Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
Royal Airship Works/Balloon Development Establishment (including Pulham Airship Station) - RAF Personnel and locations
[Aug 1921 | Jul 1922 | May 1923 | Jul 1923 | May 1924 | 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 | Jul 1933 | Jan 1934 | Jul 1934 | Jul 1935 | Jul 1936 | Jul 1937 | Jul 1938 | Jan 1939 | Apr 1939 | May 1939]
Source - August 1920 Air Force List
Source - August 1936 Air Force List
This was formed on 1 April 1919 when the Short Brothers Airship Factory at Cardington was nationalised.
Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
Nil | Cardington, Bedfordshire |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | A J Osborn | ||
Fg Off | A Bushfield |
Source - July 1921 Air Force List
Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
Nil | Cardington, Bedfordshire |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
No RAF Personnel listed |
Source - July 1922 Air Force List
Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
Nil | Cardington, Bedfordshire |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Under Care and Maintenance |
Source - May 1923 Air Force List
Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
Nil | Cardington, Bedfordshire |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Under Care and Maintenance |
Source - July 1923 Air Force List
Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
Nil | Cardington, Bedfordshire |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Under Care and Maintenance |
Source - May 1924 Air Force List
The entry from this edition is currently not available.
Source - July 1925 Air Force List
Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
Nil | Cardington, Bedfordshire |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Gp Capt | Peregrine F M Fellowes | 1 Jul 1924 | Director of Airship Development, DSO, ADC; later A/Cdre |
Wg Cdr | Thomas R Cave-Browne-Cave | 16 Sep 1924 | CBE |
Sqn Ldr | Reginald B B Colmore | 1 Jul 1924 | |
Sqn Ldr | Ralph S Booth | Attached for Special Duty, AFC | |
Flt Lt | Frederick M Rope | 15 Aug 1924 | |
Flt Lt | Sydney Nixon | 1 Jul 1924 | |
Fg Off | Herbert G Cook | 1 Jul 1924 | DSM |
Fg Off | Maurice H Steff | 26 Aug 1925 |
Source - March 1926 Air Force List
Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
Nil | Cardington, Bedfordshire |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Gp Capt | Peregrine F M Fellowes | 1 Jul 1924 | Director of Airship Development, DSO, ADC; later A/Cdre |
Wg Cdr | Thomas R Cave-Browne-Cave | 16 Sep 1924 | CBE |
Sqn Ldr | Reginald B B Colmore | 1 Jul 1924 | OBE |
Flt Lt | Frederick M Rope | 15 Aug 1924 | AFC |
Flt Lt | Herbert C Irwin | 18 Aug 1924 | AFC |
Flt Lt | Sydney Nixon | 1 Jul 1924 | OBE |
Fg Off | Herbert G Cook | 1 Jul 1924 | DSM |
Fg Off | Herbert J Brown | 1 Jul 1924 | |
Fg Off | Maurice H Steff | 26 Aug 1925 | |
Maj | G H Scott | Officer i/c Flying and Training, CBE, AFC | |
Mr | H B Wyn-Evans | Officer i/c Design, Research and Construction MBE (Hon), RCNO | |
Lt Col | V C Richmond | Head of Design and Research Section, OBE | |
Mr | R S Hubbard | Works Manager | |
Mr | D J Evans | Secretary and Accountant |
Source - July 1926 Air Force List
Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
Nil | Cardington, Bedfordshire |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Gp Capt | Peregrine F M Fellowes | 1 Jul 1924 | Director of Airship Development, DSO, ADC; later A/Cdre |
Wg Cdr | Thomas R Cave-Browne-Cave | 16 Sep 1924 | CBE |
Sqn Ldr | Reginald B B Colmore | 1 Jul 1924 | OBE |
Sqn Ldr | Ralph S Booth | 13 Sep 1926 | AFC |
Flt Lt | Frederick M Rope | 15 Aug 1924 | AFC |
Flt Lt | Sydney Nixon | 1 Jul 1924 | OBE |
Fg Off | Herbert G Cook | 1 Jul 1924 | DSM |
Fg Off | Maurice H Steff | 26 Aug 1925 | |
Maj | G H Scott | Officer i/c Flying and Training, CBE, AFC | |
Mr | A H Hall | Superintendent of Production, CBE, MICE, MIME | |
Lt Col | V C Richmond | Head of Design and Research Section, OBE | |
Mr | R S Hubbard | Works Manager | |
Mr | D J Evans | Secretary and Accountant |
Source - December 1926 Air Force List
Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
Nil | Cardington, Bedfordshire |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Gp Capt | Peregrine F M Fellowes | 1 Jul 1924 | Director of Airship Development, DSO, ADC; later A/Cdre |
Wg Cdr | Thomas R Cave-Browne-Cave | 16 Sep 1924 | Attached for Special Duty, CBE |
Sqn Ldr | Reginald B B Colmore* | 1 Jul 1924 | Deputy Director of Airship Development |
Sqn Ldr | Ralph S Booth | Attached for Special Duty, AFC | |
Flt Lt | Frederick M Rope | 15 Aug 1924 | Attached for Special Duty |
Flt Lt | Sydney Nixon | 1 Jul 1924 | Attached for Special Duty |
Fg Off | Herbert G Cook | 1 Jul 1924 | Attached for Special Duty, DSM |
Fg Off | Maurice H Steff | 26 Aug 1925 | Attached for Special Duty |
*RAF Officers fillings vacancies on the civilian establishment.
Source - July 1927 Air Force List
Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
Nil | Cardington, Bedfordshire |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Gp Capt | Peregrine F M Fellowes | 1 Jul 1924 | Director of Airship Development, DSO, ADC; later A/Cdre |
Wg Cdr | Thomas R Cave-Browne-Cave | 16 Sep 1924 | Attached for Special Duty, CBE |
Sqn Ldr | Reginald B B Colmore* | 1 Jul 1924 | Deputy Director of Airship Development |
Sqn Ldr | Ralph S Booth | Attached for Special Duty, AFC | |
Flt Lt | Frederick M Rope | 15 Aug 1924 | Attached for Special Duty |
Flt Lt | Herbert C Irwin | Attached for Special Duty, AFC | |
Flt Lt | Sydney Nixon | 1 Jul 1924 | Attached for Special Duty, OBE |
Fg Off | Herbert G Cook | 1 Jul 1924 | Attached for Special Duty, DSM |
Fg Off | Maurice H Steff | 26 Aug 1925 | Officer i/c Pulham Airship Station |
*RAF Officers fillings vacancies on the civilian establishment.
Source - July 1928 Air Force List
Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
Nil | Cardington, Bedfordshire |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Gp Capt | Peregrine F M Fellowes | 1 Jul 1924 | Director of Airship Development, DSO, ADC; later A/Cdre |
Wg Cdr | Thomas R Cave-Browne-Cave | 16 Sep 1924 | Attached for Special Duty, CBE |
Sqn Ldr | Reginald B B Colmore* | 1 Jul 1924 | Deputy Director of Airship Development |
Sqn Ldr | Ralph S Booth | Attached for Special Duty, AFC | |
Flt Lt | Frederick M Rope | 15 Aug 1924 | Attached for Special Duty |
Flt Lt | Herbert C Irwin | Attached for Special Duty, AFC | |
Flt Lt | Sydney Nixon | 1 Jul 1924 | Attached for Special Duty, OBE |
Fg Off | Herbert G Cook | 1 Jul 1924 | Attached for Special Duty, DSM |
Fg Off | Maurice H Steff | 26 Aug 1925 | Officer i/c Pulham Airship Station |
Source - September 1928 Air Force List
Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
Nil | Cardington, Bedfordshire |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Gp Capt | Peregrine F M Fellowes | 1 Jul 1924 | Director of Airship Development, DSO, ADC; later A/Cdre |
Sqn Ldr | Reginald B B Colmore* | 1 Jul 1924 | Deputy Director of Airship Development |
Wg Cdr | Thomas R Cave-Browne-Cave | 16 Sep 1924 | Attached for Special Duty, CBE |
Sqn Ldr | Ralph S Booth | Attached for Special Duty, AFC | |
Flt Lt | Frederick M Rope | 15 Aug 1924 | Attached for Special Duty |
Flt Lt | Herbert C Irwin | Attached for Special Duty, AFC | |
Flt Lt | Sydney Nixon | 1 Jul 1924 | Attached for Special Duty, OBE |
Fg Off | Herbert G Cook | 1 Jul 1924 | Attached for Special Duty, DSM |
Fg Off | Maurice H Steff | 26 Aug 1925 | Attached for Special Duty |
*RAF Officers fillings vacancies on the civilian establishment.
Source - July 1929 Air Force List
Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
Nil | Cardington, Bedfordshire |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Reginald B B Colmore* | 1 Jul 1924 | Director of Airship Development, DSO, ADC; later A/Cdre |
Wg Cdr | Thomas R Cave-Browne-Cave | 16 Sep 1924 | Attached for Special Duty, CBE |
Sqn Ldr | Ralph S Booth | Attached for Special Duty, AFC | |
Flt Lt | Frederick M Rope | 15 Aug 1924 | Attached for Special Duty |
Flt Lt | Herbert C Irwin | Attached for Special Duty, AFC | |
Flt Lt | Sydney Nixon | 1 Jul 1924 | Attached for Special Duty, OBE |
Fg Off | Herbert G Cook | 1 Jul 1924 | Attached for Special Duty, DSM |
Fg Off | Maurice H Steff | 26 Aug 1925 | Attached for Special Duty |
Fg Off | Harold F Luck | Attached for Special Duty |
Source - July 1930 Air Force List
Source - August 1930 Air Force List
Source - September 1930 Air Force List
Source - October 1930 Air Force List
With the loss of the R101 in October 1930, work on airships was ended.
Source - November 1930 Air Force List
Source - December 1930 Air Force List
Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
Nil | Cardington, Bedfordshire |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Sqn Ldr (Ret) | Sydney Nixon | Assistant Director - Organisation | |
Sqn Ldr | Ralph S Booth | Attached for Special Duty, AFC | |
Flt Lt | Herbert G Cook | Attached for Special Duty, DSM | |
Flt Lt | Cecil W Harrison | Attached for Special Duty |
Source - July 1931 Air Force List
Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
Nil | Cardington, Bedfordshire |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Sqn Ldr (Ret) | Sydney Nixon | Superintendent | |
Sqn Ldr | Ralph S Booth | Attached for Airship Duties, AFC | |
Flt Lt | Cecil W Harrison | Attached for Kite Balloon Duties |
Source - July 1932 Air Force List
Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
Nil | Cardington, Bedfordshire |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Sqn Ldr (Ret) | Sydney Nixon | Superintendent | |
Sqn Ldr | Ralph S Booth | Attached for Airship Duties, AFC | |
Flt Lt | Cecil W Harrison | Attached for Kite Balloon Duties |
Source - July 1933 Air Force List
Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
Nil | Cardington, Bedfordshire |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Sqn Ldr (Ret) | Sydney Nixon | Superintendent | |
Flt Lt | Cecil W Harrison | Attached for Kite Balloon Duties |
Source - January 1934 Air Force List
Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
Nil | Cardington, Bedfordshire |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Sqn Ldr (Ret) | Sydney Nixon | Superintendent | |
Flt Lt | Cecil W Harrison | Attached for Kite Balloon Duties |
Source - July 1934 Air Force List
Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
Nil | Cardington, Bedfordshire |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Sqn Ldr (Ret) | Sydney Nixon | Superintendent | |
Flt Lt | Cecil W Harrison | Attached for Kite Balloon Duties |
Source - July 1935 Air Force List
The entry from this edition is currently unavailable
Source - July 1936 Air Force List
The entry from this edition is currently unavailable
Source - July 1937 Air Force List
The entry from this edition is currently unavailable
Source - July 1938 Air Force List
It was redesignated Balloon Development Establishment on 15 September 1938.
Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
Nil | Cardington, Bedfordshire |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Mr | H N Wyn-Evans | Principal Technical Officer, MBE, RCNC, MINA, AFRAeS | |
Sqn Ldr | Cecil W Harrison | Attached for Kite Balloon Duties | |
Flt Lt | E J Protheroe | Attached for Kite Balloon Duties |
Source - January 1939 Air Force List
Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
Nil | Cardington, Bedfordshire |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Mr | H N Wyn-Evans | Principal Technical Officer, MBE, RCNC, MINA, AFRAeS | |
Sqn Ldr | Cecil W Harrison | Attached for Kite Balloon Duties | |
Flt Lt | E J Protheroe | Attached for Kite Balloon Duties | |
Mr | J W W Dyer | MSc, AIC | Scientific Officer |
Source - April 1939 Confidential Air Force List
Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
Nil | Cardington, Bedfordshire |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Mr | H N Wyn-Evans | Principal Technical Officer, MBE, RCNC, MINA, AFRAeS | |
Sqn Ldr | Cecil W Harrison | Attached for Kite Balloon Duties | |
Flt Lt | E J Protheroe | Attached for Kite Balloon Duties | |
Mr | J W W Dyer | MSc, AIC | Scientific Officer |
Source - May 1939 Confidential Air Force List
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This page was last updated on 08/07/19