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HQ No 71 Group Personnel, locations and units

This Group was formed as No 71 (Army Co-operation) (Operational) Group within Fighter Command on 25 November 1940 from No 22 (Army Co-operation) Group at Farnborough but was taken over by the new Army Co-operation Command on 1 December 1940.  The units initially allocated to the the Group were as follows: -

SHQ RAF  Gatwick
No 2 Sqn
No 4 Sqn
No 13 Sqn
No 16 Sqn
No 26 Sqn
No 110 (RCAF) Sqn
No 225 Sqn

No 239 Sqn
No 241 Sqn
No 268 Sqn
No 309 (Polish) Sqn
No 613 Sqn
No 614 Sqn

Source - No 22 Group ORB

The Air Staff and Intelligence Staff where located at GHQ, Home Forces, St Paul's School, Hammersmith whilst the remainder (Administrative and Specialist Staffs) where located at 'The Wolds' in the Wentworth Estate.  The initial staffing was as follows: -

Rank Name Notes
Air Staff
AVM

Paul C Maltby

 Air Officer Commanding
Plt Off J de R Kent Personal Assistant to AOC
Air Branch
Wg Cdr Noel L Desoer Senior Air Staff Officer
Lt Col H Essame Air 1
Operations and Training
Maj C C Oxborrow Air 2
Act Sqn Ldr M M Kaye Air 3
Act Flt Lt Edward G L Millington Air 4
Intelligence
Sqn Ldr C A H Evans  
Maj T B L Churchill  
Act Flt Lt R F Selby  
Act Flt Lt C W B Urmston  
Administrative Branch
Wg Cdr Richard B Jordan Senior Officer Administration
Maj J C Hargreaves Sqn Ldr - Organisation
Act Flt Lt A W Reynell Org 1
Act Flt Lt E J Stedman Org 2
Personal Staff
Act Sqn Ldr G H L Easterbrook Senior Personnel Staff Officer
Plt Off J W Girling 'P' 1
Capt C G Norbury 'P' 1
Services
Act Sqn Ldr S E Hearnden Engineer
Sqn Ldr G J Wright Armament
Act Flt Lt A F Brewis Equipment
Act Flt Lt D J Munro Photography
Sqn Ldr Colin M Stewart Signals
Act Flt Lt O G E McWilliam Chemical Warfare
Act Sqn Ldr J L Walsh Senior Medical Officer
Plt Off L M Fenelow Equipment
Plt Off G L Bond Camp Commandant
Plt Off F G Dansey Codes and Cyphers (attached)
ASO M Elliott Codes and Cyphers (attached)
ASO M Burns Codes and Cyphers (attached)

Source - No 71 Group ORB

Personnel Movements Dec 1940 - Jun 1941

Rank Name Date Notes
Wg Cdr Noel L Desoer  1 Dec 1940 Promoted to Gp Capt
Sqn Ldr C A H Evans  1 Dec 1940 Promoted to Wg Cdr
ASO R C Williams  4 Dec 1940 Posted in from RAF Wyton
ASO M J Manning  4 Dec 1940 Posted in from HQ No 40 Group
ASO M Burns  4 Dec 1940 Ceased to be attached
Plt Off J W Girling 10 Dec 1940 Promoted to Act Fg Off
Plt Off L M Fenelow 11 Dec 1940 Posted to HQ Army Co-Operation Command
ASO D E Lee 18 Dec 1940 Posted in from WAAF Depot
ASO M D Sherry 18 Dec 1940 Posted in from WAAF Depot
ASO M Elliott 18 Dec 1940 Ceased to be attached
Lt M B Price 19 Dec 1940 Posted in from 1st Signals Training Centre and promoted to Act Capt
Act Flt Lt A J Stedman 23 Dec 1940 Posted to the Air Ministry (DCAS)
Plt Off G A McD Scott 26 Dec 1940 Posted in from the Special Duties List
Plt Off G D Nichol  1 Jan 1941 Posted in from the Air Ministry (D of I) and promoted to Act Fg Off
Plt Off F G Dansey 10 Jan 1941 Ceased to be attached on posting in from HQ Army Co-Operation Command
Plt Off F G Dansey 10 Jan 1941 Promoted to Act Fg Off
ASO B A Brock 15 Jan 1941 Posted in from RAF Cottesmore and promoted to Act SO
ASO M D Sherry 15 Jan 1941 Posted to RAF Halton
Plt Off H G Maturin 24 Jan 1941 Posted in from HQ Army Co-Operation Command as Flt Lt - Defence
Plt Off H G Maturin 24 Jan 1941 Promoted to Act Flt Lt
Plt Off R C Graveley 24 Jan 1941 Posted in from HQ Army Co-Operation Command as Group Photographic Officer
Act Fg Off J W Girling  1 Feb 1941 Promoted to Act Flt Lt
Flt Lt A J Handley  2 Feb 1941 Posted in from No 1 AAS as Group Armament Officer
Wg Cdr Richard B Jordan  3 Feb 1941 Posted to No 15 OTU
Act Sqn Ldr G H L Easterbrook  3 Feb 1941 Reposted to fill the post of Senior Administrative Staff Officer
Act Sqn Ldr G H L Easterbrook  3 Feb 1941 Promoted to Act Wg Cdr
Flt Lt M P S Spencer  3 Feb 1941 Posted in from RAF Odiham as Senior Personnel Staff Officer
Act Sqn Ldr M P S Spencer  3 Feb 1941 Posted in from RAF Odiham as Senior Personnel Staff Officer
Sqn Ldr G J Wright  5 Feb 1941 Posted to the Special Duties List
Act Flt Lt D J Munro  5 Feb 1941 Posted to HQ No 203 Group in the Middle East
Act Sqn Ldr W Corden  8 Feb 1941 Posted in from RAF Odiham as Chief Signals Officer
Sqn Ldr Colin M Stewart 10 Feb 1941 Posted to HQ Army Co-Operation Command
Plt Off G A McD Scott 11 Feb 1941 Promoted to Act Fg Off
Act Flt Lt Edward G L Millington 15 Feb 1941 Reposted as OC, No 71 Group Communication Flight
ASO R C Williams 20 Feb 1941 Posted to RAF Coningsby
ASO M J Manning 22 Feb 1941 Posted to RAF Kenley
ASO M W Willis 28 Feb 1941 Posted in from HQ No 41 Group
Plt Off S V Pearce  4 Mar 1941 Posted in from HQ Army Co-Operation Command as Accountant Officer
Act Fg Off G D Nichol  17 Mar 1941 Posted to the Air Ministry (D of I)
Fg Off Lord Allerton 14 Mar 1941 Posted in from RAF Cranwell as Personal Assistant to AOC and promoted to Act Flt Lt
Capt C G Norbury 26 Mar 1941 Posted to 2nd Motor Training Battalion
Capt L M de Pinto 26 Mar 1941 Posted in for duty as 'P' 2
Plt Off J de R Kent 27 Mar 1941 Posted to HQ No 41 Group
Act Flt Lt A C Bencher 15 Apr 1941 Posted in from No 4 Sqn for duty of 'P' 2
Capt L M de Pinto 15 Apr 1941 Reposted in for duty as Group Defence Officer
Act Flt Lt H G Maturin 15 Apr 1941 Relinquished duties of Group Defence Officer
Act Fg Off F G Dansey  2 May 1941 Promoted to Act Flt Lt
Act Flt Lt H G Maturin 12 May 1941 Relinquished acting rank of Flt Lt on posting to HQ Maintenance Command
Act Flt Lt J W Girling 13 May 1941 Attached to School of Administration for Senior Admin War Course
Act Flt Lt J W Girling 30 May 1941 Ceased to be attached to School of Administration for Senior Admin War Course
ASO M Burns 14 May 1941 Attached from No 70 Group
Act Sqn Ldr S E Hearnden 14 May 1941 Posted to the Special Duties List and re-posted pending duty in the USA
Plt Off F H Ludford 19 May 1941 Posted to RAF Bury St Edmunds
ASO M W Willis 19 May 1941 Posted to the Air Ministry pending posting to the USA
Sqn Ldr A J Handley 22 May 1941 Attached to Towyn as Commandant of a new School for Air Gunners
ASO B O Calvert 26 May 1941 Posed in from No 50 Group for Codes and Cypher duties
ASO M Burns 27 May 1941 Ceased to be attached from No 70 Group
Act Flt Lt A W Reynell 29 May 1941 Posted to AHQ Far East for duty as Sqn Ldr - Organisation

Source - No 71 Group ORB

Unit Movements Jan - Jun 1941

Unit Date Notes
Air Staff (and certain branches of GHQ)  1 Jan 1941 Moved to Advanced GHQ at Storey's Gate, London
No 71 Group Communications Flight 15 Feb 1941 Formed at Hanworth
Rear HQ, No 71 Group  3 Mar 1941 Moved from 'The Wolds', Wentworth Estate to the Dormie House Golf Club, Sunningdale
No 1416 (Reconnaissance) Flt 10 Mar 1941 Formed at Heston
Air Staff , No 71 Group 13 Mar1941 Moved from Storey's Gate, London to Rear HQ, Sunningdale
No 71 Group Communications Flight 25 Mar 1941 Moved from Hanworth to Fair Oaks

Source - No 71 Group ORB

June 1941

Location Command Controlled
c/o GHQ Home Forces Army Co-operation Command

  • SHQ RAF Bury St Edwards

    • No 241 Squadron

  • SHQ RAF Doncaster

    • No 271 Squadron

  • SHQ RAF Firbeck

    • No 613 Squadron

  • SHQ RAF  Gatwick

    • No 26 Squadron

    • No 239 Squadron

  • SHQ RAF  Inverness

  • SHQ RAF  Renfrew

  • SHQ RAF  Snailwell

    • No 268 Squadron

  • SHQ RAF  Tilshead

    • No 225 Squadron

  • No 2 Squadron - Sawbridgeworth

  • No 13 Squadron - Hooton Park*

  • SHQ RAF  York

    • No 4 Squadron

  • No 614 Squadron - Macmerry

  • No 16 Squadron - Weston Zoyland**

  • No 400 (RCAF) Squadron - Odiham**

  • No 1416 (Reconnaissance) Flight - Hendon***

  • No 309 (Polish) Squadron - Dunino

* Station in No 15 Group

** Station in No 70 Group

*** Station in No 11 Group

 

Rank Name Date Notes
AVM

Paul C Maltby

  1 Dec 1940 Air Officer Commanding, CB, DSO, AFC
Personal Appointment
Act Flt Lt Lord Allerton 14 Mar 1941 Personal Assistant to AOC
Air Staff
Gp Capt Noel L Desoer 26 Nov 1940 Senior Air Staff Officer; later  AVM
Wg Cdr W B Murray 27 Mar 1941 DFC
Sqn Ldr C A H Evans 25 Nov 1940  
Flt Lt C C Edwards 18 Nov 1940  
Flt Lt R M Traill 18 Nov 1940 MC
Flt Lt W B Bredin 18 Nov 1940  
Act Sqn Ldr M M Kaye  1 Dec 1940  
Fg Off F K Kennedy 18 Nov 1940  
Fg Off Edward G L Millington  1 Dec 1940 later A/Cdre
Fg Off R F Selby 25 Nov 1940  
Plt Off N H de V Heathcote 18 Nov 1940  
Plt Off T G Skinner 18 Nov 1940  
Plt Off E T Wessell 18 Nov 1940  
Plt Off A C Godfrey 18 Nov 1940  
Plt Off G D Hamilton 18 Nov 1940  
Plt Off C W B Urmston 25 Nov 1940  
Plt Off H Morris  1 Dec 1940  
Plt Off G A McD Scott 26 Nov 1940  
Administrative Staff
Fg Off G H L Easterbrook  3 Feb 1941 Senior Administrative Staff Officer
Flt Lt M P S Spencer  3 Feb 1941  
Fg Off A W Reynell  5 Dec 1940  
Fg Off O G E McWilliam  4 Jan 1941  
Fg Off A C Bencher 15 Apr 1941  
Plt Off J W Girling 10 Dec 1940  
Staffs of the Services
Engineer
Fg Off S E Hearnden  1 Dec 1940  
Signals
Fg Off W Corden  8 Feb 1941  
Armament
Flt Lt A J Handley  2 Feb 1941  
Photography
Flt Lt R C Graveley 27 Jan 1941  
Equipment
Fg Off A F Brewis  1 Dec 1940  
Accountant
Plt Off S V Pearce  4 Mar 1941  
Medical
Sqn Ldr J L Walsh  4 Dec 1940 Senior Medical Officer, MB, BS
Miscellaneous Appointments
Plt Off G L Bond 25 Nov 1940  
Plt Off F G Dansey 10 Jan 1941  

Source - June 1941 Confidential Air Force List

Personnel Movements Jun - Aug1941

Rank Name Date Notes
Act Sqn Ldr S E Hearnden  2 Jun 1941 Posted to the Special Duties List for Engineer duties
Sqn Ldr A J Handley 10 Jun 1941 Ceased to be attached to Towyn as Commandant of a new School for Air Gunners
ASO V P Mortimer 14 Jun 1941 Attached from HQ Army Co-Operation Command for Codes and Cypher duties
ASO V P Mortimer 22 Jun 1941 Ceased to be attached from HQ Army Co-Operation Command
Plt Off R G W Wing 23 Jun 1941 Posted in from RAF York for 'P' Staff duties
Act Flt Lt A C Bencher  1 Jul 1941 Posted to RAF Snailwell as Station Commander
Plt Off F G G Wilson  1 Jul 1941 Attached from No 241 Sqn as Personal Assistant to AOC
Act Flt Lt Lord Allerton  2 Jul 1941 Posted to the Air Ministry (DPET)
Sqn Ldr J L Walsh  6 Jul 1941 Posted to HQ Army Co-Operation Command for Medical duties
Act Flt Lt O G E McWilliam 10 Jul 1941 Posted to HQ Army Co-Operation Command for Chemical Warfare duties
Capt F G Gurney 10 Jul 1941 Attached from The Royal Norfolk Regiment for duty as Group Defence Officer
Plt Off J R Hayward 12 Jul 1941 Posted in from EAOS for duty as Group Accountant Officer
Act Flt Lt A F Brewis 16 Jul 1941 Posted to No 16 Sqn for Equipment duties
Act Flt Lt A Yates 17 Jul 1941 Posted in for duty as Group Equipment Officer
Capt L M de Pinto 18 Jul 1941 Ceased to be attached for duty as Group Defence Officer
Plt Off J R Hayward 22 Jul 1941 Posted to RAF Christchurch for duty as Accountant Officer
ASO B C Calvert 27 Jul  1941 Posted to RAF Odiham for Codes and Cypher duties
ASO J M Hurman 27 Jul  1941 Posted in from RAF Bridgnorth for Codes and Cypher duties

Source - No 71 Group ORB

Unit Movements Jun - Aug 1941

Unit Date Notes
No 71 Group Communications Flight 25 Mar 1941 Moved from Fair Oaks to Farnborough

Source - No 71 Group ORB

The Group was disbanded on 14 August 1941 with operational squadrons being controlled directly by HQ Army Co-operation Command until 22 August when Wings began to be formed.

This page was last updated on 07/03/21©

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