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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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No 403 (RCAF) Sqn Personnel, aircraft and locations
[1941 | ]
Personnel Movements: Feb - Dec 1941
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| February | |||
| No personnel movements recorded in this month's ORB | |||
| Flt Lt | Gillen | xx Feb 1941 | Probably arrived on posting this month |
| Plt Off | Carter | xx Feb 1941 | Probably arrived on posting this month |
| Plt Off | Barnes | xx Feb 1941 | Probably arrived on posting this month for duty as Intelligence Officer |
| Plt Off | Reynolds | xx Feb 1941 | Probably arrived on posting this month for Intelligence duties |
| March | |||
| Flt Lt | Rogers | 1 Mar 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 3 ITW for duty as Medical Officer |
| Fg Off | Gregg | 1 Mar 1941 | Assumed duties of Squadron Engineering Officer |
| Flt Lt | Trevena | 3 Mar 1941 | Arrived on posting for duty as Flight Commander |
| Sqn Ldr | B G Morris | 6 Mar 1941 | Returned from sick leave and assumed command of No 403 Sqn |
| Sgt Plt | Peacock | 15 Mar 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 258 Sqn |
| Sgt Plt | Sones | 15 Mar 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 258 Sqn |
| Sgt Plt | Wood | 15 Mar 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 258 Sqn |
| Sgt Plt | Walker | 20 Mar 1941 | Arrived on posting |
| Sgt Plt | Pelton | 20 Mar 1941 | Arrived on posting |
| Sgt Plt | Peacock | 24 Mar 1941 | Posted to No 73 Sqn |
| Plt Off | Parkes? | 27 Mar 1941 | Arrived on posting |
| April | |||
| Plt Off | Fannon (RAF) | 16 Apr 1941 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | Colvin (RAF) | 16 Apr 1941 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | Murray | 16 Apr 1941 | Arrived on posting |
| Sgt Plt | Wickham (RAF) | 16 Apr 1941 | Arrived on posting |
| Sgt Plt | Thomas (RAF) | 16 Apr 1941 | Arrived on posting |
| Sgt Plt | Rogers | 16 Apr 1941 | Arrived on posting |
| Sgt Plt | Tomlinson | 16 Apr 1941 | Arrived on posting |
| Sgt Plt | Morrison | 16 Apr 1941 | Arrived on posting |
| Sgt Plt | Gregg | 16 Apr 1941 | Arrived on posting |
| Lt | Allison USAAF | 22 Apr 1941 | Arrived on attachment to observe maintenance and operational issue with Tomahawks |
| Plt Off | K H Anthony | 23 Apr 1941 | Arrived on posting for No 52 OTU |
| Plt Off | D G Ball | 23 Apr 1941 | Arrived on posting for No 52 OTU |
| Plt Off | Ford | 23 Apr 1941 | Arrived on posting for No 52 OTU |
| Plt Off | Gilbertson | 23 Apr 1941 | Arrived on posting for No 52 OTU |
| Plt Off | Gubb | 23 Apr 1941 | Arrived on posting for No 52 OTU |
| Plt Off | D M Waldon | 23 Apr 1941 | Arrived on posting for No 52 OTU |
| Plt Off | Reynolds | 26 Apr 1941 | Intelligence Officer, posted to RAF Speke |
| Plt Off | Barrass | 27 Apr 1941 | Arrived on posting for duty as Squadron Engineering Officer |
| Lt | Allison USAAF | 30 Apr 1941 | Ceased to be attached on proceeding to London |
| May | |||
| Plt Off | Gubb | 4 May 1941 | Posted to No 96 Sqn |
| Fg Off | Oatey | 6 May 1941 | Attached from the Air Ministry for Armament duties |
| Flt Lt | Christmas | 16 May 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 400 Sqn for duty as Flight Commander |
| Fg Off | D J McKenna | 16 May 1941 | Arrived on posting |
| Fg Off | Price | 16 May 1941 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | Gibbs | 19 May 1941 | Arrived on attachment for training in Intelligence duties |
| Plt Off | Barnes | 20 May 1941 | Intelligence Officer, posted to RAF North Weald for operational duties |
| Lt | Zemke USAAF | 21 May 1941 | Attached on observation duties |
| Plt Off | Hyde | 28 May 1941 | Arrived on posting for duty as Squadron Intelligence Officer |
| June | |||
| Plt Off | N R D Dick | 4 Jun 1941 | Arrived on posting |
| Sgt Plt | Painville | 4 Jun 1941 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | Fannon (RAF) | 5 Jun 1941 | Posted to RAF Speke for AA Co-operation |
| Sgt Plt | Wood | 13 Jun 1941 | Granted a commission |
| Sgt Plt | Wickham (RAF) | 14 Jun 1941 | Departed on posting |
| Sgt Plt | Thomas (RAF) | 14 Jun 1941 | Departed on posting |
| Sgt Plt | Morrison | 20 Jun 1941 | Rejoined the unit following a Medical Board |
| Flt Lt | Trevena | 30 Jun 1941 | Posted to No 412 Sqn to command |
| Flt Lt | E C Cathels (RAF) | 30 Jun 1941 | Arrived on posting and assumed command of 'A' Flight |
| July | |||
| Plt Off | Carter | 7 Jul 1941 | Posted to an OTU |
| Plt Off | Murray | 11 Jul 1941 | Posted to No 161 Sqn |
| Sgt Plt | Morrison | 14 Jul 1941 | Attached to No 3 Delivery Flight |
| Sgt Plt | Ryckman | 15 Jul 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 61 OTU |
| Sgt Plt | Collinson | 15 Jul 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 61 OTU |
| Sgt Plt | Crist | 15 Jul 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 61 OTU |
| Sgt Plt | L Girman | 26 Jul 1941 | Arrived on posting |
| Sgt Plt | C E McDonald | 26 Jul 1941 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | Carrillo | 28 Jul 1941 | Arrived on posting |
| Sgt Plt | Case | 28 Jul 1941 | Arrived on posting |
| Sgt Plt | L Girman | 30 Jul 1941 | Killed in a flying accident |
| Sgt Plt | Spencer | 30 Jul 1941 | Arrived on posting |
| August | |||
| Fg Off | Tonkin | 4 Aug 1941 | Arrived on posting for duty as Medical Officer |
| Fg Off | J Reason | 4 Aug 1941 | Arrived on posting for duty as Engineering Officer |
| Sgt Plt | Spencer | 4 Aug 1941 | Posted to No 615 Sqn |
| Sgt Plt | Case | 4 Aug 1941 | Posted to No 615 Sqn |
| Plt Off | Barrass | 9 Aug 1941 | Posted to No 409 Sqn |
| Plt Off | D M Waldon | 9 Aug 1941 | Killed in action |
| Plt Off | K H Anthony | 19 Aug 1941 | Failed to return from a sortie, later reported to be a POW |
| Plt Off | N R D Dick | 19 Aug 1941 | Failed to return from a sortie, but was rescued from the Channel after baling out |
| Sqn Ldr | B G Morris | 21 Aug 1941 | Failed to return from a sortie, later reported to be a POW |
| Fg Off | D J McKenna | 21 Aug 1941 | Failed to return from a sortie, later reported to have died from wounds whilst a POW |
| Sgt Plt | C E McDonald | 21 Aug 1941 | Failed to return from a sortie, later reported to be a POW |
| Sqn Ldr | R A Lee-Knight | 23 Aug 1941 | Arrived on posting and assumed command of No 403 Sqn |
| Sgt Plt | Cranham | 23 Aug 1941 | Arrived on posting |
| Sgt Plt | Belcher | 23 Aug 1941 | Arrived on posting |
| Flt Lt | E C Cathels (RAF) | 27 Aug 1941 | Failed to return from a sortie, later reported to be a POW |
| Flt Lt | Secretan (RAF) | 30 Aug 1941 | Arrived on posting from RAF Biggin Hill and assumed command of 'A' Flight |
| Plt Off | Hyde | 30 Aug 1941 | Intelligence Officer, posted as supernumerary to RAF Hornchurch |
| Sgt Plt | Smith (RAF) | 31 Aug 1941 | Arrived on posting |
| September | |||
| Fg Off | Davies | 1 Sep 1941 | Arrived on posting for duty as Intelligence Officer |
| Fg Off | Whitby DFM | 8 Sep 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 59 OTU |
| Fg Off | J Reason | 10 Sep 1941 | Engineering Officer, reposted as supernumerary pending posting to the Far East |
| Flt Lt | Secretan (RAF) | 11 Sep 1941 | Posted to No 54 Sqn |
| Flt Lt | Christmas | 12 Sep 1941 | Departed on posting |
| Flt Lt | R B Newton | 12 Sep 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 72 Sqn and assumed command of 'A' Flight |
| Flt Lt | R G Clouston | 12 Sep 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 258 Sqn and assumed command of 'B' Flight |
| Fg Off | Whitby DFM | 12 Sep 1941 | Posted to SHQ, RAF Debden |
| Plt Off | Ford | 12 Sep 1941 | Departed on posting |
| Plt Off | Amor | 12 Sep 1941 | Arrived on posting for duty as Engineering Officer |
| Flt Lt | Riddell | 17 Sep 1941 | Arrived on posting for duty as Medical Officer |
| Fg Off | Carlyle | 18 Sep 1941 | Arrived on posting for duty as Supernumerary Adjutant |
| Fg Off | Gillespie | 21 Sep 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 402 Sqn |
| Fg Off | Tonkin | 23 Sep 1941 | Medical Officer, posted to West Africa |
| Sqn Ldr | R A Lee-Knight | 27 Sep 1941 | Failed to return from a sortie, later reported to be a POW |
| Sqn Ldr | C F Gray DFC* | 28 Sep 1941 | Arrived on posting and assumed command of No 403 Sqn |
| Sqn Ldr | A G Douglas | 30 Sep 1941 | Arrived on posting and assumed command of No 403 Sqn |
| Sqn Ldr | C F Gray DFC* | 30 Sep 1941 | Relinquished command of No 403 Sqn on posting to No 1 Sqn to command |
| October | |||
| Sgt Plt | A J Monserez | 8 Oct 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 58 OTU |
| Sgt Plt | D R Wiseman | 8 Oct 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 58 OTU |
| Sgt Plt | F A Higgins | 10 Oct 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 411 Sqn |
| Sgt Plt | A J Schmitz | 10 Oct 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 412 Sqn |
| Plt Off | R G Hall | 11 Oct 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 400 Sqn |
| Fg Off | Price | 14 Oct 1941 | Posted to No 57 OTU |
| Plt Off | Gilbertson | 14 Oct 1941 | Posted to No 53 OTU |
| Plt Off | D G Ball | 15 Oct 1941 | Posted to No 58 OTU |
| Plt Off | Carrillo | 16 Oct 1941 | Posted to ASR unit, RAF Tangmere |
| November | |||
| Sgt Plt | F A Higgins | 8 Nov 1941 | Killed in a flying accident |
| Flt Lt | R G Clouston | 13 Nov 1941 | Posted to No 111 Sqn |
| Flt Lt | J B McColl | 14 Nov 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 401 Sqn and assumed command of 'B' Flight |
| Plt Off | Magwood | 27 Nov 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 53 OTU |
| Flt Lt | R B Newton | 29 Nov 1941 | Posted to No 72 Sqn |
| Plt Off | Wood | 29 Nov 1941 | Promoted to Act Flt Lt and assumed command of 'A' Flight |
| December | |||
| Plt Off | R G Hall | 1 Dec 1941 | Attached to PDC Padgate |
| Sgt Plt | D R Wiseman | 1 Dec 1941 | Attached to PDC Padgate |
| Sgt Plt | Smith (RAF) | 8 Dec 1941 | Posted to No 607 Sqn |
| Flt Lt | J B McColl | 9 Dec 1941 | Posted to No 1 RAF Depot, pending posting overseas |
| Plt Off | Magwood | 9 Dec 1941 | Attached to No 2 SAN for Instructors' Course (6 weeks) |
| Sgt Plt | G Beurling | 16 Dec 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 57 OTU, wef 9 Dec 1941 |
| Sgt Plt | Hubbard | 17 Dec 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 123 Sqn |
| Sgt Plt | Olmstead | 17 Dec 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 412 Sqn, wef 15 Dec 1941 |
| Flt Lt | Walker | 21 Dec 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 402 Sqn and assumed command of 'B' Flight |
| Plt Off | Cawsey | 22 Dec 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 61 OTU |
| Plt Off | Hurst | 22 Dec 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 61 OTU |
| Plt Off | Zoochkan | 23 Dec 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 53 OTU |
| Fg Off | Davies | 28 Dec 1941 | Intelligence Officer, posted to No 418 Sqn, wef 5 Jan 1942 |
| Sgt Plt | Grigg | 28 Dec 1941 | Posted to No 79 Sqn |
Source - No 403 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/1780)
Organisational Movements: Jan - Dec 1941
| Date | Notes |
| February | |
| 1 Feb 1941 | No 403 Squadron was formed at RAF Baginton |
| March | |
| 13 Mar 1941 | 2 x Tomahawks were delivered by No 234 Sqn |
 |
|
| 19 Mar 1941 | 2 x Tomahawks were collected from RAF Warmwell |
| 25 Mar 1941 | 1 x Tomahawk was collected from RAF Warmwell |
| 29 Mar 1941 | 1 x Tomahawk was received |
| 31 Mar 1941 | 2 x Tomahawks were collected from RAF Warmwell |
| April | |
| 6 Apr 1941 | 1 x Tomahawk was collected from RAF Eastleigh |
| 7 Apr 1941 | 2 x Tomahawks were collected from RAF Eastleigh |
| 9 Apr 1941 | 2 x Tomahawks were collected from RAF Eastleigh |
| May | |
| 11 May 1941 | The squadron was declared operational |
| 28 May 1941 | Squadron commenced training Spitfires |
 |
|
| 30 May 1941 | Squadron ground parties moved from RAF Baginton to RAF Ternhill |
| 31 May 1941 | Air parties (9 x Spitfires, 8 x Tomahawks) moved from RAF Baginton to RAF Ternhill |
| June | |
| 1 Jun 1941 | RAF High Ercall began being used for Spitfire training |
| 7 Jun 1941 | 2 x Spitfires were collected from RAF Kirton in Lindsay |
| 11 Jun 1941 | 6 x Tomahawks delivered to RAF Baginton 6 x Spitfires collected from RAF Baginton |
| 12 Jun 1941 | 1 x Tomahawk delivered to RAF Baginton 1 x Spitfire collected from RAF Baginton |
| July | |
| 11 Jul 1941 | Detachment proceeded to RAF Valley |
| 14 Jul 1941 | 1 x Spitfire I was delivered from No 5 MU 3 x Spitfire IIAs were delivered from No 38 MU 1 x Spitfire IIA was delivered from No 8 MU 1 x Spitfire IIA was delivered from No 9 MU |
 |
|
| 16 Jul 1941 | 1 x Spitfire IIA was delivered from No 37
MU 1 x Spitfire IIA was delivered from No 8 MU |
| 17 Jul 1941 | 1 x Spitfire IIA was delivered from No 12 MU |
| 18 Jul 1941 | 1 x Spitfire IIA was delivered from No 12 MU |
| 21 Jul 1941 | 10 x Spitfire Is were despatched for disposal |
| 22 Jul 1941 | 1 x Spitfire IIA was delivered from No 39 MU |
| August | |
| 3 Aug 1941 | Squadron Echelon departed RAF Ternhill for RAF Hornchurch |
| 4 Aug 1941 | 19 x Spitfires departed RAF Ternhill for RAF
Hornchurch Main party departed RAF Ternhill for RAF Hornchurch Squadron issued with Spitfire VAs and VBs |
 |
|
| 25 Aug 1941 | Squadron moved from RAF Hornchurch to RAF Debden |
| September | |
| 12 Sep 1941 | Squadron was now equipped with 18 x Spitfire VBs, but was also still operating IIAs |
| October | |
| 3 Oct 1941 | Squadron moved from RAF Debden to RAF Martlesham Heath |
| November | |
| No relevant entries recorded in this month's ORB | |
| December | |
| 22 Dec 1941 | Ground element departed RAF Martlesham Heath for RAF North Weald |
| 24 Dec 1941 | Aircraft departed RAF Martlesham Heath for RAF North Weald |
Source - No 403 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/1780)
This entry was last updated on 28/08/25
