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No 401 (Fleet Fighter) Flight

[Jul 1923 | Jan 1924 | May 1924 | Jan 1925 | Feb 1925 | Mar 1925 | Apr 1925 | May 1925 | Jun 1925 | 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]

May 1923 |

May 1923

Source - May 1923 Air Force List

This was formed on 1 April 1923 at RAF Base Leuchars for service with HMS Argus, equipped with six Nieuport Nightjars

Date Location
 1 Apr 1923 RAF Base Leuchars
 8 May 1923 HMS Argus

July 1923

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Nieuport Nightjar HMS Argus Coastal Area

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Leonard H Slatter  1 Apr 1923 Officer Commanding, OBE, DSC, DFC; later AM
Fg Off William Jones  1 Apr 1923  
Fg Off James V Medcalf  1 Apr 1923  
Fg Off John B Lynch  1 Apr 1923  
Fg Off

Cyril B Wincott

 1 Apr 1923 later A/Cdre
Plt Off John B Wilson  1 Apr 1923  

Source - Air Force List July 1923

Date Location
26 Jul 1923 RAF Base Leuchars
30 Aug 1923 HMS Argus
 1 Sep 1923 RAF Base Leuchars
 6 Nov 1923 HMS Argus
xx Nov 1923 RAF Base Leuchars

January 1924

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Nieuport Nightjar RAF Base Leuchars Coastal Area
 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Leonard H Slatter  1 Apr 1923 Officer Commanding, OBE, DSC, DFC; later AM
Fg Off William Jones  1 Apr 1923  
Fg Off James V Medcalf  1 Apr 1923  
Fg Off John B Lynch  1 Apr 1923  
Fg Off John G Murray 21 Nov 1923 later A/Cdre
Plt Off John B Wilson  1 Apr 1923  
Plt Off Guy F Reeves  9 Jul 1923  

Source - Air Force List January 1923

It re-equipped with Fairey Flycatchers in February 1924

Date Location
10 Feb 1924 HMS Argus

May 1924

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey Flycatcher HMS Argus Coastal Area

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Walter E Swann  7 Mar 1924 Officer Commanding,
Fg Off William Jones  1 Apr 1923  
Fg Off James V Medcalf  1 Apr 1923  
Fg Off John G Murray 21 Nov 1923 later A/Cdre
Fg Off John B Wilson  1 Apr 1923  
Fg Off Bryan V Reynolds 18 Mar 1924 later AM

Source - Air Force List July 1924

Date Location
20 Oct 1924 RAF Base Leuchars
xx Nov 1924 HMS Argus
20 Nov 1924 RAF Base Leuchars

January 1925

Source - January 1925 Air Force List

Date Location
16 Jan 1925 HMS Argus

February 1925

Source - February 1925 Air Force List

March 1925

Source - March 1925 Air Force List

April 1925

Source - April 1925 Air Force List

Date Location
 2 Apr 1925 RAF Base Leuchars
29 Apr 1925 RAF Base Gosport

May 1925

Source - May 1925 Air Force List

Date Location
xx May 1925 RAF Base Leuchars

June 1925

Source - June 1925 Air Force List

Date Location
 2 Jun 1925 HMS Argus
 5 Jun 1925 RAF Base Leuchars
 4 Jul 1925 HMS Argus

July 1925

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey Flycatcher HMS Argus Coastal Area

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Walter E Swann  7 Mar 1924 Officer Commanding,
Fg Off John B Wilson  1 Apr 1923  
Fg Off Bryan V Reynolds 18 Mar 1924 later AM
Fg Off Edward M C Abel-Smith 21 May 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off John D Ainger 21 May 1925 Lt, RN

Source - Air Force List July 1925

Date Location
16 Jul 1925 RAF Base Gosport
20 Aug 1925 RAF Catterick
24 Aug 1925 RAF Base Leuchars
 7 Sep 1925 RAF Base Gosport
8-9 Sep 1925 HMS Argus
22 Oct 1925 RAF Donibristle
 4 Feb 1926 HMS Eagle
19 Feb 1926 RAF Hal Far
Jan - Jun 1926 Detachment on HMS Vindictive

March 1926

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey Flycatcher HMS Argus Coastal Area

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Walter E Swann  7 Mar 1924 Officer Commanding,
Fg Off Edward M C Abel-Smith 21 May 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off John D Ainger 21 May 1925 Lt, RN

Source - March 1926 Air Force List

Date Location
12 Jun 1926 HMS Hermes

July 1926

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey Flycatcher Hong Kong (Vindictive) Coastal Area

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Fg Off Maurice A Maude  8 Feb 1926 Lt, RN
Fg Off Harry M A Day  8 Feb 1926 Lt, RM, AM
Fg Off Norman Young  8 Feb 1926  

Source - Air Force List July 1926

Date Location
11 Sep 1926 RAF Hal Far
19 Sep 1926 HMS Hermes
14 Oct 1926 RAF Kai Tak

December 1926

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey Flycatcher Hong Kong (Vindictive) Coastal Area

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Fg Off Maurice A Maude  8 Feb 1926 Lt, RN
Fg Off Harry M A Day  8 Feb 1926 Lt, RM, AM
Fg Off Norman Young  8 Feb 1926  

Source - December 1926 Air Force List

Date Location
Dec 1926 - Mar 1927 Detachment on HMS Vindictive
xx Mar 1927 RAF Kai Tak
27 Apr 1927 HMS Hermes
 5 May 1927 RAF Kai Tak
13 Jun 1927 HMS Hermes
22 Jun 1927 RAF Kai Tak
 8 Jul 1927 HMS Hermes

July 1927

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey Flycatcher Hong Kong (HMS Tamar) China Station

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Bruce R Caswell 26 Jan 1927 Officer Commanding
Fg Off John B Wilson  8 Dec 1925  
Fg Off Harry M A Day  8 Feb 1926 Lt, RM, AM
Fg Off Hon John M Southwell 26 Jan 1927 Lt, RN
Fg Off Tom O Bulteel 14 Nov 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Thomas H Villiers 15 Mar 1926 Lt, RN
Fg Off John F M Robertson  6 Apr 1926 Lt, RN
Fg Off Arthur M Pilling 27 May 1926 Lt, RN
Fg Off Kenneth Hunt  6 Apr 1926 Lt, RN
Fg Off Norman Young  8 Feb 1926  

Source - Air Force List July 1927

Date Location
14 Jul 1927 RAF Kai Tak
 1 Sep 1927 HMS Hermes
28 Oct 1927 RAF Base Gosport
xx xxx 1928 HMS Argus

July 1928

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey Flycatcher HMS Argus Coastal Area

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Bruce R Caswell 26 Jan 1927 Officer Commanding
Fg Off Tom O Bulteel 14 Nov 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Thomas H Villiers 15 Mar 1926 Lt, RN
Fg Off Norman Young  8 Feb 1926  
Fg Off John B M Wallis 25 Oct 1927 Armament duties; later A/Cdre

Source - Air Force List July 1928

September 1928

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey Flycatcher HMS Argus Coastal Area

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Bruce R Caswell 26 Jan 1927 Officer Commanding
Fg Off Tom O Bulteel 14 Nov 1925 Lt Cdr, RN
Fg Off Humphrey W Metcalfe 25 Jun 1928 Lt, RN
Fg Off Norman Young  8 Feb 1926  

Source - September 1928 Air Force List

Date Location
 1 Jan 1929 RAF Base Gosport
10 Jan 1929 HMS Argus
 6 Apr 1929 RAF Base Gosport
29 Apr 1929 HMS Argus
 1 Jun 1929 RAF Donibristle
12 Jun 1929 in transit
14 Jun 1929 RAF Base Gosport
 8 Jul 1929 HMS Argus

July 1929

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey Flycatcher HMS Argus Coastal Area

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt William V Hyde  9 Aug 1928 Officer Commanding
Fg Off Thomas H Villiers 15 Mar 1926 Lt, RN

Source - Air Force List July 1929

Date Location
23 Jul 1929 RAF Base Gosport
10 Sep 1929 HMS Argus
 3 Oct 1929 Novar
23 Oct 1929 HMS Argus
27 Nov 1929 RAF Base Gosport
  7 Jan 1930 HMS Argus
31 Mar 1930 RAF Base Gosport
 2 Jun 1930 HMS Furious
17 Jun 1930 RAF Base Gosport

July 1930

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey Flycatcher RAF Base Gosport/HMS Furious Coastal Area

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt William V Hyde  9 Aug 1928 Officer Commanding
Fg Off Roland C Allen 29 Apr 1930 Lt, RN
Fg Off George F Renwick 15 Nov 1929 Lt, RN
Fg Off Guy Willoughby 15 Nov 1929 Lt, RN
Fg Off Kenneth Hunt 28 May 1930 Lt, RN

Source - Air Force List July 1930

August 1930

Source - August 1930 Air Force List

September 1930

Source - September 1930 Air Force List

October 1930

Source - October 1930 Air Force List

November 1930

Source - November 1930 Air Force List

December 1930

Source - December 1930 Air Force List

Date Location
17 Sep 1930 HMS Courageous
 1 Nov 1930 RAF Base Gosport
 7 Nov 1930 HMS Courageous
17 Nov 1930 - 19 Jan 1931 RAF Base Gosport (Detachment)
 1 Apr 1931 RAF Base Gosport
 1 Apr 1931 RAF Donibristle
15 May 1931 HMS Courageous
 6 Jun 1931 RAF Base Gosport

July 1931

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey Flycatcher RAF Base Gosport/HMS Courageous Coastal Area

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Hugh Ditton 24 Mar 1931 Officer Commanding, Lt Cdr, RN
Fg Off Donald G F W Macintyre 30 Mar 1931 Lt, RN
Fg Off Reginald S Collins 24 Apr 1931  

 Source - Air Force List July 1931

Date Location
29 Sep 1931 HMS Courageous
 1 Dec 1931 RAF Base Gosport
 4 Jan 1932 HMS Courageous
11 Feb 1932 RAF Hal Far
22 Feb 1932 HMS Courageous
13 Mar 1932 RAF Netheravon
20 Apr 1932 HMS Furious
xx xxx 1932 RAF Base Gosport

July 1932

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey Flycatcher RAF Base Gosport/HMS Furious Coastal Area

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Robert R Graham 15 Apr 1932 Officer Commanding, Lt Cdr, RN
Fg Off Christopher F Birks 11 Jun 1932  
Fg Off John H T Boteler  6 May 1932 Lt, RN

Source - Air Force List July 1932

Date Location
30 Aug 1932 HMS Furious
21 Sep 1932 in transit
22 Sep 1932 No 3 ATC, Sutton Bridge
 4 Oct 1932 RAF Netheravon
28 Oct 1932 RAF Base Gosport
 9 Nov 1932 RAF Netheravon
 3 Jan 1933 RAF Base Gosport
 4 Jan 1933 HMS Furious
24 Mar 1932 RAF Netheravon

It was redesignated No 801 (Fleet Fighter) Squadron on 3 April 1933.

Re-equipment and movement dates are based on those shown in 'Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm' by Ray Sturtivant

[Jul 1923 | Jan 1924 | May 1924 | Jan 1925 | Feb 1925 | Mar 1925 | Apr 1925 | May 1925 | Jun 1925 | 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]

This page was last updated on 17/10/23

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