Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

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Royal Airship Works/Balloon Development Establishment (including Pulham Airship Station) - RAF Personnel and locations

[Aug 1921 | Jul 1922 | May 1923 | Jul 1923 | May 1924 | Jul 1925 | Mar 1926 | Jul 1926 | Dec 1926 | Jul 1927 | Jul 1928 | Sep 1928 | Jul 1929 | Jul 1930 | Aug 1930 | Sep 1930 | Oct 1930 | Nov 1930 | Dec 1930 | Jul 1931 | Jul 1932 | Jul 1933 | Jan 1934 | Jul 1934 | Jul 1935 | Jul 1936 | Jul 1937 | Jul 1938 | Jan 1939 | Apr 1939 | May 1939]

Aug 1920 | Aug 1936 |

August 1920

Source - August 1920 Air Force List

August 1936

Source - August 1936 Air Force List

This was formed on 1 April 1919 when the Short Brothers Airship Factory at Cardington was nationalised.

August 1921

Aircraft operated Location Command/Group
Nil Cardington, Bedfordshire  

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt A J Osborn    
Fg Off A Bushfield    

Source - July 1921 Air Force List

July 1922

Aircraft operated Location Command/Group
Nil Cardington, Bedfordshire  

 

Rank Name Date Notes
No RAF Personnel listed

Source - July 1922 Air Force List

May 1923

Aircraft operated Location Command/Group
Nil Cardington, Bedfordshire  

 

Rank Name Date Notes

Under Care and Maintenance

Source - May 1923 Air Force List

July 1923

Aircraft operated Location Command/Group
Nil Cardington, Bedfordshire  

 

Rank Name Date Notes

Under Care and Maintenance

Source - July 1923 Air Force List

May 1924

Aircraft operated Location Command/Group
Nil Cardington, Bedfordshire  

 

Rank Name Date Notes

Under Care and Maintenance

Source - May 1924 Air Force List

July 1925

The entry from this edition is currently not available.

Source - July 1925 Air Force List

March 1926

Aircraft operated Location Command/Group
Nil Cardington, Bedfordshire  

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Gp Capt Peregrine F M Fellowes  1 Jul 1924 Director of Airship Development, DSO, ADC; later A/Cdre
Wg Cdr Thomas R Cave-Browne-Cave 16 Sep 1924 CBE
Sqn Ldr Reginald B B Colmore  1 Jul 1924  
Sqn Ldr Ralph S Booth   Attached for Special Duty, AFC
Flt Lt Frederick M Rope 15 Aug 1924  
Flt Lt Sydney Nixon  1 Jul 1924  
Fg Off Herbert G Cook  1 Jul 1924 DSM
Fg Off Maurice H Steff 26 Aug 1925  

Source - March 1926 Air Force List

July 1926

Aircraft operated Location Command/Group
Nil Cardington, Bedfordshire  

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Gp Capt Peregrine F M Fellowes  1 Jul 1924 Director of Airship Development, DSO, ADC; later A/Cdre
Wg Cdr Thomas R Cave-Browne-Cave 16 Sep 1924 CBE
Sqn Ldr Reginald B B Colmore  1 Jul 1924 OBE
Flt Lt Frederick M Rope 15 Aug 1924 AFC
Flt Lt Herbert C Irwin 18 Aug 1924 AFC
Flt Lt Sydney Nixon  1 Jul 1924 OBE
Fg Off Herbert G Cook  1 Jul 1924 DSM
Fg Off Herbert J Brown  1 Jul 1924  
Fg Off Maurice H Steff 26 Aug 1925  
Maj G H Scott   Officer i/c Flying and Training, CBE, AFC
Mr H B Wyn-Evans   Officer i/c Design, Research and Construction MBE (Hon), RCNO
Lt Col V C Richmond   Head of Design and Research Section, OBE
Mr R S Hubbard   Works Manager
Mr D J Evans   Secretary and Accountant

Source - July 1926 Air Force List

December 1926

Aircraft operated Location Command/Group
Nil Cardington, Bedfordshire  

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Gp Capt Peregrine F M Fellowes  1 Jul 1924 Director of Airship Development, DSO, ADC; later A/Cdre
Wg Cdr Thomas R Cave-Browne-Cave 16 Sep 1924 CBE
Sqn Ldr Reginald B B Colmore  1 Jul 1924 OBE
Sqn Ldr Ralph S Booth 13 Sep 1926 AFC
Flt Lt Frederick M Rope 15 Aug 1924 AFC
Flt Lt Sydney Nixon  1 Jul 1924 OBE
Fg Off Herbert G Cook  1 Jul 1924 DSM
Fg Off Maurice H Steff 26 Aug 1925  
Maj G H Scott   Officer i/c Flying and Training, CBE, AFC
Mr A H Hall   Superintendent of Production, CBE, MICE, MIME
Lt Col V C Richmond   Head of Design and Research Section, OBE
Mr R S Hubbard   Works Manager
Mr D J Evans   Secretary and Accountant

Source - December 1926 Air Force List

July 1927

Aircraft operated Location Command/Group
Nil Cardington, Bedfordshire  

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Gp Capt Peregrine F M Fellowes  1 Jul 1924 Director of Airship Development, DSO, ADC; later A/Cdre
Wg Cdr Thomas R Cave-Browne-Cave 16 Sep 1924 Attached for Special Duty, CBE
Sqn Ldr Reginald B B Colmore*  1 Jul 1924 Deputy Director of Airship Development
Sqn Ldr Ralph S Booth   Attached for Special Duty, AFC
Flt Lt Frederick M Rope 15 Aug 1924 Attached for Special Duty
Flt Lt Sydney Nixon  1 Jul 1924 Attached for Special Duty
Fg Off Herbert G Cook  1 Jul 1924 Attached for Special Duty, DSM
Fg Off Maurice H Steff 26 Aug 1925 Attached for Special Duty

*RAF Officers fillings vacancies on the civilian establishment.

Source - July 1927 Air Force List

July 1928

Aircraft operated Location Command/Group
Nil Cardington, Bedfordshire  

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Gp Capt Peregrine F M Fellowes  1 Jul 1924 Director of Airship Development, DSO, ADC; later A/Cdre
Wg Cdr Thomas R Cave-Browne-Cave 16 Sep 1924 Attached for Special Duty, CBE
Sqn Ldr Reginald B B Colmore*  1 Jul 1924 Deputy Director of Airship Development
Sqn Ldr Ralph S Booth   Attached for Special Duty, AFC
Flt Lt Frederick M Rope 15 Aug 1924 Attached for Special Duty
Flt Lt Herbert C Irwin   Attached for Special Duty, AFC
Flt Lt Sydney Nixon  1 Jul 1924 Attached for Special Duty, OBE
Fg Off Herbert G Cook  1 Jul 1924 Attached for Special Duty, DSM
Fg Off Maurice H Steff 26 Aug 1925 Officer i/c Pulham Airship Station

*RAF Officers fillings vacancies on the civilian establishment.

Source - July 1928 Air Force List

September 1928

Aircraft operated Location Command/Group
Nil Cardington, Bedfordshire  

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Gp Capt Peregrine F M Fellowes  1 Jul 1924 Director of Airship Development, DSO, ADC; later A/Cdre
Wg Cdr Thomas R Cave-Browne-Cave 16 Sep 1924 Attached for Special Duty, CBE
Sqn Ldr Reginald B B Colmore*  1 Jul 1924 Deputy Director of Airship Development
Sqn Ldr Ralph S Booth   Attached for Special Duty, AFC
Flt Lt Frederick M Rope 15 Aug 1924 Attached for Special Duty
Flt Lt Herbert C Irwin   Attached for Special Duty, AFC
Flt Lt Sydney Nixon  1 Jul 1924 Attached for Special Duty, OBE
Fg Off Herbert G Cook  1 Jul 1924 Attached for Special Duty, DSM
Fg Off Maurice H Steff 26 Aug 1925 Officer i/c Pulham Airship Station

Source - September 1928 Air Force List

July 1929

Aircraft operated Location Command/Group
Nil Cardington, Bedfordshire  

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Gp Capt Peregrine F M Fellowes  1 Jul 1924 Director of Airship Development, DSO, ADC; later A/Cdre
Sqn Ldr Reginald B B Colmore*  1 Jul 1924 Deputy Director of Airship Development
Wg Cdr Thomas R Cave-Browne-Cave 16 Sep 1924 Attached for Special Duty, CBE
Sqn Ldr Ralph S Booth   Attached for Special Duty, AFC
Flt Lt Frederick M Rope 15 Aug 1924 Attached for Special Duty
Flt Lt Herbert C Irwin   Attached for Special Duty, AFC
Flt Lt Sydney Nixon  1 Jul 1924 Attached for Special Duty, OBE
Fg Off Herbert G Cook  1 Jul 1924 Attached for Special Duty, DSM
Fg Off Maurice H Steff 26 Aug 1925 Attached for Special Duty

*RAF Officers fillings vacancies on the civilian establishment.

Source - July 1929 Air Force List

July 1930

Aircraft operated Location Command/Group
Nil Cardington, Bedfordshire  

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Wg Cdr Reginald B B Colmore*  1 Jul 1924 Director of Airship Development, DSO, ADC; later A/Cdre
Wg Cdr Thomas R Cave-Browne-Cave 16 Sep 1924 Attached for Special Duty, CBE
Sqn Ldr Ralph S Booth   Attached for Special Duty, AFC
Flt Lt Frederick M Rope 15 Aug 1924 Attached for Special Duty
Flt Lt Herbert C Irwin   Attached for Special Duty, AFC
Flt Lt Sydney Nixon  1 Jul 1924 Attached for Special Duty, OBE
Fg Off Herbert G Cook  1 Jul 1924 Attached for Special Duty, DSM
Fg Off Maurice H Steff 26 Aug 1925 Attached for Special Duty
Fg Off Harold F Luck   Attached for Special Duty

Source - July 1930 Air Force List

August 1930

Source - August 1930 Air Force List

September 1930

Source - September 1930 Air Force List

October 1930

Source - October 1930 Air Force List

With the loss of the R101 in October 1930, work on airships was ended.

November 1930

Source - November 1930 Air Force List

December 1930

Source - December 1930 Air Force List

July 1931

Aircraft operated Location Command/Group
Nil Cardington, Bedfordshire  

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Sqn Ldr (Ret) Sydney Nixon   Assistant Director - Organisation
Sqn Ldr Ralph S Booth   Attached for Special Duty, AFC
Flt Lt Herbert G Cook   Attached for Special Duty, DSM
Flt Lt Cecil W Harrison   Attached for Special Duty

Source - July 1931 Air Force List

July 1932

Aircraft operated Location Command/Group
Nil Cardington, Bedfordshire  

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Sqn Ldr (Ret) Sydney Nixon   Superintendent
Sqn Ldr Ralph S Booth   Attached for Airship Duties, AFC
Flt Lt Cecil W Harrison   Attached for Kite Balloon Duties

Source - July 1932 Air Force List

July 1933

Aircraft operated Location Command/Group
Nil Cardington, Bedfordshire  

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Sqn Ldr (Ret) Sydney Nixon   Superintendent
Sqn Ldr Ralph S Booth   Attached for Airship Duties, AFC
Flt Lt Cecil W Harrison   Attached for Kite Balloon Duties

Source - July 1933 Air Force List

January 1934

Aircraft operated Location Command/Group
Nil Cardington, Bedfordshire  

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Sqn Ldr (Ret) Sydney Nixon   Superintendent
Flt Lt Cecil W Harrison   Attached for Kite Balloon Duties

Source - January 1934 Air Force List

July 1934

Aircraft operated Location Command/Group
Nil Cardington, Bedfordshire  

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Sqn Ldr (Ret) Sydney Nixon   Superintendent
Flt Lt Cecil W Harrison   Attached for Kite Balloon Duties

Source - July 1934 Air Force List

July 1935

Aircraft operated Location Command/Group
Nil Cardington, Bedfordshire  

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Sqn Ldr (Ret) Sydney Nixon   Superintendent
Flt Lt Cecil W Harrison   Attached for Kite Balloon Duties

Source - July 1935 Air Force List

July 1936

The entry from this edition is currently unavailable

Source - July 1936 Air Force List

July 1937

The entry from this edition is currently unavailable

Source - July 1937 Air Force List

July 1938

The entry from this edition is currently unavailable

Source - July 1938 Air Force List

It was redesignated Balloon Development Establishment on 15 September 1938.

January 1939

Aircraft operated Location Command/Group
Nil Cardington, Bedfordshire  

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Mr H N Wyn-Evans   Principal Technical Officer, MBE, RCNC, MINA, AFRAeS
Sqn Ldr Cecil W Harrison   Attached for Kite Balloon Duties
Flt Lt E J Protheroe   Attached for Kite Balloon Duties

Source - January 1939 Air Force List

April 1939

Aircraft operated Location Command/Group
Nil Cardington, Bedfordshire  

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Mr H N Wyn-Evans   Principal Technical Officer, MBE, RCNC, MINA, AFRAeS
Sqn Ldr Cecil W Harrison   Attached for Kite Balloon Duties
Flt Lt E J Protheroe   Attached for Kite Balloon Duties
Mr J W W Dyer MSc, AIC Scientific Officer

Source - April 1939 Confidential Air Force List

May 1939

Aircraft operated Location Command/Group
Nil Cardington, Bedfordshire  

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Mr H N Wyn-Evans   Principal Technical Officer, MBE, RCNC, MINA, AFRAeS
Sqn Ldr Cecil W Harrison   Attached for Kite Balloon Duties
Flt Lt E J Protheroe   Attached for Kite Balloon Duties
Mr J W W Dyer MSc, AIC Scientific Officer

Source - May 1939 Confidential Air Force List

[Aug 1921 | Jul 1922 | May 1923 | Jul 1923 | May 1924 | Jul 1925 | Mar 1926 | Jul 1926 | Dec 1926 | Jul 1927 | Jul 1928 | Sep 1928 | Jul 1929 | Jul 1930 | Aug 1930 | Sep 1930 | Oct 1930 | Nov 1930 | Dec 1930 | Jul 1931 | Jul 1932 | Jul 1933 | Jan 1934 | Jul 1934 | Jul 1935 | Jul 1936 | Jul 1937 | Jul 1938 | Jan 1939 | Apr 1939 | May 1939]

This page was last updated on 08/07/19

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