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RAF Base Stradishall/No 31 Base

[1943 | 1944 | ]

Personnel Movements: Apr - Dec 1943

Non-effective postings of personnel from squadrons/HCUs have not been included here, they will be shown in the relevant squadron/HCU entries.

From December 1943 it was policy to post all trainee aircrew to the Base which then allocated them to HCUs, but these posting have also not been included

Rank Name Date Notes
April
A/Cdre J Silvester xx xxx 1943 Assumed command of RAF Base Stradishall
May
June
July
The Base ORB available at present currently only begins in August 1943, so no personnel movements can be recorded for the months above.
August
No personnel movements recorded in this month's ORB
September
No personnel movements recorded in this month's ORB
October
No personnel movements recorded in this month's ORB
November
SO J B Quick 10 Nov 1943 Arrived on posting from HQ, No 3 Group for Engineer duties
Act Wg Cdr D J Lay DSO, DFC 29 Nov 1943 Posted to RAF Staff College
December
Flt Lt R H Balls  1 Dec 1943 A & SD, posted to RAF East Kirkby
Fg Off R S Thompson  2 Dec 1943 Arrived on posting from HQ, No 3 Group for Engineer duties
APO A T Bradford  3 Dec 1943 Re-posted to No 31 Base (Stradishall)
Flt Lt J Fairhurst  5 Dec 1943 A & SD, posted to RAF Foulsham
Flt Lt MC Bell  6 Dec 1943 Medical Officer, posted to RAF West Raynham
SO M M L Pawsey  8 Dec 1943 Arrived on posting from HQ, VIII Bomber Command for Code & Cypher duties
Flt Lt F G Chapman 10 Dec 1943 A & SD, arrived in posting from No 513 Sqn
Fg Off C R Morgan 11 Dec 1943 A & SD posted to HQ, No 19 Group
SO M J T Davis 13 Dec 1943 Arrived on posting from HQ, VIII Bomber Command for Code & Cypher duties
Fg Off H C Adlen 15 Dec 1943 A & SD arrived on posting from No 3 GTS
Fg Off H P Roberts 15 Dec 1943 A & SD arrived on posting from No 1 AGS
Capt D H Colitz USAAF 16 Dec 1943 Arrived on posting for training
Capt J B Flamming USAAF 16 Dec 1943 Arrived on posting for training
Fg Off A G Wildgoose 20 Dec 1943 Dental Officer, arrived on posting from RAF Moreton-in-Marsh
Fg Off R D Mann 20 Dec 1943 A & SD, posted to No 91 Group
Flt Lt G E Clarke 21 Dec 1943 Dental Officer, posted to RAF Moreton-in-Marsh
Fg Off J E Dowling 22 Dec 1943 A & SD arrived on posting from No 53 Base
APO R Morris 22 Dec 1943 Signals Officer, posted to No 1 Radio School
SO B M Wright WAAF 23 Dec 1943 Arrived on posting from HQ Bomber Command for Admin duties
Flt Lt J D Paul 23 Dec 1943 A & SD, posted to No 32 Base
APO D J M Godfrey 26 Dec 1943 A & SD, posted to RAF Downham Market
Act Flt Lt A J Wood 28 Dec 1943 Equipment Officer, posted to No 26 OTU
Flt Off D H Nightingale WAAF 29 Dec 1943 Arrived on posting from RAF Hornchurch for WAAF 'G' duties
Fg Off J M G Costello 30 Dec 1943 Arrived on posting from MTD for Medical duties
Act Sqn Off M W Ford WAAF 31 Dec 1943 WAAF 'G', posted to HQ, No 100 Group

Source - No 31 Base ORB (AIR 29/851/1)

Organisational Movements: Apr - Dec 1943

Date Notes
The Base ORB available at present currently only begins in August 1943, entries below prior to that month are taken from other sources (SD155 & SD161)
April
26 Apr 1943 RAF Stradishall was formed in No 3 Group, comprising: -
  • Base Station - RAF Stradishall (No 1657 HCU)
  • Sub-Station - RAF Chedburgh (No 214 Sqn)
  • Sub-Station - RAF Feltwell (No 192 Sqn)
  • Sub-Station - RAF Ridgewell (No 90 Sqn)
  • Sub-Station - RAF Waterbeach (No 1651 HCU)
30 Apr 1943 RAF Wratting Common was incorporated as a Sub-Station
May
11 May 1943 RAF Shepherd’s Grove was incorporated as a Sub-Station
31 May 1943 No 90 Sqn moved from RAF Ridgewell to RAF Wratting Common
June
 1 Jun 1943 RAF Ridgewell ceased to be a Sub-Station
17 Jun 1943 No 620 Sqn formed at RAF Chedburgh
July
No relevant entries recorded in this month's ORB
August
25 Aug 1943 RAF Waterbeach was transferred to No 33 Base
September
19 Sep 1943 RAF Base, Stradishall was redesignated No 31 Base, wef 16 Sep 1943
October
12 Oct 1943 No 90 Sqn commenced moving from RAF Wratting Common to RAF Tuddenham in No 32 Base
13 Oct 1943 The aircraft of No 90 Sqn moved from RAF Wratting Common to RAF Tuddenham
14 Oct 1943 Rear party of No 90 Sqn moved from RAF Wratting Common to RAF Tuddenham
November
20 Nov 1943 No 1651 HCU moved from RAF Waterbeach to RAF Wratting Common
21 Nov 1943 No 1653 HCU formed at RAF Chedburgh

No 3 LFS formed at RAF Feltwell
22 Nov 1943 No 620 Sqn moved from RAF Chedburgh to RAF Leicester East
25 Nov 1943 No 192 Sqn moved from RAF Feltwell to RAF Foulsham
December
10 Dec 1943 No 214 Sqn moved from RAF Cheburgh to RAF Downham Market

No 31 Base was now purely a Operational Training Base

Source - No 31 Base ORB (AIR 29/851/1)

Personnel Movements: Jan - Dec 1944

Rank Name Date Notes
January
Plt Off A E Harries  1 Jan 1944 Arrived on posting from HQ, No 3 Group for A & SD duties
Fg Off H Collings  3 Jan 1944 Arrived on posting from HQ Bomber Command for Equipment duties
Fg Off A C H Bircham  5 Jan 1944 A & SD, posted to HQ, AEAF
Fg Off A Doolittle  5 Jan 1944 Arrived on posting from No 11 OTU for A & SD duties
Fg Off R Merrifield  5 Jan 1944 A & SD, posted to No 5 PDC
Plt Off A Smith  5 Jan 1944 Arrived on posting from No 33 Base for Electrical Engineer duties
Plt Off W H Trevena  5 Jan 1944 Arrived on posting from No 33 Base for Electrical Engineer duties
Plt Off C F K Mellor  5 Jan 1944 A & SD, posted to RAF Tempsford
APO F S Glass  5 Jan 1944 Arrived on posting from School of Administration
APO G T Hodson  5 Jan 1944 Arrived on posting from RAF Tempsford
Act Flt Off J M Sturdy WAAF  7 Jan 1944 Relinquished her commission
Fg Off D R Kenyon  7 Jan 1944 A & SD, posted to HQ, No 3 Group
Act Flt Off M L Wormald WAAF  9 Jan 1944 Arrived on posting from HQ, No 3 Group for WAAF 'G' duties
SO A M Hagon WAAF  9 Jan 1944 Arrived on posting from HQ, No 3 Group for WAAF 'G' duties
SO E D Hamilton WAAF  9 Jan 1944 Arrived on posting from RAF Feltwell for WAAF 'G' duties
Fg Off A Harvey 10 Jan 1944 Arrived on posting from RAF Holme (Breighton)
APO F Miller 15 Jan 1944 Arrived on posting from HQ No 3 Group
APO R G Goodman 17 Jan 1944 A & SD, posted to No 32 Base
Flt Lt R L Bateman 19 Jan 1944 Arrived on posting from HQ, No 100 Group for A & SD duties
Act Flt Lt D K Ellis 19 Jan 1944 A & SD, posted to HQ, No 100 Group
Sqn Ldr G R V Hume-Gore 20 Jan 1944 Arrived on posting from RAF East Kirkby for Code and Cypher duties
Act Sqn Ldr T W Little 20 Jan 1944 A & SD, posted to RAF East Kirkby
Gp Capt D W Lane 26 Jan 1944 OC, RAF Stradishall, posted to No 85 Group
SO M J T Davis WAAF 27 Jan 1944 Code & Cypher Officer, posted to RAF Leighton Buzzard
APO G T Hodson 29 Jan 1944 A & SD, posted to No 32 Base
Act Gp Capt (Wg Cdr) K S Batchelor DFC xx Jan 1944 GD Officer, promoted to Wg Cdr (WS), wef 24 Nov 1943
Act Gp Capt (Wg Cdr) E C Bates AFC xx Jan 1944 GD Officer, promoted to Temp Gp Capt, wef 1 Jan 1944
Act Wg Cdr (Sqn Ldr) E F Curtis xx Jan 1944 Equipment Officer, promoted to Temp Wg Cdr wef 1 Jan 1944
Act Sqn Ldr (Flt Lt) W E B Dowling xx Jan 1944 A & SD Officer, promoted to Temp Sqn Ldr wef 1 Jan 1944
Act Flt Lt (Plt Off) S Collingbourne xx Jan 1944 Equipment Officer, promoted to Fg Off (WS), wef 3 Dec 1943
Act Flt Lt (Fg Off) A I Fowler xx Jan 1944 Equipment Officer, promoted to Temp Flt Lt, wef 1 Jan 1944
Fg Off C P H Witton xx Jan 1944 Dental Officer, promoted to Flt Lt (WS), wef 7 Jan 1944
Plt Off C G Clarke RNZAF xx Jan 1944 Armament Officer, promoted to Fg Off, wef 17 Dec 1943
Plt Off I G Hughes xx Jan 1944 Meteorological Officer, promoted to Fg Off (WS), wef 3 Dec 1943
APO L A Lytton xx Jan 1944 A & SD Officer, regraded as Plt Off on Probation wef 18 Nov 1943
APO W A Beare xx Jan 1944 A & SD Officer, regraded as Plt Off on Probation wef 2 Dec 1943
APO N J Connell xx Jan 1944 A & SD Officer, regraded as Plt Off on Probation wef 2 Dec 1943
ASO W F Aitkens WAAF xx Jan 1944 Accountant Officer, promoted to SO (WS), wef 24 Sep 1943
ASO E Young WAAF xx Jan 1944 Catering Officer, promoted to SO (WS), wef 10 Aug 1943
ASO P P Caussa WAAF xx Jan 1944 Equipment Officer, promoted to SO (WS), wef 21 Oct 1943
February
The  personnel movements for this month are currently not available
March
The  personnel movements for this month are currently not available
April
The  personnel movements for this month are currently not available
May
The  personnel movements for this month are currently not available
June
The  personnel movements for this month are currently not available
July
The  personnel movements for this month are currently not available
August
The  personnel movements for this month are currently not available
September
The  personnel movements for this month are currently not available
October
The  personnel movements for this month are currently not available
November
The  personnel movements for this month are currently not available
December
The  personnel movements for this month are currently not available

Source - No 31 Base ORB (AIR 29/851/1)

Organisational Movements: Apr - Dec 1944

Date Notes
January
31 Jan 1944 The personnel strength of the Base on this date was: -
 
  RAF RCAF RAAF RNZAF USAAF Norwegian WAAF
Officers 243 41 23 16 4 1 16
Other Ranks 2,240 185 115 78 - 2 666
February
29 Feb 1944 No 2754 Sqn, RAF Regiment moved from RAF Stradishall to RAF Foulsham

The personnel strength of the Base on this date was: -

 
  RAF RCAF RAAF RNZAF USAAF Army WAAF
Officers 243 40 24 22 5 1 17
Other Ranks 2,390 177 160 109 - - 691
March
23 Mar 1944 No 1657 HCU was presented with its Unit Badge by AOC, No 3 Group, AVM R Harrison CBE, DFC, AFC: -

No 1657 Conversion Unit badge

© Crown Copyright and RAFHT
31 Mar 1944 The personnel strength of the Base on this date was: -
 
  RAF RCAF RAAF RNZAF USAAF Army WAAF
Officers 500 84 35 55 1 2 15
Other Ranks 4,992 61 96 94 - - 766
April
30 Apr 1944 The personnel strength of the Base on this date was: -
 
  RAF RCAF RAAF RNZAF USAAF Army WAAF
Officers 412 94 30 57 - 1 15
Other Ranks 3,879 104 101 88 - - 783
May
11 May 1944 Advance party, No 1657 HCU moved from RAF Stradishall to RAF Shepherd's Grove
12-14 May 1944 Main party, No 1657 HCU moved from RAF Stradishall to RAF Shepherd's Grove
15 May 1944 Rear party, No 1657 HCU moved from RAF Stradishall to RAF Shepherd's Grove
31 May 1944 The personnel strength of the Base on this date was: -
 
  RAF RCAF RAAF RNZAF USAAF Army WAAF
Officers 374 53 18 82 - 2 15
Other Ranks 3,490 101 144 108 - - 777
June
30 Jun 1944 The personnel strength of the Base on this date was: -
 
  RAF RCAF RAAF RNZAF USAAF Army WAAF
Officers 430 45 20 81 - 2 13
Other Ranks 4,330 99 139 96 - - 798
July
22 Jul 1944 No 3 Group Air Crew School moved from RAF Methwold to RAF Stradishall coming under No 31 Base administration
31 Jul 1944 RAF Birch taken over as a satellite station

The personnel strength of the Base on this date was: -

  RAF RCAF RAAF RNZAF USAAF Army WAAF
Officers 499 31 60 79 - 2 14
Other Ranks 4,359 71 170 68 - - 804
August
31 Aug 1944 The personnel strength of the Base on this date was: -
 
  RAF RCAF RAAF RNZAF SAAF Polish Army WAAF
Officers 565 59 53 76 3 15 1 14
Other Ranks 4,854 115 168 85 - 24 - 817
September
30 Sep 1944 The personnel strength of the Base on this date was: -
 
  RAF RCAF RAAF RNZAF SAAF Polish Army WAAF
Officers 576 60 48 96 1 13 1 14
Other Ranks 4,673 111 160 119 - 16 - 823
October
 5 Oct 1944 No 1657 HCU moved from RAF Shepherd's Grove to RAF Stradishall
xx Oct 1944 RAF Gosfield taken over as a satellite station
xx Oct 1944 RAF Matching taken over as a satellite station
30 Oct 1944 Advance party, No 1651 HCU moved from RAF Wratting Common to RAF Woolfox Lodge
31 Oct 1944 Advance party, BMSS moved from RAF Stradishall to RAF North Luffenham

The personnel strength of the Base on this date was: -

  RAF RCAF RAAF RNZAF SAAF Polish Army WAAF Norwegian
Officers 545 63 36 104 - 4 1 15 -
Other Ranks 4,524 92 85 102 1 20 - 820 1
November
 1 Nov 1944 RAF Shepherd's Grove ceased to be a Sub-Station

RAF Birch ceased to be a satellite station

RAF Gosfield ceased to be a satellite station

RAF Matching ceased to be a satellite station
10 Nov 1944 Main party, No 1651 HCU moved from RAF Wratting Common to RAF Woolfox Lodge, No 73 Base

Pre-advance party, No 195 Sqn moved from RAF Witchford to RAF Wratting Common
12 Nov 1944 Advance party, No 195 Sqn moved from RAF Witchford to RAF Wratting Common
13 Nov 1944 Air and Main parties, No 195 Sqn moved from RAF Witchford to RAF Wratting Common
14 Nov 1944 Rear party, No 195 Sqn moved from RAF Witchford to RAF Wratting Common
16 Nov 1944 Rear party, No 1651 HCU moved from RAF Wratting Common to RAF Woolfox Lodge, No 73 Base

Advance party, No 1653 HCU moved from RAF Chedburgh to RAF North Luffenham, No 73 Base
27 Nov 1944 Main party, No 1653 HCU moved from RAF Chedburgh to RAF North Luffenham, No 73 Base
30 Nov 1944 The personnel strength of the Base on this date was: -
 
  RAF RCAF RAAF RNZAF Army WAAF
Officers 444 23 33 36 1 20
Other Ranks 3,597 29 29 17 - 731
December
 1 Dec 1944 Advance party, No 218 Sqn and No 9128 Servicing Echelon moved from RAF Methwold to RAF Chedburgh
 5 Dec 1944 Main party, No 218 Sqn and No 9128 Servicing Echelon moved from RAF Methwold to RAF Chedburgh

Advance party of No 2818 Sqn, RAF Regiment moved from RAF Woodbridge to RAF Chedburgh
 7 Dec 1944 Rear party, No 218 Sqn and No 9128 Servicing Echelon moved from RAF Methwold to RAF Chedburgh

Main party of No 2818 Sqn, RAF Regiment moved from RAF Woodbridge to RAF Chedburgh
 8 Dec 1944 Rear party of No 2818 Sqn, RAF Regiment moved from RAF Woodbridge to RAF Chedburgh
15 Dec 1944 No 1657 HCU disbanded, personnel being posted to the Instructors' School, Finningley and Nos 32 and 33 Bases

The Base reverted to operational status and ceased control of HCUs
16 Dec 1944 Advance party, No 186 Sqn moved from RAF Tuddenham to RAF Stradishall
17 Dec 1944 Main party, No 186 Sqn moved from RAF Tuddenham to RAF Stradishall
18 Dec 1944 Rear party, No 186 Sqn moved from RAF Tuddenham to RAF Stradishall
31 Dec 1944 The personnel strength of the Base on this date was: -
 
  RAF RCAF RAAF RNZAF Army WAAF
Officers 384 20 31 22 1 18
Other Ranks 3,986 36 30 10 - 748

Source - No 31 Base ORB (AIR 29/851/1)

This entry was last updated on 27/02/26

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