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No 176 Sqn Personnel, aircraft and locations

[1943 | ]

Personnel Movements: Jan - Dec 1943

Rank Name Date Notes
January
Wg Cdr J A O'Neill DFC 14 Jan 1943 Station Commander, RAF Alipore, assumed command of No 176 Sqn on formation
Sqn Ldr C G Clegg 14 Jan 1943 Transferred from No 89 Sqn
Flt Lt G R Nottage 14 Jan 1943 Transferred from No 89 Sqn
Flt Lt D Hunter 14 Jan 1943 Transferred from No 89 Sqn
Fg Off C A Crombie 14 Jan 1943 Transferred from No 89 Sqn
Fg Off K J Gray 14 Jan 1943 Transferred from No 89 Sqn
WO K Taylor 14 Jan 1943 Transferred from No 89 Sqn
WO R C Moss 14 Jan 1943 Transferred from No 89 Sqn
WO C T Phillips 14 Jan 1943 Transferred from No 89 Sqn
Flt Sgt A M O Pring 14 Jan 1943 Transferred from No 89 Sqn
Flt Sgt L Atkinson 14 Jan 1943 Transferred from No 89 Sqn
Flt Sgt A G Holton 14 Jan 1943 Transferred from No 89 Sqn
Flt Sgt M Mould 14 Jan 1943 Transferred from No 89 Sqn
Flt Sgt C Baron 14 Jan 1943 Transferred from No 89 Sqn
Sgt H J Dawe 14 Jan 1943 Transferred from No 89 Sqn
Sgt H Fisher 14 Jan 1943 Transferred from No 89 Sqn
Sgt W Simpson 14 Jan 1943 Transferred from No 89 Sqn
Sgt L Beer 14 Jan 1943 Transferred from No 89 Sqn
February

No relevant entries recorded in this month's ORB
March
Plt Off R S Wambeek  2 Mar 1943 Arrived on posting from No 46 Sqn (ME)
Plt Off A W Gamage  2 Mar 1943 Arrived on posting from No 46 Sqn (ME)
Flt Lt J B Fawcitt  4 Mar 1943 Medical Officer proceeded to Delhi for Malaria course
Fg Off F E Spiers 13 Mar 1943 Proceeded to Calcutta for Camouflage course
Fg Off F E Wilcox 15 Mar 1943 Signals Officer, posted to AHQ Bengal
Plt Off B G R Palma 17 Mar 1943 Intelligence Officer, promoted to Fg Off
Fg Off H J Dobson 19 Mar 1943 Arrived on posting from No 96 Sqn (UK)
Sgt Bowen 19 Mar 1943 Arrived on posting from No 96 Sqn (UK)
Flt Sgt A G Holton 22 Mar 1943 Promoted to WO
Fg Off M C McIntyre-Cathles 26 Mar 1943 Arrived on posting from Secunderabad and assumed command of RAF Regiment
Fg Off B G R Palma 28 Mar 1943 Intelligence Officer, proceeded to Calcutta for Security course
Fg Off C A Crombie 28 Mar 1943 Proceeded to Calcutta for Controllers' course
Fg Off F E Spiers 29 Mar 1943 Posted to No 127 RSU
Flt Sgt Littlewood 29 Mar 1943 Promoted to WO
Plt Off E F Atkins 30 Mar 1943 Arrived on posting from No 46 Sqn (ME)
Sgt Akers 30 Mar 1943 Arrived on posting from No 46 Sqn (ME)
Fg Off B G R Palma 31 Mar 1943 Intelligence Officer, returned from Calcutta
Plt Off G Khan 31 Mar 1943 Arrived on posting from C & M Jessore for Admin duties
April
Flt Lt D Nealon  4 Apr 1943 Proceeded to Barrackpore for Adjutants' Course
Plt Off A I Mitchell  4 Apr 1943 Arrived on posting from Secunderabad and assumed command of RAF Regiment
Fg Off B G R Palma  5 Apr 1943 Intelligence Officer, assumed duties of Adjutant
Plt Off A W Gamage  6 Apr 1943 Promoted to Fg Off
Flt Lt J B Fawcitt  7 Apr 1943 Medical Officer returned from Delhi on completion of Malaria course
Fg Off A W Gamage  9 Apr 1943 Proceeded to Chakrata Hill Station
Act Flt Sgt D Foulger 10 Apr 1943 DMT, promoted to Temp Flt Sgt
Cpl D Humphrey 11 Apr 1943 Clerk/GD, promoted to Temp Sgt
Flt Lt D Nealon 13 Apr 1943 Returned from Barrackpore on completion ofAdjutants' Course
Flt Lt P G Hill 15 Apr 1943 Arrived on posting from No 456 Sqn (UK)
WO W E Cox 15 Apr 1943 Arrived on posting from No 456 Sqn (UK)
Sqn Ldr C G Clegg 18 Apr 1943 Posted to No 159 Sqn, RAF Salbani
Plt Off E P Milway 19 Apr 1943 Relinquished duties of MT Officer
Fg Off E F Atkins 19 Apr 1943 Assumed duties of MT Officer
Flt Lt G R Nottage 19 Apr 1943 Relinquished duties of Unit Catering Officer and assumed duties of Flight Commander
Flt Lt P G Hill 19 Apr 1943 Assumed duties of Unit Catering Officer
Sgt H J Dawe 20 Apr 1943 Promoted to WO (promotion to Flt Sgt had been overdue)
Fg Off K J Gray 23 Apr 1943 Relinquished duties of Sports Officer on posting to HQ, No 293 Wing
Sgt Akers 23 Apr 1943 Promoted to Flt Sgt
Plt Off G A Bennett 24 Apr 1943 Posted to the unit but detached
Plt Off A Whyte 24 Apr 1943 Posted to the unit but detached
Plt Off E P Milway 25 Apr 1943 Engineer Officer, promoted to Fg Off
May
Fg Off A W Gamage  1 May 1943 Assumed duties of Sports Officer and Entertainments Officer
Wg Cdr J A O'Neill DFC  2 May 1943 Admitted to hospital
Flt Lt G R Nottage  2 May 1943 Assumed command of the squadron
WO A M O Pring 10 May 1943 Appointed to a commission in the rank of Plt Off
WO C T Phillips 10 May 1943 Appointed to a commission in the rank of Plt Off
Wg Cdr M G Goddard 11 May 1943 Arrived on attachment (date approx) and assumed command of the squdron
Plt Off A M O Pring 14 May 1943 Assumed duties of Squadron Parachute Officer
Flt Sgt C Baron 17 May 1943 Appointed to a commission in the rank of Plt Off
Plt Off G A Bennett 20 May 1943 Arrived from a detachment and allocated to 'B' Flight
Plt Off A Whyte 20 May 1943 Arrived from a detachment and allocated to 'B' Flight
Fg Off G R Halbeard 22 May 1943 Arrived on posting and allocated to 'B' Flight
June
Fg Off C A Crombie  1 Jun 1943 Promoted to Flt Lt (backdated about eleven months)
Sgt L Beer  3 Jun 1943 Proceeded on sick leave
Plt Off Homer 13 Jun 1943 RAF Regiment, arrived on posting
Plt Off R S Wambeek 15 Jun 1943 Attached to 4th Indian Division
Fg Off J Starr 15 Jun 1943 Attached for a 'rest' from Wellingtons
Fg Off G R Halbeard 20 Jun 1943 Proceeded to Karachi for temporary duty
Plt Off A Whyte 20 Jun 1943 Proceeded to Karachi for temporary duty
Plt Off R S Wambeek 20 Jun 1943 Ceased to be attached to 4th Indian Division
Sgt E R Harris 20 Jun 1943 Proceeded to Karachi for temporary duty
Plt Off A I Mitchell 22 Jun 1943 RAF Regiment, promoted to Fg Off
Plt Off Homer 22 Jun 1943 RAF Regiment, promoted to Fg Off
Fg Off G R Halbeard 25 Jun 1943 Returned from Karachi on completion of temporary duty
Plt Off A Whyte 25 Jun 1943 Returned from Karachi on completion of temporary duty
Sgt E R Harris 25 Jun 1943 Returned from Karachi on completion of temporary duty
Fg Off A I Mitchell 26 Jun 1943 RAF Regiment, posted to HQ No 293 Wing
July
Flt Sgt Jackson 12 Jul 1943 Arrived on posting from the UK
Sgt Ineson 12 Jul 1943 Arrived on posting from the UK
Flt Lt G R Nottage 13 Jul 1943 OC, 'A' Flight, promoted to Sqn Ldr
Fg Off G R Halbeard 15 Jul 1943 Promoted to Flt Lt
Plt Off R S Wambeek 15 Jul 1943 Promoted to Fg Off
Plt Off G Khan 17 Jul 1943 Returned from Poona on completion of Administrative Course
Plt Off P S Green 19 Jul 1943 Arrived on posting for duty as Intelligence duties
Plt Off C H Johnson 20 Jul 1943 Accountant Officer arrived on attachment
Plt Off C P Mehra 25 Jul 1943 Arrived on posting for Codes and Cypher duties
Lt Forbes 25 Jul 1943 R Corp Signals, arrived on attachment
Fg Off Homer 25 Jul 1943 RAF Regiment, admitted to hospital
Sqn Ldr J Fitzgeorge-Parker 25 Jul 1943 Proceeded on a  Malaria Course (attached for Administrative duties)
Fg Off Moss 27 Jul 1943 Accountant Officer posted to Base Accounts Office, Bombay
August
Plt Off C T Phillips  1 Aug 1943 Proceeded to Alipore for 'Jungle Combat' Course with a number of airmen
Flt Lt L H Mattison  5 Aug 1943 Medical Officer admitted to hospital with dysentery
Plt Off C T Phillips  8 Aug 1943 Returned from Alipore on completion of 'Jungle Combat' Course with a number of airmen
Flt Lt G Fox  9 Aug 1943 Arrived on posting for duty as Medical Officer
Sgt H J Dawe  9 Aug 1943 Appointed to a commission in the rank of Plt Off
Plt Off F C Fortune 10 Aug 1943 Arrived on posting from No 136 Sqn
Plt Off B G R Palma 11 Aug 1943 Intelligence Officer, posted to HQ, No 221 Group
Fg Off H Blondal 16 Aug 1943 Special Signals Officer, admitted to hospital
Plt Off J N Jarvis 17 Aug 1943 Arrived on attachment for temporary duty as Special Signals Officer
Fg Off Homer 18 Aug 1943 RAF Regiment, discharged from hospital
Fg Off A W Gamage 22 Aug 1943 Proceeded to Alipore for 'Jungle Combat' Course
Flt Lt D Nealon 23 Aug 1943 Proceeded to Alipore for 'Jungle Combat' Course
Sgt L Beer 24 Aug 1943 Appointed to a commission in the rank of Plt Off
Plt Off H J Dawe 27 Aug 1943 Returned from hospital
Fg Off A W Gamage 28 Aug 1943 Returned from Alipore on completion of 'Jungle Combat' Course
Flt Lt D Nealon 28 Aug 1943 Returned from Alipore on completion of 'Jungle Combat' Course
Flt Lt P Arend 29 Aug 1943 Arrived on posting
Fg Off H Blondal 29 Aug 1943 Special Signals Officer, discharged from hospital
Plt Off F C Fortune 29 Aug 1943 Admitted to hospital
September
Flt Lt D Hunter  3 Sep 1943 Reposted to No 176 Sqn for flying duties
Fg Off H J Dodson  3 Sep 1943 Attached to Deganga
Plt Off C T Phillips  3 Sep 1943 Posted to AHQ Bengal
Plt Off G A Bennett  4 Sep 1943 Admitted to hospital
Fg Off A E Colledge  8 Sep 1943 RAF Regiment, arrived on posting
Fg Off H J Dodson 10 Sep 1943 Ceased to be ttached to Deganga
Fg Off Homer 11 Sep 1943 RAF Regiment, departed on posting
Plt Off P S Green 11 Sep 1943 Intelligence Officer, admitted to hospital
Plt Off G A Bennett 23 Sep 1943 Discharged from hospital
Plt Off P Ardeline 24 Sep 1943 Arrived on posting and allocated to 'B' Flight
Plt Off D H Owens RCAF 24 Sep 1943 Arrived on posting and allocated to 'B' Flight
Plt Off P Arend 26 Sep 1943 Admitted to hospital
       
October
Flt Lt G Fox  1 Oct 1943 Medical Officer, ceased to be attached on posting to Bombay
Flt Sgt H S Taylor  2 Oct 1943 Arrived on posting and allocated to 'A' Flight
Sgt R Lawrie  2 Oct 1943 Arrived on posting and allocated to 'A' Flight
Flt Lt Jackson  3 Oct 1943 Dental Officer arrived on attachment
Flt Lt L H Mattison  5 Oct 1943 Medical Officer discharged from hospital
Plt Off L A Norris  5 Oct 1943 Arrived on posting and allocated to 'A' Flight
Sgt R Norris  5 Oct 1943 Arrived on posting and allocated to 'A' Flight
Flt Lt L H Mattison  6 Oct 1943 Medical Officer attached to Shillong for light duties
Plt Off G A Bennett  6 Oct 1943 Posted home to Australia
Sgt M Lloyd  7 Oct 1943 Arrived on posting and allocated to 'A' Flight
Sgt A S Moss  7 Oct 1943 Arrived on posting and allocated to 'A' Flight
Flt Lt D V Porter  8 Oct 1943 Arrived on attachment for duty as Medical Officer
Sgt K G Roberts 10 Oct 1943 Killed in a flying accident
LAC C Gardiner 10 Oct 1943 Killed in a flying accident
Sgt K Aunger 12 Oct 1943 Arrived on posting and allocated to 'A' Flight
Sgt P J L Lee 12 Oct 1943 Arrived on posting and allocated to 'A' Flight
Fg Off H J Dodson 16 Oct 1943 Posted to Poona
Plt Off E J Thomas 17 Oct 1943 Arrived on attachment for duty as Intelligence Officer
Flt Lt J M Clark 18 Oct 1943 Dental Officer arrived on attachment
Flt Lt Jackson 19 Oct 1943 Dental Officer ceased to be attached
Plt Off D Goode 23 Oct 1943 Arrived on attachment as Catering Officer, on being appointed to a commission from the ranks
Sgt D G Rice 31 Oct 1943 Arrived on posting and allocated to 'A' Flight
Sgt A G Wyatt 31 Oct 1943 Arrived on posting and allocated to 'A' Flight
November
Flt Lt L H Mattison  2 Nov 1943 Ceased to be attached to Shillong and resumed duties as Medical Officer
Plt Off P S Green  6 Nov 1943 Intelligence Officer, returned from sick leave
Flt Lt P Arend  6 Nov 1943 Returned from sick leave
Plt Off M Wolfe  6 Nov 1943 Arrived on attachment from No 221 Group for duty as Intelligence Officer
WO H S Taylor 24 Nov 1943 Departed on posting to the UK
WO A S Moss 24 Nov 1943 Departed on posting to the UK
December
Flt Lt G R Halbeard  5 Dec 1943 Killed in action
Plt Off A M O Pring  5 Dec 1943 Killed in action
Plt Off A Whyte  5 Dec 1943 Shot down in combat with Japanese fighters but returned the following day
Plt Off M Wolfe 10 Dec 1943 Intelligence Officer, returned from Aircraft Recognition Course at Ranchi
Plt Off M Wolfe 11 Dec 1943 Intelligence Officer, attached to Wing HQ for temporary duty
Sqn Ldr J A Thomson 15 Dec 1943 Arrived on attachment
Fg Off C L Gotch 15 Dec 1943 Arrived on posting
Fg Off F Lee 15 Dec 1943 Arrived on posting
Fg Off R Thomson 15 Dec 1943 Arrived on posting
Plt Off T H Norris RCAF 19 Dec 1943 Arrived on attachment for duty as Signals Officer
Plt Off D H Owens RCAF 25 Dec 1943 Killed in a flying accident
Plt Off R F Lythgoe 25 Dec 1943 Arrived on posting
1st Lt T L McCabe USAAF 25 Dec 1943 Arrived on posting

Source - No 176 ORB (AIR 27/1112)

Organisational Movements: Jan - Dec 1943

Date Notes
January
14 Jan 1943 A detachment of No 89 Sqn arrived at Dum Dum from the Middle East and was redesignated No 176 Sqn on arrival.

It was equipped with 8 x Beaufighter I aircraft (ORB states it also had Beaufighter VIs but not of those listed are Mk VI aircraft)
Beaufighter I (SEAC markings)
14 Jan 1943 No 176 Sqn comprised the following aircrew:

Pilots

  • Wg Cdr O'Neill
  • Sqn Ldr Clegg
  • Flt Lt Nottage
  • Fg Off Crombie
  • Fg Off Gray
  • Flt Sgt Pring
  • Flt Sgt Atkinson
  • Sgt Dawe
  • Sgt Fisher

Navigator/Radio

  • Flt Lt Hunter
  • WO Taylor
  • Flt Sgt Holton
  • WO Moss
  • Flt Sgt Mould
  • WO Phillips
  • Sgt Simpson
  • Flt Sgt Baron
  • Sgt Beer
Jan/Feb 1943 Squadron moved from Dum Dum to Baigachi
February
No relevant entries recorded in this month's ORB
March
11 Mar 1943 A Beaufighter (X7682?) was collected from Allahabad
April
10 Apr 1943 CO carried out acceptance test on squadron's first Beaufighter VIF, V8503 'B'
Beaufighter VIf
May
19 May 1943 5 x Hurricane IIC, fitted with AI VI radar arrived and allocated to 'B' Flight
Hurricane IIC
19 May 1943 'B' Flight formed
31 May 1943 In addition to postings shown above the following officers were on the squadron strength: -
  • Fg Off H Blondal - Signals
  • Fg Off M F Ludwig - Signals (attached)
  • Plt Off P D Green - Intelligence (attached)
June
30 Jun 1943 In addition to postings shown above the following officers were on the squadron strength: -
  • Flt Lt L H Mattison - Medical (attached)
  • Fg Off G H Brocklehurst - Pilot
July
No relevant entries recorded in this month's ORB
August
25 Aug 1943 All Hurricanes grounded pending completion of unspecified checks
26 Aug 1943 Hurricanes resumed flying
September
 2 Sep 1943 Ground crews for a detachment departed for Ceylon by air (C-47)
 6 Sep 1943 2 x Beaufighters departed on detachment in Ceylon
19 Sep 1943 2 x Sgt pilots arrived on posting and allocated to 'A' Flight
October
No relevant entries recorded in this month's ORB
November
12 Nov 1943 1 x Beaufighter and crew detached to St Thomas Mount
30 Nov 1943 In addition to postings shown above the following officers were on the squadron strength: -
  • Plt Off E W Ledwidge - Flying Control (attached)
December
22 Dec 1943 2 x Hurricanes began being sent to Chittagong on a daily basis to provide night fighter cover

Source - No 176 ORB (AIR 27/1112)

This entry was last updated on 03/07/25

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