Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
No 441 (Fleet Reconnaissance) Flight
[Jul 1923 | Jan 1924 | May 1924 | Jan 1925 | Feb 1925 | Mar 1925 | Apr 1925 | May 1925 | Jun 1925 | Jul 1925 | Mar 1926 | Jul 1926 | Dec 1926 | Jul 1927 | Jul 1928 | Sep 1928 | Jul 1929 | Jul 1930 |Aug 1930 | Sep 1930 | Oct 1930 | Nov 1930 | Dec 1930 | Jul 1931 | Jul 1932]
May 1923 |
Source - May 1923 Air Force List
This was formed on 1 April 1923 at RAF Base Leuchars from No 203 Squadron, equipped with Parnell Panthers.
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Parnell Panthers | RAF Base Leuchars | Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Edward G Hopcraft | 1 Apr 1923 | Officer Commanding, DSC |
Fg/Obs Off | Walter E Swann | 1 Apr 1923 | |
Fg/Obs Off | Sidney T Tipper | 1 Apr 1923 | |
Fg/Obs Off | Alexander Lees | 1 Apr 1923 | |
Fg/Obs Off | Frank W Foster | 21 May 1923 | DFC, DSM |
Fg/Obs Off | Robert H Rose | 1 Apr 1923 | |
Fg/Obs Off | Edward A Slater | 1 Apr 1923 | |
Fg/Obs Off | Arthur D Drysdale | 1 Apr 1923 | |
Fg/Obs Off | Charles Douglas | 1 Apr 1923 | |
Plt Off | Cecil Guppy | 1 Apr 1923 |
Source - Air Force List July 1923
The Panthers were withdrawn in June 1924 to be replaced by Fairey IIIDs the following month.
Date | Location |
17 Jul 1923 | RAF Base Gosport |
xx Jul 1924 | HMS Argus |
26 Jul 1923 | RAF Base Gosport |
27 Aug 1923 | RAF Base Leuchars |
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey IIIDs | RAF Base Leuchars | Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Edward G Hopcraft | 1 Apr 1923 | Officer Commanding, DSC |
Flt Lt | Colin Boumphrey | 25 Oct 1923 | DFC |
Flt Lt | George S N Johnston | 21 Nov 1923 | |
Fg/Obs Off | Walter E Swann | 1 Apr 1923 | |
Fg/Obs Off | James F Meighan | 25 Oct 1923 | |
Fg/Obs Off | Wilfred W Bradford | 21 Nov 1923 | |
Fg/Obs Off | Frank W Foster | 21 May 1923 | DFC, DSM |
Fg/Obs Off | Arthur A R Chipper | 21 Nov 1923 | |
Fg/Obs Off | Geoffrey C L Dalley | 21 Nov 1923 | |
Fg/Obs Off | Arthur D Drysdale | 1 Apr 1923 | |
Plt Off | Cecil Guppy | 1 Apr 1923 |
Source - Air Force List January 1924
Date | Location |
8 Mar 1924 | RAF Donibristle |
8 Mar 1924 | HMS Hermes |
28 May 1924 | RAF Base Leuchars |
8 Mar 1924 | HMS Hermes |
28 May 1924 | RAF Base Leuchars |
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey IIIDs | RAF Base Leuchars | Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Edward G Hopcraft | 1 Apr 1923 | Officer Commanding, DSC |
Flt Lt | Colin Boumphrey | 25 Oct 1923 | DFC |
Flt Lt | George S N Johnston | 21 Nov 1923 | |
Fg/Obs Off | James F Meighan | 25 Oct 1923 | |
Fg/Obs Off | Wilfred W Bradford | 21 Nov 1923 | |
Fg/Obs Off | Frank W Foster | 21 May 1923 | DFC, DSM |
Fg/Obs Off | Arthur A R Chipper | 21 Nov 1923 | |
Fg/Obs Off | Geoffrey C L Dalley | 21 Nov 1923 | |
Fg/Obs Off | Arthur D Drysdale | 1 Apr 1923 | |
Fg Off | Cecil Guppy | 1 Apr 1923 |
Source - Air Force List May 1924
Date | Location |
13 Nov 1924 | HMS Hermes |
4 Dec 1924 | RAF Hal Far/Calafrana |
Source - January 1925 Air Force List
Source - February 1925 Air Force List
Source - March 1925 Air Force List
Date | Location |
10 Mar 1925 | HMS Hermes |
23 Mar 1925 | RAF Hal Far |
Source - April 1925 Air Force List
Date | Location |
27 Apr 1925 | HMS Eagle |
Source - May 1925 Air Force List
Date | Location |
2 May 1925 | RAF Base Malta, Calafrana |
18 May 1925 | HMS Hermes |
28 May 1925 | RAF Base Gosport |
Source - June 1925 Air Force List
Date | Location |
12 Jun 1925 | HMS Hermes |
26 Jun 1925 | RAF Base Malta, Calafrana |
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey IIIDs | RAF Base Malta | RAF Mediterranean |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Edward S Moulton-Barrett | 25 Mar 1925 | Officer Commanding |
Fg/Obs Off | Wilfred W Bradford | 21 Nov 1923 | |
Fg/Obs Off | William F Davenport | 14 May 1924 | |
Fg/Obs Off | Richard F Overbury | 30 Sep 1924 | |
Fg/Obs Off | William H Philips | 1 Feb 1925 | |
Fg Off | Cecil Guppy | 1 Apr 1923 | |
Fg Off | Stephen Richardson | 27 May 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Edward A A Gibbon | 27 May 1925 | Lt, RN |
Naval Observer Officers employed with unit | |||
Lt Cdr | John A Garland | 2 Sep 1924 | |
Lt | Geoffrey C Askew | 2 Sep 1924 | |
Lt | Percy K Healey | 2 Sep 1924 | |
Lt | Henry S M Smith | 2 Sep 1924 |
Source - Air Force List July 1925
Date | Location |
15 Jul 1925 | HMS Hermes |
12 Aug 1925 | Kowloon (Detachment) |
1 Feb 1926 | HMS Hermes |
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey IIIDs | RAF Base Malta | RAF Mediterranean |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Edward S Moulton-Barrett | 25 Mar 1925 | Officer Commanding |
Fg/Obs Off | Wilfred W Bradford | 21 Nov 1923 | |
Fg/Obs Off | William F Davenport | 14 May 1924 | |
Fg/Obs Off | Richard F Overbury | 30 Sep 1924 | |
Fg/Obs Off | William H Philips | 1 Feb 1925 | |
Fg Off | Cecil Guppy | 1 Apr 1923 | |
Fg Off | Stephen Richardson | 27 May 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Edward A A Gibbon | 27 May 1925 | Lt, RN |
Naval Observer Officers employed with unit | |||
Lt Cdr | John A Garland | 2 Sep 1924 | |
Lt Cdr | Eric W Woodruff | 15 Jul 1925 | |
Lt | Geoffrey C Askew | 2 Sep 1924 | |
Lt | Percy K Healey | 2 Sep 1924 | |
Lt | Lachlan D Mackintosh | 15 Jul 1925 | DSC |
Lt | Henry S M Smith | 2 Sep 1924 |
Source - March 1926 Air Force List
Date | Location |
24 Mar 1926 | RAF Hal Far/Calafrana |
16 Jun 1926 | HMS Eagle |
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey IIID | HMS Eagle/RAF Base Malta | RAF Mediterranean |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Edward S Moulton-Barrett | 25 Mar 1925 | Officer Commanding |
Fg/Obs Off | Wilfred W Bradford | 21 Nov 1923 | |
Fg Off | Herbert G Brookman | 10 Apr 1926 | |
Fg/Obs Off | Richard F Overbury | 30 Sep 1924 | |
Fg Off | Cecil Guppy | 1 Apr 1923 | |
Fg Off | Stephen Richardson | 27 May 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Edward A A Gibbon | 27 May 1925 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Frederick G Wynne | 15 Mar 1926 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Frank H G Oliphant | 15 Mar 1926 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Alan G Warren | 150 Apr 1926 | Lt, RM |
Naval Observer Officers employed with unit | |||
Lt Cdr | John A Garland | 2 Sep 1924 | |
Lt Cdr | Eric W Woodruff | 15 Jul 1925 | |
Lt | Geoffrey C Askew | 2 Sep 1924 | |
Lt | Lachlan D Mackintosh | 15 Jul 1925 | DSC |
Lt | Percy K Healey | 2 Sep 1924 | |
Lt | Henry S M Smith | 2 Sep 1924 |
Source - Air Force List July 1926
Date | Location |
26 Jul 1926 | RAF Calafrana |
21 Sep 1926 | HMS Eagle |
29 Sep 1926 | RAF Base Gosport |
16 Oct 1926 | HMS Eagle |
27 Oct 1926 | RAF Calafrana |
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey IIID | HMS Eagle/RAF Base Malta | RAF Mediterranean |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Edward S Moulton-Barrett | 25 Mar 1925 | Officer Commanding |
Fg Off | Robert H Rose | 5 Nov 1923 | |
Fg Off | Frederick G Wynne | 15 Mar 1926 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Frank H G Oliphant | 15 Mar 1926 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Alan G Warren | 150 Apr 1926 | Lt, RM |
Fg Off | Richard F B Cecil | 1 Oct 1926 | Lt, RN |
Naval Observer Officers employed with unit | |||
Lt Cdr | John A Garland | 2 Sep 1924 | |
Lt Cdr | Eric W Woodruff | 15 Jul 1925 | |
Lt | Percy K Healey | 2 Sep 1924 | |
Lt | Lachlan D Mackintosh | 15 Jul 1925 | DSC |
Lt | Henry S M Smith | 2 Sep 1924 |
Source - December 1926 Air Force List
Date | Location |
8 Feb 1927 | HMS Argus |
21 Mar 1927 | RAF Base Kai Tak |
23 Mar 1927 | HMS Argus |
13 Apr 1927 | Shanghai Racecourse |
28 May 1927 | HMS Argus |
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey IIID | HMS Argus | China Station |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Godfrey E Wildman-Lushington | 11 Dec 1926 | Officer Commanding, Capt, RM |
Fg Off | Albert G Thackray | 17 Jan 1927 | |
Fg Off | Frederick G Wynne | 15 Mar 1926 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Frank H G Oliphant | 15 Mar 1926 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Edward O F Price | 11 Jan 1927 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Philip Jones | 17 Jan 1927 | later A/Cdre |
Fg Off | Richard F B Cecil | 1 Oct 1926 | Lt, RN |
Source - Air Force List July 1927
Date | Location |
5 Sep 1927 | Shanghai Racecourse |
22 Oct 1927 | HMS Argus |
6 Nov 1927 | RAF Base Kai Tak |
20 Mar 1928 | HMS Argus |
4 May 1928 | RAF Base Gosport/RAF Lee-on-Solent |
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey IIID | HMS Argus | Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Fg Off | Edward O F Price | 11 Jan 1927 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Charles N Lentaigne | 23 Aug 1927 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Richard F B Cecil | 1 Oct 1926 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | John St C Arbuthnott | 9 Sep 1927 | |
Fg Off | Douglas W Mackendrick | 9 Sep 1927 | Lt, RN |
Source - Air Force List July 1928
Date | Location |
15 Aug 1928 | HMS Argus |
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey IIID | HMS Argus | Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Fg Off | Edward O F Price | 11 Jan 1927 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Charles N Lentaigne | 23 Aug 1927 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Richard F B Cecil | 1 Oct 1926 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Douglas W Mackendrick | 9 Sep 1927 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Bernard W Barton | 25 Jun 1928 | |
Fg Off | Albert R Ward | 22 Jun 1928 |
Source - September 1928 Air Force List
Date | Location |
27 Nov 1928 | RAF Lee-on-Solent |
7 Jan 1929 | HMS Argus |
20 Jan 1929 | Gibraltar |
1 Mar 1929 | HMS Argus |
6 Apr 1929 | RAF Lee-on-Solent |
30 Apr 1929 | HMS Argus |
4 Jun 1929 | RAF Lee-on-Solent |
6 Jul 1929 | HMS Argus |
Fairey IIIFs replaced the IIIDs in May 1929.
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey IIIF | HMS Argus | Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Edgar H D Spence | 19 Nov 1928 | Officer Commanding |
Fg Off | Wilmot S Lea | 12 Jun 1929 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Douglas W Mackendrick | 9 Sep 1927 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Bernard W Barton | 25 Jun 1928 | |
Fg Off | Douglas J T Haynes | 7 Jan 1929 |
Source - Air Force List July 1929
Date | Location |
23 Jul 1929 | RAF Lee-on-Solent |
9 Sep 1929 | HMS Argus |
29 Nov 1929 | RAF Lee-on-Solent |
10 Jan 1930 | HMS Argus |
20 Jan 1930 | Gibraltar |
21 Feb 1930 | HMS Argus |
31 Mar1930 | RAF Lee-on-Solent |
22 Apr 1930 | RAF Base Gosport |
25 Apr 1930 | HMS Glorious |
28 May 1930 | RAF Base Gosport |
24 Jun 1930 | HMS Glorious |
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey IIIF | HMS Glorious | Coastal Area |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Norman Young | 27 Apr 1930 | Officer Commanding |
Fg Off | John B Heath | 26 Aug 1929 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Douglas W Mackendrick | 9 Sep 1927 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Douglas J T Haynes | 7 Jan 1929 | |
Fg Off | Duncan R C Hodson | 22 Mar 1930 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | David J Hughes-Morgan | 7 Aug 1929 |
Source - Air Force List July 1930
Source - August 1930 Air Force List
Source - September 1930 Air Force List
Source - October 1930 Air Force List
Source - November 1930 Air Force List
Source - December 1930 Air Force List
Date | Location |
4 Jul 1930 | RAF Hal Far |
8 Dec 1930 | HMS Glorious |
30 Jan 1931 | RAF Hal Far |
6 Mar 1931 | HMS Glorious |
27 May 1931 | RAF Hal Far |
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey IIIF | RAF Base Malta/HMS Glorious | RAF Mediterranean |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Norman Young | 27 Apr 1930 | Officer Commanding |
Fg Off | Wilmot S Lea | 21 Apr 1931 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Norman Kennedy | 27 Dec 1930 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Cyril G Davies | 19 Jun 1930 | |
Fg Off | Walter S North | 7 Feb 1931 | Lt, RM |
Source - Air Force List July 1931
Date | Location |
11 Sep 1931 | HMS Glorious |
26 Oct 1931 | RAF Hal Far |
6 Jan 1932 | HMS Glorious |
29 Jan 1932 | RAF Hal Far |
22 Feb 1932 | HMS Glorious |
22 Apr 1932 | RAF Hal Far |
Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
Fairey IIIF | RAF Base Malta/HMS Glorious | RAF Mediterranean |
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | Norman Young | 27 Apr 1930 | Officer Commanding |
Fg Off | Wilmot S Lea | 21 Apr 1931 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Norman Kennedy | 27 Dec 1930 | Lt, RN |
Fg Off | Cyril G Davies | 19 Jun 1930 | |
Fg Off | Walter S North | 7 Feb 1931 | Lt, RM |
Fg Off | John Constable-Roberts | 19 Jun 1931 | later A/Cdre |
Fg Off | Lionel C B Ashburner | 13 May 1932 | Sub-Lt, RN |
Source - Air Force List July 1932
Date | Location |
1 Sep 1932 | HMS Glorious |
16 Sep 1932 | RAF Aboukir |
24 Sep 1932 | HMS Glorious |
25 Oct 1932 | RAF Hal Far |
7 Mar 1932 | HMS Glorious |
It was redesignated No 823 Squadron on 3 April 1933.
Re-equipment and movement dates are based on those shown in 'Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm' by Ray Sturtivant
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This page was last updated on 08/07/19