Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
No 820 Sqn Personnel, aircraft and locations
[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
Formed on 3 April 1933 from No 450 and part of No 445 (Fleet Spotter Reconnaissance) Flights at Gosport equipped with 9 Fairey IIIFs.
Movement Date | Location |
5 May 1933 | HMS Courageous |
12 May 1933 | Novar |
31 May 1933 | HMS Courageous |
Aircraft operated | For service aboard | Command/Group |
Fairey IIIF | HMS Courageous | Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Anthony P Colthurst | 2 May 1933 | Lt-Cdr, RN |
Flt Lt | Alan Brock | 2 May 1933 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | James E Fenton | 2 May 1933 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Lionel J S Ede | 2 May 1933 | |
Fg Off | Richard L Wallace | 2 May 1933 | |
Fg Off | 2 May 1933 | later ACM | |
Fg Off | John D Hayes | 1 May 1933 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Victor G Grenfell | 1 May 1933 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Norman E Morrison | 2 May 1933 |
Source - July 1933 Air Force List
Movement Date | Location |
30 Aug 1933 | Novar |
2 Nov 1933 | Gosport |
6 Nov 1933 | Manston |
8 Jan 1934 | Gosport |
Aircraft operated | For service aboard | Command/Group |
Fairey IIIF | HMS Courageous | Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Anthony P Colthurst | 2 May 1933 | Lt-Cdr, RN |
Flt Lt | Edward C T Edwards | 13 Sep 1933 | |
Flt Lt | James E Fenton | 2 May 1933 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | 2 May 1933 | later ACM | |
Fg Off | John D Hayes | 1 May 1933 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Victor G Grenfell | 1 May 1933 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Arthur R Burch | 7 Sep 1933 | Lt, RM |
Fg Off | Norman E Morrison | 2 May 1933 | |
Fg Off | Archibald M Doran | 21 Sep 1933 |
Source - January 1934 Air Force List
Movement Date | Location |
20 Feb 1934 | HMS Courageous |
13 Apr - 16 May 1934 | Gosport (detachment) |
26 Jun 1934 | Novar |
5 Jul 1934 | HMS Courageous |
7 Jul 1934 | Catfoss (No 1 ATC) |
Movement Date 'B' Flight | Location |
9 Jan 1934 | HMS Furious |
15 Jan 1934 | Gibraltar |
Aircraft operated | For service aboard | Command/Group |
Fairey IIIF Fairey Seal (from Jun 1934) |
HMS Courageous Shore station - Novar |
Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Sqn Ldr | Anthony P Colthurst | 2 May 1933 | Officer Commanding, Lt-Cdr, RN |
Flt Lt | James I Robertson | 17 Jan 1934 | Lt-Cdr, RN |
Flt Lt | Edward C T Edwards | 13 Sep 1933 | |
Fg Off | 2 May 1933 | later ACM | |
Fg Off | John D Hayes | 1 May 1933 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Victor G Grenfell | 1 May 1933 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Arthur R Burch | 7 Sep 1933 | Lt, RM |
Fg Off | Norman E Morrison | 2 May 1933 | |
Fg Off | Archibald M Doran | 21 Sep 1933 |
Source - July 1934 Air Force List
Movement Date | Location |
28 Jul 1934 | Upavon |
20 Aug 1934 | Gosport |
5 Sep 1934 | HMS Courageous |
11-30 Oct 1934 | Gosport (detachment) |
14 Nov 1934 | Gosport |
1 Jan 1935 | HMS Courageous |
25 Mar 1935 | Gosport |
15 Apr 1935 | North Coates (No 2 ATC) |
4 May 1935 | Gosport |
Aircraft operated | For service aboard | Command/Group |
Blackburn Shark I (from Dec 1934) | HMS Courageous Shore station - Gosport |
Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Sqn Ldr | Robert G Poole | 15 Apr 1935 | Officer Commanding, Lt-Cdr, RN |
Flt Lt | Edward C T Edwards | 13 Sep 1933 | |
Flt Lt | Robert C Dawkins | 2 Dec 1934 | |
Flt Lt | Nigel R M Skene | 7 Dec 1934 | Lt, RM |
Fg Off | Philip H Cardew | 22 Oct 1934 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Victor G Grenfell | 1 May 1933 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Richard J Cooper | 22 Oct 1934 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | William J Lucas | 15 Apr 1935 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Christopher F M Rambaut | 25 Jun 1934 | |
Fg Off | Philip R Robinson | 18 Apr 1935 | |
Fg Off | Nigel Hope | 25 Jun 1934 | |
Plt Off | Philip H Agard Butler | 4 Mar 1935 |
Source - July 1935 Air Force List
Movement Date 'A' Flight | Location |
29 Aug 1935 | HMS Courageous |
3 Oct 1935 | Aboukir |
9 Oct 1935 | HMS Courageous |
22 Nov 1935 | Aboukir |
12 Dec 1935 | HMS Courageous |
15 Dec 1935 | Hal Far |
21 Dec 1935 | HMS Courageous |
20 Feb 1936 | Aboukir |
'A' Flight operated 6 Baffins between August 1936 and February 1936.
Movement Date 'B' Flight | Location |
13 Jul 1936 | HMS Courageous |
20 Jul 1936 | Eastleigh |
Aircraft operated | For service aboard | Command/Group |
Blackburn Shark I | HMS Courageous Shore station - Eastleigh |
Coastal Command |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Sqn Ldr | Robert G Poole | 15 Apr 1935 | Officer Commanding, Lt-Cdr, RN |
Flt Lt | Robert C Dawkins | 2 Dec 1934 | |
Flt Lt | N W A Cullum | 1 Jan 1936 | |
Flt Lt | Nigel R M Skene | 7 Dec 1934 | Lt, RM |
Fg Off | Victor G Grenfell | 1 May 1933 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Richard J Cooper | 22 Oct 1934 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | William J Lucas | 15 Apr 1935 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Bernard W de Courcy-Ireland | 20 Aug 1935 | Lt, RM |
Fg Off | Nigel Hope | 25 Jun 1934 | |
Fg Off | J C Northey | 30 Nov 1935 | |
Fg Off | Eugene E Vielle | 11 Sep 1935 | |
Fg Off | Edward U G Solbé | 11 Sep 1935 | |
Fg Off | Henry de C A Woodhouse | 11 Sep 1935 | |
Fg Off | R L Johnston | 30 May 1936 | Lt, RN |
Source - July 1936 Air Force List
Movement Date | Location |
1-9 Aug 1936 | Returned to UK aboard HMT Neuralia |
Squadron recombined at Eastleigh | |
16 Nov 1936 | HMS Courageous |
17 Nov 1936 | Eastleigh |
19 Jan 1937 | HMS Courageous |
22 Mar 1937 | Eastleigh |
24 May 1937 | West Freugh (No 4 ATC) |
19 Jun 1937 | Eastleigh |
25 Jun 1937 | HMS Courageous |
Aircraft operated | For service aboard | Command/Group |
Blackburn Shark II (from Dec 1936) | HMS Courageous Shore station - Southampton |
Coastal Command |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Sqn Ldr | Robert G Poole | 15 Apr 1935 | Officer Commanding, Cdr, RN |
Sqn Ldr | C A N Hooper | ||
Flt Lt | Robert C Dawkins | 2 Dec 1934 | |
Flt Lt | N W A Cullum | 1 Jan 1936 | |
Flt Lt | P G Sugden | 1 Jan 1937 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Richard J Cooper | 22 Oct 1934 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | William J Lucas | 15 Apr 1935 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Bernard W de Courcy-Ireland | 20 Aug 1935 | Lt, RM |
Fg Off | J C Northey | 30 Nov 1935 | |
Fg Off | N T O'Neill | 17 Dec 1936 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | P E O'Brien | 17 Dec 1936 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Eugene E Vielle | 11 Sep 1935 | |
Fg Off | Edward U G Solbé | 11 Sep 1935 | |
Fg Off | Henry de C A Woodhouse | 11 Sep 1935 | |
Fg Off | R L Johnston | 30 May 1936 | Lt, RN |
Source - July 1937 Air Force List
Movement Date | Location |
22 Jul 1937 | Eastleigh |
26 Jul 1937 | Eastchurch (AAS) |
7 Aug 1937 | Southampton (Eastleigh) |
3 Sep 1937 | HMS Courageous |
1 Oct 1937 | Evanton (No 8 ATC) |
9 Oct 1937 | HMS Courageous |
1 Nov 1937 | Southampton (Eastleigh) |
10 Jan 1938 | HMS Courageous |
29 Mar 1938 | Southampton (Eastleigh) |
2 May 1938 | Evanton (No 8 ATC) |
4 Jun 1938 | HMS Courageous |
Aircraft operated | For service aboard | Command/Group |
Fairey Swordfish I (from Sep 1937) | HMS Courageous Shore station - Southampton |
Coastal Command |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Sqn Ldr | A C G Ermen | 19 Aug 1937 | Officer Commanding, Cdr, RN |
Flt Lt | J Dalyell-Stead | 3 Jan 1938 | Lt, RN |
Flt Lt | J C Northey | 30 Nov 1935 | |
Flt Lt | Henry de C A Woodhouse | 11 Sep 1935 | |
Fg Off | P G Sugden | 1 Jan 1937 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | N T O'Neill | 17 Dec 1936 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | P E O'Brien | 17 Dec 1936 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | R L Johnston | 30 May 1936 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | T S Rivett-Carnac | 11 Sep 1937 | |
Fg Off | J A C Karran | 24 Aug 1937 | |
Fg Off | D V W Francis | 14 Oct 1937 |
Source - July 1938 Air Force List
Movement Date | Location |
23 Jul 1938 | Southampton (Eastleigh) |
9 Sep 1938 | Evanton (No 8 ATC) |
24 Sep 1938 | HMS Courageous |
27 Oct 1938 | Southampton (Eastleigh) |
Aircraft operated | For service aboard | Command/Group |
Fairey Swordfish I | HMS Courageous Shore station - Southampton |
Coastal Command |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Sqn Ldr | A C G Ermen | 19 Aug 1937 | Officer Commanding, Cdr, RN |
Flt Lt | J Dalyell-Stead | 3 Jan 1938 | Lt, RN |
Flt Lt | Henry de C A Woodhouse | 11 Sep 1935 | |
Fg Off | P G Sugden | 1 Jan 1937 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | R N Everett | 11 Jul 1938 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | M R North | 28 Oct 1938 | Sub-Lt, RN |
Fg Off | T S Rivett-Carnac | 11 Sep 1937 | |
Fg Off | R S Hankey | 22 Aug 1938 | Sub-Lt, RN |
Fg Off | D V W Francis | 14 Oct 1937 | |
Fg Off | B E Boulding | 10 Nov 1938 | Sub-Lt, RN |
Fg Off | N M Hearle | 231 Nov 1938 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | H de G Hunter | 30 Nov 1938 | Sub-Lt, RN |
Source - January 1939 Air Force List
Movement Date | Location |
11 Jan 1939 | HMS Ark Royal |
20-23 Feb 1939 | Hal Far (Detachment) |
24 Mar 1939 | Southampton |
Aircraft operated | For service aboard | Command/Group |
Fairey Swordfish I | HMS Ark Royal Shore station - Southampton |
Coastal Command |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Sqn Ldr | A C G Ermen | 19 Aug 1937 | Officer Commanding, Cdr, RN |
Flt Lt | J Dalyell-Stead | 3 Jan 1938 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | P G Sugden | 1 Jan 1937 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | R N Everett | 11 Jul 1938 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | M R North | 28 Oct 1938 | Sub-Lt, RN |
Fg Off | T S Rivett-Carnac | 11 Sep 1937 | |
Fg Off | R S Hankey | 22 Aug 1938 | Sub-Lt, RN |
Fg Off | D V W Francis | 14 Oct 1937 | |
Fg Off | B E Boulding | 10 Nov 1938 | Sub-Lt, RN |
Fg Off | N M Hearle | 231 Nov 1938 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | H de G Hunter | 30 Nov 1938 | Sub-Lt, RN |
Source - April 1939 Confidential Air Force List
Movement Date | Location |
27 Apr 1939 | HMS Ark Royal |
Aircraft operated | For service aboard | Command/Group |
Fairey Swordfish I | HMS Ark Royal Shore station - Southampton |
Coastal Command |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Sqn Ldr | A C G Ermen | 19 Aug 1937 | Officer Commanding, Cdr, RN |
Flt Lt | J Dalyell-Stead | 3 Jan 1938 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | P G Sugden | 1 Jan 1937 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | R N Everett | 11 Jul 1938 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | M R North | 28 Oct 1938 | Sub-Lt, RN |
Fg Off | T S Rivett-Carnac | 11 Sep 1937 | |
Fg Off | R S Hankey | 22 Aug 1938 | Sub-Lt, RN |
Fg Off | D V W Francis | 14 Oct 1937 | |
Fg Off | B E Boulding | 10 Nov 1938 | Sub-Lt, RN |
Fg Off | N M Hearle | 231 Nov 1938 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | H de G Hunter | 30 Nov 1938 | Sub-Lt, RN |
Source - May 1939 Confidential Air Force List
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