Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Home Page

Main Menu

Quick Menu

Members' Area

What New?

About this site

Reunions

Help Needed?

Glossary

Bibliography

Sign Guest Book

View Guest Book

Link to Amazon

Online Store

Contact Me

No 440 (Fleet Reconnaissance) Flight

[Jul 1923 | Jan 1924 | May 1924 | Jan 1925 | Feb 1925 | Mar 1925 | Apr 1925 | May 1925 | Jun 1925 | Jul 1925 | Mar 1926 | Jul 1926 | Dec 1926 | Jul 1927 | Jul 1928 | Sep 1928 | Jul 1929 | Jul 1930 | Aug 1930 | Sep 1930 | Oct 1930 | Nov 1930 | Dec 1930 | Jul 1931 | Jul 1932]

May 1923 |

May 1923

Source - May 1923 Air Force List

This was formed on 1 May 1923 at RAF Lee-on-Solent from No 205 Squadron equipped with six Supermarine Seagull II amphibians.  However in the July 1923 AFL (and later editions) it is shown as being on the establishment of RAF Base Leuchars.

Date Location
 1 May 1923 RAF Lee-on-Solent*

July 1923

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Supermarine Seagull II RAF Lee-on-Solent* Coastal Area

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Frederick W Walker  1 Apr 1923 Officer Commanding, DSC, AFC; later A/Cdre
Flt Lt Leonard G Maxton  1 Apr 1923  
Fg/Obs Off Seymour C Harker  1 Apr 1923  
Fg/Obs Off William J Brown  1 Apr 1923  
Fg/Obs Off William S Watson 29 Apr 1923  
Fg/Obs Off Frank Porter  1 Apr 1923  
Fg/Obs Off George R Hicks  1 Apr 1923 DFC
Fg/Obs Off Arthur B Ball  1 Apr 1923  
Fg/Obs Off Arthur A R Chipper  1 Apr 1923  
Fg/Obs Off Henry L Beatty  1 Apr 1923  
Fg Off Narborough H D'Aeth  1 Apr 1923 later AVM
Plt Off Francis G Cator  1 Apr 1923  
Plt Off Gilbert E Nicholetts  1 Apr 1923 AFC; later AM

Source - Air Force List July 1923

January 1924

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Supermarine Seagull II RAF Lee-on-Solent* Coastal Area

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Frederick W Walker  1 Apr 1923 Officer Commanding, DSC, AFC; later A/Cdre
Flt Lt Leonard G Maxton  1 Apr 1923  
Flt Lt Seymour C Harker  1 Apr 1923  
Flt Lt William S Watson 29 Apr 1923  
Fg/Obs Off Glynguard R Burge 19 Nov 1923  
Fg/Obs Off Charles C K Dagg 22 Jun 1923 AFC
Fg/Obs Off George R Hicks  1 Apr 1923 DFC
Fg/Obs Off Sidney T Tipper 26 Nov 1923  
Fg/Obs Off Arthur B Ball  1 Apr 1923  
Fg/Obs Off Robert H Rose  5 Nov 1923  
Fg Off Narborough H D'Aeth  1 Apr 1923 later AVM
Plt Off Francis G Cator  1 Apr 1923  
Plt Off Gilbert E Nicholetts  1 Apr 1923 AFC; later AM

*It is shown as still being on the establishment of RAF Base Leuchars.

Source - Air Force List Januy 1924

Date Location
 4 Mar 1924 HMS Eagle
15 May 1924 RAF Lee-on-Solent
29 May 1924 HMS Eagle
 9 Jun 1924 RAF Calafrana
 2 Jul 1924 HMS Eagle
17 Jul 1924 RAF Calafrana

May 1924

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Supermarine Seagull II HMS Eagle* Coastal Area

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Frederick W Walker  1 Apr 1923 Officer Commanding, DSC, AFC; later A/Cdre
Flt Lt Leonard G Maxton  1 Apr 1923  
Flt Lt Seymour C Harker  1 Apr 1923  
Flt Lt William S Watson 29 Apr 1923  
Fg/Obs Off Glynguard R Burge 19 Nov 1923  
Fg/Obs Off Charles C K Dagg 22 Jun 1923 AFC
Fg/Obs Off George R Hicks  1 Apr 1923 DFC
Fg/Obs Off Sidney T Tipper 26 Nov 1923  
Fg/Obs Off Arthur B Ball  1 Apr 1923  
Fg/Obs Off Robert H Rose  5 Nov 1923  
Fg Off Narborough H D'Aeth  1 Apr 1923 later AVM
Plt Off Francis G Cator  1 Apr 1923  
Plt Off Gilbert E Nicholetts  1 Apr 1923 AFC; later AM

*It is shown as still being on the establishment of RAF Base Leuchars.

Source - Air Force List May 1924

Date Location
 9 Dec 1924 HMS Eagle
19 Dec 1924 RAF Gosport/Lee-on-Solent

January 1925

Source - January 1925 Air Force List

The Seagulls were replaced by Fairey IIIDs in January 1925

February 1925

Source - February 1925 Air Force List

Date Location
21 Feb 1925 HMS Eagle
 1 Mar 1925 RAF Hal Far

March 1925

Source - March 1925 Air Force List

April 1925

Source - April 1925 Air Force List

Date Location
 6 Apr 1925 HMS Eagle
30 Apr 1925 RAF Calafrana

May 1925

Source - May 1925 Air Force List

June 1925

Source - June 1925 Air Force List

July 1925

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey IIID HMS Eagle/RAF Base Malta RAF Mediterranean

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Frederick W Walker  1 Apr 1923 Officer Commanding, DSC, AFC; later A/Cdre
Fg/Obs Off Glynguard R Burge 19 Nov 1923  
Fg/Obs Off Charles C K Dagg 22 Jun 1923 AFC
Fg/Obs Off Robert H Rose  5 Nov 1923  
Fg Off Leonard K Barnes  5 Sep 1924 later A/Cdre
Fg/Obs Off Francis G Cator  1 Apr 1923  
Naval Observer Officers employed with unit
Lt Henry L Carslake 24 May 1924  
Lt Harold D Caslon 30 May 1924  
Lt Robert H Ellis 24 Jan 1924  
Lt Edward L D Moore  8 Jul 1924  
Lt Benjamin J L W Rogers-Tillstone 24 Jan 1924  
Lt Henry T 24 Jan 1924  
Lt Frank M Walton 24 May 1924  

Source - Air Force List July 1925

Date Location
15 Jul 1925 HMS Hermes
18 Jul 1925 Alexandria
 7 Aug 1925 HMS Eagle
 3 Oct 1925 RAF Calafrana
26 Oct 1925 HMS Eagle
31 Oct 1925 RAF Hal Far/Calafrana
19  Feb 1926 HMS Eagle

March 1926

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey IIID HMS Eagle/RAF Base Malta RAF Mediterranean

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Edgar H Bryant  5 May 1925 Officer Commanding
Flt Lt Eric Brewerton  6 Feb 1926 Officer Commanding (Designate), DFC
Fg/Obs Off Charles C K Dagg 22 Jun 1923 AFC
Fg/Obs Off Robert H Rose  5 Nov 1923  
Fg Off Leonard K Barnes  5 Sep 1924 later A/Cdre
Fg Off Godfrey E Wildman-Lushington 20 Jun 1925 Capt, RM
Fg Off Gilbert E Nicholetts 15 Jul 1925 later AM
Fg Off Reginald H S Teak 12 Dec 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off John N Sparks 12 Dec 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Thomas L G Bryan  9 Jan 1926 Lt, RM
Fg Off Frederick G Wynne  9 Jan 1926 Lt, RN
Fg Off Frank H G Oliphant  9 Jan 1926 Lt, RN
Naval Observer Officers employed with unit
Lt Henry L Carslake 24 May 1924  
Lt Harold D Caslon 30 May 1924  
Lt Robert H Ellis 24 Jan 1924  
Lt Benjamin J L W Rogers-Tillstone 24 Jan 1924  
Lt Frank M Walton 24 May 1924  

Source - March 1926 Air Force List

Date Location
25 Mar 1926 RAF Hal Far
22 Jun 1926 HMS Eagle

July 1926

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey IIID HMS Eagle/RAF Base Malta RAF Mediterranean

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Eric Brewerton  6 Feb 1926 Officer Commanding, DFC
Fg/Obs Off Charles C K Dagg 22 Jun 1923 AFC
Fg/Obs Off Robert H Rose  5 Nov 1923  
Fg Off Leonard K Barnes  5 Sep 1924 later A/Cdre
Fg Off Godfrey E Wildman-Lushington 20 Jun 1925 Capt, RM
Fg Off Gilbert E Nicholetts 15 Jul 1925 later AM
Fg Off Reginald H S Teak 12 Dec 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off John N Sparks 12 Dec 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Charles N Lentaigne 10 Apr 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Philip Oliver 10 Apr 1925 Lt, RN
Naval Observer Officers employed with unit
Lt Henry L Carslake 24 May 1924  
Lt Harold D Caslon 30 May 1924  
Lt Robert H Ellis 24 Jan 1924  
Lt Benjamin J L W Rogers-Tillstone 24 Jan 1924  
Lt Frank M Walton 24 May 1924  

Source - Air Force List July 1926

Date Location
18 Sep 1926 HMS Hermes

December 1926

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey IIID HMS Eagle/RAF Base Malta RAF Mediterranean

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Eric Brewerton  6 Feb 1926 Officer Commanding, DFC
Fg Off Godfrey E Wildman-Lushington 20 Jun 1925 Capt, RM
Fg Off Herbert G Brookman 18 Sep 1926 Armament duties
Fg Off Stephen Richardson 18 Sep 1926 Lt, RN
Fg Off John N Sparks 12 Dec 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Charles N Lentaigne 10 Apr 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Philip Oliver 10 Apr 1925 Lt, RN
Naval Observer Officers employed with unit
Lt Harold D Caslon 30 May 1924  
Lt Benjamin J L W Rogers-Tillstone 24 Jan 1924  
Lt Frank M Walton 24 May 1924  

Source - December 1926 Air Force List

Date Location
10 Feb 1927 RAF Base Kai Tak
xx xxx 1927 HMS Hermes
28 Apr 1927 RAF Base Kai Tak
 5 May 1927 HMS Hermes

July 1927

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey IIID HMS Eagle/RAF Base Malta RAF Mediterranean

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Eric Brewerton  6 Feb 1926 Officer Commanding, DFC
Flt Lt John A McDonald 26 Jan 1927 Signal duties
Fg Off Noel V Morton 26 Jan 1927  
Fg Off Herbert G Brookman 18 Sep 1926 Armament duties
Fg Off Stephen Richardson 18 Sep 1926 Lt, RN
Fg Off John N Sparks 12 Dec 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Charles N Lentaigne 10 Apr 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Alan G Warren  6 Nov 1926 Lt, RN
Fg Off Casper John 16 Dec 1926 Lt, RN
Fg Off John F F Pain 26 Jan 1926  
Fg Off Gerald H Loughnan 26 Jan 1926  
Fg Off Frederick C Rowland 26 Jan 1926  
Fg Off Stanley C Parker 27 Jan 1927  
Fg Off Leslie W Cannon 27 Jan 1927 later AVM
Fg Off Faulkner M V May 26 Jan 1926  
Fg Off Geoffrey H Walker 27 Jan 1927  
Fg Off Stanley J Gilbert 27 Jan 1927  
Fg Off Pascoe E Grenfell 27 Jan 1927  
Plt Off Eric B Webb 26 Jan 1926  
Plt Off John V Yonge 27 Jan 1927  

Source - Air Force List July 1927

Fairey IIIFs replaced the IIIDs in November 1927.

Date Location
28 Oct 1927 RAF Base Gosport
17 Jan 1928 HMS Hermes
10 Apr 1928 Kowloon
16 Apr 1928 HMS Hermes
10 Apr 1928 Kowloon
21-23 Jun 1928 Wei-hai-Wei (Detachment)

July 1928

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey IIIF HMS Eagle/RAF Base Malta RAF Mediterranean

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Herbert G Brookman 18 Sep 1926 Officer Commanding, Armament duties
Fg Off Alan G Warren  6 Nov 1926 Lt, RN
Fg Off Casper John 16 Dec 1926 Lt, RN
Fg Off James E Fenton  2 Jan 1928 Lt, RN
Fg Off Arthur O Watson 22 Dec 1927 Lt, RN

Source - Air Force List July 1928

September 1928

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey IIIF HMS Eagle/RAF Base Malta RAF Mediterranean

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Frederick L Pearce 13 Jul 1923 Officer Commanding; later A/Cdre
Flt Lt Herbert G Brookman 18 Sep 1926 Armament duties
Fg Off Alan G Warren  6 Nov 1926 Lt, RN
Fg Off Casper John 16 Dec 1926 Lt, RN
Fg Off James E Fenton  2 Jan 1928 Lt, RN
Fg Off Arthur O Watson 22 Dec 1927 Lt, RN
Plt Off Anthony G C Somerhough 13 Jul 1928  

Source - September 1928 Air Force List

 
Date Location
28 Sep - 4 Oct 1928 Wei-hai-Wei (Detachment)
31 Oct 1928 RAF Base Kai Tak (Detachment)
xx Nov 1928 RAF Base Kai Tak
26 Nov 1928 HMS Hermes
17 Dec 1928 RAF Base Kai Tak
13 May 1929 HMS Hermes

July 1929

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey IIIF HMS Eagle/RAF Base Malta RAF Mediterranean

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Frederick L Pearce 13 Jul 1923 Officer Commanding; later A/Cdre
Fg Off Casper John 16 Dec 1926 Lt, RN
Fg Off Richard P Garnett  2 May 1929 Lt, RN
Fg Off James E Fenton  2 Jan 1928 Lt, RN
Fg Off Arthur O Watson 22 Dec 1927 Lt, RN
Fg Off Henry D Smallwood  2 May 1929 Lt, RN
Fg Off Anthony G C Somerhough 13 Jul 1928  

Source - Air Force List July 1929

Date Location
29 Oct 1929 RAF Base Kai Tak
 3 Jun 1930 HMS Hermes

July 1930

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey IIIF HMS Hermes China Station

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Frederick L Pearce 13 Jul 1923 Officer Commanding; later A/Cdre
Fg Off Richard P Garnett  2 May 1929 Lt, RN
Fg Off Henry D Smallwood  2 May 1929 Lt, RN
Fg Off Gustaf G R Rodd 10 Jan 1930 Lt, RN
Fg Off Patrick W Humphreys 10 Jan 1930 Lt, RN
Fg Off Charles E St J Beamish 13 Jun 1929  

Source - Air Force List July 1930

August 1930

Source - August 1930 Air Force List

September 1930

Source - September 1930 Air Force List

October 1930

Source - October 1930 Air Force List

November 1930

Source - November 1930 Air Force List

December 1930

Source - December 1930 Air Force List

Date Location
28 Jul 1930 RAF Base Kai Tak
 7 Aug 1930 HMS Hermes
23 Sep 1930 RAF Base Gosport
11 Nov 1930 HMS Hermes
12 Nov 1930 RAF Hal Far
24 Nov 1930 HMS Hermes
22-27 Dec 1930 RAF Base Singapore (Detachment)
 2 Jan 1931 RAF Base Kai Tak
19 Jan 1931 HMS Hermes
23 Jan 1931 RAF Base Kai Tak
27 Jan 1931 HMS Hermes
30 Jan 1931 RAF Base Kai Tak
 5 Jun 1931 HMS Hermes to Wei-hai-Wei

July 1931

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey IIIF HMS Hermes RAF Far East

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Fg Off Richard P Garnett  2 May 1929 Lt, RN
Fg Off John C Richards 29 Sep 1930 Lt, RN
Fg Off Herbert L Hayes 24 Nov 1930 Lt, RN
Fg Off John A D Wroughton 29 Sep 1930 Lt, RN
Fg Off Charles E St J Beamish 13 Jun 1929  

 Source - Air Force List July 1931

Date Location
 7 Nov 1931 RAF Base Kai Tak
23 Apr 1932 HMS Hermes

July 1932

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey IIIF HMS Hermes RAF Far East

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Richard M Trevethan  7 Aug 1931 Officer Commanding, MC
Fg Off Robert M Giddy 27 Jun 1931 Capt, RM
Fg Off John C Richards 29 Sep 1930 Lt, RN
Fg Off Herbert L Hayes 24 Nov 1930 Lt, RN
Fg Off John A D Wroughton 29 Sep 1930 Lt, RN
Fg Off George B Musson 20 Aug 1931  

Source - Air Force List July 1932

Date Location
28 Oct 1932 RAF Base Kai Tak
28 Nov 1932 HMS Hermes
 2 Dec 1932 RAF Base Kai Tak
30 Jan 1933 HMS Hermes
17 Feb 1933 RAF Base Kai Tak
11 Apr 1933 HMS Hermes
13 Apr 1933 RAF Base Kai Tak
 1 May 1933 HMS Hermes
 3 Jun 1933 RAF Base Kai Tak

It was redesignated No 824 Squadron on 11 June 1933.

Re-equipment and movement dates are based on those shown in 'Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm' by Ray Sturtivant

[Jul 1923 | Jan 1924 | May 1924 | Jan 1925 | Feb 1925 | Mar 1925 | Apr 1925 | May 1925 | Jun 1925 | Jul 1925 | Mar 1926 | Jul 1926 | Dec 1926 | Jul 1927 | Jul 1928 | Sep 1928 | Jul 1929 | Jul 1930 | Aug 1930 | Sep 1930 | Oct 1930 | Nov 1930 | Dec 1930 | Jul 1931 | Jul 1932]

This page was last updated on 08/07/19

         [Top of Page]