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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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No 904 (County of Surrey) (Balloon) Sqn Personnel and locations
[Jan 1939| Apr 1939 | May 1939]
Auxiliary Air Force personnel shown in italics.
Personnel Movements: May - Dec 1938
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | E J Davis | 16 May 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Sqn Ldr and assumed command of No 904 Sqn |
| No other personnel movements are shown in the ORB | |||
Source - No 904 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2225)
Organisational Movements: May - Dec 1938
| Date | Notes |
| 16 May 1938 |
Formed as No 904 (Balloon) (County of Surrey) Squadron as part of the Auxiliary Air Force. |
| 4 Aug 1938 |
No 2 Balloon Centre, Hook, Surbiton formed and assumed control* |
| 27 Sep 1938 | Squadron was embodied |
| 8 Oct 1938 | Squadron was disembodied |
Source - No 904 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2225), except *
| Balloon Centre | Command/Group |
| No 2 Balloon Centre, Hook, Surbiton | Balloon Command/No 30 (Balloon) Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | E J Davis | 16 May 1938 | Officer Commanding, |
| Flt Lt | E D Salthouse | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Flt Lt | W E B Barclay | 5 Jul 1938 | MC |
| Flt Lt | G D H Ross | Adjutant, RAFO | |
| Fg Off | R Hews | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | A Leon | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | F Marshall | 20 Sep 1938 | TD |
| Fg Off | H D Corlett | 3 Nov 1938 | TD |
| Fg Off | J Toulmin | 3 Nov 1938 | |
| Fg Off | E St H Davies | 3 Nov 1938 | |
| Fg Off | A J Beard | 3 Nov 1938 | MC |
Source - January 1939 Air Force List
Personnel Movements: Jan - May 1939
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sir William Brass | 7 Mar 1939 | Appointed Honorary Air Commodore, MP | |
| No other personnel movements are shown in the ORB | |||
Source - No 904 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2225)
| Balloon Centre | Command/Group |
| No 2 Balloon Centre, Hook, Surbiton | Balloon Command/No 30 (Balloon) Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Hon A/Cdre | Sir William Brass | 7 Mar 1939 | Honorary Air Commodore, MP |
| Sqn Ldr | E J Davis | 16 May 1938 | Officer Commanding, |
| Flt Lt | E D Salthouse | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Flt Lt | W E B Barclay | 5 Jul 1938 | MC |
| Flt Lt | G D H Ross | Adjutant, RAFO | |
| Flt Lt | F Marshall | 20 Sep 1938 | TD |
| Fg Off | A Leon | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | H D Corlett | 3 Nov 1938 | TD |
| Fg Off | J Toulmin | 3 Nov 1938 | |
| Fg Off | E St H Davies | 3 Nov 1938 | |
| Fg Off | A J Beard | 3 Nov 1938 | MC |
| Fg Off | C T Fitzgerald | 19 Jan 1939 | |
| 2 Lt | S J Saunders | Assistant Adjutant, late RAF |
Source - April 1939 Confidential Air Force List
| Balloon Centre | Command/Group |
| No 2 Balloon Centre, Hook, Surbiton | Balloon Command/No 30 (Balloon) Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Hon A/Cdre | Sir William Brass | 7 Mar 1939 | Honorary Air Commodore, MP |
| Sqn Ldr | E J Davis | 16 May 1938 | Officer Commanding, |
| Flt Lt | E D Salthouse | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Flt Lt | W E B Barclay | 5 Jul 1938 | MC |
| Flt Lt | G D H Ross | Adjutant, RAFO | |
| Flt Lt | F Marshall | 20 Sep 1938 | TD |
| Fg Off | A Leon | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | H D Corlett | 3 Nov 1938 | TD |
| Fg Off | J Toulmin | 3 Nov 1938 | |
| Fg Off | E St H Davies | 3 Nov 1938 | |
| Fg Off | A J Beard | 3 Nov 1938 | MC |
| Fg Off | C T Fitzgerald | 19 Jan 1939 | |
| 2 Lt | S J Saunders | Assistant Adjutant, late RAF |
Source - May 1939 Confidential Air Force List
Personnel Movements: Jun - Dec 1939
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | E D Salthouse | 16 Oct 1939 | Posted to No 949 Sqn, Chigwell on formation (plus a detachment of airmen) |
| Fg Off | H D Corlett | 19 Oct 1939 | Posted to No 948 Sqn, Chigwell on formation (plus a detachment of airmen) |
| Wg Cdr | E J Davis | 1 Nov 1939 | Relinquished command of No 904 Sqn on posting to No 2 Balloon Centre to command |
| Sqn Ldr | W E B Barclay | 1 Nov 1939 | Administrative Officer, assumed command of No 904 Sqn |
| Sqn Ldr | H E Hills | 6 Nov 1939 | Arrived on posting from No 907 Sqn and assumed command of No 904 Sqn |
| Plt Off | C A Chope | 8 Nov 1939 | Promoted to Act Fg |
| Plt Off | J B Copley | 8 Nov 1939 | Promoted to Act Fg |
| Plt Off | H R G Colclough | 13 Nov 1939 | Posted to No 949 Sqn Crewe |
| Fg Off | A J Barnes | 13 Nov 1939 | Arrived on posting from No 949 Sqn Crewe and assumed command of 'E' Flight |
| Sqn Ldr | R G Frith | 18 Nov 1939 | Arrived on posting from No 903 Sqn to command No 904 Sqn |
| Sqn Ldr | H E Hills | 20 Nov 1939 | Relinquished command of No 904 Sqn on posting to No 906 Sqn to command |
| Sqn Ldr | R G Frith | 20 Nov 1939 | Promoted to Act Wg Cdr and assumed command No 904 Sqn |
| Fg Off | A J Barnes | 1 Dec 1939 | Attached to No 952 Sqn as an Act Flt Lt |
| Act Flt Lt | A J Barnes | 5 Dec 1939 | Ceased to be attached to No 952 Sqn |
| Fg Off | J Toulmin | 8 Dec 1939 | Attached to No 928 Sqn, Felixstowe (plus a detachment of airmen) |
| Fg Off | J Toulmin | 10 Dec 1939 | Promoted to Act Flt Lt, wef 1 Dec 1939 |
| Act Flt Lt | J Toulmin | 14 Dec 1939 | Ceased to be attached to No 928 Sqn, Felixstowe |
| Flt Lt | S J Saunders | 27 Dec 1939 | Assistant Adjutant, attached to HQ No 30 Group |
| Flt Lt | A J Barnes | 28 Dec 1939 | Attached to HQ No 30 Group |
| Flt Lt | A J Barnes | 30 Dec 1939 | Posted to No 951 Sqn, Bristol as Flt Lt (Balloons) |
| Flt Lt | J A Banwell | 30 Dec 1939 | Posted to No 951 Sqn, Bristol as Flt Lt (Administrative) |
Source - No 904 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2225)
Organisational Movements: Jun - Dec 1939
| Date | Notes |
| 11 Jun 1939 | 25% of the squadron was placed on embodiment for a month at a time for four months. |
| 23 Aug 1939 | Embodiment notices despatched to all AAF personnel |
| 25 Aug 1939 | All embodied personnel were deployed to their war sites, Sqn War HQ moving to Clapham College |
| 31 Oct 1939 | 'A' Flight HQ moved to Bolingbroke Grove, Wandsworth Common |
| 22 Nov 1939 | 1 x Balloon crew detached to RAF Cardington (14 days) |
| 29 Nov 1939 | 1 x Balloon crew detached to No 910 Sqn, Dagenham for temporary duty |
Source - No 904 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2225)
Personnel Movements: Jan - Dec 1940
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | A G Forbes | 9 Jan 1940 | Arrived on attachment from No 905 Sqn for duty as Adjutant |
| Flt Lt | H T H Hill | 10 Jan 1940 | Adjutant, attached to No 2 Balloon Centre |
| Flt Lt | A J Beard | 15 Jan 1940 | Posted to the Air Ministry |
| Flt Lt | H T H Hill | 4 Feb 1940 | Posted to No 956 Sqn for Administrative duties |
| Flt Lt | S J Saunders | 9 Feb 1940 | Assistant Adjutant, posted to No 931 Sqn for Administrative duties |
| Flt Lt | C T Fitzgerald | 12 Feb 1940 | Posted to No 955 Sqn to command |
| Flt Lt | A G Forbes | 19 Feb 1940 | Posted from No 905 Sqn for duty as Adjutant |
| Plt Off | I H Borland | 19 Feb 1940 | Accountant Officer, attached to School of Clerk Accounting for course |
| Plt Off | R J Carter | 21 Feb 1940 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | K F P Toop | 21 Feb 1940 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | C A Chope | 21Apr 1940 | Died in hospital |
| Flt Lt | C T Fitzgerald | 1 May 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 955 Sqn |
| Plt Off | A M Berners-Price | 6 May 1940 | Posted to No 928 Sqn |
| Flt Lt | C T Fitzgerald | 6 May 1940 | Posted to 'A' Mobile Sqn |
| Plt Off | V C Humfrey | 6 May 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 903 Sqn |
| Cpl | L F Hayes | 7 May 1940 | Died from injuries |
| Plt Off | J A Crossley | 11 May 1940 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | I S Macdonald | 11 May 1940 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | E W Joseph | 12 May 1940 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | K C Roberts | 15 May 1940 | Posted to No 7 MU |
| Plt Off | J H Tylee | 17 May 1940 | Arrived on posting |
| Fg Off | T B Bright | 17 May 1940 | Promoted to Act Flt Lt |
| Plt Off | R J Carter | 16 Jul 1940 | Died in hospital |
| Plt Off | J A Crossley | 18 Jul 1940 | Attached to No 992 Sqn, Dover |
| Plt Off | V C Humfrey | 18 Jul 1940 | Attached to No 992 Sqn, Dover |
| Plt Off | J A Crossley | 27 Jul 1940 | Ceased to be attached to No 992 Sqn, Dover |
| Plt Off | V C Humfrey | 27 Jul 1940 | Ceased to be attached to No 992 Sqn, Dover |
| Plt Off | J A Crossley | 30 Jul 1940 | Attached to No 1 Balloon Centre |
| Plt Off | V C Humfrey | 30 Jul 1940 | Attached to No 1 Balloon Centre |
| Plt Off | Kellett | 17 Aug 1940 | Attached to No 4 Balloon Centre |
| Plt Off | Rainforth | 17 Aug 1940 | Attached to No 961 Sqn, Dover |
| Plt Off | J A Crossley | 17 Aug 1940 | Ceased to be attached to No 992 Sqn, Dover |
| Plt Off | V C Humfrey | 17 Aug 1940 | Ceased to be attached to No 992 Sqn, Dover |
| Flt Lt | J B Copley | 6 Sep 1940 | Attached to No 992 Sqn, Weybridge |
| Plt Off | E W Joseph | 6 Sep 1940 | Attached to No 992 Sqn, Weybridge |
| Plt Off | T S Dorman | 23 Sep 1940 | Attached to No 954 Sqn, Weybridge |
| Flt Lt | J B Copley | 25 Sep 1940 | Ceased to be attached to No 992 Sqn, Weybridge |
| Plt Off | E W Joseph | 25 Sep 1940 | Ceased to be attached to No 992 Sqn, Weybridge |
| LAC | J W Ravenhill | 27 Sep 1940 | Killed in an air raid |
| Plt Off | S Holden | 4 Nov 1940 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | D G Rogers | 25 Nov 1940 | Attached to HQ, N0 30 Group an Officers' Course (1 week) |
| Plt Off | E W Joseph | 30 Nov 1940 | Ceased to be attached to HQ, No 30 Group |
| Plt Off | I S Macdonald | 1 Dec 1940 | Attached to RAF Cardington for experimental balloon training |
| Plt Off | E W Joseph | 2 Dec 1940 | Attached to HQ, No 30 Group |
| Plt Off | A B Couch | 2 Dec 1940 | Arrived on posting for duty as Equipment Officer |
| Sqn Ldr | A J Beard | 2 Dec 1940 | Attached from HQ, No 30 Group for Barrage Control Duties |
| Plt Off | R Kaile | 2 Dec 1940 | Attached from No 903 Sqn for Barrage Control Duties |
| Plt Off | H E Sussman | 2 Dec 1940 | Attached from No 905 Sqn for Barrage Control Duties |
| Plt Off | J A Crossley | 2 Dec 1940 | Assumed Barrage Control Duties |
| Sqn Ldr | A J Beard | 6 Dec 1940 | Ceased to be attached from HQ, No 30 Group for Barrage Control Duties |
| Plt Off | R Kaile | 6 Dec 1940 | Ceased to be attached from No 903 Sqn for Barrage Control Duties |
| Plt Off | H E Sussman | 6 Dec 1940 | Ceased to be attached from No 905 Sqn for Barrage Control Duties |
| Plt Off | S Holden | 9 Dec 1940 | Attached to HQ, N0 30 Group an Officers' Course (1 week) |
| Plt Off | P C Stone | 16 Dec 1940 | Attached to No 2 Balloon Centre (plus 1 x Sgt and 4 x LACs) |
| Plt Off | S T H Moore | 30 Dec 1940 | Arrived on posting |
Source - No 904 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2225)
Organisational Movements: Jan - Dec 1940
| Date | Notes |
| xx xxx 1940 | 'A' Flight HQ moved from 7 Bolingbroke Grove, Wandsworth Common to 103 Nightingale Lane, SW13 |
| 18 Jul 1940 | 'A' Flight detached to form a flight of No 992 Sqn, Dover |
| 27 Jul 1940 | 'A' Flight returned from detachment to No 992 Sqn, Dover |
| 30 Jul 1940 | 'A' Flight attached to No 1 Balloon Centre as part of the Rover Sqn |
| 17 Aug 1940 | 'A' Flight returned from detachment to No 992 Sqn, Dover |
| 6 Sep 1940 | Detachment proceeded to Weybridge to join No 992 Sqn |
| 17 Oct 1940 | Squadron assumed operations control duties over Nos 903, 904 and 905 Sqns |
Source - No 904 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2225)
[Jan 1939| Apr 1939 | May 1939]
This page was last updated on 18/03/25©
