Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

 

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No 1 Group Personnel, units and locations

[Apr 1920 | Jul 1920 | Jul 1921 | Jul 1922 | Jul 1923 | Jul 1925 | Jul 1936 | Jul 1937 | Jul 1938 | Jan 1939 | Apr 1939 | May 1939 | Dec 1939 | Sep 1940 | Jun 1941 | Jul 1942 | Dec 1943 | Jun 1944 | Jun 1945]

April 1920

Location Command
RAF Kenley Inland Area

 

Rank Name Branch Notes
Gp Capt Hugh C T Dowding   Officer Commanding, CMG; later ACM
Wg Cdr Kennedy G Brooks   CMG
Wg Cdr Ivor G Vaughan-Fowler   AFC
Rev (Wg Cdr) Robert E V Hanson Chaplain OBE, MA
Sqn Ldr Eric R C Nanson S DFC, AFC
Sqn Ldr William S Douglas A later MRAF
Flt Lt Reginald J Sancean A  
Flt Lt Norman H Bottomley SO AFC; later ACM
Flt Lt William J Dew Ad MBE
Fg Off George E Ranson A & S  
Fg Off George A Curtis T  
Fg Off John B Runciman Stores Hon Flt Lt
Fg Off Thomas H Jolley Stores  

Source - April 1920 Air Force List

July 1920

Location Command Controlled
RAF Kenley Inland Area

  • No 24 Squadron - Kenley

  • No 39 Squadron (cadre) - Kenley

  • Wireless Station - Kenley

  • Armament and Gunnery School - Eastchurch

  • No 1 Stores Depot - Kidbrooke

    • Armament Repair and Gun Testing Section - Kidbrooke

    • Wireless Repair Section - Kidbrooke

    • Wireless Station - Kidbrooke

    • Photographic Repair Section - Kidbrooke

    • Tool Repair Section - Kidbrooke

    • MT Spares Repair Section - Kidbrooke

    • Inland Area Hanger Party - Kidbrooke

    • Port Detachment - Victoria Dock

  • Medical Services Depot - Shed M, Kidbrooke

  • Central Pay Office - Woking

  • General Services Pay Office - London WC2

  • Meteorological Section - Croydon

  • Balloon Stores Depot - Kingsnorth

  • No 6 Stores Depot - West Ascot

    • No 6 Sub-Stores Depot - St Pancras

  • 'Q' Stores Depot - Feltham

  • Instrument Design Establishment - Biggin Hill

  • School of Technical Training (Men) - Manston

  • No 25 Squadron (cadre) - Hawkinge

  • Inland Area Aircraft Depot - Henlow

  • No 4 Stores Depot - Ruislip

  • No 3 Stores Depot - Milton

  • Wireless Station - Milton

  • Wireless Station - Biggin Hill

  • Imperial War Museum (RAF Section) - Catford

 

Rank Name Branch Date Notes
Gp Capt Hugh C T Dowding     Officer Commanding, CMG; later ACM
Wg Cdr Kennedy G Brooks     CMG
Wg Cdr Ivor G Vaughan-Fowler     AFC
Rev (Wg Cdr) Robert E V Hanson Chaplain   OBE, MA
Sqn Ldr Eric R C Nanson S   DFC, AFC
Sqn Ldr William S Douglas A   later MRAF
Flt Lt Reginald J Sancean A    
Flt Lt Norman H Bottomley SO   AFC; later ACM
Flt Lt William J Dew Ad   MBE
Fg Off George E Ranson A & S    
Fg Off George A Curtis T    
Fg Off John B Runciman Stores   Hon Flt Lt
Fg Off Thomas H Jolley Stores    

Source - July 1920 Air Force List

July 1921

Location Command Controlled
RAF Kenley Inland Area

  • No 24 Squadron - Kenley

  • No 39 Squadron (cadre) - Kenley

  • Wireless Station - Kenley

  • Armament and Gunnery School - Eastchurch

  • No 1 Stores Depot - Kidbrooke

    • Armament Repair and Gun Testing Section - Kidbrooke

    • Wireless Repair Section - Kidbrooke

    • Wireless Station - Kidbrooke

    • Photographic Repair Section - Kidbrooke

    • Tool Repair Section - Kidbrooke

    • MT Spares Repair Section - Kidbrooke

    • Inland Area Hanger Party - Kidbrooke

    • Port Detachment - Victoria Dock

  • Medical Services Depot - Shed M, Kidbrooke

  • Central Pay Office - Woking

  • General Services Pay Office - London WC2

  • Meteorological Section - Croydon

  • Balloon Stores Depot - Kingsnorth

  • No 6 Stores Depot - West Ascot

    • No 6 Sub-Stores Depot - St Pancras

  • 'Q' Stores Depot - Feltham

  • Instrument Design Establishment - Biggin Hill

  • School of Technical Training (Men) - Manston

  • No 25 Squadron (cadre) - Hawkinge

  • Inland Area Aircraft Depot - Henlow

  • No 4 Stores Depot - Ruislip

  • No 3 Stores Depot - Milton

  • Wireless Station - Milton

  • Wireless Station - Biggin Hill

  • Imperial War Museum (RAF Section) - Catford

 

Rank Name Branch Date Notes
Gp Capt Hugh C T Dowding   29 Feb 1920 Officer Commanding, CMG; later ACM
Wg Cdr Henry Le M Brock    7 Jun 1920 DSO; later A/Cdre
Wg Cdr Guy C St P de Dombasle   12 May 1920 OBE
Sqn Ldr John O Archer A 30 Apr 1920 CBE
Sqn Ldr Gerald G Adeley Ad 20 Sep 1920  
Flt Lt Cyril Porri T 15 Dec 1920  
Flt Lt Reginald J Sancean A 24 Oct 1919  
Flt Lt Robert G Home Ad  9 Apr 1920  
Flt Lt William J Dew Ad 23 Feb 1920 MBE
Stores Officers
Sqn Ldr William R Bruce Stores 18 May 1920 OBE
Flt Lt Walter Thorne Stores 12 Apr 1920 later AVM
Fg Off George A Curtis Stores 17 Mar 1920  
Chaplains
Rev (Wg Cdr) Robert E V Hanson Chaplain  1 Mar 1920 OBE, MA

Source - July 1921 Air Force List

Branches: A = Aeroplane, A & S = Aeroplane and Seaplane, Ad = Administrative, S = Seaplane, SO = Staff Officer, T = Technical.

July 1922

Location Command Controlled
RAF Kenley Inland Area

  • No 24 Squadron - Kenley

  • Armament and Gunnery School - Eastchurch

  • Care and Maintenance Party - Biggin Hill

  • Signal Co-operation Flight - Biggin Hill

  • School of Technical Training (Men) - Manston

    • Armoured Car Details - Manston

  • No 25 Squadron - Hawkinge

  • No 1 Stores Depot - Kidbrooke

    • Port Detachment - West India Dock

  • Medical Services Depot - Shed M, Kidbrooke

  • No 4 Stores Depot - Ruislip

  • The Packing Depot - Ascot

  • Imperial War Museum (RAF Section) - Crystal Palace

  • Central Pay Office - Woking (to be disbanded)

    • Base Pay Office (France) - Woking

  • Record Office - Ruislip

  • No 2 Flying Training School - Duxford

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Gp Capt

Eugene L Gerrard

 27 Feb 1922 Officer Commanding, CMG, DSO; later A/Cdre
Wg Cdr Henry Le M Brock  7 Jun 1920 DSO; later A/Cdre
Wg Cdr Guy C St P de Dombasle 12 May 1920 OBE
Wg Cdr William L Welsh  1 Jun 1922 DSC, AFC; later AM
Sqn Ldr John O Archer 30 Apr 1920 CBE
Sqn Ldr Gerald G Adeley 20 Sep 1920  
Flt Lt Reginald J Sancean 24 Oct 1919  
Flt Lt William J Dew 23 Feb 1920 MBE
Fg Off James Rodger 24 Apr 1922 DSM
Stores Officers
Sqn Ldr William R Bruce 18 May 1920 OBE
Flt Lt Walter Thorne 12 Apr 1920 later AVM
Chaplains
Rev (Gp Capt) Robert E V Hanson  1 Mar 1920 OBE, MA

Source - July 1922 Air Force List

July 1923

Location Command Controlled
RAF Kenley Inland Area

  • No 24 Squadron - Kenley

    • Signal Co-operation Flight - Kenley

  • No 32 Squadron (HQ and 1 flight) - Kenley

  • Armament and Gunnery School - Eastchurch

  • No 5 Wing HQ - Biggin Hill

    • No 56 Squadron (HQ and 2 flights) - Biggin Hill

  • School of Technical Training (Men) - Manston

  • Care and Maintenance Party - Hawkinge

  • Inland Area Communication Flight - Northolt

  • Superintendent of RAF Reserves - Northolt

  • No 12 Squadron (HQ and 1 flight) - Northolt

  • No 41 Squadron (HQ and 1 flight) - Northolt

  • No 1 Stores Depot - Kidbrooke

    • Port Detachment - West India Dock

  • Medical Services Depot - Shed M, Kidbrooke

  • No 4 Stores Depot - Ruislip

  • The Packing Depot - Ascot

  • Record Office - Ruislip

 

Rank Name Date Notes
A/Cdre

Eugene L Gerrard

 27 Feb 1922 Air Officer Commanding, CMG, DSO
Wg Cdr George F Pretyman 15 Apr 1923 DSO, OBE
Wg Cdr Henry R Busteed 16 Apr 1923 OBE, AFC; later A/Cdre
Sqn Ldr John O Archer 30 Apr 1920 CBE
Sqn Ldr Gerald G Adeley 20 Sep 1920  
Flt Lt William J Dew 23 Feb 1920 MBE
Fg Off Charles R Strudwick  8 Apr 1923  
Fg Off James Rodger 24 Apr 1922 DSM
Fg Off James W Lissett  4 Apr 1923  
Stores Officers
Sqn Ldr Eric Rivers-Smith 12 Sep 1922  
Flt Lt Walter Thorne 12 Apr 1920 later AVM

Source - July 1923 Air Force List

July 1925

Location Command Controlled
RAF Kidbrooke Inland Area

  • No 1 Stores Depot - Kidbrooke

    • Port Detachment - West India Dock

  • Medical Services Depot - Shed M, Kidbrooke

  • No 3 Stores Depot - Milton

  • No 4 Stores Depot - Ichenham

  • The Packing Depot - Ascot

  • Record Office - Ruislip

  • Reception Depot - West Drayton

  • Armament and Gunnery School - Eastchurch

  • No 207 (Bombing) Squadron - Eastchurch

  • School of Technical Training (Men) - Manston

  • No 2 (Army Co-operation) Squadron - Manston

  • No 9 (Bombing) Squadron - Manston

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Gp Capt

Phillip L W Herbert

 31 Dec 1924 Officer Commanding, CMG, CBE; later A/Cdre
Wg Cdr Thomas O'B Hubbard 27 Oct 1924 MC, AFC
Wg Cdr

John H S Tyssen

 19 May 1924 MC; later AVM
Sqn Ldr William G Sitwell  1 Sep 1924 DSC
Flt Lt Brian D S Tuke 14 May 1925  
Flt Lt Arthur S G Lee 15 Jul 1924 MC; later AVM
Flt Lt

Charles R Steele

 27 May 1924 DFC; later AM
Fg Off Harold F Luck 10 Nov 1924  
Stores Branch
Sqn Ldr Francis G M Williams  1 Nov 1924  
Flt Lt Alfred Jukes 19 May 1924 MBE
Education Officer
Flt Lt Herbert P Bridges   Grade III, BA, LLB, RAFO also shown with No 6 Group

Source - July 1925 Air Force List

Redesignated No 21 Group on 12 April 1926

Reformed as No 1 (Bomber) Group on 1 May 1936 by redesignating Central Area

July 1936

Location Command Controlled
RAF Abingdon Air Defence of Great Britain

  • SHQ Abingdon

    • No 15 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 40 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 98 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 104 (Bomber) Squadron

    • Station Flight

  • SHQ Bircham Newton

    • No 18 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 21 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 34 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 35 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 49 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 207 (Bomber) Squadron

  • SHQ Upper Heyford

    • No 33 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 57 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 218 (Bomber) Squadron

  • Oxford University Air Squadron - Abingdon

 

Rank Name Date Notes
A/Cdre

Owen T Boyd

  1 May 1936 Air Officer Commanding, OBE, MC, AFC; later AM
Air Staff
Gp Capt

William J M Guilfoyle

  1 May 1936 Senior Air Staff Officer, OBE, MC; later A/Cdre
Wg Cdr Roger H G Neville  1 May 1936  
Sqn Ldr A H H MacDonald  1 May 1936  
Capt K P Smith  1 May 1936 Royal Berkshire Regiment
Personnel Staff
Wg Cdr E B Beauman  1 May 1936 Senior Personnel Staff Officer
Equipment Staff
Wg Cdr Philip H Cummings  1 May 1936 Senior Equipment Staff Officer, DFC
Engineer Section
Flt Lt Charles F C Coaker  1 May 1936  
Stores Section
Sqn Ldr Henry E T Crocker  1 May 1936  
Sqn Ldr A Walters  1 May 1936  
Attached to the Staff
Armament
Flt Lt Wilfred Wynter-Morgan  1 May 1936 MC
Navigation
Sqn Ldr George H Harrison  1 May 1936  
Services
Signals
Sqn Ldr William W Hart  1 May 1936 Chief Signals Officer
Accountant
Sqn Ldr

Percy J Farmer

  1 May 1936 Group Accountant; later A/Cdre
Medical
Wg Cdr Richard J Aherne  3 Oct 1933 Principal Medical Officer, LRCP & S
Educational
Lt Col Robert K Pillers  2 Sep 1935 Grade II, OBE, BSc, MIAE
Works
Mr S Dexter   Superintending Engineer
Miscellaneous Appointment
Hon Flt Lt (Fg Off) W H E Tew   Civilian Assistant, RAFO
Warrant Officer
WO I Frederick A Coombs 31 Oct 1933 Signals

Source - July 1936 Air Force List

Transferred to the control of Bomber Command on 14 July 1936

July 1937

Location Command Controlled
RAF Abingdon Bomber Command

  • SHQ Abingdon

    • No 15 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 40 (Bomber) Squadron

    • Station Flight

    • Otmoor Bombing Range

  • SHQ Bicester

    • No 90 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 101 (Bomber) Squadron

  • SHQ Cranfield

    • No 62 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 82 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 108 (Bomber) Squadron

  • SHQ Harwell

    • No 105 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 107 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 226 (Bomber) Squadron

  • SHQ Lympne

    • No 21 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 34 (Bomber) Squadron

  • SHQ Upper Heyford

    • No 18 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 57 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 113 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 218 (Bomber) Squadron

  • SHQ Usworth

    • No 103 (Bomber) Squadron

  • Oxford University Air Squadron - Abingdon

 

Rank Name Date Notes
A/Cdre

Sydney W Smith

  7 Jan 1937 Air Officer Commanding, OBE; later A/Cdre
Personal Appointment
Plt Off A H Smythe 13 Jan 1937 Personal Assistant to AOC
Air Staff
Gp Capt

William J M Guilfoyle

  1 May 1936 Senior Air Staff Officer, OBE, MC; later A/Cdre
Wg Cdr W D Bostock 27 Jul 1936 OBE, RAAF
Sqn Ldr C A Hoy 17 Sep 1936 MC
Flt Lt P W M Wright 10 Feb 1937  
Capt K P Smith  1 May 1936 Royal Berkshire Regiment
Personnel Staff
Wg Cdr E B Beauman  1 May 1936 Senior Personnel Staff Officer
Hon Flt Lt (Fg Off) W H E Tew   RAFO
Services
Signals
Sqn Ldr William W Hart  1 May 1936 Chief Signals Officer
Supernumerary
Wg Cdr C W Mackey  4 Jun 1937

Source - July 1937 Air Force List

July 1938

Location Command Controlled
RAF Abingdon Bomber Command

  • SHQ Abingdon

    • No 15 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 40 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 106 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 185 (Bomber) Squadron

    • Station Flight

    • Otmoor Bombing Range

  • SHQ Andover

    • No 12 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 44 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 142 (Bomber) Squadron

    • Station Flight

    • Porton Bombing Range

  • Staff College - Andover

  • SHQ Bicester

    • No 90 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 101 (Bomber) Squadron

  • SHQ Boscombe Down

    • No 88 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 218 (Bomber) Squadron

  • SHQ Harwell

    • No 105 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 107 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 226 (Bomber) Squadron

  • SHQ Lympne

    • No 21 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 34 (Bomber) Squadron

  • SHQ Upper Heyford

    • No 18 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 57 (Bomber) Squadron

    • Long Range Development Unit

  • No 103 (Bomber) Squadron - Usworth

  • Oxford University Air Squadron - Abingdon

 

Rank Name Date Notes
AVM Patrick H L Playfair 17 Feb 1938 Air Officer Commanding, CB, MC; later AM
Personal Appointment
Plt Off J A Slater 6 Apr 1938 Personal Assistant to AOC
Air Staff
A/Cdre

Arthur C Wright

 28 Mar 1938 Senior Air Staff Officer, AFC; later A/Cdre
Wg Cdr

Archibald J Rankin

 1 Nov 1937 OBE, AFC; later A/Cdre
Sqn Ldr F S Hodder  1 Jan 1938  
Sqn Ldr P W M Wright 10 Feb 1937 Maintenance Liaison
Flt Lt J Coverdale 24 Aug 1937  
Capt R F Ware  3 May 1937 Durham Light Infantry, MC
Personnel Staff
Hon Flt Lt (Fg Off) W H E Tew   RAFO
Attached to the Staff
Armament
Flt Lt J Goodhart 11 Feb 1938  
Navigation
Sqn Ldr Geoffrey I L Saye 14 Aug 1937 AFC; later AVM
Services
Signals
Hon Sqn Ldr (Flt Lt) William W Hart   Chief Signals Officer, RAFO
Warrant Officer
WO II A Callender 29 Nov 1937 Administrative

Source - July 1938 Air Force List

January 1939

Location Command Controlled
RAF Abingdon Bomber Command

  • SHQ Abingdon

    • No 15 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 40 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 103 (Bomber) Squadron

    • Station Flight

    • Otmoor Bombing Range

  • SHQ Andover

    • No 12 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 142 (Bomber) Squadron

    • Station Flight

    • Porton Bombing Range

  • Staff College - Andover

  • SHQ Bicester

    • No 90 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 101 (Bomber) Squadron

  • SHQ Boscombe Down

    • No 88 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 150 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 218 (Bomber) Squadron

  • No 21 (Bomber) Squadron - Eastchurch

  • SHQ Harwell

    • No 105 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 107 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 226 (Bomber) Squadron

  • SHQ Lympne

  • SHQ Upper Heyford

    • No 18 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 34 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 57 (Bomber) Squadron

    • Long Range Development Unit

  • Oxford University Air Squadron - Abingdon

 

Rank Name Date Notes
AVM Patrick H L Playfair 17 Feb 1938 Air Officer Commanding, CB, MC; later AM
Personal Appointment
Plt Off J A Slater 6 Apr 1938 Personal Assistant to AOC
Air Staff
A/Cdre

Arthur C Wright

 28 Mar 1938 Senior Air Staff Officer, AFC; later A/Cdre
Wg Cdr

Archibald J Rankin

 1 Nov 1937 OBE, AFC; later A/Cdre
Sqn Ldr F S Hodder  1 Jan 1938  
Capt R F Ware  3 May 1937 Durham Light Infantry, MC
Personnel Staff
Wg Cdr E F Turner 20 Jun 1938 Senior Personnel Staff Officer, AFC
Wg Cdr J C P Wood 12 Dec 1938  
Flt Lt W H Day   RAFO
Attached to the Staff
Armament
Flt Lt J Goodhart 11 Feb 1938  
Navigation
Sqn Ldr Geoffrey I L Saye 14 Aug 1937 AFC; later AVM
Services
Signals
Hon Sqn Ldr (Flt Lt) William W Hart   Chief Signals Officer, RAFO
Warrant Officer
WO A Callender 29 Nov 1937 Administrative

Source - January 1939 Air Force List

April 1939

Location Command Controlled
RAF Abingdon Bomber Command

  • SHQ Abingdon

    • No 15 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 40 (Bomber) Squadron

    • Station Flight

    • Otmoor Bombing Range

  • SHQ Andover

    • No 12 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 142 (Bomber) Squadron

    • Station Flight

    • Porton Bombing Range

  • Staff College - Andover

  • No 11 (Fighter) Group Pool - Andover*

  • SHQ Benson

    • No 103 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 150 (Bomber) Squadron

  • SHQ Bicester

    • No 90 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 101 (Bomber) Squadron

  • SHQ Boscombe Down

    • No 88 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 218 (Bomber) Squadron

  • SHQ Harwell

    • No 105 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 107 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 226 (Bomber) Squadron

  • Oxford University Air Squadron - Abingdon**

*Under No 11 (Fighter) Group for training

**Directly under the Air Ministry for training

 

Rank Name Date Notes
AVM Patrick H L Playfair 17 Feb 1938 Air Officer Commanding, CB, MC; later AM
Personal Appointment
Plt Off J A Slater 6 Apr 1938 Personal Assistant to AOC
Air Staff
A/Cdre

Arthur C Wright

 28 Mar 1938 Senior Air Staff Officer, AFC; later A/Cdre
Wg Cdr C J D Dearlove  7 Jan 1939  
Wg Cdr

Thomas M Williams

20 Feb 1939 MC, DFC; later AM
Sqn Ldr F S Hodder  1 Jan 1938  
Maj R F Ware  3 May 1937 Durham Light Infantry, MC
Flt Lt J W Buchanan  2 Dec 1938  
Personnel Staff
Wg Cdr J C P Wood 12 Dec 1938 Senior Personnel Staff Officer
Flt Lt W H Day   RAFO
Attached to the Staff
Armament
Sqn Ldr W N Elwy-Jones 20 Jan 1939  
Navigation
Sqn Ldr Geoffrey I L Saye 14 Aug 1937 AFC; later AVM
Services
Signals
Flt Lt

Harold G Leonard-Williams

  6 Mar 1939 later AVM
Hon Sqn Ldr (Flt Lt) William W Hart   RAFO
Equipment
Sqn Ldr J E V Tysack 31 Dec 1938  
Warrant Officer
WO L T Card 10 Dec 1938 Signals
WO A Callender 29 Nov 1937 Administrative

Source - April 1939 Confidential Air Force List

May 1939

Location Command Controlled
RAF Abingdon Bomber Command

  • SHQ Abingdon

    • No 15 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 40 (Bomber) Squadron

    • Station Flight

    • Otmoor Bombing Range

  • SHQ Andover

    • Porton Bombing Range

  • Staff College - Andover

  • SHQ Benson

    • No 103 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 150 (Bomber) Squadron

  • SHQ Bicester

    • No 12 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 142 (Bomber) Squadron

  • SHQ Boscombe Down

    • No 88 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 218 (Bomber) Squadron

  • SHQ Harwell

    • No 105 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 226 (Bomber) Squadron

  • Oxford University Air Squadron - Abingdon**

**Directly under the Air Ministry for training

 

Rank Name Date Notes
AVM Patrick H L Playfair 17 Feb 1938 Air Officer Commanding, CB, MC; later AM
Personal Appointment
Plt Off J A Slater 6 Apr 1938 Personal Assistant to AOC
Air Staff
A/Cdre

Arthur C Wright

 28 Mar 1938 Senior Air Staff Officer, AFC; later A/Cdre
Wg Cdr C J D Dearlove  7 Jan 1939  
Wg Cdr

Thomas M Williams

20 Feb 1939 MC, DFC; later AM
Sqn Ldr F S Hodder  1 Jan 1938  
Maj R F Ware  3 May 1937 Durham Light Infantry, MC
Flt Lt J W Buchanan  2 Dec 1938  
Personnel Staff
Wg Cdr J C P Wood 12 Dec 1938 Senior Personnel Staff Officer
Flt Lt W H Day   RAFO
Attached to the Staff
Armament
Sqn Ldr W N Elwy-Jones 20 Jan 1939  
Navigation
Sqn Ldr Geoffrey I L Saye 14 Aug 1937 AFC; later AVM
Services
Signals
Flt Lt

Harold G Leonard-Williams

  6 Mar 1939 later AVM
Hon Sqn Ldr (Flt Lt) William W Hart   RAFO
Equipment
Sqn Ldr J E V Tysack 31 Dec 1938  
Miscellaneous
Lt G E Cooper Code and Cypher duties
Warrant Officer
WO L T Card 10 Dec 1938 Signals
WO A Callender 29 Nov 1937 Administrative

Source - May 1939 Confidential Air Force List

Redesignated Advanced Air Striking Force on 24 August 1939 but reformed on 12 September 1939 to control the first echelon of the AASF (the Battle squadrons) on the arrival of the second echelon (Blenheims of No 2 Group) in France.

December 1939

Location Command Controlled
RAF Benson Bomber Command (for allocation to Advanced Air Striking Force) None

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Act AVM Arthur C Wright  3 Sep 1939 Air Officer Commanding, AFC
Air Staff
A/Cdre Leonard H Slatter  3 Sep 1939 Senior Air Staff Officer, OBE, DSC, DFC; later AM
Wg Cdr Sydney E Toomer 12 Sep 1939 DFC; later AVM
Sqn Ldr P G Scott 12 Sep 1939  
Fg Off V A Stoneham  3 Sep 1939  
Plt Off E Evans 12 Sep 1939  
Plt Off J R Pearson 12 Sep 1939  
Plt Off H Dinwoodie 12 Sep 1939  
Plt Off W Ridley 12 Sep 1939  
Plt Off J W Wthes 12 Sep 1939  
Administrative
Sqn Ldr H H Martin 25 Aug 1939  
       
Staffs of the Staff
Armament
Sqn Ldr A M N David 12 Sep 1939  
Navigation
Sqn Ldr Brian K Burnett 13 Sep 1939 later ACM
Signals
Sqn Ldr

Lawrence P Moore

12 Sep 1939 later A/Cdre
Fg Off R Hall 29 Aug 1939  
Engineer
Sqn Ldr Phillip Slocombe  8 Oct 1939 later A/Cdre
Equipment
Sqn Ldr E G Northway 12 Sep 1939  

Source - December 1939 Confidential Air Force List

Following the decision to postpone the despatch of No 2 Group's units to France, No 1 Group was disbanded again on 22 December 1939.

It reformed on 24 June 1940 as No 1 (Bomber) Group at Hucknall in Nottinghamshire.

June 1941

Location Command Controlled
RAF Hucknall, Nottinghamshire Bomber Command

  • SHQ RAF Binbrook

    • No 12 Squadron

    • No 142 Squadron

  • SHQ RAF Newton

    • No 103 Squadron

    • No 150 Squadron

  • SHQ RAF Swinderby

    • No 300 (Polish) Squadron

    • No 301 (Polish) Squadron

  • SHQ RAF Syerston

    • No 304 (Polish) Squadron

    • No 305 (Polish) Squadron

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Act AVM Robert D Oxland 27 Nov 1940 Air Officer Commanding, OBE
Air Staff
Gp Capt Richard Harrison  7Dec 1940 Senior Air Staff Officer, DFC, AFC later AVM
Wg Cdr N Young 28 Jun 1940  
Wg Cdr Allen Hesketh  3 Dec 1940 OBE, DFC; later AVM
Wg Cdr Rex L Kippenberger  1 Jul 1940 later A/Cdre
Sqn Ldr J W Duggan 11 Jan 1941  
Sqn Ldr R E Baxter 31 Mr 1941  
Sqn Ldr S S Bertram 10 May 1941  
Fg Off E R H Pollak 27 Jun 1940 MC
Fg Off G M Pitts-Tucker  8 Jul 1940  
Fg Off L W B Parsons  5 Aug 1940  
Plt Off E M Summers 12 Jul 1940  
Plt Off W A Tansley 31 Jul 1940  
Plt Off E A Eames 19 Nov 1940  
Plt Off W W Bradford 10 May 1941  
Plt Off A M O Becheraisse 14 May 1941  
Administrative Staff
Wg Cdr W P Harvey  1 Jul 1940 Organisation Duties
Sqn Ldr W H Day 28 Jun 1940 Senior Administrative Staff Officer
Flt Lt J A Pring 23 Dec 1940 MBE
Plt Off C Butler 23 Sep 1940 Personnel Duties
Plt Off P G Peerless 13 Jan 1941  
Staffs of the Staff
Navigation
Sqn Ldr C Charlton-Jones 20 Nov 1940  
Engineer
Sqn Ldr H Stanton 22 Nov 1940  
Sqn Ldr M A Smith 28 Apr 1941  
Signals
Wg Cdr Bryan D Nicholas  1 Jul 1940 later A/Cdre
Fg Off W Tomlinson 11 Jul 1940  
Plt Off H W Simpson 30 Aug 1940  
Armament
Fg Off H L Whitlock  3 Nov 1940  
Equipment
Sqn Ldr F W Whittaker  1 Jan 1941  
Sqn Ldr S G Aylwin  1 Feb 1941  
Medical
Wg Cdr P D Barling 19 Jul 1940 Senior Medical Officer, MB, ChB
Fg Off H F M Finzel 17 Jan 1941 MD, BS, MRCS, LRCP
Meteorological
Sqn Ldr W H Bigg   Senior Meteorological Officer, BSc
Physical Training
Plt Off J E Ongley 20 Dec 1940  
Miscellaneous Appointments
Fg Off W H Carr-Birkbeck 18 Jul 1940  
Fg Off A E Mayers   BSc
Plt Off H C Mathew 11 Jul 1940  
Plt Off T D G Carstairs 28 Nov 1940  
Plt Off P L Burley  1 Jan 1941  

Source - June 1941 Confidential Air Force List

It moved to Bawtry Hall in Nottinghamshire (later South Yorkshire) on 20 July 1941

July 1942

 

Source - July 1942 Confidential Air Force List

December 1943

 

Source - December 1943 Confidential Air Force List

June 1944

 

Source - June 1944 Confidential Air Force List

June 1945

Source - June 1944 Confidential Air Force List

[Apr 1920 | Jul 1920 | Jul 1921 | Jul 1922 | Jul 1923 | Jul 1925 | Jul 1936 | Jul 1937 | Jul 1938 | Jan 1939 | Apr 1939 | May 1939 | Dec 1939 | Sep 1940 | Jun 1941 | Jul 1942 | Dec 1943 | Jun 1944 | Jun 1945]

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