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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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No 451 (RAAF) Sqn Personnel, aircraft and locations
[1941 | ]
Personnel Movements: May - Dec 1941
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| May | |||
| No personnel movements were recorded in this month's ORB | |||
| June | |||
| Flt Lt | B R Pelly | 13 Jun 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 3 Sqn RAAF and assumed command of No 451 Sqn |
| Fg Off | J S Linehan | 19 Jun 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 3 Sqn RAAF for duty as Defence Officer |
| Sqn Ldr | V A Pope | 24 Jun 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 204 Group and assumed command of No 451 Sqn |
| Flt Lt | B R Pelly | 24 Jun 1941 | Relinquished command of No 451 Sqn |
| Flt Lt | R R Helsby | 26 Jun 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 71 OTU |
| Plt Off | H M Buckland | 26 Jun 1941 | Code and Cyphers Officer, proceeded to OLG with 2nd party |
| Plt Off | W V Thyer | 26 Jun 1941 | Code and Cyphers Officer, proceeded to OLG with 2nd party |
| Flt Lt | R R Helsby | 28 Jun 1941 | Proceeded to BLG with advance party |
| Plt Off | R D Robson | 29 Jun 1941 | Arrived on posting from HQ RAF Malta for duty as Adjutant at BLG and proceeded to BLG with 2nd party |
| Sqn Ldr | V A Pope | 30 Jun 1941 | OC, proceeded to OLG with main party |
| Plt Off | W L Langslow | 30 Jun 1941 | Adjutant, proceeded to OLG with main party |
| July | |||
| Fg Off | F Fitzroy | 1 Jul 1941 | Equipment Officer, proceeded to BLG with main party |
| Flt Lt | J B Holderness | 1 Jul 1941 | Attached from No 6 Sqn |
| Flt Lt | H A Tracey | 1 Jul 1941 | Attached from No 6 Sqn for duty as Medical Officer |
| Plt Off | A E Morrison-Bell | 1 Jul 1941 | Posted from No 6 Sqn |
| Plt Off | K E Whalley | 1 Jul 1941 | Posted from No 6 Sqn |
| Plt Off | R M Achilles | 1 Jul 1941 | Posted from No 6 Sqn |
| Plt Off | S R McPhee | 1 Jul 1941 | Posted from No 6 Sqn |
| Plt Off | A V Maslen | 1 Jul 1941 | Attached from No 6 Sqn |
| Plt Off | J H Penny | 1 Jul 1941 | Attached from No 229 Sqn |
| Plt Off | P Moulding | 1 Jul 1941 | Attached from No 6 Sqn |
| Plt Off | A G Evans | 1 Jul 1941 | Attached from No 6 Sqn for Signals duties |
| Capt | R M Scott | 1 Jul 1941 | 200 AL Section, attached from No 6 Sqn |
| Capt | O T Murdoch | 1 Jul 1941 | 200 AL Section, attached from No 6 Sqn |
| Capt | J B Robinson | 1 Jul 1941 | 200 AL Section, attached from No 6 Sqn |
| Capt | A S Comer | 1 Jul 1941 | 200 AL Section, attached from No 6 Sqn |
| 2nd Lt | P T Collins | 1 Jul 1941 | Air Formation Signals, attached from No 6 Sqn for Army Signals duties |
| Flt Lt | B R Pelly | 2 Jul 1941 | Posted to Middle East Pool |
| Flt Lt | R A Field | 4 Jul 1941 | Arrived on posting and assumed command of BLG |
| Plt Off | A Boonham | 9 Jul 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 6 Sqn for Signals duties |
| Plt Off | A G Evans | 9 Jul 1941 | Ceased to be attached from No 6 Sqn for Signals duties on attachment to No 253 Wing |
| Sqn Ldr | S F Field | 10 Jul 1941 | Medical Officer, attached from No 21 MRS |
| Plt Off | W D Hutley | 10 Jul 1941 | Arrive on posting from No 71 OTU |
| Plt Off | E E Kirkham | 10 Jul 1941 | Arrive on posting from No 71 OTU |
| Plt Off | R T Hudson | 10 Jul 1941 | Arrive on posting from No 71 OTU |
| Fg Off | M P Melanson | 11 Jul 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 71 OTU |
| Plt Off | S R McPhee | 12 Jul 1941 | Proceeded to RAF Heliopolis for Medical Board |
| Plt Off | P Moulding | 12 Jul 1941 | Proceeded to RAF Heliopolis for Medical Board |
| Plt Off | A G Evans | 21 Jul 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 253 Wing for Signals duties |
| Plt Off | A Boonham | 22 Jul 1941 | Signals Officer, posted to No 71 OTU |
| Plt Off | P Moulding | 26 Jul 1941 | Posted to AHQ India |
| Flt Lt | P J A Byers | 27 Jul 1941 | Arrive on posting from No 71 OTU |
| Flt Lt | J B Holderness | 28 Jul 1941 | Ceased to be attached from No 6 Sqn on posting to Rhodesia |
| Flt Lt | R A Field | 31 Jul 1941 | Posted to RAF Heliopolis for Operations Room duties |
| Capt | J B Robinson | 31 Jul 1941 | 200 AL Section, posted to No 71 OTU |
| August | |||
| Flt Lt | R D Williams | 3 Aug 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 71 OTU |
| Flt Lt | L F Malone | 3 Aug 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 71 OTU |
| Flt Lt | G M Carmichael | 3 Aug 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 71 OTU |
| Flt Lt | S T Cooper | 3 Aug 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 71 OTU |
| Fg Off | G F Morley-Mower | 3 Aug 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 71 OTU |
| Flt Lt | J Beavis | 4 Aug 1941 | Arrived on posting from Middle East Pool |
| Flt Lt | W C Williams | 6 Aug 1941 | Arrived on posting from RAF Heliopolis and assumed command of BLG |
| Plt Off | R T Hood | 6 Aug 1941 | Arrived on posting from RAF Heliopolis for duty as Adjutant |
| Plt Off | R D Robson | 9 Aug 1941 | Adjutant, BLG posted to No 31 ASP |
| Fg Off | J S Linehan | 14 Aug 1941 | Posted to Middle East Pool |
| Plt Off | S R McPhee | 19 Aug 1941 | Ceased to be attached from No 6 Sqn |
| Sqn Ldr | V A Pope | 20 Aug 1941 | Assumed temporary command of No 253 Wing |
| Flt Lt | J Beavis | 20 Aug 1941 | Assumed temporary command of No 451 Sqn |
| Sgt Plt | L M Readett | 25 Aug 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 6 Sqn |
| Sgt Plt | H R Rowlands | 25 Aug 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 6 Sqn |
| Sqn Ldr | V A Pope | 26 Aug 1941 | Resumed command of No 451 Sqn |
| Flt Lt | J Beavis | 26 Aug 1941 | Relinquished temporary command of No 451 Sqn |
| Plt Off | J H Penny | 26 Aug 1941 | Ceased to be attached from No 229 Sqn |
| Sqn Ldr | V A Pope | 27 Aug 1941 | Proceeded to RAF Heliopolis for Army Exercise |
| Flt Lt | R D Williams | 27 Aug 1941 | Assumed temporary command of No 451 Sqn |
| Plt Off | E E Kirkham | 27 Aug 1941 | Proceeded to RAF Heliopolis for Army Exercise |
| September | |||
| Sqn Ldr | V A Pope | 1 Sep 1941 | Returned from RAF Heliopolis on completion of Army Exercise and resumed command |
| Flt Lt | R D Williams | 1 Sep 1941 | Relinquished temporary command of No 451 Sqn |
| Plt Off | E E Kirkham | 1 Sep 1941 | Returned from RAF Heliopolis on completion of Army Exercise |
| Plt Off | A V Maslen | 1 Sep 1941 | Attached Support Group for short course on Army warfare in forward area |
| Plt Off | A C Kerr | 1 Sep 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 73 Sqn for duty as Engineer Officer |
| Plt Off | A G Evans | 2 Sep 1941 | Promoted to Act Fg Off, wef 1 Aug 1941 |
| Plt Off | W V Thyer | 2 Sep 1941 | Promoted to Act Fg Off, wef 4 May 1941 |
| Plt Off | A E Morrison-Bell | 2 Sep 1941 | Posted to No 6 Sqn |
| Plt Off | M A MacDonald | 2 Sep 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 208 Sqn |
| Sgt Plt | L M Readett | 3 Sep 1941 | Killed in action |
| Flt Lt | J Beavis | 5 Sep 1941 | Posted to Middle East Reserve Unit |
| Plt Off | A V Maslen | 6 Sep 1941 | Ceased to be attached Support Group for short course on Army warfare in forward area |
| Plt Off | R M Achilles | 7 Sep 1941 | Attached Support Group for short course on Army warfare in forward area |
| Flt Lt | W C Williams | 8 Sep 1941 | Posed to Met Flight, Heliopolis |
| Fg Off | F Fitzroy | 9 Sep 1941 | Equipment Officer, assumed command of BLG |
| Flt Lt | P J A Byers | 15 Sep 1941 | Failed to return from a sortie, later reported to have died in captivity |
| Plt Off | R M Achilles | 15 Sep 1941 | Ceased to be attached Support Group for short course on Army warfare in forward area |
| Flt Lt | R D Williams | 17 Sep 1941 | Detached to Tobruk |
| Fg Off | G F Morley-Mower | 17 Sep 1941 | Detached to Tobruk |
| Sqn Ldr | V A Pope | 27 Sep 1941 | Proceeded on detachment with 'A' Flight to LG75 |
| Flt Lt | L F Malone | 27 Sep 1941 | Assumed temporary command of OLG |
| Plt Off | R T Hood | 27 Sep 1941 | Adjutant, attached to 'A' Flight on its move to ALG at LG75 |
| October | |||
| Flt Lt | A Ferguson | 1 Oct 1941 | Arrived on posting |
| Flt Lt | K H Springbett | 1 Oct 1941 | Arrived on posting |
| Fg Off | H T Miller | 1 Oct 1941 | Arrived on posting for Defence duties |
| Fg Off | J W Bales | 1 Oct 1941 | Arrived on posting for Administrative duties at BLG |
| Sqn Ldr | V A Pope | 10 Oct 1941 | Resumed command of OLG |
| Flt Lt | L F Malone | 10 Oct 1941 | Relinquished temporary command of OLG |
| Sqn Ldr | V A Pope | 20 Oct 1941 | Relinquished command of No 451 Sqn on posting to HQ RAF ME |
| Flt Lt | R D Williams | 20 Oct 1941 | Promoted to Act Sqn Ldr and assumed command of No 451 Sqn, wef 16 Oct 1941 |
| Capt | G M S Gardner | 21 Oct 1941 | Attached from No 40 Sqn SAAF |
| Lt | T Haddon | 21 Oct 1941 | Attached from No 40 Sqn SAAF |
| Lt | J A Smith | 21 Oct 1941 | Attached from No 40 Sqn SAAF |
| Lt | J D K Thomas | 21 Oct 1941 | Attached from No 40 Sqn SAAF |
| Lt | D R Thompson | 21 Oct 1941 | Attached from No 40 Sqn SAAF |
| Lt | P Campbell | 21 Oct 1941 | Attached from No 40 Sqn SAAF |
| 2nd Lt | W G Andrew | 21 Oct 1941 | Attached from No 40 Sqn SAAF |
| Capt | O T Murdoch | 29 Oct 1941 | Arrived on posting to assume command of 200 AIL Section |
| Capt | R M Scott | 29 Oct 1941 | Relinquished command of 200 AIL Section |
| Fg Off | C J S Metford | 30 Oct 1941 | Arrived on posting |
| November | |||
| Lt | J H Maides | 10 Nov 1941 | Attached from 2nd Batt, RTR for duty with 200 AIL Section |
| Lt | J D K Thomas | 12 Nov 1941 | Killed in action |
| Plt Off | K E Whalley | 12 Nov 1941 | Killed in action |
| Fg Off | J W Bales | 16 Nov 1941 | Posted to SHQ, RAF Asmara |
| Lt | E P K Willett | 16 Nov 1941 | Attached from AAPIU for duty with 200 AIL Section (Photo Interpretation) |
| Lt | A C Bridge | 16 Nov 1941 | Attached from AAPIU for duty with 200 AIL Section (Photo Interpretation) |
| 2nd Lt | W G Andrew | 18 Nov 1941 | Failed to return from a sortie |
| 2nd Lt | W G Andrew | 19 Nov 1941 | Returned to LG132 having walked back |
| Flt Lt | R A Field | 23 Nov 1941 | Arrived on posting from RAF Heliopolis |
| Flt Lt | G M Carmichael | 27 Nov 1941 | Captured during enemy attack on Sidi Aziez |
| Lt | J H Maides | 27 Nov 1941 | Captured during enemy attack on Sidi Aziez |
| Cpl | T P Farr | 27 Nov 1941 | Killed in action |
| December | |||
| Plt Off | A R Porter | 6 Dec 1941 | Killed in action |
| Capt | D P Doyle | 11 Dec 1941 | Attached from Forward Air Support Control, 13th Corps foe AIL duties |
| Fg Off | C J S Metford | 19 Dec 1941 | Promoted to War Sub Flt Lt, wef 3 Sep 1941 |
| Fg Off | P Strachan | 20 Dec 1941 | Arrived on posting from No 74 OTU |
| Flt Lt | R A Field | 25 Dec 1941 | Returned to unit from SSQ, RAF Heliopolis |
| Flt Lt | S T Cooper | 30 Dec 1941 | Posted to No 74 OTU for instructional duties |
| Plt Off | A V Maslen | 30 Dec 1941 | Posted to No 74 OTU for instructional duties |
Source - No 451 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/1890)
Organisational Movements: Feb - Dec 1941
| Date | Notes |
| February | |
| 25 Feb 1941* | No 451 Squadron was formed at RAAF Bankstown |
| March | |
| No relevant entries recorded in this month's ORB | |
| April | |
| Squadron was in transit from Australia to the Middle East on 'HMT Queen Mary' | |
| May | |
| 5 May 1941 | Squadron disembarked in Port Tewfik and entrained for the Middle East Pool, Kasfareet |
| 11 May 1941 | Squadron entrained at Kasfareet for No 103 MU, Aboukir, where it was accommodated in the Transit Camp |
| 12 May 1941 | Squadron moved to its own area on the West side of RAF Aboukir |
| 13 May 1941 | Personnel were allotted to 'A' and 'B' Squadrons and sections at No 103 MU to gain experience |
| June | |
| 16 Jun 1941 | A number of experienced NCOs arrived from No 3 Sqn RAAF in exchange for a similar number from No 451 Sqn |
| 26 Jun 1941 | Advance party departed from No 103 MU for No 6 Sqn's OLG at Qasaba (29 x NCOs and ORs) |
| 28 Jun 1941 | 2nd party departed from No 103 MU for Qasaba (2
x officers and 23 x airmen) Advance party departed from No 103 MU for No 6 Sqn's BLG at LG90, Amriya (1 x Officer and 25 x airmen) |
| 29 Jun 1941 | 2nd party departed from No 103 MU for No 6 Sqn's BLG at LG90, Amriya (1 x Officer and 9 x NCOs and airmen) |
| 30 Jun 1941 | Remainder of operational party departed from No 103 MU for Qasaba (2 x officers and 82 x NCOs and airmen) |
| July | |
| 1 Jul 1941 | Remainder of base party departed from No 103 MU
for No 6 Sqn's BLG at LG90, Amriya (1 x Officer and 103 x NCOs and airmen) No 451 Sqn took over from No 6 Sqn and became operational with Hurricane Is |
 |
|
| August | |
| No relevant entries recorded in this month's ORB | |
| September | |
| 23 Sep 1941 | All personnel, equipment and MT departed LG90 for a new location adjacent to OLG at Qasaba |
| 27 Sep 1941 | 'A' Flight detached to LG75 |
| October | |
| 10 Oct 1941 | The squadron, except BLG, moved from Qasaba (LG11) to LG75 |
| November | |
| 6 Nov 1941 | BLG, departed LG11 for LG75 |
| 14 Nov 1941 | Squadron came under the operational control of 13th Corps |
| 16 Nov 1941 | ALG party departed LG75 for LG131 |
| 17 Nov 1941 | OLG party departed LG75 for LG131 |
| 18 Nov 1941 | ALG party departed LG131 for LG132 |
| 19 Nov 1941 | 3 x airmen wounded in air attack on LG132 |
| 20 Nov 1941 | 1 x Flight of No 237 Sqn was attached to the squadron |
| 23 Nov 1941 | AIL Section moved from LG132 to Gasr El Arid ALG party moved from LG132 to Gasr El Arid |
| 24 Nov 1941 | Presumed that AIL Section had been captured at
Gasr El Arid ALG party relocated to Bir EL Hariga and then to Sidi Aziez BLG party departed LG75 for LG132 |
| 25 Nov 1941 | BLG party returned to LG75 from LG132 due to
enemy activity OLG party withdrew to LG128 |
| 27 Nov 1941 | 2 x officers, 10 x airmen and 4 x AIL ORs captured during enemy attack on Sidi Aziez |
| 28 Nov 1941 | BLG party moved from LG75 from LG110 |
| 29 Nov 1941 | BLG party moved from LG110 from LG128 |
| 30 Nov 1941 | Remainder of ALG party returned to LG128 |
| The records for this month were incomplete due to the capture of personnel and the destruction of documents | |
| December | |
| 6 Dec 1941 | Advance refuelling party departed LG128 for Tobruk |
| 9 Dec 1941 | Squadron departed LG128 for Tobruk |
| 11 Dec 1941 | Squadron arrived at Tobruk |
| 14 Dec 1941 | Advance refuelling party departed Tobruk for Acroma area |
| 17 Dec 1941 | Squadron, less 'B' Flight and refuelling party, departed Tobruk for LG131 |
| 18 Dec 1941 | Squadron, less 'B' Flight and refuelling party, arrived at LG131 |
| 19 Dec 1941 | Squadron transferred from the operational control of 13th Corps to 30th Corps |
| 20 Dec 1941 | Remainder of squadron arrived at LG131 |
| 22 Dec 1941 | Advance party departed LG131 for Sidi Aziez |
| 24 Dec 1941 | Remainder of squadron departed LG131 for Sidi Aziez |
Source - No 451 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/1890), except items marked*
This entry was last updated on 20/09/25
