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No 187 Sqn Personnel, aircraft and locations

[1945 | ]

Personnel Movements: Feb - Dec 1945

Rank Name Date Notes
February
Sqn Ldr J D Thirwell DFC 22 Feb 1945 Arrived on posting and was appointed OC, 'A' Flight
Sqn Ldr P F Barry DFC 23 Feb 1945 Arrived on posting and was appointed OC, 'B' Flight
Wg Cdr R I Alexander DFC 27 Feb 1945 Arrived on posting and assumed command of No 187 Sqn
March
Sqn Ldr J F Green DFC  1 Mar 1945 Arrived on posting and appointed Sqn Ldr Flying
Sqn Ldr P F Barry & crew 15 Mar 1945 Posted to No 242 Sqn
Sqn Ldr J F Green & crew 15 Mar 1945 Posted to No 96 Sqn
Flt Lt E D Cable 15 Mar 1945 Appointed Squadron Navigation Officer
Sqn Ldr C G St D Jeffries DFC 16 Mar 1945 Arrived on posting and was appointed OC, 'A' Flight
Sqn Ldr J D Thirwell DFC 16 Mar 1945 Relinquished command of 'A' Flight and assumed command of 'B Flight
Sqn Ldr V G Daw DFC, AFC 19 Mar 1945 Arrived on posting and appointed Sqn Ldr Flying
Flt Lt G A North 25 Mar 1945 Arrived on posting for duty as Squadron Signals Leader
April
Flt Lt J M Will 14 Apr 1945 Appointed Officer i/c Squadron Training
Flt Lt R W Smith DFM 14 Apr 1945 Appointed Squadron Air Sea Rescue Officer
Sqn Ldr A Wren AFC 17 Apr 1945 Arrived on attachment from HQ Transport Command and took charges of all Halifax aircrew pending disposal
Sqn Ldr A Wren AFC 26 Apr 1945 Ceased to be attached and returned to HQ Transport Command
May
Sqn Ldr M C Staddon & crew 29 May 1945 Arrived on posting as supernumerary
June
Fg Off ? A Hill  4 Jun 1945 Posted to No 11 PRDC for repatriation to Australia (WOp/Air)
Fg Off V ? S Smith  4 Jun 1945 Posted to No 11 PRDC for repatriation to Australia (WOp/Air)
Fg Off C S Thorn  4 Jun 1945 Posted to No 11 PRDC for repatriation to Australia (WOp/Air)
Fg Off J E Roe  4 Jun 1945 Posted to No 11 PRDC for repatriation to Australia (WOp/Air)
Plt Off K L Richards  4 Jun 1945 Posted to No 11 PRDC for repatriation to Australia (Nav)
Plt Off G L Bowling  4 Jun 1945 Posted to No 11 PRDC for repatriation to Australia (Pilot)
WO E C Bonner  4 Jun 1945 Posted to No 232 Sqn (Nav)
WO E V Rouse  4 Jun 1945 Posted to No 232 Sqn (WOp/Air)
Plt Off R G F Catt 11 Jun 1945 Posted to No 232 Sqn (WOp/Air)
Plt Off B F J Button 11 Jun 1945 Posted to No 109 Sqn for course (WOp/Air)
WO H P Gilmour 11 Jun 1945 Posted to No 466 Sqn (Nav)
WO J Potter 11 Jun 1945 Posted to No 466 Sqn (WOp/Air)
Flt Lt G Christopherson 12 Jun 1945 Posted to No 24 Sqn (Pilot)
Fg Off R G Kitching 12 Jun 1945 Posted to No 24 Sqn (Nav)
Fg Off J Hugill 12 Jun 1945 Posted to No 24 Sqn (WOp/Air)
Fg Off R R Carey-Evans 13 Jun 1945 Arrived on posting from HQ Transport Command (Co-pilot)
Flt Lt J M Will 14 Jun 1945 Relinquished appointment Officer i/c Squadron Training on reverting to route flying
Flt Lt A D Firth 14 Jun 1945 Appointed Officer i/c Squadron Training
Flt Sgt R J Kear 14 Jun 1945 Arrived on posting from No 108 OTU (WOp/Air)
Flt Lt E P W Rignall 15 Jun 1945 Arrived on posting from No 108 OTU (Nav)
Fg Off T Butterfield 15 Jun 1945 Arrived on posting from No 108 OTU (Pilot)
Fg Off J G Barker 15 Jun 1945 Arrived on posting from No 108 OTU (Pilot)
Sgt P Dadswell 15 Jun 1945 Arrived on posting from No 108 OTU (WOp/Air)
Flt Lt L D Batchelor 19 Jun 1945 Arrived on posting from No 108 OTU (Nav)
Fg Off E H Anderson 20 Jun 1945 Posted to No 51 Sqn on cessation of attachment to No 46 Sqn (Pilot)
Fg Off P Bailey 20 Jun 1945 Posted to No 158 Sqn on cessation of attachment to No 46 Sqn (Pilot)
Plt Off J P Robinson 22 Jun 1945 Posted to No 1332 HCU (WOp/Air)
Plt Off J ? Seager 22 Jun 1945 Posted to No 1332 HCU (WOp/Air)
Flt Sgt F J Harper 22 Jun 1945 Posted to No 1332 HCU (WOp/Air)
Flt Lt V R H Ferguson 26 Jun 1945 Posted to No 147 Sqn (Pilot)
Flt Lt E C Branston 26 Jun 1945 Posted to No 147 Sqn (Nav)
Flt Lt ? Rushton RCAF 26 Jun 1945 Posted to No 147 Sqn (WOp/Air)
July
Flt Sgt L Paddington  4 Jul 1945 Proceeded to RAF St Mawgan for Radio Range Course (Pilot)
Wg Cdr P B Wood  5 Jul 1945 Posted to command No 232 Sqn
WO L Woodward  5 Jul 1945 Posted to RAF Kemble (Nav)
Plt Off W A C Greene RCAF  9 Jul 1945 Posted to RAF Snaith, pending repatriation to Canada (Pilot)
Plt Off C D Baldrew RCAF  9 Jul 1945 Posted to RAF Snaith, pending repatriation to Canada (Pilot)
Plt Off L E Benson RCAF  9 Jul 1945 Posted to RAF Snaith, pending repatriation to Canada (Pilot)
Flt Lt H D Caldwell 11 Jul 1945 Attached from No 24 Sqn for 28 days (Nav)
Flt Sgt L Smethurst 11 Jul 1945 Proceeded to RAF Odiham for SBA and Radio Range Course (Pilot)
Fg Off A B Cook 14 Jul 1945 Posted to No 1332 HCU (Nav)
Lt R Skodbo 16 Jul 1945 Posted to HQ, Royal Norwegian Air Force (Nav)
WO J McLaughlin 17 Jul 1945 Arrived on posting from RAF Filton for Co-pilot duties (Pilot)
Flt Sgt D R Laing 18 Jul 1945 Proceeded to RAF St Mawgan for Radio Range Course (Pilot)
WO L G Crosswell 21 Jul 1945 Arrived on posting from HQ Transport Command for flying duties (Pilot)
Flt Sgt L Smethurst 21 Jul 1945 Posted to No 1333 TSCU (Pilot)
Fg Off H A Poulter 23 Jul 1945 Posted to No 109 OTU (WOp/Air)
Plt Off R W Young 23 Jul 1945 Posted to No 109 OTU (WOp/Air)
Flt Sgt R G Gunstone 23 Jul 1945 Posted to No 109 OTU (WOp/Air)
Flt Sgt J W Peacock 25 Jul 1945 Proceeded to RAF St Mawgan for Runway Localiser Course (Pilot)
Sqn Ldr R J Beazley 30 Jul 1945 Attached from RAF Pershore for route flying experience (Pilot)
Sqn Ldr J D Thirwell DFC 29 Jul 1945 Proceeded to RAF Doncaster for Squadron and Flight Commanders' Course (Pilot)
Flt Lt J L Christie 30 Jul 1945 Attached from No 46 Sqn pending posting (Nav)
Fg Off W ? Hallam 30 Jul 1945 Attached from RAF Pershore for route flying experience (Nav)
Fg Off M Bennett 30 Jul 1945 Arrived on posting from HQ Transport Command for Co-pilot duties (Pilot)
Plt Off L C Bitchard 30 Jul 1945 Attached from RAF Pershore for route flying experience (WOp/Air)
Flt Lt T P Flint 31 Jul 1945 Posted to No 422 Sqn (Pilot)
Fg Off R S Coston 31 Jul 1945 Posted to No 422 Sqn (WOp/Air)
WO W Johasson xx Jul 1945 Appointed to a commission in the GD Branch RCAF in the rank of APO, wef 10Jan 1945
Flt Sgt J Pope xx Jul 1945 Appointed to a commission in the GD Branch in the rank of APO, wef 11 Mar 1945
Flt Sgt T Love xx Jul 1945 Appointed to a commission in the GD Branch in the rank of APO, wef 14 Feb 1945
August
Fg Off F Fenn 14 Aug 1945 Departed on posted out  on Class 'B' Release
Wg Cdr R I Alexander DFC 19 Aug 1945 Proceeded to RAF Doncaster for Squadron and Flight Commanders' Course (Pilot)
Sqn Ldr J A A Gibson DSO, DFC & crew 29 Aug 1945 Arrived on posting as supernumerary
Flt Sgt W G Joyce 29 Aug 1945 Departed on posted out on release under Age and Service Group
Flt Lt E J Packer 31 Aug 1945 Posted to HQ No 47 Group for EVT duties
September
The records for this month appear to be missing
Wg Cdr R I Alexander DFC xx Sep 1945 Relinquished command of No 187 Sqn
Sqn Ldr V G Daw DFC, AFC xx Sep 1945 Promoted to Wg Cdr and assumed command of No 187 Sqn
October
Flt Lt Tait  7 Oct 1945 Proceeded to School of Air Transport, Old Sarum for a course
Flt Lt A J Firth 10 Oct 1945 Posted to HQ Transport Command as supernumerary (A & SD)
Fg Off F J W Clarke 10 Oct1945 Posted to No 100 PDC on Class 'B' Release
Flt Lt G S Westwood 12 Oct 1945 Posted to No 53 Sqn (Nav)
Fg Off J W Cox 14 Oct 1945 Posted to HQ, No 47 Group
Fg Off Mailer & crew 14 Oct 1945 Posted to No 24 Sqn
Cpl Lumsden 14 Oct 1945 Posted to No 101 PDC on Class 'B' Release (Clerk/GD)
WO Smith 16 Oct 1945 Posted to No 100 PDC on Class 'B' Release
Flt Lt M R Burge 18 Oct 1945 Posted to No 100 PDC on Class 'A' Release
Fg Off E R Bird 18 Oct 1945 Posted to No 100 PDC on Class 'B' Release
Flt Lt Cameron-Waller 27 Oct 1945 Adjutant, posted to No 104 PDC on Class 'A' Release, pending repatriation to Australia
Fg Off Tipple 27 Oct 1945 Assumed duties of Adjutant
Flt Lt J L Christie 29 Oct 1945 Proceeded to School of Air Transport, Old Sarum for a course
Fg Off Orwin 29 Oct 1945 Proceeded to RAF Ossington for Night Vision course
November
WO Parry  7 Nov 1945 Proceeded to RAF St Mawgan for BAT course
Flt Sgt Cantrill  7 Nov 1945 Proceeded to RAF St Mawgan for BAT course
Plt Off T Butterfield 14 Nov 1945 Proceeded to RAF St Mawgan for BAT course
Plt Off W E Brook 14 Nov 1945 Proceeded to RAF St Mawgan for BAT course
Sqn Ldr C G St D Jeffries DFC 15 Nov 1945 OC, 'A' Flight, posted to No 242 Sqn
Sqn Ldr W A Wood DFC 15 Nov 1945 Reposted for duty as OC, 'A' Flight
December
Fg Off A K Hepburn 17 Dec 1945 Proceeded to the Air Ministry for Accident Investigation Course
Fg Off K Parrins 29 Dec 1945 Ceased to be attached for training and posted to No 24 Sqn
Fg Off H C Brisley 29 Dec 1945 Ceased to be attached for training and posted to No 147 Sqn
Fg Off D P Stockton 29 Dec 1945 Ceased to be attached for training and posted to No 187 Sqn
Fg Off O C Wigmore 29 Dec 1945 Ceased to be attached for training and posted to No 271 Sqn
Fg Off A D Wilks 29 Dec 1945 Ceased to be attached for training and posted to No 435 Sqn
Fg Off R K Zahringer 29 Dec 1945 Ceased to be attached for training and posted to No 437 Sqn
Fg Off P P Croxford 29 Dec 1945 Ceased to be attached for training and posted to No 575 Sqn

Source - No 187 ORB (AIR 27/1151)

Organisational Movements: Feb - Dec 1945

Date Notes
February
 7 Feb 1945 No 187 Squadron was formed at RAF Merryfield wef 1 Feb 1945 with an establishment of 25 x Halifax III aircraft to be employed on small scale trooping to India
Halifax III
March
 1 Mar 1945 The Halifax Development Flight was placed in the squadron
13 Mar 1945 The Mobile Transport Training Party arrived to undertake training of Navigators and Wireless Operators
14 Mar 1945 The squadron was changed to 25 x Dakota aircraft to be employed on interim trooping
Dakota
14 Mar 1945 Ground training commenced
15 Mar 1945 The first Dakota crews arrived on posting
17 Mar 1945 By this date all Halifax crews were complete (except 1 x Flt Eng) comprising 40 x crews of 4
18 Mar 1945 Flying training commenced, comprising: -
  1. Local flying and check of each pilot by Flight Commander by day and night, checks to consist of: -
    1. Single engine flying and landing
    2. Radio Range flying
    3. QGH procedure
    4. General flying ability and suitability as Transport Captains
  2. Cross Country by day
  3. Cross country by night
  4. One trip to India and return with freight
  5. A final check of pilot's ability including technical knowledge
30 Mar 1945 First three aircraft departed for RAF Lyneham for a briefing on the route to be taken on a freight flight to Poona for training purposes.
31 Mar 1945 By this date 31 x Dakota crews were complete (except 1 x WOp (Air))
April
31 Apr 1945 The number of passengers carried during the first month's air trooping operations were: -
  • Departures - 1006
  • Arrivals - 599
  • Total - 1605
The number of miles during the first month's air trooping operations were: -
  • Aircraft miles - 380,000
  • Passenger miles - 7,900,000
May
15 May 1945 1 x Sgt and 9 x OR Radar Mechanics arrived on posting

6 x OR Radar Mechanics arrived on attachment
16 May 1945 1 x Flt Sgt and 1 x OR Radar Mechanic arrived on attachment
June
 7 Jun 1945 Establishment amended by the addition of 1 x Sgt, 2 x Cpl and 8 x AC Radar Mechanics
20 Jun 1945 10 x pilots posted to No 51 Sqn on cessation of attachment to No 46 Sqn (Pilot)
20 Jun 1945 10 x pilots posted to No 158 Sqn on cessation of attachment to No 46 Sqn (Pilot)
July
 5 Jul 1945 Establishment amended by the addition of 2 x ACW Clerks/GD
 5 Jul 1945 Establishment amended by the deletion of 1 x Sgt, 2 x Cpl and 8 x AC Radar Mechanics
10 Jul 1945 9 x Navs and 11 x WOP/Air (Halifax) posted to No 108 OTU
30 Jul 1945 4 x Navs and 9 x WOP/Air (Halifax) posted to No 108 OTU
August
30 Aug 1945 39 x Canadian personnel were posted out on repatriation to Canada to be replaced by RAF personnel
September
The records for this month appear to be missing but the squadron seems to have moved from RAF Merryfield to RAF Membury during the month
October
24 Oct 1945 Trooping flights commenced from RAF Membury
November
21 Oct 1945 As the result of various posting the following squadron appointments were confirmed: -
  • Commanding Officer
  • Sqn Ldr Flying
  • OC, 'A' Flight
  • OC, 'B' Flight
  • Navigation Officer
  • Deputy Navigation Officer
  • Signals Leader
  • Deputy Signals Leader
  • Training Officer
  • Deputy Training Officer
  • Wg Cdr V G Daw DFC, AFC
  • Sqn Ldr G T Southgate AFC
  • Sqn Ldr H J Beazley DFC
  • Sqn Ldr W A Smith DFC
  • Flt Lt R A Pearson
  • Flt Lt L B Bradley
  • Flt Lt N J Harper
  • Fg Off D J Dartmouth
  • Flt Lt R E Dean
  • Fg Off S J Parker DFC
December
 6 Dec 1945 31 x Pilots/Flight Engineers attached from HQ Transport Command for training
15 Dec 1945 31 x Pilots/Flight Engineers completed training and sent on Christmas leave

Source - No 187 ORB (AIR 27/1151)

This entry was last updated on 07/07/25

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