996 Sqn

Rank	Name	Date	Notes
February
Sqn Ldr	H Mills	1 Feb 1944	Arrived on posting and assumed command of No 996 Sqn
Flt Lt	I L Sayce	1 Feb 1944	Arrived on posting and assumed command of No 110 'P' Flight
Flt Lt	E H Stewart	1 Feb 1944	Arrived on posting for duty as Balloon Officer
Act Flt Lt	A H Handy	1 Feb 1944	Arrived on posting for duty as Adjutant
Act Flt Lt	T Craig	1 Feb 1944	Arrived on posting and assumed command of No 109 'P' Flight
Fg Off	S G Boulton	1 Feb 1944	Arrived on posting for duty as Equipment Officer
Fg Off	R Williams	1 Feb 1944	Arrived on posting for duty with No 109 'P' Flight
Fg Off	S Jones	1 Feb 1944	Arrived on posting for duty with No 110 'P' Flight
WO	P Cavendish	1 Feb 1944	Arrived on posting for duty as WO Balloons
Sqn Ldr	H Mills	20 Feb 1944	Attached to HQ Combined Operations Training Centre, Largs
Sqn Ldr	H Mills	27 Feb 1944	Ceased to be attached to HQ Combined Operations Training Centre, Largs
March
Sqn Ldr	H Mills	22 Mar 1944	Attached to RAF Highgate for Security Course (3 days)
April
No personnel movements were recorded in this month's ORB
May
No personnel movements were recorded in this month's ORB
June
No personnel movements were recorded in this month's ORB
July
No personnel movements were recorded in this month's ORB
August
Flt Lt	A H Handy	31 Aug 1944	Adjutant, attached to Balloon Wing, No 85 Group pending posting
September
Flt Lt	L E Chiswell	1 Sep 1944	Arrived on posting from RAF Aston Down for duty as Adjutant
Flt Lt	L E Chiswell	19 Sep 1944	Adjutant, posted to FRU, Odiham pending re-organisation
Flt Lt	D M McCarthy	22 Sep 1944	Arrived on posting from HQ (Unit), No 85 Group for duty as Adjutant
October
No personnel movements were recorded in this month's ORB
November
Sqn Ldr	H Mills	8 Nov 1944	Attached to No 159 Wing, Belgium pending arrival of the squadron
LAC	E Sugden	25 Nov 1944	Severely injured in a convoy accident in Belgium
LAC	E Sugden	28 Nov 1944	Died from his injuries
December
No personnel movements were recorded in this month's ORB

Source - No 996 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2341/1)

Organisational Movements: Feb - Dec 1944

Date	Notes
February
1 Feb 1944	No 996 Squadron was formed at 18 Weoley Park Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham to administer: - No 109 'P' Flight No 110 'P' Flight
March
31 Mar 1944	Strength of the Squadron and Flight on this date: - 8 x officers 96 x airmen
April
9 Apr 1944	Squadron proceeded to No 6 Balloon Centre for Battle Course
15 Apr 1944	Squadron returned from No 6 Balloon Centre on completion of Battle Course
29 Apr 1944	Squadron deployed to Bristol for training and exercise under field conditions
30 Apr 1944	Strength of the Squadron and Flight on this date: - 8 x officers 95 x airmen
May
3 May 1944	Squadron ceased to be deployed to Bristol for training and exercise under field conditions
10 May 1944	Squadron and Flights transferred from Balloon Command to No 85 Group, 2nd TAF
15 May 1944	Squadron deployed to Frankley Beeches area for exercises
19 May 1944	Squadron ceased to be deployed to Frankley Beeches area for exercises
31 May 1944	Strength of the Squadron and Flight on this date: - 8 x officers 98 x airmen
June
22 Jun 1944	Squadron detached to No 6 Balloon Centre for a special commitment
30 Jun 1944	Squadron ceased to be detached to No 6 Balloon Centre for a special commitment Strength of the Squadron and Flight on this date: - 8 x officers 96 x airmen
July
12 Jul 1944	Squadron establishment increased to 50 balloons (from 30)
29 Jul 1944	Squadron deployed to Rochester, Kent for Anti-Diver duties and attached to ADGB working with No 23 BC
August
7 Aug 1944	A balloon of No 110 Flight brought down the squadron's first V-1 flying bomb
30 Aug 1944	Squadron became non-operational and returned to Birmingham
31 Aug 1944	Strength of the Squadron and Flight on this date: - 7 x officers 130 x airmen
September
24 Sep 1944	Squadron was detached to Honeybourne for harvesting duties
30 Sep 1944	Strength of the Squadron and Flight on this date: - 8 x officers 130 x airmen
October
14 Oct 1944	Personnel employed on agricultural work were transferred to winter quarters in South Littleton
24 Oct 1944	All personnel were withdrawn from agricultural work and returned to Birmingham
31 Oct 1944	Strength of the Squadron and Flight on this date: - 8 x officers 130 x airmen
November
18 Nov 1944	Advance party proceeded to the Concentration Area
27 Nov 1944	Rear vehicle party proceeded to the Concentration Area
28 Nov 1944	Advance party arrived at Sqn HQ location in Antwerp Main party proceeded to New Street Station, Birmingham and moved to the Concentration Area by rail
30 Nov 1944	Strength of the Squadron and Flight on this date: - 8 x officers 129 x airmen
December
4 Dec 1944	Second vehicle party arrived at Sqn HQ from the UK
8 Dec 1944	Main party arrived at Sqn HQ from the UK
31 Dec 1944	Strength of the Squadron and Flight on this date: - 8 x officers 129 x airmen 3 x airmen attached from No 159 Wing 1 x airman attached from No 965 Sqn with an ambulance 20 x airmen attached from No 967 Sqn 2 x airmen detached to No 976 Sqn

Source - No 996 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2341/1)