Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
[Mar 1926 | Jul 1926 | Dec 1926 | Jul 1927 | Jul 1928 | Sep 1928 | Jul 1929 | Jul 1932 | Jul 1933 | Jan 1934 | Jul 1934 | Jul 1935 | Jul 1936 | Jul 1937 | Jul 1938 | Jan 1939 | Apr 1939 | May 1939]
Aug 1936 |
Source - August 1936 Air Force List
With the formation of the RAF on 1 April 1918, all British military and naval aircraft came under its control. This included all aircraft operated from ships of the Royal Navy, leading to the situation whereby the air and ground crews on board these ships were members of the RAF and the crews of the ships were members of the Royal Navy. Effectively the small RAF staffs on board the ship operated in much the same way as the staff at a shore based RAF station, the airfield being the flight deck of the carrier. Whilst on board ship the RAF personnel were subject to Naval discipline under the jurisdiction of the ship's captain, the senior RAF officer acting as the captain's air advisor.
Initially a number of squadrons were allocated to man the carriers these being No 3 Squadron, No 203 Squadron, No 210 Squadron and No 205 Squadron but on 1 April the RAF formed the Fleet Air Arm of The RAF and these squadrons were split up into a series of smaller Flights numbered in the 400 series. With the transfer of the FAA to the Admiralty in July 1939, RAF HQ Units in carriers ceased to exist, with most of the posts being taken over by naval officers, although some RAF personnel continued to be seconded to the Royal Navy for some time.
HMS Furious was laid down by Armstrong Whitworth in Newcastle upon Tyne on 8 June 1915 as a light battlecruiser with a forward flying off deck, she was launched on 15 August 1916. She served was commissioned on 26 June 1917, joining the Grand Fleet on 4 July where she carried out flying trials. On 2 August 1917, Sqn Cdr Dunning carried out the world's first deck landing on her flying off deck but was killed five days later whilst making a second attempt. On 19 July 1918, her aircraft attacked the Tondern airship station but transferred to the reserve on 21 November 1919. In 1922 work began at Devonport to convert her to a fleet carrier. This work was completed on 1 August 1925 and she was commissioned on 1 September. She continued to serve throughout the war in both active and training roles but was finally paid off in 1945 and scrapped in 1948.
The HQ Unit was formed on 31 January 1925 at Gosport, disbanding on 1 September 1930. It reformed following the ship's refit on 2 November 1931 and presumably disbanded on the transfer of the FAA to the Royal Navy in 1939
Fleet | Units operated |
Atlantic Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Henry R Busteed | 8 May 1925 | OBE, AFC; later A/Cdre |
Sqn Ldr | Thomas E B Howe | 1 Sep 1925 | AFC; later A/Cdre |
Flt Lt | Harold W St John | 1 Sep 1925 | DFC |
Hon Flt Lt | Herbert T Herring | 1 Sep 1925 | |
Fg Off | Alfred C Meredith | 1 Sep 1925 | |
Stores Branch | |||
Fg Off | Stanley D Dennis | 1 Jan 1926 |
Source - March 1926 Air Force List
Fleet | Units operated |
Atlantic Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Henry R Busteed | 8 May 1925 | OBE, AFC; later A/Cdre |
Sqn Ldr | Thomas E B Howe | 1 Sep 1925 | AFC; later A/Cdre |
Flt Lt | Harold W St John | 1 Sep 1925 | DFC |
Hon Flt Lt | Herbert T Herring | 1 Sep 1925 | |
Fg Off | Alfred C Meredith | 1 Sep 1925 | |
Stores Branch | |||
Fg Off | Stanley D Dennis | 1 Jan 1926 |
Source - Air Force List July 1926
Fleet | Units operated |
Atlantic Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Conway W H Pulford | 1 Sep 1926 | OBE, AFC; later AVM |
Sqn Ldr | Thomas E B Howe | 1 Sep 1925 | AFC; later A/Cdre |
Flt Lt | Harold W St John | 1 Sep 1925 | Signal duties, DFC |
Hon Flt Lt | Herbert T Herring | 1 Sep 1925 | Armament Duties |
Fg Off | Alfred C Meredith | 1 Sep 1925 | Engineer Duties |
Stores Branch | |||
Fg Off | Stanley D Dennis | 1 Jan 1926 |
Source - December 1926 Air Force List
Fleet | Units operated |
Atlantic Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Conway W H Pulford | 1 Sep 1926 | OBE, AFC; later AVM |
Sqn Ldr | Thomas E B Howe | 1 Sep 1925 | AFC; later A/Cdre |
Flt Lt | Harold W St John | 1 Sep 1925 | Signal duties, DFC |
Hon Flt Lt | Herbert T Herring | 1 Sep 1925 | |
Fg Off | Joseph J Teasdale | 26 Feb 1927 | |
Stores Branch | |||
Fg Off | Stanley D Dennis | 1 Jan 1926 |
Source - Air Force List July 1927
Fleet | Units operated |
Atlantic Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Conway W H Pulford | 1 Sep 1926 | OBE, AFC; later AVM |
Sqn Ldr | Thomas W Elsdon | 6 Jan 1928 | |
Flt Lt | Harold W St John | 1 Sep 1925 | Signal duties, DFC |
Hon Flt Lt | Herbert T Herring | 1 Sep 1925 | |
Fg Off | Joseph J Teasdale | 26 Feb 1927 | |
Stores Branch | |||
Fg Off | Stanley D Dennis | 1 Jan 1926 |
Source - Air Force List July 1928
Fleet | Units operated |
Atlantic Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Conway W H Pulford | 1 Sep 1926 | OBE, AFC; later AVM |
Sqn Ldr | Thomas W Elsdon | 6 Jan 1928 | |
Flt Lt | Matthew C Dick | 1 Sep 1928 | Armament duties, AFC |
Flt Lt | Harold W St John | 1 Sep 1925 | Signal duties, DFC |
Hon Flt Lt | Herbert T Herring | 1 Sep 1925 | |
Flt Lt | Joseph J Teasdale | 26 Feb 1927 | |
Stores Branch | |||
Fg Off | Stanley D Dennis | 1 Jan 1926 |
Source - September 1928 Air Force List
Fleet | Units operated |
Atlantic Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Francis E T Hewlett | 1 Oct 1928 | |
Sqn Ldr | Thomas W Elsdon | 6 Jan 1928 | |
Flt Lt | Ralph E Meek | 1 Oct 1928 | Signal duties, |
Flt Lt | Matthew C Dick | 1 Sep 1928 | Armament duties, AFC |
Flt Lt | Frank H Whitmore | 15 Apr 1929 | Engineer duties, MBE, DSC |
Stores Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Frederick J W Humphreys | 1 Sep 1928 |
Source - Air Force List July 1929
No 449 Flight served aboard the ship from October 1929 to June 1930.
Fleet | Units operated |
Atlantic Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | William B Callaway | 7 Sep 1929 | AFC; later AVM |
Sqn Ldr | Thomas W Elsdon | 6 Jan 1928 | |
Flt Lt | Matthew C Dick | 1 Sep 1928 | Armament duties, AFC |
Flt Lt | Cuthbert C Bazell | 20 Jan 1930 | Signal duties, |
Flt Lt | Frank H Whitmore | 15 Apr 1929 | Engineer duties, MBE, DSC |
Stores Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Frederick J W Humphreys | 1 Sep 1928 |
Source - Air Force List July 1930
She underwent a refit at Devonport between 29 September 1930 and 18 January 1932
Fleet | Units operated |
Home Waters |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Douglas Iron | 28 Nov 1931 | later A/Cdre |
Sqn Ldr | James A W Binnie | 17 Dec 1931 | |
Flt Lt | Noel V Wrigley | 9 Nov 1931 | Engineer duties, MBE, DSC |
Flt Lt | Walter R Day | 7 Dec 1931 | Signal duties, |
Flt Lt | Arthur M N David | 9 Nov 1931 | Adjutant |
Stores Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Frank W Taylor | 2 Nov 1931 |
Source - Air Force List July 1932
Fleet | Units operated |
Home Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Douglas Iron | 28 Nov 1931 | later A/Cdre |
Sqn Ldr | Ian Cullen | 15 Aug 1932 | Armament duties, MBE, AFC |
Flt Lt | Noel V Wrigley | 9 Nov 1931 | Engineer duties, MBE, DSC |
Flt Lt | Walter R Day | 7 Dec 1931 | Signal duties, |
Flt Lt | Arthur M N David | 9 Nov 1931 | Adjutant |
Stores Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Frank W Taylor | 2 Nov 1931 | |
Warrant Officer - 2nd Class | |||
WO II | Walter J Robinson |
28 Dec 1932 |
AFM |
Source - Air Force List July 1933
Fleet | Units operated |
Home Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Douglas Iron | 28 Nov 1931 | later A/Cdre |
Sqn Ldr | Ian Cullen | 15 Aug 1932 | Armament duties, MBE, AFC |
Flt Lt | Noel V Wrigley | 9 Nov 1931 | Engineer duties, MBE, DSC |
Flt Lt | Walter R Day | 7 Dec 1931 | Signal duties, |
Flt Lt | Arthur M N David | 9 Nov 1931 | Adjutant |
Stores Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Frank W Taylor | 2 Nov 1931 | |
Warrant Officer - 2nd Class | |||
WO II | Walter J Robinson |
28 Dec 1932 |
AFM |
Source - January 1934 Air Force List
Fleet | Units operated |
Home Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Douglas Iron | 28 Nov 1931 | later A/Cdre |
Sqn Ldr | Ian Cullen | 15 Aug 1932 | Armament duties, MBE, AFC |
Flt Lt | Arthur M N David | 9 Nov 1931 | Adjutant |
Flt Lt | Oliver I Gilson | 22 May 1934 | Engineer duties, MBE, DSC |
Flt Lt | Eric C Passmore | 23 Apr 1934 | Signal duties, |
Equipment Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Norman W Law | 25 May 1934 | |
Warrant Officer - 2nd Class | |||
WO II | Walter J Robinson |
28 Dec 1932 |
AFM |
Source - Air Force List July 1934
Fleet | Units operated |
Home Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Eric D Johnson | 9 Dec 1934 | AFC; later A/Cdre |
Flt Lt | Adrian W Franklyn | 2 Jan 1935 | Armament duties, MC |
Flt Lt | Arthur M N David | 9 Nov 1931 | Adjutant |
Flt Lt | Oliver I Gilson | 22 May 1934 | Engineer duties, MBE, DSC |
Flt Lt | Eric C Passmore | 23 Apr 1934 | Signal duties, |
Equipment Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Norman W Law | 25 May 1934 | |
Warrant Officer | |||
WO | Charles Wheeler | 27 Mar 1935 |
Source - Air Force List July 1935
Fleet | Units operated |
Home Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Eric D Johnson | 9 Dec 1934 | AFC; later A/Cdre |
Sqn Ldr | Adrian W Franklyn | 2 Jan 1935 | Armament duties, MC |
Flt Lt | Arthur M N David | 9 Nov 1931 | Adjutant |
Flt Lt | Oliver I Gilson | 22 May 1934 | Engineer duties, MBE, DSC |
Flt Lt | Eric C Passmore | 23 Apr 1934 | Signal duties, |
Flt Lt | Gerrard J C Paul | 4 Jun 1936 | Engineer duties; later A/Cdre |
Equipment Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Norman W Law | 25 May 1934 | |
Warrant Officer | |||
WO | Charles Wheeler | 27 Mar 1935 |
Source - Air Force List July 1936
Fleet | Units operated |
Home Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Eric D Johnson | 9 Dec 1934 | AFC; later A/Cdre |
Sqn Ldr | Adrian W Franklyn | 2 Jan 1935 | Armament duties, MC |
Flt Lt | Oliver I Gilson | 22 May 1934 | Adjutant, MBE, DSC |
Flt Lt | Eric C Passmore | 23 Apr 1934 | Signal duties, |
Flt Lt | Gerrard J C Paul | 4 Jun 1936 | Engineer duties; later A/Cdre |
Equipment Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Norman W Law | 25 May 1934 | |
Warrant Officer | |||
WO | F C H Kirby |
13 Sep 1936 |
Source - Air Force List July 1937
Fleet | Units operated |
Home Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | J Noakes | 20 Sep 1937 | AFC, MM |
Sqn Ldr | Adrian W Franklyn | 2 Jan 1935 | Armament duties, MC |
Flt Lt | Eric C Passmore | 23 Apr 1934 | Signal duties, |
Equipment Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Roland G Seymour | 6 Sep 1937 | later A/Cdre |
Commissioned Engineer Officer | |||
Fg Off | F Stevens | 2 May 1938 | |
Warrant Officer | |||
WO | E G Cheeseman | 13 Dec 1937 |
Source - Air Force List July 1938
Fleet | Units operated |
Home Fleet |
|
Rank | Name |
Date |
Notes |
Commissioned Engineer Officer | |||
Fg Off | F Stevens | 2 May 1938 | |
Commissioned Signals Officer | |||
Fg Off | F H V Gould | 5 Sep 1938 | |
Warrant Officer | |||
WO | E G Cheeseman | 13 Dec 1937 |
Source - Air Force List January 1939
Fleet | Units operated |
Home Fleet |
|
Rank | Name |
Date |
Notes |
No personnel listed |
Source - Confidential Air Force List April 1939
Fleet | Units operated |
Home Fleet |
|
Rank | Name |
Date |
Notes |
No personnel listed |
Source - Confidential Air Force List May 1939
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This page was last updated on 08/07/19