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No 442 (Fleet Reconnaissance) 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]

This was formed on 1 April 1923 at RAF Base Leuchars from No 205 Squadron equipped with Parnell Panthers.

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

July 1923

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Parnell Panther RAF Base Leuchars Coastal Area

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Obs Off William A Thompson  1 Apr 1923  

Source - Air Force List July 1923

January 1924

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Parnell Panther RAF Base Leuchars Coastal Area

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Bernard E Harrison  1 May 1923 Officer Commanding, AFC
Flt Lt Kenneth C Tilman 25 Oct 1923  
Fg Off William J Umpleby 25 Oct 1923  
Fg Off Bruce B Caswell  1 May 1923  
Fg Off George B Holmes 25 Oct 1923  
Fg Off George Lansdowne 21 Nov 1923 DFC
Fg Off Siegfried S Kirsten  1 May 1923  
Fg Off Harry K Waterfield  1 May 1923  
Plt Off Geoffrey L Worthington 21 Nov 1923 later AVM
Plt Off Richard Lewis  1 May 1923  
Plt Off

George H Randle

 1 May 1923 later A/Cdre

Source - Air Force List January 1924

Date Location
10 Feb 1924 HMS Argus (Detachments)

May 1924

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Parnell Panther RAF Base Leuchars Coastal Area

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Bernard E Harrison  1 May 1923 Officer Commanding, AFC
Fg Off William J Umpleby 25 Oct 1923  
Fg Off George B Holmes 25 Oct 1923  
Fg Off George Lansdowne 21 Nov 1923 DFC
Fg Off Siegfried S Kirsten  1 May 1923  
Fg Off Harry K Waterfield  1 May 1923  
Plt Off Geoffrey L Worthington 21 Nov 1923 later AVM
Plt Off Richard Lewis  1 May 1923  
Plt Off

George H Randle

 1 May 1923 later A/Cdre

Source - Air Force List May 1924

Date Location
29 Jul 1924 RAF Base Gosport
 5 Sep 1924 HMS Argus
21 Oct 1924 RAF Base Leuchars

The Panthers were replaced by Fairey IIIDs in October 1924.

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

May 1925

Source - May 1925 Air Force List

June 1925

Source - June 1925 Air Force List

Date Location
 5 Jun 1925 RAF Base Leuchars

July 1925

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey IIID RAF Base Leuchars Coastal Area

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Bernard E Harrison  1 May 1923 Officer Commanding, AFC
Fg Off Herbert G Brookman 14 May 1924  
Fg Off Arthur D Drysdale  4 Aug 1924  
Fg Off Siegfried S Kirsten  1 May 1923  
Fg Off Eric D Cummings 27 Apr 1925 DFC
Fg Off

George H Randle

 1 May 1923 later A/Cdre
Fg Off Carlos G H E Lumsden  1 Dec 1924  
Naval Observer Officers employed with unit
Lt Cdr Geoffrey C E Hampden  2 Sep 1924  
Lt Cdr Ion W G White  2 Sep 1924 DSC
Lt Malcolm Farquhar  2 Sep 1924  
Lt Cecil L Howe  2 Sep 1924  
Lt Alexander G Rodger  2 Sep 1924  

Source - Air Force List July 1925

Date Location
 4 Jul 1925 HMS Argus
31 Aug 1925 RAF Base Leuchars
xx Sep 1925 HMS Argus
xx Oct 1925 RAF Base Leuchars
by Feb 1926 RAF Base Gosport
by Mar 1926 RAF Base Leuchars (according to AFL)

March 1926

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey IIID RAF Base Leuchars Coastal Area

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Bernard E Harrison  1 May 1923 Officer Commanding, AFC
Fg Off Herbert G Brookman 14 May 1924  
Fg Off Arthur D Drysdale  4 Aug 1924  
Fg Off Eric D Cummings 27 Apr 1925 DFC
Fg Off Arthur D Merriman  5 Nov 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off

George H Randle

 1 May 1923 later A/Cdre
Fg Off John W M Healing 17 Nov 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Edward O F Price 17 Nov 1925 Lt, RN
Naval Observer Officers employed with unit
Lt Cdr Malcolm Farquhar  2 Sep 1924  
Lt Cdr Geoffrey C E Hampden  2 Sep 1924  
Lt Cdr Ion W G White  2 Sep 1924 DSC
Lt Cecil L Howe  2 Sep 1924  
Lt Alexander G Rodger  2 Sep 1924  

Source - March 1926 Air Force List

Date Location
 8 Jun 1926 HMS Furious (Deck Landing Trials)
14 Jun 1926 RAF Base Leuchars
26 Jun 1926 RAF Base Gosport

July 1926

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey IIID RAF Base Leuchars Coastal Area

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Fg Off Arthur D Drysdale  4 Aug 1924  
Fg Off Siegfried S Kirsten  1 May 1923  
Fg Off Eric D Cummings 27 Apr 1925 DFC
Fg Off Arthur D Merriman  5 Nov 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off

George H Randle

 1 May 1923 later A/Cdre
Fg Off John W M Healing 17 Nov 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Edward O F Price 17 Nov 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Austin N R Keene  6 Apr 1926 Lt, RN
Naval Observer Officers employed with unit
Lt Cdr Geoffrey C E Hampden  2 Sep 1924  
Lt Cdr Ion W G White  2 Sep 1924 DSC
Lt Cdr Malcolm Farquhar  2 Sep 1924  
Lt Cecil L Howe  2 Sep 1924  
Lt Alexander G Rodger  2 Sep 1924  

Source - Air Force List July 1926

Date Location
12 Oct 1926 RAF Base Leuchars
27 Oct 1926 RAF Base Gosport (to Far East)

December 1926

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

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt William D Gairdner  2 Aug 1926 Officer Commanding, DFC
Fg Off Arthur D Merriman  5 Nov 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off

George H Randle

 1 May 1923 later A/Cdre
Fg Off John W M Healing 17 Nov 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Edward O F Price 17 Nov 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Austin N R Keene  6 Apr 1926 Lt, RN
Fg Off John W Hawkins 17 Aug 1926 Lt, RN

Source - December 1926 Air Force List

 
Date Location
xx Feb 1927 HMS Hermes
10 Feb 1927 RAF Base Kai Tak
27 Apr 1927 HMS Hermes
 5 May 1927 RAF Base Kai Tak

July 1927

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

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt William D Gairdner  2 Aug 1926 Officer Commanding, DFC
Fg Off

George H Randle

 1 May 1923 later A/Cdre
Fg Off John W M Healing 17 Nov 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Austin N R Keene  6 Apr 1926 Lt, RN
Fg Off Noel R Courthorpe-Munroe 21 Dec 1926 Lt, RN
Fg Off John W Hawkins 17 Aug 1926 Lt, RN

Source - Air Force List July 1927

July 1928

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

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt William D Gairdner  2 Aug 1926 Officer Commanding, DFC
Fg Off

George H Randle

 1 May 1923 later A/Cdre
Fg Off John W M Healing 17 Nov 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Austin N R Keene  6 Apr 1926 Lt, RN
Fg Off Francis W N Bassett  7 Mar 1928 Lt, RN
Fg Off John W Hale  9 Sep 1927 Lt, RN
Fg Off Faulkner M V May  7 Mar 1928  
Fg Off Eric B Webb  7 Mar 1928  

Source - Air Force List July 1928

September 1928

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

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt William D Gairdner  2 Aug 1926 Officer Commanding, DFC
Fg Off

George H Randle

 1 May 1923 later A/Cdre
Fg Off John W M Healing 17 Nov 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Austin N R Keene  6 Apr 1926 Lt, RN
Fg Off Francis W N Bassett  7 Mar 1928 Lt, RN
Fg Off John W Hale  9 Sep 1927 Lt, RN
Fg Off Faulkner M V May  7 Mar 1928  
Fg Off Eric B Webb  7 Mar 1928  

Source - September 1928 Air Force List

Date Location
 1 Jan 1929 HMS Hermes
xx xxx 1929 RAF Base Kai Tak
2 Apr - 3 May 1929 HMS Hermes (Detachment)
14 May 1929 HMS Hermes (Detachment)
10 Jun 1929 Wei-hai-Wei

July 1929

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey IIID RAF Base Kai Tak China Station

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt William D Gairdner  2 Aug 1926 Officer Commanding, DFC
Fg Off Francis W N Bassett  7 Mar 1928 Lt, RN
Fg Off John W Hale  9 Sep 1927 Lt, RN
Fg Off Faulkner M V May  7 Mar 1928  
Fg Off Eric B Webb  7 Mar 1928  
Fg Off Albert R Ward 13 Nov 1928  
Plt Off Samuel L Blunt 25 Jan 1929  
Plt Off Charles E St J Beamish 25 Jan 1929  

Source - Air Force List July 1929

Date Location
29 Aug 1929 HMS Hermes
20 Oct 1929 RAF Base Kai Tak
24 Jan - 31 Mar 1930 HMS Hermes (Detachment)
10 Jun - 28 Jul 1930 HMS Hermes (Detachment)

July 1930

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey IIID RAF Base Kai Tak China Station

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Fg Off Frank M R Stephenson  4 Oct 1929 Lt, RN
Fg Off Francis W N Bassett  7 Mar 1928 Lt, RN
Fg Off Eric B Webb  7 Mar 1928  

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
 4 Aug 1930 HMS Hermes
23 Sep 1930 RAF Lee-on-Solent
xx Oct 1930 RAF Base Gosport
23 Mar 1931 RAF Base Leuchars
27 Apr 1931 Novar
30 May 1931 RAF Base Leuchars

Fairey IIIFs replaced the IIIDs in October 1930.

July 1931

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey IIIF RAF Base Gosport Coastal Area

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Frank M R Stephenson  4 Oct 1929 Officer Commanding, Lt Cdr, RN
Fg Off Peter C Fair 11 Jan 1931  
Fg Off Patrick W Humphreys 13 Oct 1930 Lt, RN
Fg Off John G Llewelyn  1 Nov 1930  
Fg Off John Constable-Roberts  6 Nov 1930 later A/Cdre

 Source - Air Force List July 1931

Date Location
13 Sep 1931 Novar
30 Sep - 8 Oct 1931 RAF Base Gosport (Detachment)
14 Oct 1931 HMS Courageous
10 Nov 1931 RAF Netheravon
xx Dec 1931 RAF Base Gosport
14 Jan 1932 HMS Courageous
13 Mar 1932 RAF Base Gosport
13 Mar 1932 HMS Furious

July 1932

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey IIIF RAF Base Gosport Coastal Area

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Cyril B Tidd  3 Dec 1931 Officer Commanding, Lt Cdr, RN
Fg Off George F Renwick 26 May 1932 Lt, RN
Fg Off Edward J E Burt  5 Apr 1932 Lt, RN
Fg Off Patrick W Humphreys 13 Oct 1930 Lt, RN
Fg Off Richard A Beynon 10 Aug 1931  
Fg Off Wallace H Kyle  2 Jul 1931 later ACM

Source - Air Force List July 1932

Date Location
20 Jul 1932 RAF Base Gosport
30 Aug 1932 HMS Furious
17-18 Oct 1932 Novar (Detachment)
24 Oct 1932 - 4 Jan 1933 RAF Netheravon (Detachment)
13 Jan 1933 RAF Hal Far
17 Jan 1933 HMS Furious
24 Mar1933 RAF Netheravon

It was absorbed into No 822 Squadron as 'A' Flight 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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