Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
No 446 (Fleet Reconnaissance)/(Fleet Spotter Reconnaissance) Flight
[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 September 1927 at RAF Base Leuchars equipped with six Fairey IIIFs for service aboard HMS Courageous
| Date | Location |
| 1 Sep 1927 | RAF Base Leuchars |
| 20 Mar 1928 | RAF Base Gosport |
| 17 May 1928 | HMS Courageous |
| 18 Jun 1928 | RAF Hal Far |
| Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
| Fairey IIIF | RAF Base Malta/HMS Courageous | RAF Mediterranean |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | Stephen Richardson | 13 Jan 1928 | Officer Commanding, Lt Cdr, RN |
| Fg Off | Edward J O Ellison | 24 Nov 1927 | Capt, RM |
| Fg Off | Charles R V Pugh | 18 Nov 1927 | Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | Henry A Traill | 1 Sep 1927 | Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | Henry A M Weir | 1 Sep 1927 | |
| Fg Off | Thomas S Jackson | 22 Dec 1927 | Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | John C Richards | 11 May 1928 | Lt, RN |
Source - Air Force List July 1928
| Date | Location |
| 20 Jul 1928 | HMS Courageous |
| Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
| Fairey IIIF | RAF Base Malta/HMS Courageous | RAF Mediterranean |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | Stephen Richardson | 13 Jan 1928 | Officer Commanding, Lt Cdr, RN |
| Fg Off | Charles R V Pugh | 18 Nov 1927 | Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | Henry A Traill | 1 Sep 1927 | Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | Henry A M Weir | 1 Sep 1927 | |
| Fg Off | Thomas S Jackson | 22 Dec 1927 | Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | John C Richards | 11 May 1928 | Lt, RN |
Source - September 1928 Air Force List
| Date | Location |
| 30 Oct 1928 | RAF Hal Far |
| 29 Nov 1928 | HMS Courageous |
| 14 Jan 1929 | HMS Eagle |
| 15 Jan 1929 | RAF Hal Far |
| 3 May 1929 | HMS Courageous |
| 30 Oct 1928 | RAF Hal Far |
| 26 Jun 1929 | HMS Courageous |
| Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
| Fairey IIIF | RAF Base Malta/HMS Courageous | RAF Mediterranean |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | Stephen Richardson | 13 Jan 1928 | Officer Commanding, Lt Cdr, RN |
| Fg Off | Charles R V Pugh | 18 Nov 1927 | Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | Henry A Traill | 1 Sep 1927 | Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | Thomas S Jackson | 22 Dec 1927 | Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | John C Richards | 11 May 1928 | Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | Harold J G E Proud | 1 Sep 1928 | later A/Cdre |
Source - Air Force List July 1929
| Date | Location |
| 21 Aug 1929 | RAF Hal Far |
| 26 Aug 1929 | HMS Courageous |
| 30 Aug 1929 | Gaza |
| 29 Nov 1928 | HMS Courageous |
| 14 Jan 1929 | HMS Eagle |
| 9 Sep 1929 | HMS Courageous |
| 1 Nov 1929 | RAF Hal Far |
| 20 Jan 1930 | HMS Courageous |
| 30 Jan 1930 | RAF Base Gosport |
| 24 Mar 1930 | RAF Base Leuchars |
| 28 Apr 1930 | Novar |
| 30 May 1930 | RAF Base Leuchars |
It was redesignated No 446 (Fleet Spotter Reconnaissance) flight in early 1930.
| Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
| Fairey IIIF | RAF Base Gosport | Coastal Area |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | Rupert St A Malleson | 22 Aug 1929 | Officer Commanding, Lt Cdr, RN |
| Fg Off | Henry A Traill | 1 Sep 1927 | Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | Thomas S Jackson | 22 Dec 1927 | Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | John C Richards | 11 May 1928 | Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | Peter C Fair | 5 Jul 1929 | |
| Fg Off | Philip Somerville | 31 Mar 1930 | Lt, RN |
Source - Air Force List July 1930
Source - August 1930 Air Force List
Source - September 1930 Air Force List
Source - October 1930 Air Force List
Source - November 1930 Air Force List
Source - December 1930 Air Force List
| Date | Location |
| 4 Aug 1930 | RAF Catfoss (No 1 ATC) |
| 1 Sep 1930 | RAF Base Leuchars |
| 10 Sep 1930 | Novar |
| 23 Oct 1930 | HMS Courageous |
| 17 Nov 1930 - 19 Jan 1931 | RAF Base Gosport (Detachment) |
| 3 Apr 1931 | RAF Base Gosport |
| 28 Apr 1931 | HMS Courageous |
| 1 Jun 1931 | RAF Netheravon |
| Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
| Fairey IIIF | RAF Base Gosport | Coastal Area |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | Rupert St A Malleson | 22 Aug 1929 | Officer Commanding, Lt Cdr, RN |
| Flt Lt | Anthony M Kimmins | 25 pr 1931 | Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | Charles R V Pugh | 14 Apr 1931 | Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | John W Hale | 8 Jan 1931 | Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | Philip Somerville | 31 Mar 1930 | Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | James D C Little | 23 Jan 1931 | Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | Gerrard J C Paul | 1 Jan 1931 | later A/Cdre |
Source - Air Force List July 1931
| Date | Location |
| 25 Sep 1931 | RAF Base Gosport |
| 29 Sep 1931 | HMS Courageous |
| 7 Oct 1931 | RAF Base Gosport |
| 8 Oct 1931 | HMS Courageous |
| 1 Dec 1931 | RAF Base Gosport |
| 4 Jan 1932 | HMS Courageous |
| 16 Jan 1932 | RAF Hal Far |
| 19 Jan 1932 | HMS Courageous |
| 16 Jan 1932 | RAF Hal Far |
| 19 Jan 1932 | HMS Courageous |
| 11 Feb 1932 | RAF Hal Far |
| 22 Feb 1932 | HMS Courageous |
| 13 Mar 1932 | RAF Base Gosport |
| 21 Apr 1932 | HMS Courageous |
| 27 Jun 1932 | RAF Catfoss (No 1 ATC) |
| xx xxx 1932 | HMS Courageous |
| Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
| Fairey IIIF | HMS Courageous | Coastal Area |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | Rupert St A Malleson | 22 Aug 1929 | Officer Commanding, Lt Cdr, RN |
| Fg Off | Edgar W E Lane | 15 Dec 1931 | Lt Cdr, RN |
| Fg Off | Charles R V Pugh | 14 Apr 1931 | Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | James D C Little | 23 Jan 1931 | Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | Douglas C V Pelly | 4 Sep 1931 | Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | Richard L Wallace | 25 Oct1931 | later A/Cdre |
Source - Air Force List July 1932
| Date | Location |
| 20 Jul 1932 | RAF Base Gosport |
| 30 Aug 1932 | HMS Courageous |
| 24 Oct 1932 | RAF Lee-on-Solent |
| 3 Jan 1933 | HMS Courageous |
| 24 Mar 1933 | RAF Base Gosport? |
It was disbanded on being absorbed into No 821 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 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