Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
No 354 Sqn Personnel, aircraft and locations
[1943 | ]
Personnel Movements: May - Dec 1943
P
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| May | |||
| No personnel movements recorded for this month | |||
| June | |||
| Flt Lt | J L Sinnette | 23 Jun 1943 | Arrived on posting from the UK for duty as Medical Officer, wef 11 Jun 1943 and attached to No 29 PRC |
| July | |||
| Flt Lt | J L Sinnette | 4 Jul 1943 | Medical Officer, ceased to be attached to No 29 PRC on attachment to HQ Allahabad for temporary duty |
| Wg Cdr | K J Mellor | 5 Jul 1943 | Attached to No 29 PRC pending formation of the squadron |
| Wg Cdr | K J Mellor | 6 Jul 1943 | Ceased to be attached to No 29 PRC on posting to No 354 Sqn to command |
| Fg Off | L E Gathell | 16 Jul 1943 | Arrived on posting from No 165 Wing for duty as Adjutant |
| Flt Lt | J L Sinnette | 20 Jul 1943 | Medical Officer, ceased to be attached to HQ Allahabad and proceeded to RAF Cuttack |
| Fg Off | L E Gathell | 20 Jul 1943 | Attached to No 29 PRC pending formation of the squadron |
| Flt Lt | J L Sinnette | 21 Jul 1943 | Medical Officer, arrived at RAF Cuttack |
| Wg Cdr | K J Mellor | 31 Jul 1943 | Proceeded to AHQ India |
| Fg Off | A W Baillie | 31 Jul 1943 | Attached to No 29 PRC pending formation of the squadron for duty as Engineering Officer |
| August | |||
| Fg Off | A W Baillie | 1 Aug 1943 | Engineering Officer, proceeded to RAF Cuttack |
| Wg Cdr | K J Mellor | 5 Aug 1943 | Proceeded from AHQ India to RAF Cuttack |
| Wg Cdr | K J Mellor | 9 Aug 1943 | Arrived at RAF Cuttack |
| Fg Off | L E Gathell | 10 Aug 1943 | Proceeded to RAF Cuttack with Main party |
| Fg Off | L E Gathell | 17 Aug 1943 | Arrived at RAF Cuttack with Main party |
| Fg Off | L E Gathell | 23 Aug 1943 | Adjutant, promoted to Act Flt Lt, wef 16 Jul 1943 |
| Flt Lt | G J Craig | 28 Aug 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| September | |||
| Sqn Ldr | D H Cross | 1 Sep 1943 | Arrived on attachment from No 215 Sqn |
| Flt Lt | Haworth | 2 Sep 1943 | Arrived on attachment from RAF Vizagapatam to set up an Operations Room |
| Plt Off | N C Dowsett | 2 Sep 1943 | Arrived on attachment from RAF Vizagapatam for Operations duty |
| Sqn Ldr | F G Paisey | 2 Sep 1943 | Arrived on attachment from No 160 Sqn |
| Fg Off | J W Thomas | 2 Sep 1943 | Arrived on attachment from No 160 Sqn |
| Fg Off | K F Balcon | 2 Sep 1943 | Arrived on attachment from No 160 Sqn |
| Sgt | Collins | 2 Sep 1943 | Arrived on attachment from RAF Vizagapatam to set up an Operations Room |
| Flt Lt | Haworth | 3 Sep 1943 | Attached to RAF Cuttack |
| Fg Off | Reece-Ford | 3 Sep 1943 | Arrived on attachment to RAF Cuttack from No 172 Wing for duty as 2nd Controller |
| Fg Off | C A Pinnell | 4 Sep 1943 | Arrived on attachment from No 160 Sqn |
| Fg Off | W J Davis | 4 Sep 1943 | Arrived on attachment from No 160 Sqn |
| Plt Off | L E Hill | 4 Sep 1943 | Arrived on attachment from No 160 Sqn |
| Fg Off | I M Finegood RCAF | 5 Sep 1943 | Arrived on attachment from No 160 Sqn |
| Fg Off | Moody | 5 Sep 1943 | Arrived on attachment from No 160 Sqn |
| Fg Off | R F Spelling | 5 Sep 1943 | Arrived on attachment from No 160 Sqn |
| Fg Off | D S Flett | 5 Sep 1943 | Arrived on attachment from No 160 Sqn |
| Sqn Ldr | F G Paisey | 8 Sep 1943 | Proceeded to Calcutta for Medical Board |
| Col | G H B Beyts | 8 Sep 1943 | Attached from GHQ Delhi for temporary duty |
| Fg Off | A H G Price | 8 Sep 1943 | Detached to RAF Jessore |
| Plt Off | A V Mellefont RAAF | 8 Sep 1943 | Arrived on attachment from No 215 Sqn |
| Sqn Ldr | J A Norris | 9 Sep 1943 | Arrived on posting to RAF Cuttack and attached to No 354 Sqn for duty as Sqn Ldr Admin, RAF Cuttack |
| Fg Off | R L West | 9 Sep 1943 | Arrived for temporary duty (Ferry crew) |
| Fg Off | H R Mathews | 9 Sep 1943 | Arrived for temporary duty (Ferry crew) |
| Plt Off | G R Shepherd | 9 Sep 1943 | Arrived for temporary duty (Ferry crew) |
| Plt Off | G K Horner RCAF | 9 Sep 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | I J Hesley RCAF | 9 Sep 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Flt Lt | G W Read | 10 Sep 1943 | Arrived for temporary duty from No 173 Wing for Signals duty |
| Fg Off | M T Jenkins | 10 Sep 1943 | Arrived for temporary duty from No 221 Group for Meteorological duty |
| Fg Off | S H Fear | 10 Sep 1943 | Ceased to be attached and returned to RAF Jessore |
| Plt Off | A Jackson RCAF | 10 Sep 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Fg Off | W A Porterfield RCAF | 11 Sep 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Fg Off | R J Keleher RCAF | 11 Sep 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Fg Off | R A Banks | 11 Sep 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | W H Pedler RCAF | 11 Sep 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Flt Lt | R D Culverwell | 12 Sep 1943 | Attached from No 173 Sqn for Equipment duty |
| Plt Off | C W Marshall RAAF | 12 Sep 1943 | Arrived on posting from No 159 Sqn |
| Plt Off | G J Munday RAAF | 12 Sep 1943 | Arrived on posting from No 159 Sqn |
| Plt Off | M Batey RAAF | 12 Sep 1943 | Arrived on posting from No 159 Sqn |
| Fg Off | S H Fear | 12 Sep 1943 | Attached from RAF Jessore |
| Plt Off | H V Stinson | 14 Sep 1943 | Arrived on posting from No 159 Sqn |
| Plt Off | G J Munday | 14 Sep 1943 | Proceeded to Calcutta for temporary duty |
| Plt Off | M Batey RAAF | 14 Sep 1943 | Proceeded to Calcutta for temporary duty |
| Plt Off | H V Stinson | 14 Sep 1943 | Proceeded to Calcutta for temporary duty |
| Fg Off | M T Jenkins | 15 Sep 1943 | Proceeded to Calcutta for temporary duty |
| Plt Off | D Dunn | 15 Sep 1943 | Arrived on attachment from RAF Jessore |
| Sqn Ldr | F G Paisey | 17 Sep 1943 | Returned from Calcutta on cessation of temporary duty |
| Gp Capt | J Butler | 18 Sep 1943 | Arrived on temporary duty |
| Gp Capt | W N Cummings | 18 Sep 1943 | Arrived on temporary duty |
| Wg Cdr | Butler | 18 Sep 1943 | Arrived on temporary duty |
| Sqn Ldr | O M Downing | 18 Sep 1943 | Arrived on temporary duty |
| Flt Lt | Price | 18 Sep 1943 | Arrived on temporary duty |
| Plt Off | W R Wilson | 18 Sep 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Fg Off | M T Jenkins | 18 Sep 1943 | Arrived for temporary duty for Meteorological duty |
| Fg Off | Sutton | 19 Sep 1943 | Arrived on attachment from RAF Jessore |
| Plt Off | Smith | 19 Sep 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Sqn Ldr | F G Paisey | 20 Sep 1943 | Ceased to be attached to No 354 Sqn on return to No 160 Sqn |
| Flt Lt | G W Read | 21 Sep 1943 | Ceased to be attached for Signals duty on return to No 173 Wing |
| Plt Off | K R Henry RCAF | 21 Sep 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | Boocock | 21 Sep 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Fg Off | K F Balcon | 22 Sep 1943 | Proceeded to Calcutta on temporary duty |
| Fg Off | J W Thomas | 22 Sep 1943 | Proceeded to Calcutta on temporary duty |
| Plt Off | W E Burns | 22 Sep 1943 | Proceeded to Calcutta on temporary duty |
| Fg Off | A W Mann | 22 Sep 1943 | Arrived for temporary duty from No 225 Group |
| Flt Lt | R D Culverwell | 24 Sep 1943 | Equipment Officer, proceeded on temporary duty to No 313 MU |
| Fg Off | Brooks | 25 Sep 1943 | Arrived on attachment from No 215 Sqn |
| Plt Off | G J Munday | 25 Sep 1943 | Returned from Calcutta on ferrying duties |
| Plt Off | M Batey RAAF | 25 Sep 1943 | Returned from Calcutta on ferrying duties |
| LAC | R J How | 25 Sep 1943 | Died from Malaria |
| Fg Off | K F Balcon | 26 Sep 1943 | Returned on cessation of temporary duty |
| Fg Off | J W Thomas | 26 Sep 1943 | Returned on cessation of temporary duty |
| Pl Off | W E Burns | 26 Sep 1943 | Returned on cessation of temporary duty |
| Plt Off | Fisher RCAF | 29 Sep 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | Dubowski RCAF | 29 Sep 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | Redman RCAF | 29 Sep 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Flt Lt | R D Culverwell | 30 Sep 1943 | Equipment Officer, returned from temporary duty with No 313 MU |
| Plt Off | K R Henry RCAF | 30 Sep 1943 | Killed in flying accident |
| October | |||
| Fg Off | S H H Pear | 1 Oct 1943 | Arrived on posting for Intelligence duties |
| Fg Off | Sutton | 1 Oct 1943 | Ceased to be attached on return to No 215 Sqn, RAF Jessore |
| Plt Off | A V Mellefont RAAF | 1 Oct 1943 | Ceased to be attached on return to No 215 Sqn, RAF Jessore |
| Sqn Ldr | D H Cross | 2 Oct 1943 | Ceased to be attached on return to No 215 Sqn, RAF Jessore |
| Fg Off | Brooks | 2 Oct 1943 | Ceased to be attached on return to No 215 Sqn, RAF Jessore |
| Plt Off | Bush | 2 Oct 1943 | Ceased to be attached on return to No 215 Sqn, RAF Jessore |
| Plt Off | Breen | 2 Oct 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | I J Hesley RCAF | 3 Oct 1943 | Departed on detachment to Delhi |
| Plt Off | A Jackson RCAF | 4 Oct 1943 | Proceeded to Calcutta on temporary duty |
| Plt Off | J A Badgley | 5 Oct 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | J Nicholl | 5 Oct 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | Ingram | 5 Oct 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | A Jackson RCAF | 7 Oct 1943 | Returned from Calcutta on cessation of temporary duty |
| Plt Off | Boocock | 7 Oct 1943 | Proceeded to Palam on temporary duty |
|
Fg Off |
E H Bullis RCAF |
7 Oct 1943 | Killed in a flying accident |
|
Fg Off |
F V Breen RCAF |
||
|
Fg Off |
W J Fisher RCAF |
||
|
Fg Off |
C L Moody |
||
|
Plt Off |
S Dubrowski, RCAF |
||
|
Flt Sgt |
H E Miles RCAF |
||
|
Fg Off |
W K Redman RCAF |
||
|
Flt Sgt |
H B Sigel RCAF |
||
|
Sgt |
F J Trower |
||
| Plt Off | Keetley | 8 Oct 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | Maguire | 8 Oct 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | Bracey | 8 Oct 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Fg Off | I M Finegood RCAF | 9 Oct 1943 | Proceeded on temporary duty |
| Fg Off | Reece-Ford | 9 Oct 1943 | Proceeded on temporary duty |
| Fg Off | Ludwig | 12 Oct 1943 | Arrived on attachment for temporary duty |
| Act Sqn Ldr | R L Hanson | 13 Oct 1943 | Arrived on attachment |
| Fg Off | Ludwig | 15 Oct 1943 | Departed for Vizagapatam on cessation of temporary duty |
| Plt Off | N C Dowsett | 19 Oct 1943 | Proceeded to Calcutta for temporary duty |
| Fg Off | Currie | 22 Oct 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | N C Dowsett | 23 Oct 1943 | Returned from Calcutta on cessation of temporary duty |
| Plt Off | Boocock | 24 Oct 1943 | Returned from Palam on cessation of temporary duty |
| Fg Off | Smith | 26 Oct 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Fg Off | Burridge | 26 Oct 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Fg Off | Skinner | 26 Oct 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | Morgan | 27 Oct 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | R A Beaton | 27 Oct 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | S E Goldsworthy | 27 Oct 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | W D C Smiley | 27 Oct 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | Dean | 27 Oct 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Fg Off | C A Pinnell | 28 Oct 1943 | Ceased to be attached on return to No 160 Sqn |
| Fg Off | W J Davis | 28 Oct 1943 | Ceased to be attached on return to No 160 Sqn |
| Plt Off | L E Hill | 28 Oct 1943 | Ceased to be attached on return to No 160 Sqn |
| Fg Off | O J Skinner | 30 Oct 1943 | Proceeded on temporary duty |
| Fg Off | J W Thomas | 31 Oct 1943 | Ceased to be attached on return to No 160 Sqn |
| Fg Off | R F Spelling | 31 Oct 1943 | Ceased to be attached on return to No 160 Sqn |
| Plt Off | W E Burns | 31 Oct 1943 | Ceased to be attached on return to No 160 Sqn |
| Fg Off | R A Banks | 31 Oct 1943 | Proceeded on temporary duty |
| Plt Off | W H Pedler RCAF | 31 Oct 1943 | Proceeded on temporary duty |
| November | |||
| Plt Off | L E Taylor | 2 Nov 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | W D J Gibson | 2 Nov 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | J K Fletcher | 2 Nov 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Fg Off | S H Fear | 3 Nov 1943 | Proceeded to No 225 Group for temporary duty |
| Flt Lt | L E Gathell | 3 Nov 1943 | Adjutant, proceeded to Kankinam for temporary duty |
| Plt Off | W R Wilson | 7 Nov 1943 | Proceeded to RAF Amarda Road for temporary duty |
| Flt Lt | L E Gathell | 8 Nov 1943 | Adjutant, returned from Kankinam on cessation of temporary duty |
| Plt Off | J A Badgley | 8 Nov 1943 | Proceeded to Calcutta for temporary duty with Royal Navy |
| Plt Off | W R Wilson | 9 Nov 1943 | Returned from RAF Amarda Road on cessation of temporary duty |
| Fg Off | R A Banks | 10 Nov 1943 | Returned to unit on cessation of temporary duty |
| Plt Off | W H Pedler RCAF | 10 Nov 1943 | Returned to unit on cessation of temporary duty |
| Flt Lt | A W Baillie | 12 Nov 1943 | Engineering Officer, proceeded to Khargpur for temporary duty |
| Plt Off | G O B Brown | 12 Nov 1943 | Arrived on attachment from No 1572 Gunnery Flight |
| Flt Lt | A H Milnes | 13 Nov 1943 | Arrived on attachment from RAF Yelahanka |
| Fg Off | S H Fear | 13 Nov 1943 | Returned from No 225 Group on cessation of temporary duty |
| Fg Off | O J Skinner | 13 Nov 1943 | Proceeded to Calcutta for temporary duty with Royal Navy |
| Plt Off | J A Badgley | 15 Nov 1943 | Returned from Calcutta on cessation of temporary duty with Royal Navy |
| Plt Off | H V Stinson | 16 Nov 1943 | Proceeded to Calcutta for temporary duty |
| Plt Off | J Nicholl | 17 Nov 1943 | Proceeded to Nagpur for temporary duty |
| Flt Lt | A W Baillie | 18 Nov 1943 | Engineering Officer, returned from Khargpur on cessation of temporary duty |
| Plt Off | J Nicholl | 18 Nov 1943 | Returned from Nagpur on cessation of temporary duty |
| Plt Off | H V Stinson | 21 Nov 1943 | Returned from Calcutta on cessation of temporary duty |
| Fg Off | O J Skinner | 23 Nov 1943 | Returned from Calcutta on cessation of temporary duty with Royal Navy |
| Plt Off | R A Beaton | 23 Nov 1943 | Proceeded to Calcutta for temporary duty with Royal Navy |
| Plt Off | S E Goldsworthy | 23 Nov 1943 | Proceeded to Calcutta for temporary duty with Royal Navy |
| Plt Off | W D C Smiley | 23 Nov 1943 | Proceeded to Khargpur for temporary duty |
| Fg Off | I M Finegood RCAF | 24 Nov 1943 | Proceeded to HQ SEAAC en-route by air on attachment to UK for 3 week course |
| Plt Off | I M Leslie | 25 Nov 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | A K N Robertson | 25 Nov 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | W D C Smiley | 25 Nov 1943 | Returned from Khargpur on cessation of temporary duty |
| Plt Off | K L Crockett | 27 Nov 1943 | Arrived from No 225 Group for temporary duty |
| Plt Off | A Jackson RCAF | 28 Nov 1943 | Proceeded to Calcutta on temporary duty |
| Plt Off | W Moodie | 28 Nov 1943 | Arrived on attachment from No 2 BSU |
| Flt Lt | J E Symonds | 30 Nov 1943 | Arrived on posting for duty as Squadron Bombing Leader |
| Act Flt Lt | H J Pascoe | 30 Nov 1943 | Arrived on posting |
| December | |||
| Plt Off | A D Stanley & crew | 1 Dec 1943 | Arrived on posting from the UK, wef 19 Nov 1943 |
| Plt Off | G K Horner & crew | 2 Dec 1943 | Proceeded to AFTU for 3 week Bomber Refresher Course |
| Sgt | Tomlinson & crew | 2 Dec 1943 | Proceeded to AFTU for 3 week Bomber Refresher Course |
| Plt Off | C W Marshall RAAF | 2 Dec 1943 | Promoted to Temp Fg Off, wef 20 Sep 1943 |
| Plt Off | G J Munday | 2 Dec 1943 | Promoted to Temp Fg Off, wef 4 Jun 1943 |
| Plt Off | M Batey RAAF | 2 Dec 1943 | Promoted to Temp Fg Off, wef 4 Jun 1943 |
| Flt Lt | D O McDougall & crew | 3 Dec 1943 | Arrived on posting from the UK, wef 18 Nov 1943 |
| Flt Lt | J F Percival & crew | 3 Dec 1943 | Arrived on posting from the UK, wef 18 Nov 1943 |
| Act Sqn Ldr | McKenzie & crew | 11 Dec 1943 | Arrived on posting from the UK, wef 5 Dec 1943 |
| Fg Off | S H Fear | 16 Dec 1943 | Relinquished duties of Squadron Security Officer |
| Plt Off | N C Dowsett | 16 Dec 1943 | Assumed duties of Squadron Security Officer |
| Sqn Ldr | R L Hanson | 17 Dec 1943 | Relinquished duties of Squadron Training Officer |
| Flt Lt | J E Symonds | 17 Dec 1943 | Squadron Bombing Leader, assumed duties of Tactics Officer and Squadron Training Officer |
| Flt Sgt | Jorgensen & crew | 17 Dec 1943 | Arrived on posting from RAF Salbani |
| Sqn Ldr | R L Hanson | 19 Dec 1943 | Ceased to be attached from RAF China Bay on posting to No 354 Sqn |
| Fg Off | S H Fear | 20 Dec 1943 | Intelligence Officer, posted to HQ, No 173 Wing |
| Plt Off | N C Dowsett | 20 Dec 1943 | Ceased to be attached from Skeleton Ops Room, Vizagapatam on posting to No 354 Sqn, wef 20 Nov 1943 |
| Plt Off | Brand & crew | 22 Dec 1943 | Arrived on posting from the UK, wef 28 Nov 1943 |
| Plt Off | G K Horner & crew | 22 Dec 1943 | Returned from AFTU on conclusion of 3 week Bomber Refresher Course |
| Sgt | Tomlinson & crew | 22 Dec 1943 | Returned from AFTU on conclusion of 3 week Bomber Refresher Course |
| Flt Lt | D O McDougall | 25 Dec 1943 | Posted to No 355 Sqn |
| Flt Lt | J F Percival & crew | 27 Dec 1943 | Posted to No 160 Sqn |
| Plt Off | Dean & crew | 27 Dec 1943 | Posted to No 160 Sqn |
Source - No 354 ORB (AIR 27/1751)
Organisational Movements: May - Dec 1943
| Date | Notes |
| May | |
| 10 May 1943 | Formation Order No 403 was issued, for the formation of No 354 Squadron |
| June | |
| 3 Jun 1943 | 13 x SNCOs and 218 British ORs were attached to No 29 PRC for duty with No 320 MU, RAF Drigh Road, pending formation |
| 23 Jun 1943 | 2 x WOs, 2 x SNCOs and 154 British ORs were attached to No 29 PRC for duty with No 320 MU pending formation |
| July | |
| 15 Jul 1943 | 1 x WO4 x SNCOs and 16 BORs proceeded to RAF Cuttack as advance party for formation of No 354 Sqn |
| August | |
| 10 Aug 1943 | Main party departed RAF Drigh Road for RAF Cuttack by rail |
| 14 Aug 1943 | Main party arrived at Katni for 24 hour stop-over |
| 17 Aug 1943 | Main party arrived at RAF Cuttack |
| 28 Aug 1943 | First Liberator V aircraft was delivered |
![]() |
|
| September | |
| 6 Sep 1943 | 1 x Liberator was delivered by a ferry crew |
| 22 Sep 1943 | Squadron conducted its first sortie, a close escort to a convoy |
| October | |
| 16 Oct 1943 | Liberator V, BZ805 was delivered |
| November | |
| No relevant entries recorded in this month's ORB | |
| December | |
| 1 Dec 1943 | 7th detachment of personnel proceeded for five days at Puri Rest Camp |
| 4 Dec 1943 | Liberator, BZ938 'L' was delivered |
| 6 Dec 1943 | 8th detachment of personnel proceeded for five days at Puri Rest Camp |
| 11 Dec 1943 | 9th detachment of personnel proceeded for five days at Puri Rest Camp |
| 16 Dec 1943 | 10th detachment of personnel proceeded for five days at Puri Rest Camp |
| 19 Dec 1943 | 4 x Flight Engineers arrived on posting from the UK, wef 20 Nov 1943. These were the squadron's first Flight Engineers |
| 29 Dec 1943 | 11th detachment of personnel proceeded for five days at Puri Rest Camp |
Source - No 354 ORB (AIR 27/1751)
This entry was last updated on 12/08/25