Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
No 442 (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]
This was formed on 1 April 1923 at RAF Base Leuchars from No 205 Squadron equipped with Parnell Panthers.
Date | Location |
1 Apr 1923 | RAF Base Leuchars |
8 May 1923 | HMS Argus |
26 Jul 1923 | RAF Base Leuchars |
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Parnell Panther | RAF Base Leuchars | Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Obs Off | William A Thompson | 1 Apr 1923 |
Source - Air Force List July 1923
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Parnell Panther | RAF Base Leuchars | Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Bernard E Harrison | 1 May 1923 | Officer Commanding, AFC |
Flt Lt | Kenneth C Tilman | 25 Oct 1923 | |
Fg Off | William J Umpleby | 25 Oct 1923 | |
Fg Off | Bruce B Caswell | 1 May 1923 | |
Fg Off | George B Holmes | 25 Oct 1923 | |
Fg Off | George Lansdowne | 21 Nov 1923 | DFC |
Fg Off | Siegfried S Kirsten | 1 May 1923 | |
Fg Off | Harry K Waterfield | 1 May 1923 | |
Plt Off | Geoffrey L Worthington | 21 Nov 1923 | later AVM |
Plt Off | Richard Lewis | 1 May 1923 | |
Plt Off | 1 May 1923 | later A/Cdre |
Source - Air Force List January 1924
Date | Location |
10 Feb 1924 | HMS Argus (Detachments) |
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Parnell Panther | RAF Base Leuchars | Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Bernard E Harrison | 1 May 1923 | Officer Commanding, AFC |
Fg Off | William J Umpleby | 25 Oct 1923 | |
Fg Off | George B Holmes | 25 Oct 1923 | |
Fg Off | George Lansdowne | 21 Nov 1923 | DFC |
Fg Off | Siegfried S Kirsten | 1 May 1923 | |
Fg Off | Harry K Waterfield | 1 May 1923 | |
Plt Off | Geoffrey L Worthington | 21 Nov 1923 | later AVM |
Plt Off | Richard Lewis | 1 May 1923 | |
Plt Off | 1 May 1923 | later A/Cdre |
Source - Air Force List May 1924
Date | Location |
29 Jul 1924 | RAF Base Gosport |
5 Sep 1924 | HMS Argus |
21 Oct 1924 | RAF Base Leuchars |
The Panthers were replaced by Fairey IIIDs in October 1924.
Source - January 1925 Air Force List
Date | Location |
16 Jan 1925 | HMS Argus |
Source - February 1925 Air Force List
Source - March 1925 Air Force List
Source - April 1925 Air Force List
Source - May 1925 Air Force List
Source - June 1925 Air Force List
Date | Location |
5 Jun 1925 | RAF Base Leuchars |
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey IIID | RAF Base Leuchars | Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Bernard E Harrison | 1 May 1923 | Officer Commanding, AFC |
Fg Off | Herbert G Brookman | 14 May 1924 | |
Fg Off | Arthur D Drysdale | 4 Aug 1924 | |
Fg Off | Siegfried S Kirsten | 1 May 1923 | |
Fg Off | Eric D Cummings | 27 Apr 1925 | DFC |
Fg Off | 1 May 1923 | later A/Cdre | |
Fg Off | Carlos G H E Lumsden | 1 Dec 1924 | |
Naval Observer Officers employed with unit | |||
Lt Cdr | Geoffrey C E Hampden | 2 Sep 1924 | |
Lt Cdr | Ion W G White | 2 Sep 1924 | DSC |
Lt | Malcolm Farquhar | 2 Sep 1924 | |
Lt | Cecil L Howe | 2 Sep 1924 | |
Lt | Alexander G Rodger | 2 Sep 1924 |
Source - Air Force List July 1925
Date | Location |
4 Jul 1925 | HMS Argus |
31 Aug 1925 | RAF Base Leuchars |
xx Sep 1925 | HMS Argus |
xx Oct 1925 | RAF Base Leuchars |
by Feb 1926 | RAF Base Gosport |
by Mar 1926 | RAF Base Leuchars (according to AFL) |
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey IIID | RAF Base Leuchars | Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Bernard E Harrison | 1 May 1923 | Officer Commanding, AFC |
Fg Off | Herbert G Brookman | 14 May 1924 | |
Fg Off | Arthur D Drysdale | 4 Aug 1924 | |
Fg Off | Eric D Cummings | 27 Apr 1925 | DFC |
Fg Off | Arthur D Merriman | 5 Nov 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | 1 May 1923 | later A/Cdre | |
Fg Off | John W M Healing | 17 Nov 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Edward O F Price | 17 Nov 1925 | Lt, RN |
Naval Observer Officers employed with unit | |||
Lt Cdr | Malcolm Farquhar | 2 Sep 1924 | |
Lt Cdr | Geoffrey C E Hampden | 2 Sep 1924 | |
Lt Cdr | Ion W G White | 2 Sep 1924 | DSC |
Lt | Cecil L Howe | 2 Sep 1924 | |
Lt | Alexander G Rodger | 2 Sep 1924 |
Source - March 1926 Air Force List
Date | Location |
8 Jun 1926 | HMS Furious (Deck Landing Trials) |
14 Jun 1926 | RAF Base Leuchars |
26 Jun 1926 | RAF Base Gosport |
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey IIID | RAF Base Leuchars | Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Fg Off | Arthur D Drysdale | 4 Aug 1924 | |
Fg Off | Siegfried S Kirsten | 1 May 1923 | |
Fg Off | Eric D Cummings | 27 Apr 1925 | DFC |
Fg Off | Arthur D Merriman | 5 Nov 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | 1 May 1923 | later A/Cdre | |
Fg Off | John W M Healing | 17 Nov 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Edward O F Price | 17 Nov 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Austin N R Keene | 6 Apr 1926 | Lt, RN |
Naval Observer Officers employed with unit | |||
Lt Cdr | Geoffrey C E Hampden | 2 Sep 1924 | |
Lt Cdr | Ion W G White | 2 Sep 1924 | DSC |
Lt Cdr | Malcolm Farquhar | 2 Sep 1924 | |
Lt | Cecil L Howe | 2 Sep 1924 | |
Lt | Alexander G Rodger | 2 Sep 1924 |
Source - Air Force List July 1926
Date | Location |
12 Oct 1926 | RAF Base Leuchars |
27 Oct 1926 | RAF Base Gosport (to Far East) |
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey IIID | HMS Tamar (Hong Kong) | China Station |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | William D Gairdner | 2 Aug 1926 | Officer Commanding, DFC |
Fg Off | Arthur D Merriman | 5 Nov 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | 1 May 1923 | later A/Cdre | |
Fg Off | John W M Healing | 17 Nov 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Edward O F Price | 17 Nov 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Austin N R Keene | 6 Apr 1926 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | John W Hawkins | 17 Aug 1926 | Lt, RN |
Source - December 1926 Air Force List
Date | Location |
xx Feb 1927 | HMS Hermes |
10 Feb 1927 | RAF Base Kai Tak |
27 Apr 1927 | HMS Hermes |
5 May 1927 | RAF Base Kai Tak |
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey IIID | HMS Tamar (Hong Kong) | China Station |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | William D Gairdner | 2 Aug 1926 | Officer Commanding, DFC |
Fg Off | 1 May 1923 | later A/Cdre | |
Fg Off | John W M Healing | 17 Nov 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Austin N R Keene | 6 Apr 1926 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Noel R Courthorpe-Munroe | 21 Dec 1926 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | John W Hawkins | 17 Aug 1926 | Lt, RN |
Source - Air Force List July 1927
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey IIID | HMS Tamar (Hong Kong) | China Station |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | William D Gairdner | 2 Aug 1926 | Officer Commanding, DFC |
Fg Off | 1 May 1923 | later A/Cdre | |
Fg Off | John W M Healing | 17 Nov 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Austin N R Keene | 6 Apr 1926 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Francis W N Bassett | 7 Mar 1928 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | John W Hale | 9 Sep 1927 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Faulkner M V May | 7 Mar 1928 | |
Fg Off | Eric B Webb | 7 Mar 1928 |
Source - Air Force List July 1928
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey IIID | HMS Tamar (Hong Kong) | China Station |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | William D Gairdner | 2 Aug 1926 | Officer Commanding, DFC |
Fg Off | 1 May 1923 | later A/Cdre | |
Fg Off | John W M Healing | 17 Nov 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Austin N R Keene | 6 Apr 1926 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Francis W N Bassett | 7 Mar 1928 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | John W Hale | 9 Sep 1927 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Faulkner M V May | 7 Mar 1928 | |
Fg Off | Eric B Webb | 7 Mar 1928 |
Source - September 1928 Air Force List
Date | Location |
1 Jan 1929 | HMS Hermes |
xx xxx 1929 | RAF Base Kai Tak |
2 Apr - 3 May 1929 | HMS Hermes (Detachment) |
14 May 1929 | HMS Hermes (Detachment) |
10 Jun 1929 | Wei-hai-Wei |
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey IIID | RAF Base Kai Tak | China Station |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | William D Gairdner | 2 Aug 1926 | Officer Commanding, DFC |
Fg Off | Francis W N Bassett | 7 Mar 1928 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | John W Hale | 9 Sep 1927 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Faulkner M V May | 7 Mar 1928 | |
Fg Off | Eric B Webb | 7 Mar 1928 | |
Fg Off | Albert R Ward | 13 Nov 1928 | |
Plt Off | Samuel L Blunt | 25 Jan 1929 | |
Plt Off | Charles E St J Beamish | 25 Jan 1929 |
Source - Air Force List July 1929
Date | Location |
29 Aug 1929 | HMS Hermes |
20 Oct 1929 | RAF Base Kai Tak |
24 Jan - 31 Mar 1930 | HMS Hermes (Detachment) |
10 Jun - 28 Jul 1930 | HMS Hermes (Detachment) |
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey IIID | RAF Base Kai Tak | China Station |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Fg Off | Frank M R Stephenson | 4 Oct 1929 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Francis W N Bassett | 7 Mar 1928 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Eric B Webb | 7 Mar 1928 |
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 |
4 Aug 1930 | HMS Hermes |
23 Sep 1930 | RAF Lee-on-Solent |
xx Oct 1930 | RAF Base Gosport |
23 Mar 1931 | RAF Base Leuchars |
27 Apr 1931 | Novar |
30 May 1931 | RAF Base Leuchars |
Fairey IIIFs replaced the IIIDs in October 1930.
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey IIIF | RAF Base Gosport | Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Frank M R Stephenson | 4 Oct 1929 | Officer Commanding, Lt Cdr, RN |
Fg Off | Peter C Fair | 11 Jan 1931 | |
Fg Off | Patrick W Humphreys | 13 Oct 1930 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | John G Llewelyn | 1 Nov 1930 | |
Fg Off | John Constable-Roberts | 6 Nov 1930 | later A/Cdre |
Source - Air Force List July 1931
Date | Location |
13 Sep 1931 | Novar |
30 Sep - 8 Oct 1931 | RAF Base Gosport (Detachment) |
14 Oct 1931 | HMS Courageous |
10 Nov 1931 | RAF Netheravon |
xx Dec 1931 | RAF Base Gosport |
14 Jan 1932 | HMS Courageous |
13 Mar 1932 | RAF Base Gosport |
13 Mar 1932 | HMS Furious |
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey IIIF | RAF Base Gosport | Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Cyril B Tidd | 3 Dec 1931 | Officer Commanding, Lt Cdr, RN |
Fg Off | George F Renwick | 26 May 1932 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Edward J E Burt | 5 Apr 1932 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Patrick W Humphreys | 13 Oct 1930 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Richard A Beynon | 10 Aug 1931 | |
Fg Off | Wallace H Kyle | 2 Jul 1931 | later ACM |
Source - Air Force List July 1932
Date | Location |
20 Jul 1932 | RAF Base Gosport |
30 Aug 1932 | HMS Furious |
17-18 Oct 1932 | Novar (Detachment) |
24 Oct 1932 - 4 Jan 1933 | RAF Netheravon (Detachment) |
13 Jan 1933 | RAF Hal Far |
17 Jan 1933 | HMS Furious |
24 Mar1933 | RAF Netheravon |
It was absorbed into No 822 Squadron as 'A' Flight 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