Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
HQ No 17 Group Personnel, units and locations
[Jul 1937 | Jul 1938 | Jan 1939 | Apr 1939 | May 1939 | Dec 1939 | Jun 1941 | Jul 1942 | Dec 1943 | Jun 1944 | Jun 1945 | Jul 1945]
Reformed as No 17 (Training) Group in Coastal Command on 1 December 1936 at Wykeham Hall, Lee-on-Solent
Location | Command | |
RAF Lee-on-Solent | Coastal Command |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
A/Cdre | 5 Mar 1937 | Air Officer Commanding, AFC; later AVM | |
Air Staff | |||
Gp Capt | 1 Jan 1937 | Senior Air Staff Officer, DSO, MC, DFC, AFC; later AM | |
Wg Cdr | H S Powell | 19 May 1937 | MC |
Sqn Ldr | C R Smythe | 11 Jan 1937 | Maintenance Liaison |
Personnel Staff | |||
Sqn Ldr | H E King | 1 Dec 1936 | Senior Personnel Staff Officer |
Attached to the Staff | |||
Armament | |||
Sqn Ldr | R S Bruce | 1 Jan 1937 | MBE |
Navigation | |||
Flt Lt | 29 Dec 1936 | later AVM | |
Services | |||
Signals | |||
Sqn Ldr | B A S Lewis | 1 Dec 1936 |
Source - July 1937 Air Force List
The HQ for this Group moved to RAF Le-on-Solent on 1 December 1937.
Location | Command | |
RAF Lee-on-Solent | Coastal Command |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
A/Cdre | 5 Mar 1937 | Air Officer Commanding, AFC; later AVM | |
Air Staff | |||
Gp Capt | L C Keeble | 10 Jun 1937 | Senior Air Staff Officer, |
Wg Cdr | H S Powell | 19 May 1937 | MC |
Sqn Ldr | C R Smythe | 11 Jan 1937 | Maintenance Liaison |
Personnel Staff | |||
Sqn Ldr | H E King | 1 Dec 1936 | Senior Personnel Staff Officer |
Flt Lt | F E Bishop | MBE, RAFO | |
Attached to the Staff | |||
Armament | |||
Sqn Ldr | R S Bruce | 1 Jan 1937 | MBE |
Navigation | |||
Sqn Ldr | Walter H Hutton | 7 Feb 1938 | later A/Cdre |
Photography | |||
Fg Off | A E L Worster | 29 Jul 1937 | Commissioned Photography Officer |
Services | |||
Signals | |||
Sqn Ldr | V F Whatling | 5 Jul 1937 | DSM |
Source - July 1938 Air Force List
Location | Command | |
RAF Lee-on-Solent | Coastal Command |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
A/Cdre | 13 Nov 1938 | Air Officer Commanding, AFC; later A/Cdre | |
Air Staff | |||
Gp Capt | L C Keeble | 10 Jun 1937 | Senior Air Staff Officer, |
Wg Cdr | J H Butler | 16 Aug 1938 | |
Sqn Ldr | C R Smythe | 11 Jan 1937 | Maintenance Liaison |
Personnel Staff | |||
Sqn Ldr | H E King | 1 Dec 1936 | Senior Personnel Staff Officer |
Flt Lt | F E Bishop | MBE, RAFO | |
Attached to the Staff | |||
Armament | |||
Sqn Ldr | R S Bruce | 1 Jan 1937 | MBE |
Navigation | |||
Sqn Ldr | Walter H Hutton | 7 Feb 1938 | later A/Cdre |
Photography | |||
Fg Off | A E L Worster | 29 Jul 1937 | Commissioned Photography Officer |
Services | |||
Signals | |||
Sqn Ldr | V F Whatling | 5 Jul 1937 | DSM |
Source - January 1939 Air Force List
The HQ for this Group moved to Fort Grange, Gosport on 24 February 1939.
Location | Command | |
Fort Grange, Gosport | Coastal Command |
*For training purposes |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
A/Cdre | 13 Nov 1938 | Air Officer Commanding, AFC; later A/Cdre | |
Air Staff | |||
Gp Capt | L C Keeble | 10 Jun 1937 | Senior Air Staff Officer, |
Wg Cdr | J H Butler | 16 Aug 1938 | |
Wg Cdr | C R Smythe | 11 Jan 1937 | Maintenance Liaison |
Personnel Staff | |||
Sqn Ldr | H E King | 1 Dec 1936 | Senior Personnel Staff Officer |
Flt Lt | F E Bishop | MBE, RAFO | |
Attached to the Staff | |||
Armament | |||
Sqn Ldr | R S Bruce | 1 Jan 1937 | MBE |
Navigation | |||
Sqn Ldr | F R Wortington | 31 Dec 1938 | |
Sqn Ldr | Walter H Hutton | 7 Feb 1938 | later A/Cdre |
Photography | |||
Fg Off | A E L Worster | 29 Jul 1937 | Commissioned Photography Officer |
Services | |||
Signals | |||
Sqn Ldr | V F Whatling | 5 Jul 1937 | DSM |
Source - April 1939 Confidential Air Force List
Location | Command | |
Fort Grange, Gosport | Coastal Command |
*For training purposes |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
A/Cdre | 13 Nov 1938 | Air Officer Commanding, AFC; later A/Cdre | |
Air Staff | |||
Gp Capt | L C Keeble | 10 Jun 1937 | Senior Air Staff Officer, |
Wg Cdr | J H Butler | 16 Aug 1938 | |
SQn Ldr | H P Burwood | 13 Mar 1939 | |
Personnel Staff | |||
Sqn Ldr | H E King | 1 Dec 1936 | Senior Personnel Staff Officer |
Flt Lt | F E Bishop | MBE, RAFO | |
Attached to the Staff | |||
Armament | |||
Sqn Ldr | R S Bruce | 1 Jan 1937 | MBE |
Navigation | |||
Sqn Ldr | F R Wortington | 31 Dec 1938 | |
Sqn Ldr | Walter H Hutton | 7 Feb 1938 | later A/Cdre |
Photography | |||
Fg Off | A E L Worster | 29 Jul 1937 | Commissioned Photography Officer |
Services | |||
Signals | |||
Sqn Ldr | V F Whatling | 5 Jul 1937 | DSM |
Miscellaneous |
|||
Capt | R W Scoles | Code and Cypher duties, late RAF |
Source - May 1939 Confidential Air Force List
Location | Command | |
Fort Grange, Gosport | Coastal Command |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
A/Cdre | 13 Nov 1938 | Air Officer Commanding, AFC; later A/Cdre | |
Air Staff | |||
Gp Capt | H W Evens | 31 Aug 1939 | Senior Air Staff Officer, |
Sqn Ldr | H P Burwood | 13 Mar 1939 | |
Personnel Staff | |||
Wg Cdr | J H Butler | 16 Aug 1938 | Senior Administrative Officer |
Sqn Ldr | E S Borthwick-Clarke | 25 Aug 1939 | |
Flt Lt | F E Bishop | MBE, RAFO | |
Administrative Staff | |||
Wg Cdr | |||
Staffs of the Services | |||
Armament | |||
Sqn Ldr | R S Bruce | 1 Jan 1937 | MBE |
Navigation | |||
Sqn Ldr | F R Wortington | 31 Dec 1938 | |
Sqn Ldr | Walter H Hutton | 7 Feb 1938 | later A/Cdre |
Photography | |||
Fg Off | A E L Worster | 29 Jul 1937 | Commissioned Photography Officer |
Signals | |||
Flt Lt | W R heywood | 2 Oct 1939 | |
Medical | |||
Wg Cdr | T J D Atteridge | 7 Nov 1939 | Senior Medical Officer |
Miscellaneous |
|||
Capt | R W Scoles | Code and Cypher duties, late RAF |
Source - December 1939 Confidential Air Force List
Location | Command | |
Fort Grange, Gosport | Coastal Command |
* Station in No 16 Group |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
A/Cdre | 13 Nov 1938 | Air Officer Commanding, AFC; later A/Cdre | |
Personal Appointment | |||
Plt Off | F W Jelpké | 1 Jul 1940 | Personal Assistant to AOC |
Air Staff | |||
Gp Capt | Richard B Maycock | 18 Oct 1940 | Senior Air Staff Officer, OBE; later A/Cdre |
Flt Lt | N E Maitland | 18 Nov 1940 | |
Fg Off | P V Burton | 9 Apr 1940 | |
Fg Off | D O Thomas | 28 Jun 1940 | |
Plt Off | L H R Lewis | 28 Oct 1939 | |
Plt Off | S E Ellis | 10 Dec 1940 | |
Plt Off | V Purvis | 14 Mar 1941 | |
Administrative Staff | |||
Wg Cdr | E S Borthwick-Clarke | 25 Aug 1939 | Senior Administrative Officer |
Sqn Ldr | W G Rae | 1 Jan 1940 | |
Sqn Ldr | R E X Mack | 27 Jan 1941 | DFC |
Fg Off | W H Gibson | 9 Jul 1940 | |
Plt Off | V Millard | 11 Jan 1941 | |
Staffs of the Services | |||
Navigation | |||
Wg Cdr | Denis Finlay | 20 Nov 1940 | later A/Cdre |
Engineer | |||
Sqn Ldr | L P Gibson | 16 Feb 1941 | |
Flt Lt | L E Vine | 14 Feb 1941 | |
Signals | |||
Wg Cdr | B A S Lewin | 8 Jan 1941 | Chief Signals Officer |
Plt Off | L L R Burch | 17 Mar 1941 | |
Armament | |||
Sqn Ldr | A F Hards | 16 Oct 1940 | |
Fg Off | I Custerton | 8 Feb 1941 | |
Photography | |||
Fg Off | A E L Worster | 29 Jul 1937 | |
Physical Training | |||
Plt Off | H E R Morris | 5 Sep 1940 | |
Equipment | |||
Flt Lt | J K Osborne | 21 Apr 1941 | |
Medical | |||
Wg Cdr | T J D Atteridge | 7 Nov 1939 | Senior Medical Officer, MRCS, LRCP |
Flt Lt | J A S Green | 2 Aug 1940 | MB, BS, MRCS, LRCP |
Fg Off | G G Harill | 3 Aug 1940 | MRCS, LRCP |
Miscellaneous Appointments |
|||
Flt Lt | R W Scoles | 1 Sep 1939 | |
Fg Off | J D Loughnan | 20 Jan 1941 | |
Plt Off | H Slaney | 23 Nov 1939 | |
Plt Off | W E Goodyear | 21 Jan 1941 |
Source - June 1941 Confidential Air Force List
Location | Command | |
Fort Grange, Gosport | Coastal Command |
* Station in No 16 Group |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
A/Cdre | Harry G Smart | 17 Nov 1941 | Air Officer Commanding, CBE, DFC, AFC; later AVM |
Air Staff | |||
Wg Cdr | E C Kidd | 14 Apr 1942 | Senior Air Staff Officer, AFC, AFM |
Wg Cdr | Denis Finlay | 20 Nov 1940 | later A/Cdre |
Sqn Ldr | F W Murison | 6 Jan 1941 | |
Sqn Ldr | N F Eagleton | 1 Mar 1942 | DFC |
Flt Lt | H Burchall | 5 Dec 1941 | |
Administrative Staff | |||
Flt Lt | T H E Edwards | 21 Jul 1941 | Senior Administrative Staff Officer |
Flt Lt | J D Bowen | 18 Mar 1942 | |
Flt Lt | W H Gibson | 9 Jul 1940 | |
Fg Off | A Connell | 12 Mar 1942 | |
Fg Off | W E Ladd | 1 Dec 1941 | |
Plt Off | R D Sheardown | 21 Feb 1941 | |
Plt Off | J W Foley-Brickley | 25 May 1942 | |
Staffs of the Services | |||
Navigation | |||
Sqn Ldr | D A Robertson | 7 Aug 1941 | DFC |
Engineer | |||
Sqn Ldr | L E Vine | 14 Feb 1941 | |
Signals | |||
Wg Cdr | B A S Lewin | 8 Jan 1941 | Chief Signals Officer |
Plt Off | E S Sherwell | 15 Feb 1942 | |
Armament | |||
Flt Lt | J Mills | 17 Nov 1941 | AFC |
Fg Off | C A B Rome | 2 Jan 1942 | |
Photography | |||
Flt Lt | A E L Worster | 1 Nov 1941 | |
Equipment | |||
Flt Lt | W Harraway | 2 Jun 1941 | |
Accountant | |||
Fg Off | I Chantler | 10 Mar 1942 | |
Medical | |||
Wg Cdr | T J D Atteridge | 7 Nov 1939 | Senior Medical Officer, MRCS, LRCP |
Dental | |||
Fg Off | A M Kinghorn | 3 Feb 1942 | LDS |
Fg Off | J C Watson | 3 Feb 1942 | LDS |
WAAF Staff Officers | |||
SO | M G Blain | 23 Mar 1942 | WAAF |
RAF Regiment | |||
Lt Col | J E Willows | 24 Feb 1942 | |
Flt Lt | E H N O'Farrell | 28 Feb 1942 | |
Miscellaneous Appointments |
|||
Flt Lt | J L Scott | 1 Jan 1942 | |
Flt Lt | E G Hollis | 13 Jan 1942 | |
Fg Off | F A Robshaw | 6 Jan 1942 | |
Plt Off | G A Herliby | 12 Jan 1942 | |
Plt Off | R H Matthews | 21 Apr 1942 |
Source - July 1942 Confidential Air Force List
Location | Command | |
Fort Grange, Gosport | Coastal Command |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
AVM | Harry G Smart | 17 Nov 1941 | Air Officer Commanding, CBE, DFC, AFC |
Air Staff | |||
Gp Capt | Peter D Cracroft | 28 May 1943 | Senior Air Staff Officer, AFC; later AVM |
Wg Cdr | Robert E Craven | 13 Jul 1942 | DFC; later AM |
Wg Cdr | E P W Hutton | 21 Oct 1943 | DFC, AFC |
Sqn Ldr | A Wattrill | 1 Jun 1943 | |
Sqn Ldr | T A Trotter | 8 Sep 1943 | |
Sqn Ldr | F H Stubbs | 23 Aug 1943 | DFM |
Sqn Ldr | E S Farrand | 10 Sep 1943 | |
Administrative Staff | |||
Gp Capt | R W Hill | 18 Oct 1943 | Senior Administrative Staff Officer |
Wg Cdr | E C Chesterton | 23 Aug 1943 | |
Sqn Ldr | J D Bowen | 18 Mar 1942 | |
Sqn Ldr | A Connell | 12 Mar 1942 | |
Staffs of the Services | |||
Navigation | |||
Sqn Ldr | R G English | 25 May 1943 | |
Engineer | |||
Wg Cdr | H Preston | 22 Feb 1943 | |
Sqn Ldr | W L Lewis | 12 Oct 1942 | |
Signals | |||
Wg Cdr | F Wilmshurst | 5 Jun 1942 | Chief Signals Officer, DSM |
Sqn Ldr | C S Hawley | 21 Nov 1942 | MBE |
Equipment | |||
Sqn Ldr | E M Maurice | 14 Jul 1943 | Senior Equipment Staff Officer |
Medical | |||
Wg Cdr | J C H Allan | 23 Jul 1943 | Senior Medical Officer, MB, ChB |
WAAF Staff Officers | |||
Sqn Off | E Taylor | 16 Sep 1943 | WAAF |
RAF Regiment | |||
Lt Col | M Bennetts | MC | |
Sqn Ldr | K W J Robertson | 26 Jan 1943 |
Source - December 1943 Confidential Air Force List
Location | Command | |
Fort Grange, Gosport | Coastal Command |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
AVM | Harry G Smart | 17 Nov 1941 | Air Officer Commanding, CBE, DFC, AFC |
Air Staff | |||
Gp Capt | Peter D Cracroft | 28 May 1943 | Senior Air Staff Officer, AFC; later AVM |
Wg Cdr | J R Leggate | 6 Mar 1944 | DSO |
Sqn Ldr | A Wattrill | 1 Jun 1943 | |
Sqn Ldr | T A Trotter | 8 Sep 1943 | |
Sqn Ldr | E S Farrand | 10 Sep 1943 | |
Sqn Ldr | P H Florence | 20 Apr 1943 | |
Administrative Staff | |||
Gp Capt | R W Hill | 18 Oct 1943 | Senior Officer i/c Administration |
Wg Cdr | E C Chesterton | 23 Aug 1943 | |
Sqn Ldr | J D Bowen | 18 Mar 1942 | |
Sqn Ldr | A Connell | 12 Mar 1942 | |
Staffs of the Services | |||
Navigation | |||
Sqn Ldr | G Frain | 22 Feb 1944 | |
Engineer | |||
Wg Cdr | H Preston | 22 Feb 1943 | |
Sqn Ldr | W L Lewis | 12 Oct 1942 | |
Signals | |||
Wg Cdr | W A H Cullum | 26 Nov 1943 | |
Sqn Ldr | C S Hawley | 21 Nov 1942 | MBE |
Equipment | |||
Sqn Ldr | E A Thomas | 5 Feb 1944 | |
Medical | |||
Wg Cdr | J C H Allan | 23 Jul 1943 | Senior Medical Officer, MB, ChB |
Education | |||
Mr | J W L Adams | 8 Apr 1944 | MA, RAFVR |
WAAF Staff Officers | |||
Sqn Off | E Taylor | 16 Sep 1943 | WAAF |
RAF Regiment | |||
Lt Col | M Bennetts | 30 Oct 1943 | MC |
Sqn Ldr | K W J Robertson | 26 Jan 1943 |
Source - June 1944 Confidential Air Force List
Location | Command | |
58 Melville Street, Edinburgh 3 | Coastal Command |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
AVM | Harry G Smart | 17 Nov 1941 | Air Officer Commanding, CBE, DFC, AFC |
Air Staff | |||
Gp Capt | J R Leggate | 6 Mar 1944 | Senior Air Staff Officer, DSO |
Wg Cdr | T A Trotter | 8 Sep 1943 | |
Sqn Ldr | E S Farrand | 10 Sep 1943 | |
Sqn Ldr | G Frain | 22 Feb 1944 | MBE |
Sqn Ldr | T H Hall | 15 Mar 1945 | |
Sqn Ldr | F B Everest | 12 Jun 1944 | |
Sqn Ldr | D Worth | 1 May 1944 | |
Sqn Ldr | P H Florence | 20 Apr 1943 | |
Administrative Staff | |||
Gp Capt | J Bussey | 17 Feb 1945 | Senior Officer i/c Administration |
Wg Cdr | E C Chesterton | 23 Aug 1943 | |
Sqn Ldr | J D Bowen | 18 Mar 1942 | |
Sqn Ldr | A Connell | 12 Mar 1942 | |
Staffs of the Services | |||
Engineer | |||
Wg Cdr | J C Steadman | 16 Sep 1944 | |
Sqn Ldr | W L Lewis | 12 Oct 1942 | |
Signals | |||
Wg Cdr | R W Williams | 7 Sep 1944 | |
Armament | |||
Sqn Ldr | R H Matthews | 30 Mar 1945 | |
Equipment | |||
Sqn Ldr | E A Thomas | 5 Feb 1944 | |
Photography | |||
Sqn Ldr | B R Catchside | 18 Dec 1943 | |
Medical | |||
Wg Cdr | J C H Allan | 23 Jul 1943 | Senior Medical Officer, MB, ChB |
Education | |||
Mr | W A Grace | 30 Nov 1944 | MA, RAFVR |
Aeronautical Inspection | |||
Mr | C R Telford | Assistant Inspector, AID | |
WAAF Staff Officers | |||
Sqn Off | E Taylor | 16 Sep 1943 | WAAF |
RAF Regiment | |||
Lt Col | M Bennetts | 30 Oct 1943 | MC |
Sqn Ldr | K W J Robertson | 26 Jan 1943 |
Source - June 1945 Confidential Air Force List
Location | Command | |
58 Melville Street, Edinburgh 3 | Coastal Command |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
AVM | Harry G Smart | 17 Nov 1941 | Air Officer Commanding, CBE, DFC, AFC |
Air Staff | |||
Gp Capt | J R Leggate | 6 Mar 1944 | Senior Air Staff Officer, DSO |
Wg Cdr | T A Trotter | 8 Sep 1943 | |
Sqn Ldr | E S Farrand | 10 Sep 1943 | |
Sqn Ldr | G Frain | 22 Feb 1944 | MBE |
Sqn Ldr | T H Hall | 15 Mar 1945 | |
Sqn Ldr | F B Everest | 12 Jun 1944 | |
Sqn Ldr | D Worth | 1 May 1944 | |
Sqn Ldr | P H Florence | 20 Apr 1943 | |
Administrative Staff | |||
Gp Capt | J Bussey | 17 Feb 1945 | Senior Officer i/c Administration |
Wg Cdr | E C Chesterton | 23 Aug 1943 | |
Sqn Ldr | J D Bowen | 18 Mar 1942 | |
Sqn Ldr | A Connell | 12 Mar 1942 | |
Staffs of the Services | |||
Engineer | |||
Wg Cdr | J C Steadman | 16 Sep 1944 | |
Sqn Ldr | W L Lewis | 12 Oct 1942 | |
Signals | |||
Wg Cdr | R W Williams | 7 Sep 1944 | |
Armament | |||
Sqn Ldr | R H Matthews | 30 Mar 1945 | |
Equipment | |||
Sqn Ldr | E A Thomas | 5 Feb 1944 | |
Photography | |||
Sqn Ldr | B R Catchside | 18 Dec 1943 | |
Medical | |||
Wg Cdr | J C H Allan | 23 Jul 1943 | Senior Medical Officer, MB, ChB |
Education | |||
Mr | W A Grace | 30 Nov 1944 | MA, RAFVR |
Aeronautical Inspection | |||
Mr | C R Telford | Assistant Inspector, AID | |
WAAF Staff Officers | |||
Sqn Off | E Taylor | 16 Sep 1943 | WAAF |
RAF Regiment | |||
Lt Col | M Bennetts | 30 Oct 1943 | MC |
Sqn Ldr | K W J Robertson | 26 Jan 1943 |
Source - July 1945 Confidential Air Force List (AIR 10/3839)
The relevant page in the August 1945 Confidential Air Force List (AIR 10/3839) is currently missing.
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