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No 3 Group Personnel, units and locations

[Apr 1920 | Jul 1920 | Aug 1920 | Apr 1921 | Jul 1921 | Aug 1921 | Sep 1921 | Oct 1921 | May 1923 | Jul 1923 | Jan 1924 | May 1924 | Jan 1925 | Feb 1925 | Mar 1925 | Apr 1925 | May 1925 | Jun 1925 | Jul 1925 | Mar 1926]

[1936 - 1945 | 1946 - 1967]

April 1920

Location Command
RAF Grantham Inland Area

 

Rank Name Branch Notes
Gp Capt Ulick J D Bourke   Officer Commanding, CMG
Wg Cdr Hon John D Boyle   CBE, DSO; later A/Cdre
Wg Cdr Louis L Greig   MVO
Sqn Ldr John Sowrey A AFC
Sqn Ldr HRH Prince Albert A Personal Assistant to The King, KG; later King George VI
Sqn Ldr Frederick Sowrey A DSO, MC, AFC
Act Sqn Ldr Henry Harvey Med Medical Officer
Flt Lt George H Walker A  
Flt Lt Gilbert Palmer SO MBE
Flt Lt Hugh H M Fraser A  
Flt Lt Robert B Waite SO MBE
Flt Lt Ernest A Fawcus A  
Flt Lt Percy E Gwyer T MBE
Flt Lt Howard B Troop Med Medical Officer
Fg Off Hugh White A later AVM
Fg Off Herbert V Rowley A later A/Cdre
Fg Off Hugh V Puckridge A  
Fg Off Nicholas Comper A  
Fg Off Edward D G Galley A MC, AFC
Fg Off Robert J Montgomery-Moore Ad  
Fg Off Ernest J Ardley Ad  
Fg Off George J Engwell T  
Fg Off Charles J Sims A  
Fg Off John Hobbs T  
Plt Off Ernest J Broadbent Stores  

Source - April 1920 Air Force List

July 1920

Location Command Controlled
RAF Grantham Inland Area

  • No 2 Flying Training School (cadre) - Duxford

  • No 3 Flying Training School (cadre) - Digby

  • No 5 Flying Training School (cadre) - Shotwick

  • No 6 Flying Training School (cadre) - Spittlegate

  • No 207 Squadron - Bircham Newton

  • Wireless Station - Bircham Newton

  • Wireless Station - Spittlegate

  • Wireless Station - Shotwick

  • Care and Maintenance Party - Ely

  • Aeroplane Experimental Establishment - Martlesham Heath

    • Detachment - Orfordness

  • Care and Maintenance Party - Lincoln

  • MT Repair Section - Shrewsbury

  • No 7 Wing - Coal Aston

    • No 2 (Northern) Aircraft Repair Depot - Coal Aston

    • RAF Guard - South Carlton

 

Rank Name Branch Date Notes
Gp Capt Ulick J D Bourke   30 Nov 1919 Officer Commanding, CMG
Wg Cdr Hon John D Boyle   18 Apr 1918 CBE, DSO; later A/Cdre
Wg Cdr Reginald J Bone   25 May 1920 CBE, DSO
Sqn Ldr Sidney Smith A  7 Apr 1920 DSO, AFC
Sqn Ldr Alexander F A Hooper T 28 May 1920 OBE
Flt Lt Robert B Waite SO 14 Feb 1919 MBE
Flt Lt Charles H B Jenner-Parson A  1 Jul 1920  
Flt Lt Percy E Gwyer T  1 Dec 1919 MBE
Hon Flt Lt (Fg Off) John Roberts Stores 23 Apr 1920
Fg Off Edward D G Galley A 17 Dec 1919 MC, AFC
Fg Off Robert J Montgomery-Moore Ad  1 Jan 1920  
Fg Off Ernest J Ardley Ad  1 May 1919  
Fg Off George J Engwell T  8 Dec 1919  
Fg Off Ernest J Broadbent Stores 19 Oct 1918  
Fg Off Herbert M Massey A 21 May 1920 MC; later A/Cdre
Fg Off Archibald H Goldie A 28 Jun 1920  
Fg Off John Hobbs T 30 Aug 1919  
Fg Off Frederick S Stokes Stores 25 Jun 1920  
Medical Branch
Flt Lt Howard B Troop Med 23 Feb 1920 Medical Officer
Chaplain
Rev Denis F Blackburn   26 Apr 1920  

Source - July 1920 Air Force List

August 1920

Location Command Controlled
RAF Grantham Inland Area

  • No 2 Flying Training School (cadre) - Duxford

  • No 3 Flying Training School (cadre) - Digby

  • No 5 Flying Training School (cadre) - Shotwick

  • No 6 Flying Training School (cadre) - Spittlegate

  • No 207 Squadron (cadre) - Bircham Newton

  • Wireless Station - Bircham Newton

  • Wireless Station - Spittlegate

  • Wireless Station - Shotwick

  • Care and Maintenance Party - Ely

  • Aeroplane Experimental Establishment - Martlesham Heath

    • Detachment - Orfordness

  • Care and Maintenance Party - Lincoln

  • MT Repair Section - Shrewsbury

 

Rank Name Branch Date Notes
Gp Capt Ulick J D Bourke   30 Nov 1919 Officer Commanding, CMG
Wg Cdr Hon John D Boyle   18 Apr 1918 CBE, DSO; later A/Cdre
Wg Cdr Reginald J Bone   25 May 1920 CBE, DSO
Sqn Ldr Sidney Smith A  7 Apr 1920 DSO, AFC
Sqn Ldr Thomas S Impey A 19 Jul 1920  
Sqn Ldr Alexander F A Hooper T 28 May 1920 OBE
Flt Lt Robert B Waite SO 14 Feb 1919 MBE
Flt Lt Charles H B Jenner-Parson A  1 Jul 1920  
Flt Lt Percy E Gwyer T  1 Dec 1919 MBE
Hon Flt Lt (Fg Off) John Roberts Stores 23 Apr 1920
Fg Off Herbert M Massey A 21 May 1920 MC; later A/Cdre
Fg Off Archibald H Goldie A 28 Jun 1920  
Fg Off Edward D G Galley A 17 Dec 1919 MC, AFC
Fg Off Robert J Montgomery-Moore Ad  1 Jan 1920  
Fg Off Ernest J Ardley Ad  1 May 1919  
Fg Off John Hobbs T 30 Aug 1919  
Fg Off Frederick S Stokes Stores 25 Jun 1920  
Medical Branch
Flt Lt Howard B Troop Med 23 Feb 1920  
Chaplain
Rev Denis F Blackburn   26 Apr 1920  

Source - August 1920 Air Force List

April 1921

Location Command Controlled
RAF Spittlegate, Grantham Inland Area

  • No 3 Flying Training School (cadre) - Digby

  • No 207 Squadron (cadre) - Bircham Newton

  • Aeroplane Experimental Establishment - Martlesham Heath

    • Detachment - Orfordness

  • No 2 Flying Training School - Duxford

  • No 6 Flying Training School (cadre) - Spittlegate

  • No 39 Squadron (cadre) - Spittlegate

  • Care and Maintenance Party - Coal Aston

  • No 5 Flying Training School (cadre) - Shotwick

 

Rank Name Branch Date Notes
Gp Capt Arthur M Longmore   23 Nov 1920 Officer Commanding, DSO; later ACM
Wg Cdr Hon John D Boyle   18 Apr 1918 CBE, DSO; later A/Cdre
Wg Cdr Reginald J Bone   23 May 1920 CBE, DSO
Sqn Ldr Robert H Jones SO  1 Feb 1921 OBE
Sqn Ldr Thomas W Mulcahy-Morgan A 26 Aug 1920 MC
Sqn Ldr Thomas V Lister A & S 21 Jan 1921  
Flt Lt Anthony R Arnold A & S 21 Jul 1920  
Flt Lt Robert B Waite SO 14 Feb 1919 MBE
Flt Lt Charles H B Jenner-Parson A  7 Jul 1920  
Flt Lt Percy E Gwyer T  1 Dec 1919 MBE
Fg Off Herbert M Massey A 21 May 1920 MC; later A/Cdre
Fg Off Robert J Montgomery-Moore Ad  1 Jan 1920  
Fg Off Ernest J Ardley Ad  1 May 1919  
Obs Off Christopher C Abraham O  1 Sep 1920  
Stores Officers
Flt Lt William Millett Stores  3 Nov 1920  
Flt Lt Charles M Bevan Stores  1 Feb 1921  
Flt Lt John Roberts Stores 23 Apr 1920
Medical Branch
Flt Lt Howard B Troup Med 23 Feb 1920  
Chaplain
Rev (Sqn Ldr) Denis F Blackburn   26 Apr 1920  

Source - April 1921 Air Force List

July 1921

Location Command Controlled
RAF Spittlegate, Grantham Inland Area

  • No 2 Flying Training School - Duxford

  • No 3 Flying Training School (cadre) - Digby

  • No 5 Flying Training School (cadre) - Shotwick

  • No 39 Squadron - Spittlegate

  • No 207 Squadron - Bircham Newton

  • Care and Maintenance Party - Coal Aston

  • Aeroplane Experimental Establishment - Martlesham Heath

    • Detachment - Orfordness

 

Rank Name Branch Date Notes
Gp Capt Arthur M Longmore   23 Nov 1920 Officer Commanding, DSO; later ACM
Wg Cdr Hon John D Boyle   18 Apr 1918 CBE, DSO; later A/Cdre
Sqn Ldr Robert H Jones SO  1 Feb 1921 OBE
Sqn Ldr Thomas W Mulcahy-Morgan A 26 Aug 1920 MC
Sqn Ldr Thomas V Lister A & S 21 Jan 1921  
Flt Lt Robert B Waite SO 14 Feb 1919 MBE
Flt Lt Percy E Gwyer T  1 Dec 1919 MBE
Fg Off Herbert M Massey A 21 May 1920 MC; later A/Cdre
Fg Off Ernest J Ardley Ad  1 May 1919  
Stores Officers
Flt Lt William Millett Stores  3 Nov 1920  
Flt Lt Charles M Bevan Stores  1 Feb 1921  
Flt Lt John Roberts Stores 23 Apr 1920
Chaplain
Rev Denis F Blackburn   26 Apr 1920  

Source - July 1921 Air Force List

August 1921

Location Command Controlled
RAF Spittlegate, Grantham Inland Area

  • No 2 Flying Training School - Duxford

  • No 3 Flying Training School (cadre) - Digby

  • No 5 Flying Training School (cadre) - Shotwick

  • No 39 Squadron - Spittlegate

  • No 207 Squadron - Bircham Newton

  • Care and Maintenance Party - Coal Aston

  • Aeroplane Experimental Establishment - Martlesham Heath

    • Detachment - Orfordness

 

Rank Name Branch Date Notes
Gp Capt Arthur M Longmore   23 Nov 1920 Officer Commanding, DSO; later ACM
Wg Cdr Hon John D Boyle   18 Apr 1918 CBE, DSO; later A/Cdre
Sqn Ldr Robert H Jones SO  1 Feb 1921 OBE
Sqn Ldr Thomas W Mulcahy-Morgan A 26 Aug 1920 MC
Sqn Ldr Thomas V Lister A & S 21 Jan 1921  
Flt Lt Robert B Waite SO 14 Feb 1919 MBE
Flt Lt Percy E Gwyer T  1 Dec 1919 MBE
Fg Off Herbert M Massey A 21 May 1920 MC; later A/Cdre
Fg Off Ernest J Ardley Ad  1 May 1919  
Stores Officers
Flt Lt William Millett Stores  3 Nov 1920  
Flt Lt John Roberts Stores 23 Apr 1920
Chaplain
Rev Denis F Blackburn   26 Apr 1920  

Source - August 1921 Air Force List

September 1921

Source - September 1921 Air Force List

October 1921

Location Command Controlled
RAF Spittlegate, Grantham Inland Area In the process of disbanding

 

Rank Name Branch Date Notes
Gp Capt Arthur M Longmore   23 Nov 1920 Officer Commanding, DSO; later ACM
Wg Cdr Hon John D Boyle   18 Apr 1918 CBE, DSO; later A/Cdre
Sqn Ldr Robert H Jones SO  1 Feb 1921 OBE
Sqn Ldr Thomas W Mulcahy-Morgan A 26 Aug 1920 MC
Flt Lt Robert B Waite SO 14 Feb 1919 MBE
Flt Lt Percy E Gwyer T  1 Dec 1919 MBE
Fg Off Herbert M Massey A 21 May 1920 MC; later A/Cdre
Fg Off Ernest J Ardley Ad  1 May 1919  
Stores Officers
Flt Lt William Millett Stores  3 Nov 1920  
Flt Lt John Roberts Stores 23 Apr 1920
Chaplain
Rev Denis F Blackburn   26 Apr 1920  

Source - October 1921 Air Force List

Branches: A = Aeroplane, A & S = Aeroplane and Seaplane, Ad = Administrative, S = Seaplane, SO = Staff Officer, T = Technical.

It disbanded 31 August 1921 but continued to be listed until October 1921

It was reformed on 1 April 1923.

May 1923

Location Command Controlled
RAF Spittlegate, Grantham Inland Area

  • No 39 Squadron - Spittlegate

  • No 100 Squadron - Spittlegate

  • Care and Maintenance Party - Digby

  • Care and Maintenance Party - Bircham Newton

  • No 2 Flying Training School - Duxford

  • No 19 Squadron (1 flight) - Duxford

  • No 29 Squadron (1 flight) - Duxford

  • No 5 Flying Training School - Shotwick

 

Rank Name Date Notes
A/Cdre Tom I Webb-Bowen 16 Apr 1923 Air Officer Commanding, CB, CMG
Wg Cdr Arthur S Barratt  6 Apr 1923 CMG, MC; later ACM
Sqn Ldr Phillip A Shepherd 16 Apr 1923
Flt Lt Harold S Kerby  4 Apr 1923 DSC, AFC; later AVM
Flt Lt Nicholas W Wadham  4 Apr 1923  
Flt Lt George M Lawson  4 Apr 1923 later A/Cdre
Flt Lt Maurice H Butler  4 Apr 1923 DFC
Fg Off Frederick F Garraway  4 Apr 1923
Fg Off Frederick W Brown  4 Apr 1923
Stores Officers
Flt Lt Frederick Petch  4 Apr 1923
Flt Lt Charles M Bevan  4 Apr 1923  
Medical Branch
Flt Lt John H W Fitzgerald  4 Apr 1923 Dental Officer

Source - May 1923 Air Force List

July 1923

Location Command Controlled
RAF Spittlegate, Grantham Inland Area

  • No 39 Squadron - Spittlegate

  • No 100 Squadron - Spittlegate

  • Care and Maintenance Party - Digby

  • Aeroplane Experimental Establishment - Martlesham Heath

    • No 15 Squadron (to form) - Martlesham Heath

    • No 22 Squadron (to form) - Martlesham Heath

    • Guard - Orfordness

  • No 7 Squadron (HQ and 1 flight) - Bircham Newton

  • No 19 Squadron (1 flight) - Duxford

  • No 29 Squadron (1 flight) - Duxford

  • No 2 Flying Training School - Duxford

  • No 5 Flying Training School - Shotwick

 

Rank Name Date Notes
A/Cdre Tom I Webb-Bowen 16 Apr 1923 Air Officer Commanding, CB, CMG
Wg Cdr Arthur S Barratt  6 Apr 1923 CMG, MC; later ACM
Sqn Ldr Phillip A Shepherd 16 Apr 1923
Flt Lt Harold S Kerby  4 Apr 1923 DSC, AFC; later AVM
Flt Lt Nicholas W Wadham  4 Apr 1923  
Flt Lt George M Lawson  4 Apr 1923 later A/Cdre
Flt Lt Maurice H Butler  4 Apr 1923 DFC
Fg Off Frederick F Garraway  1 May 1923
Stores Officers
Wg Cdr Thomas O Lyons 14 May 1923 OBE
Flt Lt Frederick Petch  4 Apr 1923
Flt Lt Charles M Bevan  4 Apr 1923  
Medical Branch
Flt Lt John H W Fitzgerald  4 Apr 1923 Dental Officer

Source - July 1923 Air Force List

January 1924

Location Command Controlled
RAF Spittlegate, Grantham Inland Area

  • No 39 Squadron - Spittlegate

  • No 100 Squadron - Spittlegate

  • Care and Maintenance Party - Digby

  • Aeroplane Experimental Establishment - Martlesham Heath

    • No 15 Squadron (to form) - Martlesham Heath

    • No 22 Squadron - Martlesham Heath

    • Guard - Orfordness

  • No 7 Squadron - Bircham Newton

  • No 99 (Bombing) Sqn (HQ and 1 Flt) - Bircham Newton

  • No 19 Squadron (1 flight) - Duxford

  • No 29 Squadron (1 flight) - Duxford

  • No 111 Squadron (HQ and 1 flight) - Duxford

  • No 2 Flying Training School - Duxford

  • No 5 Flying Training School - Shotwick

 

Rank Name Date Notes
A/Cdre Tom I Webb-Bowen 16 Apr 1923 Air Officer Commanding, CB, CMG
Wg Cdr Arthur S Barratt  6 Apr 1923 CMG, MC; later ACM
Wg Cdr Bernard E Smythies 12 Oct 1923 DFC
Sqn Ldr Phillip A Shepherd 16 Apr 1923
Flt Lt Nicholas W Wadham  4 Apr 1923  
Flt Lt Christopher H Tancred 21 Dec 1923 OBE
Flt Lt George M Lawson  4 Apr 1923 later A/Cdre
Flt Lt Maurice H Butler  4 Apr 1923 DFC
Fg Off Charles J Poole  1 Sep 1923
Stores Officers
Flt Lt Frederick Petch  4 Apr 1923 OBE

Source - January 1924 Air Force List

May 1924

Location Command Controlled
RAF Spittlegate, Grantham Inland Area

  • No 39 Squadron - Spittlegate

  • No 100 Squadron - Spittlegate

  • Care and Maintenance Party - Digby

  • Aeroplane Experimental Establishment - Martlesham Heath

    • No 15 Squadron - Martlesham Heath

    • No 22 Squadron - Martlesham Heath

    • Guard - Orfordness

  • No 7 Squadron - Bircham Newton

  • No 99 (Bombing) Sqn (HQ and 1 Flt) - Bircham Newton

  • No 19 Squadron (1 flight) - Duxford

  • No 29 Squadron (1 flight) - Duxford

  • No 111 Squadron (HQ and 2 flight) - Duxford

  • No 2 Flying Training School - Duxford

  • No 5 Flying Training School - Shotwick

  • No 2 Stores (Ammunition) Depot

 

Rank Name Date Notes
A/Cdre Lionel E O Charlton  7 Mar 1924 Air Officer Commanding, CB, CMG, DSO
Wg Cdr Charles D Breese  1 Mar 1924 AFC; later AVM
Wg Cdr Arthur T Whitelock 15 Apr 1924  
Sqn Ldr Phillip A Shepherd 16 Apr 1923
Flt Lt Nicholas W Wadham  4 Apr 1923  
Flt Lt Christopher H Tancred 21 Dec 1923 OBE
Flt Lt George M Lawson  4 Apr 1923 later A/Cdre
Fg Off Charles J Poole  1 Sep 1923
Stores Officers
Flt Lt Frederick Petch  4 Apr 1923 OBE
Flt Lt George A Curtis 11 Feb 1924  

Source - May 1924 Air Force List

January 1925

Source - January 1925 Air Force List

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

July 1925

Location Command Controlled
RAF Spittlegate, Grantham Inland Area

  • SHQ - RAF Spittlegate

  • No 39 (Bombing) Squadron - Spittlegate

  • No 100 (Bombing) Squadron - Spittlegate

  • No 2 Flying Training School - Digby

  • Aeroplane Experimental Establishment - Martlesham Heath

    • No 15 (Bombing) Squadron  - Martlesham Heath

    • No 22 (Bombing) Squadron  - Martlesham Heath

    • Guard - Orfordness

  • SHQ  - RAF Bircham Newton

  • No 7 (Bombing) Squadron - Bircham Newton

  • No 99 (Bombing) Squadron - Bircham Newton

  • No 5 Flying Training School - Sealand

  • No 2 Stores (Ammunition) Depot - Altrincham

 

Rank Name Date Notes
A/Cdre

Robert Gordon

  2 Jan 1925 Air Officer Commanding, CB, CMG
Wg Cdr Reynell H Verney 16 Jan 1925  
Wg Cdr Arthur T Whitelock 15 Apr 1924  
Sqn Ldr Phillip A Shepherd 16 Apr 1923
Flt Lt Nicholas W Wadham  4 Apr 1923  
Flt Lt

Leonard H Cockey

 18 May 1925  
Flt Lt David Craik  2 Mar 1925  
Fg Off Frank H Astle 30 Oct 1924
Stores Branch
Sqn Ldr

Henry L Crichton

  1 Jun 1925 MBE; later A/Cdre
Flt Lt George A Curtis 11 Feb 1924
Medical Branch
Flt Lt William G L Wambeck 18 Jun 1925
Education Officer
Capt Herbert S Davis Grade III, MA

Source - July 1925 Air Force List

March 1926

Location Command Controlled
RAF Spittlegate, Grantham Inland Area

  • SHQ - RAF Spittlegate

  • No 39 (Bombing) Squadron - Spittlegate

  • No 100 (Bombing) Squadron - Spittlegate

  • No 2 Flying Training School - Digby

  • Aeroplane Experimental Establishment - Martlesham Heath

    • No 15 (Bombing) Squadron  - Martlesham Heath

    • No 22 (Bombing) Squadron  - Martlesham Heath

    • Guard - Orfordness

  • No 7 (Bombing) Squadron - Bircham Newton

  • No 99 (Bombing) Squadron - Bircham Newton

  • No 5 Flying Training School - Sealand

  • No 2 Stores (Ammunition) Depot - Altrincham

 

Rank Name Date Notes
A/Cdre Ian M Bonham-Carter  1 Oct 1925 Air Officer Commanding, CB, OBE; later A/Cdre
Wg Cdr Norman Goldsmith 10 Aug 1925 OBE
Wg Cdr Arthur T Whitelock 15 Apr 1924  
Sqn Ldr Phillip A Shepherd 16 Apr 1923
Flt Lt Alfred W Clemson  1 Dec 1925 OBE, DSC
Flt Lt Reginald A Courtney  9 Feb 1926 MBE
Flt Lt Nicholas W Wadham  4 Apr 1923  
Fg Off Frank H Astle 30 Oct 1924
Stores Branch
Sqn Ldr

Henry L Crichton

  1 Jun 1925 MBE; later A/Cdre
Flt Lt George A Curtis 11 Feb 1924
Medical Branch
Flt Lt William G L Wambeck 18 Jun 1925
Education Officer
Capt Herbert S Davis Grade III, MA

Source - March 1926 Air Force List

Redesignated No 23 Group on 12 April 1926

[Apr 1920 | Jul 1920 | Aug 1920 | Apr 1921 | Jul 1921 | Aug 1921 | Sep 1921 | Oct 1921 | May 1923 | Jul 1923 | Jan 1924 | May 1924 | Jan 1925 | Feb 1925 | Mar 1925 | Apr 1925 | May 1925 | Jun 1925 | Jul 1925 | Mar 1926]

[1936 - 1945 | 1946 - 1967]

This page was last updated on 17/10/23

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