Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
HQ Unit on board HMS Courageous
[Jul 1928 | Sep 1928 | Jul 1929 | Jul 1930 | Aug 1930 | Sep 1930 | Oct 1930 | Nov 1930 | Dec 1930 | Jul 1931 | Jul 1932 | Jul 1933 | Jan 1934 | Jul 1934 | Jul 1935 | Jul 1936 | Jul 1937 | Jul 1938 | Jan 1939 | Apr 1939 | May 1939]
Aug 1936 |
Source - August 1936 Air Force List
With the formation of the RAF on 1 April 1918, all British military and naval aircraft came under its control. This included all aircraft operated from ships of the Royal Navy, leading to the situation whereby the air and ground crews on board these ships were members of the RAF and the crews of the ships were members of the Royal Navy. Effectively the small RAF staffs on board the ship operated in much the same way as the staff at a shore based RAF station, the airfield being the flight deck of the carrier. Whilst on board ship the RAF personnel were subject to Naval discipline under the jurisdiction of the ship's captain, the senior RAF officer acting as the captain's air advisor.
Initially a number of squadrons were allocated to man the carriers these being No 3 Squadron, No 203 Squadron, No 210 Squadron and No 205 Squadron but on 1 April the RAF formed the Fleet Air Arm of The RAF and these squadrons were split up into a series of smaller Flights numbered in the 400 series.
Originally laid down at the Armstrong-Whitworth yard in Newcastle upon Tyne on 28 March 1915 as a battlecruiser, it was launched on 5 February 1916 and commissioned on 4 November. Following the Armistice it was placed on reserve in 1919 and then used as a turret drill ship at Portsmouth. It as moved to Devonport in June 1924 for conversion to fleet carrier, being commissioned on 21 February 1928. It was lost on 17 September 1939 after being torpedoed by the U-29 off the west coast of Ireland.
The HQ Unit was formed on 21 February 1928 and presumably disbanded on the transfer of the FAA to the Royal Navy in 1939.
Fleet | Units operated |
Mediterranean Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | 21 Feb 1928 | DSO, DSC, DFC; later AVM | |
Sqn Ldr | Siegfried R Watkins | 21 Feb 1928 | AFC |
Flt Lt | David Drover | 11 Apr 1928 | Engineer duties |
Flt Lt | Edgar T Carpenter | 21 Feb 1928 | Signal duties, AFC |
Flt Lt | Adrian W Franklyn | 21 Feb 1928 | Armament duties, MC |
Stores Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Frank E Shersby |
22 Feb 1928 |
Source - Air Force List July 1928
Fleet | Units operated |
Mediterranean Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | 21 Feb 1928 | DSO, DSC, DFC; later AVM | |
Sqn Ldr | Siegfried R Watkins | 21 Feb 1928 | AFC |
Flt Lt | David Drover | 11 Apr 1928 | Engineer duties |
Flt Lt | Edgar T Carpenter | 21 Feb 1928 | Signal duties, AFC |
Flt Lt | Adrian W Franklyn | 21 Feb 1928 | Armament duties, MC |
Stores Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Frank E Shersby |
22 Feb 1928 |
Source - September 1928 Air Force List
Fleet | Units operated |
Mediterranean Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | 21 Feb 1928 | DSO, DSC, DFC; later AVM | |
Sqn Ldr | 1 Apr 1929 | DSC; later A/Cdre | |
Flt Lt | David Drover | 11 Apr 1928 | Engineer duties |
Flt Lt | Edgar T Carpenter | 21 Feb 1928 | Signal duties, AFC |
Flt Lt | Adrian W Franklyn | 21 Feb 1928 | Armament duties, MC |
Fg Off | Alexander H Montgomery | 24 Aug 1928 | later A/Cdre |
Stores Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Frank E Shersby |
22 Feb 1928 |
Source - Air Force List July 1929
Fleet | Units operated |
Mediterranean Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Raymond Collishaw | 2 Aug 1929 | DSO, OBE, DSC, DFC; later AVM |
Stores Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Frank E Shersby |
22 Feb 1928 |
Source - Air Force List July 1930
Source - August 1930 Air Force List
Source - September 1930 Air Force List
No 449 Flight served aboard from September 1930 until May 1931.
Source - October 1930 Air Force List
Source - November 1930 Air Force List
Source - December 1930 Air Force List
Fleet | Units operated |
Home Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Raymond Collishaw | 2 Aug 1929 | DSO, OBE, DSC, DFC; later AVM |
Sqn Ldr | Albert Durston | 31 Mar 1931 | AFC; later AM |
Flt Lt | Cuthbert C Bazell | 20 Jan 1930 | Signal duties, |
Flt Lt | Roland A R Mangles | 12 Aug 1930 | Armament duties |
Flt Lt | Frank H Whitmore | 15 Apr 1929 | Engineer duties, MBE, DSC |
Fg Off | 17 Apr 1931 | later A/Cdre | |
Stores Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Frank E Shersby |
22 Feb 1928 |
Source - Air Force List July 1931
No 442 Flight served aboard from October 1931 until March 1932.
Fleet | Units operated |
Home Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Raymond Collishaw | 2 Aug 1929 | DSO, OBE, DSC, DFC; later AVM |
Sqn Ldr | Albert Durston | 31 Mar 1931 | AFC; later AM |
Flt Lt | Cuthbert C Bazell | 20 Jan 1930 | Signal duties, |
Flt Lt | Robert J Montgomery-Moore | 29 Mar 1932 | Adjutant |
Flt Lt | Roland A R Mangles | 12 Aug 1930 | Armament duties |
Flt Lt | Frank H Whitmore | 15 Apr 1929 | Engineer duties, MBE, DSC |
Fg Off | 17 Apr 1931 | later A/Cdre | |
Stores Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Eric L Ridley |
4 Sep 1931 |
later A/Cdre |
Source - Air Force List July 1932
Fleet | Units operated |
Home Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Leonard H Slatter | 22 Aug 1932 | OBE, DSC, DFC; later AM |
Sqn Ldr | Hedley V Drew | 23 Dec 1932 | OBE, AFC |
Flt Lt | Robert J Montgomery-Moore | 29 Mar 1932 | Adjutant |
Flt Lt | Roland A R Mangles | 12 Aug 1930 | Armament duties |
Flt Lt | Frank H Whitmore | 15 Apr 1929 | Engineer duties, MBE, DSC |
Flt Lt | Frank W Foster | 30 Jun 1932 | Signal duties, DFC, DSM |
Stores Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Eric L Ridley |
4 Sep 1931 |
later A/Cdre |
Warrant Officer - 2nd Class | |||
WO II | Frederick Stevens |
30 Oct 1931 |
Source - Air Force List July 1933
Fleet | Units operated |
Home Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Leonard H Slatter | 22 Aug 1932 | OBE, DSC, DFC; later AM |
Sqn Ldr | Hedley V Drew | 23 Dec 1932 | OBE, AFC |
Sqn Ldr | Tom O Clogstoun | 7 Jul 1933 | Engineer duties |
Flt Lt | Robert J Montgomery-Moore | 29 Mar 1932 | Adjutant |
Flt Lt | Roland A R Mangles | 12 Aug 1930 | Armament duties |
Flt Lt | Frank W Foster | 30 Jun 1932 | Signal duties, DFC, DSM |
Stores Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Hugh J Young |
15 Aug 1933 |
|
Warrant Officer - 2nd Class | |||
WO II | Frederick Stevens |
30 Oct 1931 |
Source - January 1934 Air Force List
Fleet | Units operated |
Home Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Leonard H Slatter | 22 Aug 1932 | OBE, DSC, DFC; later AM |
Sqn Ldr | Hedley V Drew | 23 Dec 1932 | OBE, AFC |
Sqn Ldr | Tom O Clogstoun | 7 Jul 1933 | Engineer duties |
Flt Lt | Alfred D Rogers | 12 Feb 1934 | Adjutant, AFC; later A/Cdre |
Flt Lt | Joseph C C Slater | 18 Dec 1933 | Armament duties |
Flt Lt | Frank W Foster | 30 Jun 1932 | Signal duties, DFC, DSM |
Equipment Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Hugh J Young |
15 Aug 1933 |
|
Warrant Officer - 2nd Class | |||
WO II | Frederick Stevens |
30 Oct 1931 |
Source - Air Force List July 1934
Fleet | Units operated |
Home Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Brian E Baker | 23 May 1935 | DSO, MC, AFC; later AM |
Wg Cdr | Leonard H Slatter | 22 Aug 1932 | OBE, DSC, DFC; later AM |
Sqn Ldr | Tom O Clogstoun | 7 Jul 1933 | Engineer duties |
Sqn Ldr | 6 May 1935 | later A/Cdre | |
Flt Lt | Joseph C C Slater | 18 Dec 1933 | Armament duties |
Flt Lt | Anthony Leach | 23 Apr 1935 | MC |
Flt Lt | Frank W Foster | 30 Jun 1932 | Signal duties, DFC, DSM |
Stores Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Hugh J Young |
15 Aug 1933 |
|
Warrant Officer | |||
WO | George Bottomley | 25 Apr 1935 |
Source - Air Force List July 1935
No 822B Squadron served aboard from August to September 1935. From September 1935 until February 1936 it served with the Mediterranean Fleet
Fleet | Units operated |
Home Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Brian E Baker | 23 May 1935 | DSO, MC, AFC; later AM |
Sqn Ldr | Tom O Clogstoun | 7 Jul 1933 | Engineer duties |
Sqn Ldr | J H F Burroughs | 5 Feb 1936 | Lt Cdr, RN |
Flt Lt | Joseph C C Slater | 18 Dec 1933 | Armament duties |
Flt Lt | D V Ivins | 6 Apr 1936 | Adjutant |
Flt Lt | Frank W Foster | 30 Jun 1932 | Signal duties, DFC, DSM |
Stores Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Hugh J Young |
15 Aug 1933 |
|
Warrant Officer | |||
WO | F Gostelow | 30 Mar 1936 |
Source - Air Force List July 1936
Fleet | Units operated |
Home Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | E W Anstice | 1 Jul 1936 | Cdr, RN |
Wg Cdr | R St A Malleson | 1 Jun 1937 | Cdr, RN, AFC |
Sqn Ldr | J C Brooke | 6 Jul 1936 | Engineer duties, DSC |
Sqn Ldr | J H F Burroughs | 5 Feb 1936 | Lt Cdr, RN |
Flt Lt | Frank W Foster | 30 Jun 1932 | Signal duties, DFC, DSM |
Flt Lt | 5 Jul 1936 | Adjutant? AFC; later AVM | |
Flt Lt | M F D Williams | 18 Jan 1937 | Armament duties |
Equipment Branch | |||
Flt Lt | P Alderson | 15 Jul 1936 | |
Warrant Officer | |||
WO | F Gostelow | 30 Mar 1936 |
Source - Air Force List July 1937
Fleet | Units operated |
Home Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | E W Anstice | 1 Jul 1936 | Cdr, RN |
Wg Cdr | R St A Malleson | 1 Jun 1937 | Cdr, RN, AFC |
Sqn Ldr | J C Brooke | 6 Jul 1936 | Engineer duties, DSC |
Flt Lt | Frank W Foster | 30 Jun 1932 | Signal duties, DFC, DSM |
Equipment Branch | |||
Flt Lt | P Alderson | 15 Jul 1936 | |
Warrant Officer | |||
WO | F Gostelow | 30 Mar 1936 |
Source - Air Force List July 1938
Fleet | Units operated |
Home Fleet |
|
Rank | Name |
Date |
Notes |
Wg Cdr | J Noakes | 12 Dec 1938 | AFC, MM |
Act Wg Cdr | J H F Burroughs | 5 Feb 1936 | Lt Cdr, RN |
Sqn Ldr | A O Molesworth | 12 Dec 1938 | Armament duties |
Flt Lt | M F D Williams | 18 Jan 1937 | Armament duties |
Fg Off | R N Lambert | 12 Dec 1938 | Adjutant |
Equipment Branch | |||
Sqn Ldr | E F Smith | 14 Oct 1937 | |
Flt Lt | Roland G Seymour |
12 Dec 1938? |
later A/Cdre |
Warrant Officer | |||
WO | F Gostelow | 30 Mar 1936 |
Source - Air Force List January 1939
Fleet | Units operated |
Home Fleet |
|
Rank | Name |
Date |
Notes |
Wg Cdr | J Noakes | 12 Dec 1938 | AFC, MM |
Sqn Ldr | A O Molesworth | 12 Dec 1938 | Armament duties |
Fg Off | R N Lambert | 12 Dec 1938 | Adjutant |
Equipment Branch | |||
Sqn Ldr | E F Smith | 14 Oct 1937 | |
Flt Lt | Roland G Seymour |
12 Dec 1938? |
later A/Cdre |
Commissioned Engineer Officer | |||
Fg Off | F Stevens | ||
Commissioned Signals Officer | |||
Fg Off | F H V Gould | ||
Warrant Officer | |||
WO | E G Cheesman | 12 Dec 1938 |
Source - Confidential Air Force List April 1939
Fleet | Units operated |
Home Fleet |
|
Rank | Name |
Date |
Notes |
Wg Cdr | J Noakes | 12 Dec 1938 | AFC, MM |
Sqn Ldr | A O Molesworth | 12 Dec 1938 | Armament duties |
Fg Off | R N Lambert | 12 Dec 1938 | Adjutant |
Equipment Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Roland G Seymour |
12 Dec 1938? |
later A/Cdre |
Commissioned Engineer Officer | |||
Fg Off | F Stevens | ||
Commissioned Signals Officer | |||
Fg Off | F H V Gould | ||
Warrant Officer | |||
WO | E G Cheesman | 12 Dec 1938 |
Source - Confidential Air Force List May 1939
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This page was last updated on 08/07/19