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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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No 172 Sqn Personnel, aircraft and locations
[1942 | ]
Personnel Movements: Mar - Dec 1942
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| March | |||
| Sqn Ldr | Jeaffreson H Greswell | 8 Mar 1942 | OC, No 1471 Flt, assumed command of No 172 Sqn; later A/Cdre |
| Plt Off | H A C Luckham | 8 Mar 1942 | Attached from CCDU, RAF Ballykelly for duty as Radio Officer |
| Sqn Ldr | John B Russell | 13 Mar 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 502 Sqn and assumed command of No 172 Sqn; later AVM |
| Fg Off | MacGregor | 16 Mar 1942 | Arrived on posting from RAF Carew Cheriton |
| Plt Off | S J Pooley | 16 Mar 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 5 (C) OTU |
| Sqn Ldr | John B Russell | 17 Mar 1942 | Promoted to Temp Wg Cdr, wef 1 Mar 1942 |
| Plt Off | H A C Luckham | 23 Mar 1942 | Radio Officer, ceased to be attached from CCDU and posted to No 172 Sqn, wef 18 Mar 1942 |
| Flt Lt | Squire | 25 Mar 1942 | Ceased to be attached from No 209 Sqn and posted to No 172 Sqn, wef 16 Mar 1942 |
| Flt Lt | E W M Heale | 26 Mar 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 3 (C) OTU, wef 23 Mar 1942 |
| Fg Off | B Jones | 28 Mar 1942 | Reported to RAF Squires Gate for No 19 Observers' Course |
| Plt Off | O Davies | 28 Mar 1942 | Reported to RAF Squires Gate for No 19 Observers' Course |
| Plt Off | R J O'Connell | 29 Mar 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 3 (C) OTU for duty as Engineer Officer, wef 21 Mar 1942 |
| Plt Off | E A Blair | 31 Mar 1942 | Arrived on posting from RAF Bircham Newton |
| April | |||
| Sqn Ldr | G Henderson | 1 Apr 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 3 (C) OTU for duty as Flight Commander |
| Sqn Ldr | Hunt | 8 Apr 1942 | Station Medical Officer, posted to RAF Stornoway |
| Plt Off | L Noble | 9 Apr 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 233 Sqn |
| Plt Off | F C Le Bon | 9 Apr 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 233 Sqn |
| Plt Off | H W Russ RCAF | 13 Apr 1942 | Killed in a flying accident |
| Plt Off | E A Blair | 13 Apr 1942 | Killed in a flying accident |
| Plt Off | L Noble | 13 Apr 1942 | Killed in a flying accident |
| Plt Off | F C Le Bon | 13 Apr 1942 | Killed in a flying accident |
| Sgt | C T Daniel | 13 Apr 1942 | Killed in a flying accident |
| Plt Off | D E Dixon | 14 Apr 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 233 Sqn |
| Sqn Ldr | D C Farquharson | 8 Apr 1942 | Arrived on posting from RAF Stornoway for duty as Station Medical Officer |
| Plt Off | J C Devonshire | 23 Apr 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 3 (C) OTU |
| Plt Off | H T Grace | 23 Apr 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 254 Sqn |
| May | |||
| Plt Off | J H Dingwall | 1 May 1942 | Arrived on posting from RAF St Eval for duty as Intelligence Officer |
| 2 Lt | D H Kaufman USAAC | 9 May 1942 | Attached from No 3 Signals School to gain experience with ASV equipment |
| Plt Off | F C Elisha | 26 May 1942 | Arrived on posting from RAF Leuchars |
| Plt Off | E J Lambarth | 27 May 1942 | Arrived on posting from RAF Dyce |
| Plt Off | J T O'Gorman | 29 May 1942 | Arrived on posting from RAF Squires Gate |
| June | |||
| Plt Off | J H Dingwall | 9 Jun 1942 | Intelligence Officer, posted to No 311 Sqn |
| Plt Off | W Howell | 23 Jun 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 3 (C) OTU |
| Plt Off | E Hebden | 23 Jun 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 3 (C) OTU |
| Plt Off | J N Robinson | 23 Jun 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 3 (C) OTU |
| Flt Sgt | I C Virgo | 24 Jun 1942 | Proceeded on 28 days leave having ditched in W5733 off the Scilly Isles on 20 Jun 1942 |
| Flt Sgt | Marshall | 24 Jun 1942 | Proceeded on 28 days leave having ditched in W5733 off the Scilly Isles on 20 Jun 1942 |
| Flt Sgt | Norton | 24 Jun 1942 | Proceeded on 28 days leave having ditched in W5733 off the Scilly Isles on 20 Jun 1942 |
| Sgt | E T A Deacon | 24 Jun 1942 | Proceeded on 28 days leave having ditched in W5733 off the Scilly Isles on 20 Jun 1942 |
| Sgt | Bellaby | 24 Jun 1942 | Proceeded on 28 days leave having ditched in W5733 off the Scilly Isles on 20 Jun 1942 |
| Sgt | Vardy | 24 Jun 1942 | Proceeded on 28 days leave having ditched in W5733 off the Scilly Isles on 20 Jun 1942 |
| July | |||
| Plt Off | J Burnridge | 3 Jul 1942 | Attached from No 3 (P) AFU |
| Flt Lt | Sander | 15 Jul 1942 | Station Intelligence Officer, admitted to hospital following a landing accident |
| Plt Off | E J Lambarth | 15 Jul 1942 | Admitted to hospital following a landing accident, where he died from shock following an operation |
| Plt Off | D E Dixon | 15 Jul 1942 | Admitted to hospital following a landing accident |
| Sgt | R J Connon | 15 Jul 1942 | Admitted to hospital after being wounded in action |
| Sgt | Gerrett | 15 Jul 1942 | Admitted to hospital following a landing accident |
| Plt Off | C J Payne | 16 Jul 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 3 PRC |
| Plt Off | P H Stembridge | 16 Jul 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 3 PRC |
| Plt Off | G C V Jamison | 16 Jul 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 3 PRC |
| Plt Off | J S Haynes | 16 Jul 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 3 PRC |
| Plt Off | W A Jones | 16 Jul 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 3 PRC |
| Plt Off | P H Dene | 16 Jul 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 3 PRC |
| Plt Off | F H Sheffield | 16 Jul 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 3 PRC |
| Plt Off | D J Ashworth | 16 Jul 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 3 PRC |
| Plt Off | W Rushton | 16 Jul 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 3 PRC |
| Plt Off | R P Fahrni | 16 Jul 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 3 PRC |
| Flt Sgt | J R Riding | 16 Jul 1942 | Appointed to a commission, wef 9 May 1942 and reposted to No 172 Sqn |
| Sqn Ldr | Jeaffreson H Greswell | 19 Jul 1942 | Promoted to Wg Cdr and posted to HQ Coastal Command |
| Sqn Ldr | W B A J Keppel | 19 Jul 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 3 PRC and assumed command of 'A' Flight |
| Fg Off | A W Southall | 19 Jul 1942 | Promoted to Flt Lt |
| Plt Off | F C Blackmore | 19 Jul 1942 | Promoted to Fg Off |
| Plt Off | D E Dixon | 19 Jul 1942 | Promoted to Fg Off |
| Plt Off | G V Syer RAAF | 19 Jul 1942 | Promoted to Fg Off |
| Plt Off | A W R Triggs RAAF | 19 Jul 1942 | Promoted to Fg Off |
| Sgt | R J Connon | 22 Jul 1942 | Died in hospital from wounds |
| Fg Off | J E H Nicholson | 27 Jul 1942 | Arrived on posting from HQ, No 19 Group for duty as Intelligence Officer |
| Fg Off | H P G Barron | 31 Jul 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 4 APC |
| August | |||
| Sgt | Vardy | 2 Aug 1942 | Found unfit for flying for 3 months, following ditching, and posted to RAF Carew Cheriton |
| Plt Off | J F Boyd | 11 Aug 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 7 PRC |
| Plt Off | K S Kyd | 11 Aug 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 7 PRC |
| Plt Off | G C V Jamison | 19 Aug 1942 | Killed on active service |
| Plt Off | J S Haynes | 19 Aug 1942 | Killed on active service |
| Plt Off | R P Fahrni | 19 Aug 1942 | Killed on active service |
| Sgt | J Mullins | 19 Aug 1942 | Killed on active service |
| Sgt | E H Dawe | 19 Aug 1942 | Killed on active service |
| Sgt | E T A Deacon | 19 Aug 1942 | Killed on active service |
| 2 Lt | D H Kaufman USAAC | 19 Aug 1942 | Killed on active service |
| AC2 | F P Cross | 19 Aug 1942 | Killed on active service |
| Plt Off | W Johnson | 26 Aug 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 3 (C) OTU |
| September | |||
| Plt Off | G B Alred | 1 Sep 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 3 (C) OTU |
| Plt Off | B D A Lundon | 1 Sep 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 3 (C) OTU |
| Plt Off | J D Prideaux | 1 Sep 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 3 (C) OTU |
| Plt Off | N Bernett | 1 Sep 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 3 (C) OTU |
| Plt Off | D M Johnson | 3 Sep 1942 | Arrived on posting as supernumerary from HQ Coastal Command for Signals RDF duties |
| Sqn Ldr | W B A J Keppel | 11 Sep 1942 | Posted to No 179 Sqn |
| Sqn Ldr | Ronald B Thomson | 12 Sep 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 3 (C) OTU and assumed command of 'A' Flight; later AVM |
| Fg Off | G T Salmon-Light | xx Sep 1942 | Adjutant, proceeded on embarkation leave |
| Flt Lt | J S N Sewell | 29 Sep 1942 | Attached from RAF Talbenny for duty as Adjutant |
| October | |||
| Fg Off | M R Smith | 2 Oct 1942 | Arrived on posting as supernumerary from HQ Coastal Command for Signals (R) duties |
| Fg Off | E M F Hudson | 10 Oct 1942 | Arrived on posting from HQ No 19 Group for duty as Adjutant |
| Plt Off | J P Pryer | 16 Oct 1942 | Arrived on posting from RAF Benson for Engineer duties |
| Wg Cdr | J B Brolly | 22 Oct 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 4 (C) OTU |
| Wg Cdr | John B Russell | 24 Oct 1942 | Relinquished command of the squadron on posting to HQ, No 19 Group |
| Wg Cdr | J B Brolly | 24 Oct 1942 | Assumed command of No 172 Squadron |
| November | |||
| Fg Off | J B Thornton | 15 Nov 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 7 (C) OTU with his crew |
| Plt Off | Myers | 15 Nov 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 7 (C) OTU with his crew |
| Flt Sgt | Hawkins | 21 Nov 1942 | Posted to No 612 Sqn with his crew |
| Flt Sgt | Ellis | 21 Nov 1942 | Posted to No 612 Sqn with his crew |
| Flt Lt | Squire | 22 Nov 1942 | Posted to RAF Pembroke Dock |
| Flt Lt | Presland | 23 Nov 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 3 SGR for duty as Squadron Navigation Officer |
| December | |||
| Sqn Ldr | J Gearing-Thomas | 5 Dec 1942 | Arrived on posting from No 3 (C) OTU for duty as Flight Commander |
| Flt Lt | A E Kills? | 9 Dec 1942 | Squadron Gunnery Officer, posted to RAF Chivenor |
| Sqn Ldr | G Henderson | 12 Dec 1942 | Posted to HQ, No 15 Group |
| Fg Off | J B Thornton | 15 Dec 1942 | Failed to return from an operation |
| Fg Off | F T Leeping | 15 Dec 1942 | Failed to return from an operation |
| Flt Sgt | A J Skirten | 15 Dec 1942 | Failed to return from an operation |
| Flt Sgt | J R G McFarland | 15 Dec 1942 | Failed to return from an operation |
| Flt Sgt | W R Hawthorne RCAF | 15 Dec 1942 | Failed to return from an operation |
| Flt Sgt | D G Ide RCAF | 15 Dec 1942 | Failed to return from an operation |
| Plt Off | G V Syer RAAF | 17 Sep 1942 | Posted to RAAF overseas |
| Flt Sgt | J D Fitch | 27 Dec 1942 | Failed to return from an operation |
| Sgt | W E Jones | 27 Dec 1942 | Failed to return from an operation |
| Sgt | J Webber | 27 Dec 1942 | Failed to return from an operation |
| Sgt | T Devine | 27 Dec 1942 | Failed to return from an operation |
| Sgt | F W Caine | 27 Dec 1942 | Failed to return from an operation |
| Sgt | F Peace | 27 Dec 1942 | Failed to return from an operation |
Source - No 172 ORB (AIR 27/1105)
Organisational Movements: Mar - Dec 1942
| Date | Notes |
| March | |
| 8 Mar 1942 | No 172 Sqn formed from No 1417 Flight at RAF
Chivenor to operate Wellingtons equipped with the Leigh Light The following Wellingtons were taken over from No 1417 Flight: -
Wellington IC, W5657 was received for training purposes |
 |
|
| April | |
| 5 Mar 1942 | 3 x operationally equipped Wellington ICs (W5672, DV601 and DV610) arrived on loan from No 3 (C) OTU |
| May | |
| 2 May 1942 | A group of US Naval officers visited the squadron to see the operation of the Leigh Light |
| by end of May | 4 x Wellington VIIIs, BB503 (D), BB513 (B), ES986 (F) and HF828 (C), were received |
 |
|
| 29/30 May 1942 | 3 x aircraft conducted an exercise with HM Submarine H34 south of Plymouth |
| 30 May/1 Jun 1942 | 4 x aircraft conducted an exercise with HM Submarine H34 south of Plymouth |
| June | |
| 3 Jun 1942 | Squadron carried out its first operational sorties |
| 4 Jun 1942 | Sqn Greswell carried out the squadron's first attack on an enemy submarine |
| 23 Jun 1942 | 3 x Wellington VIIIs, HX379, HX419 and HX427, were received |
| 27 Jun 1942 | 2 x Wellington VIIIs, HX444 and HX396, were received |
| 29 Jun 1942 | 1 x Wellington VIII, HX436, was received |
| July | |
| 1 Jul 1942 | 1 x Wellington VIII, W5661, was received from TFU, RAF Defford |
| 5 Jul 1942 | 2 x Wellington VIIIs, HX482 and HX504, were received from No 32 MU |
| 12 Jul 1942 | 2 x Wellington VIIIs, HX512 and HX474, were received from No 32 MU |
| 14 Jul 1942 | 1 x Wellington VIII, HX466, was received from No 32 MU |
| 25 Jul 1942 | 2 x Wellington VIIIs, HX587 and HX599, were received from No 32 MU |
| August | |
| 12 Aug 1942 | Fg Off Triggs and crew were forced to ditch and took to their dinghy |
| 16 Aug 1942 | Advance party (1 x aircraft) departed RAF Chivenor for RAF Wick |
| 17 Aug 1942 | Main party of detachment (6 x Aircraft) departed RAF Chivenor for RAF Wick in 5 x Harrows |
| 18 Aug 1942 | Fg Off Triggs and crew were rescued by ML Q180 and landed at Newlyn and admitted to hospital |
| 19 Aug 1942 | Fg Off Triggs and crew were collected from hospital and returned to RAF Chivenor |
| September | |
| 14 Sep 1942 | 50 x ground personnel posted to No 179 Sqn and
departed on board 3 x 'Sparrow' aircraft 9 x officers, 39 x NCO aircrew and 83 x ORs transferred to No 179 Sqn in total 8 x aircraft allotted to No 179 Sqn |
| October | |
| 5 Oct 1942 | 3 x operational crews arrived on posting from No 58 Sqn |
| 9 Oct 1942 | 2 x operational crews arrived on posting from
No 4 (C) OTU 1 x Wellington VIII, LA982, was allotted from No 32 MU |
| 10 Oct 1942 | 1 x Wellington VIII, LA987, was allotted from No 32 MU |
| 11 Oct 1942 | 2 x Wellington VIIIs, LA992 and LA998, were allotted from No 32 MU |
| 14 Oct 1942 | 1 x Wellington XIII, LB114, was allotted from No 32 MU |
 |
|
| 26 Oct 1942 | 3 x Wellington VIIIs, LB140, HX653 and HX520, were allotted from No 32 MU |
| November | |
| No relevant entries recorded in this month's ORB | |
| December | |
| 15 Dec 1942 | 3 x crews (less 1 pilot) arrived on posting from No 3 (C) OTU |
Source - No 172 ORB (AIR 27/1105)
This entry was last updated on 30/06/25
