 May - 8 Aug 1930 | Affiliated to No 29 Sqn, North Weald |
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey Flycatcher | RAF Donibristle | Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Laurence C Sharman | 1 Feb 1929 | Officer Commanding, Lt Cdr RN |
Fg Off | Henry C Toppin | 1 Jan 1929 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | William H Parkin | 6 Dec 1929 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Maurice H Clare | 30 Jul 1929 | |
Fg Off | Henry M King | 22 Mar 1930 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Ralph Mountain | 6 Mar 1930 |
Source - Air Force List July 1930
Source - August 1930 Air Force List
Source - September 1930 Air Force List
Source - October 1930 Air Force List
Source - November 1930 Air Force List
Source - December 1930 Air Force List
Date | Location |
23 Sep 1930 | HMS Courageous |
17 Nov 1930 | RAF Base Gosport |
19 Jan 1931 | HMS Courageous |
1 Apr 1931 | RAF Base Gosport |
1 Apr 1931 | RAF Donibristle |
15 May 1931 | HMS Courageous |
6 Jun 1931 | RAF Base Gosport |
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey Flycatcher | RAF Donibristle | Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Charles J N Atkinson | 4 Jan 1931 | Officer Commanding, Lt Cdr, RN |
Fg Off | Hon John M Southwell | 9 Jun 1931 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Edwin B Carnduff | 30 Mar 1931 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Humphrey W Metcalfe | 4 Nov 1930 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Maurice H Clare | 30 Jul 1929 | |
Fg Off | Ralph Mountain | 6 Mar 1930 |
Source - Air Force List July 1931
Date | Location |
10 Sep 1931 | RAF Netheravon |
16 Sep 1931 | RAF Base Gosport |
29 Sep 1931 | HMS Courageous |
1 Dec 1931 | RAF Base Gosport |
4 Jan 1932 | HMS Courageous |
11 Feb 1932 | RAF Hal Far |
22 Feb 1932 | HMS Courageous |
13 Mar 1932 | RAF Netheravon |
21 Apr 1932 | HMS Courageous |
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey Flycatcher | HMS Courageous | Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Charles J N Atkinson | 4 Jan 1931 | Officer Commanding, Lt Cdr, RN |
Fg Off | Arthur M Pilling | 6 Apr 1932 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Ralph Mountain | 6 Mar 1930 | |
Fg Off | Geoffrey N Torry | 9 Sep 1931 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Hugh P Bramwell | 9 Sep 1931 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Capel F G Adye | 18 May 1932 |
Source - Air Force List July 1932
Date | Location |
15 Jul 1932 | RAF Netheravon |
16 Sep 1932 | RAF Base Gosport |
23 Sep 1932 | No 3 ATC, Sutton Bridge |
3 Oct 1932 | HMS Courageous |
18 Oct 1932 | RAF Netheravon |
2 Jan 1933 | RAF Base Gosport |
3 Jan 1933 | HMS Courageous |
24 Mar 1933 | RAF Netheravon |
Hawker Nimrods and Ospreys arrived in October 1932 and the Flycatchers were withdrawn in November.
It was absorbed into No 800 Squadron on 3 April 1933.
Re-equipment and movement dates are based on those shown in 'Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm' by Ray Sturtivant
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This page was last updated on 08/07/19