Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
[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 1933 | Jan 1934 | Jul 1934 | Jul 1937 | Jul 1938 | Jan 1939 | Apr 1939 | May 1939]
Aug 1936 |
Source - August 1936 Air Force List
With the formation of the RAF on 1 April 1918, all British military and naval aircraft came under its control. This included all aircraft operated from ships of the Royal Navy, leading to the situation whereby the air and ground crews on board these ships were members of the RAF and the crews of the ships were members of the Royal Navy. Effectively the small RAF staffs on board the ship operated in much the same way as the staff at a shore based RAF station, the airfield being the flight deck of the carrier. Whilst on board ship the RAF personnel were subject to Naval discipline under the jurisdiction of the ship's captain, the senior RAF officer acting as the captain's air advisor.
Initially a number of squadrons were allocated to man the carriers these being No 3 Squadron, No 203 Squadron, No 210 Squadron and No 205 Squadron but on 1 April the RAF formed the Fleet Air Arm of The RAF and these squadrons were split up into a series of smaller Flights numbered in the 400 series. With the transfer of the FAA to the Admiralty in July 1939, RAF HQ Units in carriers ceased to exist, with most of the posts being taken over by naval officers, although some RAF personnel continued to be seconded to the Royal Navy for some time.
HMS Eagle was originally laid down on 20 February 1913 at the Armstrong-Whitworth yard in Newcastle upon Tyne as the battleship, Almirante Cochrane for the Chilean Navy but its construction was suspended in 1914. It was requisitioned by the Admiralty in 1918 and was launched on 8 June 1918 and was commissioned for trials on 6 April 1920 with flying trials beginning in June. In February 1921 it moved to Portsmouth to be completed as a fleet carrier being commissioned on 26 February 1924. It was transferred to the reserve on 31 May 1935 but was refitted in 1936 and recommissioned on 21 January 1937. She later took part in the delivery of RAF Hurricanes and Spitfires to Malta but was sunk on 11 August 1942 by the U-73 whilst escorting the convoy to Malta during Operation Pedestal.
The HQ Unit embarked for the first time on 3 May 1924, closing on 30 May 1931. It reformed on 1 February 1933 ceasing to exist on 20 May 1935. The initial staffing for this unit was assembled at RAF Base Calshot from 1 May 1923
Fleet | Command/Group | Units operated |
Mediterranean Fleet (en-route) | Coastal Area |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | William L Welsh | 26 Feb 1924 | DSC, AFC; later AM |
Sqn Ldr | Edward R Pretyman | 26 Feb 1924 | AFC |
Flt Lt | Dudley K Cameron | 26 Feb 1924 | |
Fg Off | Bertram I Carter | 26 Feb 1924 | |
Fg Off | Henry W Beck | 26 Feb 1924 | |
Stores Branch | |||
Fg Off | John G Smithson | 26 Feb 1924 |
Source - Air Force List May 1924
Source - January 1925 Air Force List
Source - February 1925 Air Force List
Source - March 1925 Air Force List
Source - April 1925 Air Force List
Source - May 1925 Air Force List
Source - June 1925 Air Force List
Fleet | Command/Group | Units operated |
Mediterranean Fleet (en-route) | RAF Mediterranean |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Edward Osmond | 19 Feb 1925 | CBE |
Sqn Ldr | Edward R Pretyman | 26 Feb 1924 | AFC |
Flt Lt | Walter G Preston | 26 May 1924 | |
Fg Off | Bertram I Carter | 26 Feb 1924 | |
Fg Off | Henry W Beck | 26 Feb 1924 | |
Stores Branch | |||
Fg Off | John G Smithson | 26 Feb 1924 |
Source - Air Force List July 1925
Fleet | Command/Group | Units operated |
Mediterranean Fleet (en-route) | RAF Mediterranean |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Edward Osmond | 19 Feb 1925 | CBE |
Sqn Ldr | William B Callaway | 4 Feb 1926 | AFC; later AVM |
Flt Lt | Bertrand A Malet | 27 Jan 1926 | |
Fg Off | George A R Muschamp | 16 Jul 1925 | |
Fg Off | William C P Bullock | 20 Jan 1926 | |
Stores Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Frederick Petch | 28 Jan 1926 | OBE |
Fg Off | John G Smithson | 26 Feb 1924 |
Source - March 1926 Air Force List
Fleet | Units operated |
Mediterranean Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Edward Osmond | 19 Feb 1925 | CBE |
Sqn Ldr | William B Callaway | 4 Feb 1926 | AFC; later AVM |
Flt Lt | Bertrand A Malet | 27 Jan 1926 | |
Fg Off | George A R Muschamp | 16 Jul 1925 | |
Fg Off | William C P Bullock | 20 Jan 1926 | |
Stores Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Frederick Petch | 28 Jan 1926 | OBE |
Source - Air Force List July 1926
Fleet | Units operated |
Mediterranean Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Edward Osmond | 19 Feb 1925 | CBE |
Sqn Ldr | Charles O F Modin | 30 Sep 1926 | DSC; later A/Cdre |
Flt Lt | Bertrand A Malet | 27 Jan 1926 | Signal duties |
Fg Off | George A R Muschamp | 16 Jul 1925 | Engineer duties |
Fg Off | William C P Bullock | 20 Jan 1926 | Armament duties |
Stores Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Frederick Petch | 28 Jan 1926 | OBE |
Source - December 1926 Air Force List
Fleet | Units operated |
Mediterranean Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Edward Osmond | 19 Feb 1925 | CBE |
Sqn Ldr | Charles O F Modin | 30 Sep 1926 | DSC; later A/Cdre |
Flt Lt | Bertrand A Malet | 27 Jan 1926 | Signal duties |
Fg Off | George A R Muschamp | 16 Jul 1925 | Engineer duties |
Fg Off | William C P Bullock | 20 Jan 1926 | Armament duties |
Stores Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Harry J Barnham | 8 Feb 1927 |
Source - Air Force List July 1927
Fleet | Units operated |
Mediterranean Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Roger M Field | 9 Mar 1928 | |
Sqn Ldr | Charles O F Modin | 30 Sep 1926 | DSC; later A/Cdre |
Flt Lt | Bertrand A Malet | 27 Jan 1926 | Signal duties, DFC |
Fg Off | Kenneth A B Hutson | 12 Aug 1927 | Engineer duties, Lt (E), RN |
Fg Off | Miles H Garnons-Williams | 9 Mar 1928 | Armament duties |
Stores Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Harry J Barnham | 8 Feb 1927 |
Source - Air Force List July 1928
Fleet | Units operated |
Mediterranean Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Roger M Field | 9 Mar 1928 | |
Sqn Ldr | Charles O F Modin | 30 Sep 1926 | DSC; later A/Cdre |
Flt Lt | Bertrand A Malet | 27 Jan 1926 | Signal duties, DFC |
Flt Lt | Miles H Garnons-Williams | 9 Mar 1928 | Armament duties |
Fg Off | Kenneth A B Hutson | 12 Aug 1927 | Engineer duties, Lt (E), RN |
Stores Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Harry J Barnham | 8 Feb 1927 |
Source - September 1928 Air Force List
Fleet | Units operated |
Mediterranean Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Roger M Field | 9 Mar 1928 | |
Sqn Ldr | Robert Halley | 27 Oct 1928 | DFC, AFC |
Flt Lt | Bertrand A Malet | 27 Jan 1926 | Signal duties, DFC |
Fg Off | William H Everton | 1 Sep 1928 | Engineer duties |
Fg Off | Miles H Garnons-Williams | 9 Mar 1928 | Armament duties |
Stores Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Harry J Barnham | 8 Feb 1927 |
Source - Air Force List July 1929
Fleet | Units operated |
Mediterranean Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Roger M Field | 9 Mar 1928 | |
Sqn Ldr | Robert Halley | 27 Oct 1928 | DFC, AFC |
Flt Lt | Eric Burton | 23 Apr 1930 | Engineer duties |
Flt Lt | Brian A S Lewin | 1 Jun 1929 | Signal duties, |
Flt Lt | Adrian W Franklyn | 13 Jan 1930 | Armament duties, MC |
Stores Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Horatio Sleigh | 1 Mar 1930 |
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
Fleet | Units operated |
Mediterranean Fleet |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | Roger M Field | 9 Mar 1928 | |
Sqn Ldr | Robert Halley | 27 Oct 1928 | DFC, AFC |
Flt Lt | James A W Binnie | 15 Aug 1930 | Armament duties |
Flt Lt | Eric Burton | 23 Apr 1930 | Engineer duties |
Stores Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Horatio Sleigh | 1 Mar 1930 |
It underwent a refit in Devonport from 8 May 1931 and was paid off for a major refit on 24 August 1931. It was recommissioned on 28 March 1933.
Source - Air Force List July 1931
Fleet | Units operated |
China Station |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | James M Robb | 12 Feb 1933 | DSO, DFC; later ACM |
Sqn Ldr | Percy J Barnett | 1 Feb 1933 | Armament duties |
Flt Lt | James H Winch | 2 Apr 1933 | Engineer duties |
Flt Lt | Patrick J A Hume-Wright | 1 Feb 1933 | Adjutant |
Flt Lt | John W Gillan | 6 Mar 1933 | Signal duties |
Stores Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Maurice H Jenks | 1 Feb 1933 |
Source - Air Force List July 1933
Fleet | Units operated |
China Station |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | James M Robb | 12 Feb 1933 | DSO, DFC; later ACM |
Sqn Ldr | Percy J Barnett | 1 Feb 1933 | Armament duties |
Flt Lt | James H Winch | 2 Apr 1933 | Engineer duties |
Flt Lt | Patrick J A Hume-Wright | 1 Feb 1933 | Adjutant |
Flt Lt | John W Gillan | 6 Mar 1933 | Signal duties |
Stores Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Maurice H Jenks | 1 Feb 1933 |
Source - January 1934 Air Force List
Fleet | Units operated |
China Station |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | James M Robb | 12 Feb 1933 | DSO, DFC; later ACM |
Sqn Ldr | Percy J Barnett | 1 Feb 1933 | Armament duties |
Flt Lt | James H Winch | 2 Apr 1933 | Engineer duties |
Flt Lt | Patrick J A Hume-Wright | 1 Feb 1933 | Adjutant |
Flt Lt | John W Gillan | 6 Mar 1933 | Signal duties |
Equipment Branch | |||
Flt Lt | Maurice H Jenks | 1 Feb 1933 |
Source - Air Force List July 1934
It was paid off to the reserve on 31 May 1935 and underwent a further refit through 1936.
Fleet | Command | Units operated |
China Station | RAF Far East |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | 18 Jan 1937 | DFC, AFC; later AM | |
Sqn Ldr | W C P Bullock | 1 Feb 1937 | Armament duties |
Flt Lt | K P Lewis | 26 Mar 1937 | Engineer duties |
Flt Lt | P Heath | 14 Dec 1936 | Adjutant |
Flt Lt | Q W A Ross | 5 Feb 1937 | Signal duties |
Fg Off | A R Burch | 10 Apr 1937 | Lt, RM |
Equipment Branch | |||
Flt Lt | C L Gilbert | 12 Jan 1937 |
Source - Air Force List July 1937
Fleet | Command | Units operated |
China Station | RAF Far East |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | 18 Jan 1937 | DFC, AFC; later AM | |
Sqn Ldr | W C P Bullock | 1 Feb 1937 | Armament duties |
Flt Lt | K P Lewis | 26 Mar 1937 | Engineer duties |
Flt Lt | P Heath | 14 Dec 1936 | Adjutant |
Flt Lt | Q W A Ross | 5 Feb 1937 | Signal duties |
Equipment Branch | |||
Flt Lt | C L Gilbert | 12 Jan 1937 |
Source - Air Force List July 1938
Fleet | Units operated |
China Station |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | 18 Jan 1937 | DFC, AFC; later AM | |
Sqn Ldr | W C P Bullock | 1 Feb 1937 | Armament duties |
Flt Lt | K P Lewis | 26 Mar 1937 | Engineer duties |
Flt Lt | Q W A Ross | 5 Feb 1937 | Signal duties |
Fg Off | A W D Miller | 13 Aug 1938 | Adjutant |
Equipment Branch | |||
Flt Lt | C L Gilbert | 12 Jan 1937 |
Source - Air Force List January 1939
Fleet | Units operated |
China Station |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Wg Cdr | 18 Jan 1937 | DFC, AFC; later AM | |
Sqn Ldr | W C P Bullock | 1 Feb 1937 | Armament duties |
Flt Lt | A W D Miller | 13 Aug 1938 | Adjutant |
Equipment Branch | |||
Fg Off | A H Brown | 17 Dec 1938 | |
Commissioned Engineer Officer | |||
Fg Off | E T McKeown | 11 Jan 1939 |
Source - Confidential Air Force List April 1939
Fleet | Units operated |
China Station |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
Flt Lt | A W D Miller | 13 Aug 1938 | Adjutant |
Equipment Branch | |||
Fg Off | A H Brown | 17 Dec 1938 | |
Commissioned Engineer Officer | |||
Fg Off | E T McKeown | 11 Jan 1939 |
Source - Confidential Air Force List May 1939
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This page was last updated on 08/07/19