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No 442 (RCAF) Sqn Personnel, aircraft and locations

[1944 | ]

Personnel Movements: Feb - Dec 1944

Rank Name Date Notes
February
Fg Off P G Dunbar  7 Feb 1944 Engineer Officer, posted to No 419 RSU
Flt Lt J W Whitelaw  8 Feb 1944 Medical Officer, posted to No 418 Sqn, but later reposted to No 442 Sqn
Sqn Ldr B R Walker DFC 22 Feb 1944 Attached from No 144 Airfield for duty as Officer Commanding
Flt Lt A Roseland 22 Feb 1944 Attached from No 144 Airfield for duty as Flight Commander
Flt Lt G A Stiles 22 Feb 1944 Attached from No 144 Airfield for duty as Flight Commander
Fg Off G R Blair 22 Feb 1944 Posted to the strength of No 442 Sqn from No 144 Airfield
Fg Off K H Caldwell 22 Feb 1944 Posted to the strength of No 442 Sqn from No 144 Airfield
Fg Off J H Clarke 22 Feb 1944 Posted to the strength of No 442 Sqn from No 144 Airfield
Fg Off L E Cochand 22 Feb 1944 Posted to the strength of No 442 Sqn from No 144 Airfield
Fg Off J R Irwin 22 Feb 1944 Posted to the strength of No 442 Sqn from No 144 Airfield
Fg Off S M McClarty 22 Feb 1944 Posted to the strength of No 442 Sqn from No 144 Airfield
Fg Off D M McDuff 22 Feb 1944 Posted to the strength of No 442 Sqn from No 144 Airfield
Fg Off J T Marriott 22 Feb 1944 Posted to the strength of No 442 Sqn from No 144 Airfield
Fg Off B E Middleton 22 Feb 1944 Posted to the strength of No 442 Sqn from No 144 Airfield
Fg Off G G Miller 22 Feb 1944 Posted to the strength of No 442 Sqn from No 144 Airfield
Plt Off W R Campbell 22 Feb 1944 Posted to the strength of No 442 Sqn from No 144 Airfield
Plt Off G A Costello 22 Feb 1944 Posted to the strength of No 442 Sqn from No 144 Airfield
Plt Off W S Curtis 22 Feb 1944 Posted to the strength of No 442 Sqn from No 144 Airfield
Plt Off J B O'Sullivan 22 Feb 1944 Posted to the strength of No 442 Sqn from No 144 Airfield
Plt Off F B Young 22 Feb 1944 Posted to the strength of No 442 Sqn from No 144 Airfield
Plt Off N H Hobbie 22 Feb 1944 Posted to the strength of No 442 Sqn from No 144 Airfield
Plt Off H F Morse 22 Feb 1944 Posted to the strength of No 442 Sqn from No 144 Airfield
Plt Off A W Rabe 22 Feb 1944 Posted to the strength of No 442 Sqn from No 144 Airfield
Plt Off J J Sabourin 22 Feb 1944 Posted to the strength of No 442 Sqn from No 144 Airfield
Plt Off W R Weeks 22 Feb 1944 Posted to the strength of No 442 Sqn from No 144 Airfield
March
Flt Lt R G Middlemas  4 Mar 1944 Attached from No 144 Airfield for duty as Flight Commander (unofficial)
Flt Lt I G Keltis DFC  4 Mar 1944 Attached from No 144 Airfield for duty as Flight Commander (unofficial)
Fg Off P E Wilkinson  4 Mar 1944 Adjutant, posted to No 4 Group
Sqn Ldr B R Walker DFC 14 Mar 1944 Attached to RAF Milfield for Fighter Leaders' Course
Flt Lt G A Stiles 27 Mar 1944 Returned from Glider Course at RAF Stoke Orchard
April
Flt Lt A Roseland  1 Apr 1944 Reposted from Flight Commander to Supernumerary
Flt Lt G A Stiles  1 Apr 1944 Reposted from Flight Commander to Supernumerary
Flt Lt I G Keltis DFC  1 Apr 1944 Reposted for duty as Flight Commander 'A' Flight
Fg Off H J Dowding  1 Apr 1944 Promoted to Act Flt Lt and appointed Flight Commander 'B' Flight
Flt Lt G A Stiles  4 Apr 1944 Attached to RAF Milfield for Fighter Leaders' Course
Sqn Ldr B R Walker DFC  5 Apr 1944 Ceased to be attached to RAF Milfield for Fighter Leaders' Course
Cpl R A Ryan  8 Apr 1944 Clerk/GD arrived on posting
Fg Off J H MacLean 11 Apr 1944 Posted to RCAF 'R' Depot for repatriation on posting to No 1 OTU
Plt Off A W Rabe 11 Apr 1944 Posted to No 61 OTU
Plt Off J J Sabourin 11 Apr 1944 Posted to No 61 OTU
Plt Off J B O'Sullivan 24 Apr 1944 Attached to Rolls Royce Ltd for course on Merlin engine
Fg Off J D Brodrick 26 Apr 1944 Arrived on posting for duty as Adjutant
Fg Off L E Cochand 26 Apr 1944 Relinquished duties of Adjutant
Sqn Ldr B D Russell DFC* 28 Apr 1944 Arrived on posting and assumed command of No 442 Sqn
Sqn Ldr B R Walker DFC 28 Apr 1944 Relinquished command of No 442 Sqn on posting
May
Fg Off J D Brodrick  2 May 1944 Adjutant, promoted to Flt Lt
Plt Off W R Campbell  2 May 1944 Promoted to Fg Off
Flt Lt J G Wright DFC  3 May 1944 Arrived on posting
Fg Off D W Goodwin 16 May 1944 Arrived on posting
June
Flt Lt D H Dover  3 Jun 1944 Arrived on posting
Fg Off D W Goodwin  7 Jun 1944 Failed to return from an operation
Fg Off D W Goodwin  8 Jun 1944 Returned from France having been rescued from the Channel
Plt Off N H Hobbie  8 Jun 1944 Posted to RCAF 'R' Depot
Plt Off N A Burns 22 Jun 1944 Arrived, pending posting
Flt Lt I G Keltis DFC 24 Jun 1944 Relinquished command of 'A' Flight on posting to the UK
Flt Lt D H Dover 24 Jun 1944 Reposted for duty as Flight Commander 'A' Flight
July
Flt Lt W A Olmsted  3 Jul 1944 Arrived on posting
Fg Off J H Clarke  4 Jul 1944 Departed pending repatriation
Sqn Ldr B D Russell DFC*  7 Jul 1944 Relinquished command of No 442 Sqn on promotion and posting to No 126 Wing
Flt Lt H J Dowding  7 Jul 1944 Assumed command of No 442 Sqn and promoted to Act Sqn Ldr
Fg Off A W Roseland  7 Jul 1944 Assumed command of 'B' Flight and promoted to Act Flt Lt
Fg Off L E Cochand  9 Jul 1944 Appointed 2nd i/c 'A' Flight
Flt Lt W A Olmsted  9 Jul 1944 Appointed 2nd i/c 'B' Flight
Flt Lt T H O Hallihan 10 Jul 1944 Arrived on posting
Flt Lt T H O Hallihan 11 Jul 1944 Killed in action
Fg Off J P Lumsden 11 Jul 1944 Arrived on posting
Fg Off R K Trumley 11 Jul 1944 Arrived on posting
Flt Lt A W Roseland 13 Jul 1944 Killed in action
Fg Off W M MacLean 13 Jul 1944 Arrived on posting
Fg Off L H Wilson 13 Jul 1944 Arrived on posting
Flt Lt J W Whitelaw 19 Jul 1944 Medical Officer, admitted to SSQ
Flt Lt W G M Hume 24 Jul 1944 Arrived on posting
Flt Lt J G Wright DFC 26 Jul 1944 Departed on completion of his second tour of operations
Fg Off S A Miller 31 Jul 1944 Arrived on posting for duty as Adjutant, wef 12 Jul 1944
Flt Lt J D Brodrick 31 Jul 1944 Adjutant, posted to No 406 Sqn
August
Fg Off W R Campbell  1 Aug 1944 Killed in action
Flt Lt D H Dover  2 Aug 1944 Posted to No 412 Sqn to command
Fg Off A F Booth  2 Aug 1944 Arrived on posting from No 144 Wing for duty as Intelligence Officer, wef 22 Jul 1944
Fg Off W B Randell  3 Aug 1944 Arrived on posting from No 412 Sqn and assumed command of 'A' Flight
Fg Off W B Randell  6 Aug 1944 Promoted to Act Flt Lt
WO1 E A Mackay  6 Aug 1944 Arrived on posting
Plt Off G J Boyle  7 Aug 1944 Arrived on posting
Sqn Ldr H J Dowding  8 Aug 1944 Admitted to No 52 MFH
Flt Lt J E G Reade  9 Aug 1944 Arrived on posting
Sqn Ldr H J Dowding 10 Aug 1944 Discharged from No 52 MFH
Plt Off J J Sabourin 10 Aug 1944 Posted to RCAF 'R' Depot pending posting for non-operational flying
Fg Off S M McClarty 12 Aug 1944 Attached to RAF Milfield for Fighter Leaders' Course
Flt Lt W B Randell 13 Aug 1944 Failed to return from an operation, later returned after treatment in No 50 MFH
Fg Off W M MacLean 14 Aug 1944 Promoted to Temp Flt Lt
Fg Off D M McDuff 14 Aug 1944 Promoted to Temp Flt Lt
Plt Off G A Costello 14 Aug 1944 Promoted to Temp Fg Off
Plt Off W S Curtis 14 Aug 1944 Promoted to Temp Fg Off
Plt Off J B O'Sullivan 14 Aug 1944 Promoted to Temp Fg Off
Plt Off F B Young 14 Aug 1944 Promoted to Temp Fg Off
Fg Off J P Lumsden 18 Aug 1944 Failed to return from an operation, later rescued from the Channel
Flt Lt D M McDuff 19 Aug 1944 Failed to return from an operation
Fg Off G H Watkin 21 Aug 1944 Arrived on posting
Flt Lt D M McDuff 27 Aug 1944 Returned having escaped following capture
September
Fg Off L E Cochand 16 Sep 1944 Screened from operations on completion of his tour
Fg Off H F Morse 16 Sep 1944 Screened from operations on completion of his tour
Fg Off D A Brigden 16 Sep 1944 Arrived on posting
Fg Off L E Cochand 16 Sep 1944 Relinquished duties of Adjutant
Fg Off W N Chappell 16 Sep 1944 Arrived on posting
Fg Off E T Hoare 16 Sep 1944 Arrived on posting
Plt Off E J Gosselin 16 Sep 1944 Arrived on posting
WO1 E A Mackay 20 Sep 1944 Attached to No 83 Group Communication Sqn, pending posting
Sqn Ldr H J Dowding 23 Sep 1944 Relinquished command of No 442 Sqn on completion of his second tour
Flt Lt W A Olmsted 23 Sep 1944 Assumed command of No 442 Sqn
Flt Lt S M McClarty 23 Sep 1944 Assumed command of 'B' Flight
WO1 M Thomas 25 Sep 1944 Arrived on posting from No 83 GSU
Fg Off G R Blair 26 Sep 1944 Screened from operations on completion of his tour
Flt Lt G G Millar 28 Sep 1944 Killed in action
October
Flt Lt H A Keene DFC  1 Oct 1944 Arrived on posting from No 401 Sqn
Flt Lt M E Jowsey DFC  1 Oct 1944 Arrived on posting from No 401 Sqn for duty as Flight Commander
Plt Off E J Gosselin  1 Oct 1944 Posted to No 401 Sqn
WO1 M Thomas  1 Oct 1944 Posted to No 401 Sqn
Fg Off A C Lewis-Watts  2 Oct 1944 Arrived on posting
WO1 C B Simpson  9 Oct 1944 Arrived on posting
WO1 A C Bathurst  9 Oct 1944 Arrived on posting
Flt Lt W V Shenk 15 Oct 1944 Arrived on posting from No 443 Sqn
Flt Lt W G M Hume 22 Oct 1944 Screened from operations on completion of his tour
Flt Lt B E Middleton 28 Oct 1944 Screened from operations on completion of his tour
Fg Off D W Goodwin 28 Oct 1944 Screened from operations on completion of his tour
Fg Off G A Costello 28 Oct 1944 Killed in action
Flt Lt W B Randell 28 Oct 1944 Failed to return from an operation, later reported to be a POW
Fg Off J P W Francis 30 Oct 1944 Arrived on posting
Fg Off J A Cousineau 30 Oct 1944 Arrived on posting
Fg Off R B Barker 30 Oct 1944 Arrived on posting
Flt Lt J N Dick 31 Oct 1944 Arrived on posting from No 401 Sqn
Fg Off R C Smith 31 Oct 1944 Arrived on posting
WO1 J G Livingstone 31 Oct 1944 Arrived on posting
November
Fg Off D M Fieri  3 Nov 1944 Arrived on posting
Fg Off P B Young DFC  4 Nov 1944 Failed to return from an operation, later reported to be a POW
Fg Off W R Weeks  4 Nov 1944 Screened from operations on completion of his tour
Fg Off W S Curtis  7 Nov 1944 Killed in action
Flt Lt M Johnston 16 Nov 1944 Arrived on posting from No 83 GSU
Fg Off D J Jeffrey 16 Nov 1944 Arrived on posting from No 83 GSU
Fg Off A J Urquhart 16 Nov 1944 Arrived on posting from No 83 GSU
Flt Lt D O Gordon 22 Nov 1944 Arrived on posting from No 83 GSU
Fg Off M A Perkins 22 Nov 1944 Arrived on posting from No 83 GSU
December
Sqn Ldr W A Olmsted 14 Dec 1944 Relinquished command of No 442 Sqn on completing his second tour
Flt Lt M E Jowsey DFC 14 Dec 1944 Promoted to Act Sqn Ldr and assumed command of No 442 Sqn
Fg Off J P Lumsden 14 Dec 1944 Promoted to Act Flt Lt and assumed command of 'A' Flight

Source - No 443 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/1882)

Organisational Movements: Feb - Dec 1944

Date Notes
February
 1 Feb 1944 No 14 (F) Squadron RCAF arrived at No 3 PRC, Bournemouth on arrival from Canada
13 Feb 1944 No 14 (F) Squadron RCAF was redesignated No 442 (RCAF) Squadron

Squadron moved from No 3 PRC to RCAF Digby by rail and joined No 144 Airfield
23 Feb 1944 2 x Spitfire VB, were received and training commenced
Spitfire VB
29 Sep 1944 Strength of the squadron on this date: -
 
  Aircrew Groundcrew
Officers 20 0
Airmen 0 0
March
 1 Mar 1944 Strength of the squadron on this date: -

Aircrew

  RCAF Total Strength Establishment
Officers - Pilots 23 23 12
Officers - Medical 0 0 1
Airmen - Pilots 0 0 11

Groundcrew

  RCAF Total Strength Establishment
Sgt - Fitter IIE 0 0 1
Cpl - Clerk/GD 0 0 1
AC - ACH/GD 0 0 1
11 Mar 1944 First two Spitfire IXs were received
Spitfire IX
18 Mar 1944 Squadron moved from RCAF Digby to RAF Holmsley South
31 Mar 1944 Strength of the squadron on this date: -

Aircrew

  RCAF Total Strength Establishment
Officers - Pilots 28 28 12
Officers - Medical 1 1 1
Airmen - Pilots 0 0 11

Groundcrew

  RCAF Total Strength Establishment
Sgt - Fitter IIE 1 1 1
Cpl - Clerk/GD 0 0 1
AC - ACH/GD 0 0 1

Aircraft on charge: -

  • Spitfire IXB - 18
April
 1 Apr 1944 Squadron moved from RAF Holmsley South to RAF Westhampnett
11 Apr 1944 1 x Auster III was collected
24 Apr 1944 Squadron moved to RAF Hutton Cranswick for Armament Practice Camp
29 Apr 1944 Advanced party departed RAF Hutton Cranswick for Funtington ALG
30 Apr 1944 Squadron moved to Funtington ALG

Strength of the squadron on this date: -

Aircrew

  RCAF Total Strength Establishment
Officers - Pilots 25 25 12
Airmen - Pilots 0 0 11

Groundcrew

  RCAF Total Strength Establishment
Medical Officer 1 1 1
Admin Officer 1 1 0
Sgt - Fitter IIE 1 1 1
Cpl - Clerk/GD 1 1 1
AC - ACH/GD 0 0 1

Aircraft on charge: -

  • Spitfire LF IXB - 18

  • Auster III - 1
May
 1 May 1944 Servicing Echelon arrived at Funtington ALG from RAF Hutton Cranswick
14 May 1944 Squadron moved from Funtington ALG to RAF Ford
31 May 1944 Squadron moved to Funtington ALG

Strength of the squadron on this date: -

Aircrew

  RCAF Total Strength Establishment
Officers - Pilots 25 25 12
Airmen - Pilots 0 0 11

Groundcrew

  RCAF Total Strength Establishment
Medical Officer 1 1 1
Admin Officer 1 1 1
Sgt - Fitter IIE 1 1 1
Cpl - Clerk/GD 1 1 1
Fitter/Armourer 1 (RAF) 1 0
AC - ACH/GD 0 0 1

Aircraft on charge: -

  • Spitfire LF IXB - 18

  • Auster III - 1
June
 4 Jun 1944 'B' Party departed RAF Ford for the Concentration Area

Invasion markings began being applied to aircraft
15 Jun 1944 The squadron moved to ALG B-3 at Ste-Croix-sur-Mer
30 Jun 1944 Strength of the squadron on this date: -

Aircrew

  RCAF RAF Total Strength Establishment
Officers - Pilots 25 0 25 12
Airmen - Pilots 0 0 0 11

Groundcrew

  RCAF RAF Total Strength Establishment
Medical Officer 1 0 1 1
Admin Officer 1 0 1 1
Sgt - Fitter IIE 1 0 1 1
Cpl - Clerk/GD 1 0 1 1
Fitter/Armourer 0 2 2 0
AC - ACH/GD 0 0 0 1

Aircraft on charge: -

  • Spitfire LF IXB - 18

  • Auster III - 1
July
14 Jul 1944 No 442 Sqn was transferred to No 126 Wing on disbandment of No 144 Wing and moved to B-4 at Bény-sur-Mer
31 Jul 1944 Strength of the squadron on this date: -

Aircrew

  RCAF RAF Total Strength Establishment
Officers - Pilots 26 0 26 12
Airmen - Pilots 0 0 0 11

Groundcrew

  RCAF RAF Total Strength Establishment
Medical Officer 1 0 1 1
Admin Officer 1 0 1 1
Sgt - Fitter IIE 1 0 1 1
Cpl - Clerk/GD 1 0 1 1
Fitters/Armourer (Cpl & LAC) 0 2 2 2
Armourers (Gun) (ACs) 5 0 5 8
AC - ACH/GD 1 0 1 1

Aircraft on charge: -

  • Spitfire LF IXB - 18

  • Auster III - 1
August
 8 Aug 1944 Squadron moved to B-8 at Cristot
31 Aug 1944 Strength of the squadron on this date: -

Aircrew

  RCAF RAF Total Strength Establishment
Officers - Pilots 25 0 25 12
Airmen - Pilots 2 0 2 11

Groundcrew

  RCAF RAF Total Strength Establishment
Officer - Administrative 1 0 1 1
Officer - Medical 1 0 1 1
Officer - Intelligence 1 0 1 0
Continuity Sergeant 1 0 1 1
Orderly Room Clerk 1 0 1 1
Fitter/Armourers 0 2 2 2
Armourers (Gun) 8 0 8 11
AC - ACH/GD 1 0 1 2

Aircraft on charge: -

  • Spitfire LF IXB - 18

  • Auster III - 1
September
 1 Sep 1944 Squadron moved to B-24 at St André-de-l'Eure
 2 Sep 1944 Squadron moved to B-26 at Illiers-l'Evéque
 3 Sep 1944 Squadron moved to B-44 at Poix
 7 Sep 1944 Squadron moved to B-56 at Evere
19 Sep 1944 Advance party departed B-56 for B-68 at Le Culot
21 Sep 1944 Squadron moved to B-68 at Le Culot
28 Sep 1944 The squadron exchanged its Spitfire IXBs for Spitfire IXEs
Spitfire IX
30 Sep 1944 Strength of the squadron on this date: -

Aircrew

  RCAF RAF Total Strength Establishment
Officers - Pilots 23 1 24 12
Airmen - Pilots 2 0 2 11

Groundcrew

  RCAF RAF Total Strength Establishment
Officer - Administrative 1 0 1 1
Officer - Medical 1 0 1 1
Officer - Intelligence 1 0 1 0
Continuity Sergeant 1 0 1 1
Orderly Room Clerk 1 0 1 1
Fitter/Armourers 0 2 2 2
Armourers (Gun) 8 0 8 11
AC - ACH/GD 1 0 1 2

Aircraft on charge: -

  • Spitfire LF IXE - 18
October
 2 Oct 1944 Advance party departed B-68 for B-84 at Rips
 3 Oct 1944 Squadron moved to B-84 at Rips
14 Oct 1944 Squadron moved to B-80 at Volkel
31 Oct 1944 Strength of the squadron on this date: -

Aircrew

  RCAF RAF Total Strength Establishment
Officers - Pilots 26 1 27 12
Airmen - Pilots 4 0 4 11

Groundcrew

  RCAF RAF Total Strength Establishment
Officers 3 0 3 2
Airmen 12 2 14 14

Aircraft on charge: -

  • Spitfire LF IXE - 18
November
13 Nov 1944 Ground party departed B-80 for No 17 APC, RAF Warmwell by Dakota
14 Nov 1944 Squadron aircraft departed B-80 for No 17 APC, RAF Warmwell
16 Nov 1944 4 x new Spitfire IXEs were collected
25 Nov 1944 Ground party departed No 17 APC, RAF Warmwell by Dakota

Squadron aircraft departed No 17 APC, RAF Warmwell for B-80 via RAF Tangmere to refuel
30 Nov1944 Strength of the squadron on this date: -

Aircrew

  RCAF RAF Total Strength Establishment
Officers - Pilots 27 1 28 12
Airmen - Pilots 3 0 3 11

Groundcrew

  RCAF RAF Total Strength Establishment
Officers 3 0 3 2
Airmen 12 2 14 14

Aircraft on charge: -

  • Spitfire LF IXE - 18
December
 2 Dec 1944 'A' Party moved from B-80 to B-88 at Heesch
 2 Dec 1944 Squadron moved from B-80 to B-88 at Heesch
31 Dec1944 Strength of the squadron on this date: -

Aircrew

  RCAF RAF Total Strength Establishment
Officers - Pilots 24 1 25 14
Airmen - Pilots 2 0 2 12

Groundcrew

  RCAF RAF Total Strength Establishment
Officers 3 0 3 2
Airmen 12 2 14 14

Aircraft on charge: -

  • Spitfire LF IXE - 18

Source - No 442 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/1882)

This entry was last updated on 17/09/25

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