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No 404 (Fleet Fighter) Flight

[Jul 1923 | Jan 1924 | May 1924 | Jan 1925 | Feb 1925 | Mar 1925 | Apr 1925 | May 1925 | Jun 1925 | 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]

This was formed on 1 July 1923 at RAF Base Leuchars for service with HMS Furious equipped with Parnell Plovers.

Date Location
 1 Jul 1923 RAF Base Leuchars

July 1923

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
None allocated RAF Base Leuchars Coastal Area

 

Rank Name Date Notes

No personnel listed

Source - Air Force List July 1923

January 1924

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Nieuport Nightjars RAF Base Leuchars Coastal Area

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Fg Off Cecil B Horsfield 23 Jul 1923  

Source - Air Force List January 1924

Some Nieuport Nightjars were received in April 1924

May 1924

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Nieuport Nightjars RAF Base Leuchars Coastal Area

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Bruce R Caswell  7 Mar 1924 Officer Commanding
Fg Off Cecil B Horsfield 23 Jul 1923  
Fg Off Guy F Reeves  7 Mar 1924  
Fg Off

Leonard K Barnes

  7 Mar 1924 later A/Cdre

Source - Air Force List May 1924

The Nightjars were withdrawn in September 1924

January 1925

Source - January 1925 Air Force List

February 1925

Source - February 1925 Air Force List

March 1925

Source - March 1925 Air Force List

Fairey Flycatchers replaced the Plovers in March 1925

April 1925

Source - April 1925 Air Force List

May 1925

Source - May 1925 Air Force List

June 1925

Source - June 1925 Air Force List

July 1925

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey Flycatcher RAF Base Leuchars Coastal Area

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Bruce R Caswell  7 Mar 1924 Officer Commanding
Fg Off Nigel H N Fletcher 11 Apr 1924  
Fg Off Rupert St A Malleson 21 May 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Charles J N Akinson 21 May 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Aylmer M Rundle 21 May 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off William D Baxter 18 May 1925  

Source - Air Force List July 1925

Date Location
13 Sep 1925 HMS Furious
15 Oct 1925 RAF Base Leuchars?
 6 Nov 1925 HMS Furious
28 Nov 1925 RAF Base Leuchars?
 8 Jan 1926 HMS Furious
30 Mar 1926 RAF Base Leuchars

March 1926

 

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey Flycatcher RAF Base Leuchars Coastal Area

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Bruce R Caswell  7 Mar 1924 Officer Commanding
Fg Off Rupert St A Malleson 21 May 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Charles J N Akinson 21 May 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Hon John M Southwell 30 Jul 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Aylmer M Rundle 21 May 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off William D Baxter 18 May 1925  
Fg Off Thomas H Villiers 14 Nov 1925 Lt, RN

Source - March 1926 Air Force List

Date Location
12 Jun 1926 HMS Furious
15 Jul 1926 RAF Base Leuchars

July 1926

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey Flycatcher RAF Base Leuchars Coastal Area

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Bruce R Caswell  7 Mar 1924 Officer Commanding
Fg Off Rupert St A Malleson 21 May 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Charles J N Akinson 21 May 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Hon John M Southwell 30 Jul 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Aylmer M Rundle 21 May 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off William D Baxter 18 May 1925  
Fg Off Raymond A Aldridge 15 Mar 1926 Lt, RN

Source - Air Force List July 1926

Date Location
xx Aug 1926 RAF Donibristle

December 1926

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey Flycatcher RAF Donibristle Coastal Area

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Bruce R Caswell  7 Mar 1924 Officer Commanding
Fg Off Rupert St A Malleson 21 May 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Charles J N Akinson 21 May 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Hon John M Southwell 30 Jul 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Aylmer M Rundle 21 May 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off William D Baxter 18 May 1925  
Fg Off Raymond A Aldridge 15 Mar 1926 Lt, RN

Source - December 1926 Air Force List

In February 1927 it was split into No 404A and No 404B Flights.  No 404A joined HMS Furious whilst No 404B joined HMS Argus for service in the China Station in the defence of Hong Kong. 

No 404A Flight No 404B Flight
 1 Feb 1927 RAF Donibristle  1 Feb 1927 HMS Argus
     5 Jul 1927 Wei-hai-Wei

July 1927

No 404A Flight

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey Flycatcher RAF Donibristle Coastal Area

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Fg Off Cyril B Tidd 16 Mar 1927 Lt, RN
Fg Off Aylmer M Rundle 21 May 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Raymond A Aldridge 15 Mar 1926 Lt, RN

No 404B Flight

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey Flycatcher HMS Argus China Station

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Charles E W Foster 26 Jan 1927 Officer Commanding
Fg Off Charles J N Akinson 21 May 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off William D Baxter 18 May 1925  

 

Source - Air Force List July 1927

No 404A Flight No 404B Flight
19 Oct 1927 HMS Furious  5 Jul 1927 Wei-hai-Wei
21 Oct 1927 RAF Donibristle 27 Jul 1927 HMS Argus
 6 Mar 1928 HMS Courageous  2 Aug 1927 RAF Base Kai Tak
  8 Mar 1928 RAF Donibristle 20 Mar 1928 HMS Argus
    24 Apr 1928 RAF Calafrana
    26 Apr 1928 HMS Argus
     4 May 1928 RAF Donibristle

Nos 404A & B Flights reunited in May 1928 joining HMS Courageous in the Mediterranean.

 

Date Location
15 May 1928 HMS Courageous

July 1928

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey Flycatcher HMS Courageous Coastal Area

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Charles J N Akinson  1 Feb 1927 Officer Commanding, Lt, RN
Fg Off Cyril B Tidd 16 Mar 1927 Lt, RN
Fg Off William D Baxter 18 May 1925  
Fg Off Owen C Jones  1 Jan 1928 Lt, RM
Fg Off Guy Willoughby 11 Dec 1927 Lt, RN
Fg Off Robert C Giles  1 Sep 1927 Lt, RM
Fg Off John D'A Keary  9 Sep 1927  
Fg Off Philip G Lucas 17 May 1928  

Source - Air Force List July 1928

September 1928

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey Flycatcher HMS Courageous Coastal Area

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Charles J N Akinson  1 Feb 1927 Officer Commanding, Lt, RN
Fg Off Cyril B Tidd 16 Mar 1927 Lt, RN
Fg Off Owen C Jones  1 Jan 1928 Lt, RM
Fg Off Guy Willoughby 11 Dec 1927 Lt, RN
Fg Off Robert C Giles  1 Sep 1927 Armament Duties, Lt, RM
Fg Off John D'A Keary  9 Sep 1927  
Fg Off Philip G Lucas 17 May 1928  

Source - September 1928 Air Force List

Date Location
 5 Sep 1928 RAF Hal Far
 7 Sep 1928 HMS Courageous
30 Oct 1928 RAF Hal Far
19 Nov 1928 HMS Courageous
14 Jan 1929 HMS Eagle
15 Jan 1929 RAF Hal Far
31 Jan 1929 HMS Courageous
25 Feb 1929 HMS Eagle
 1 Mar 1929 RAF Hal Far
31 Mar 1929 HMS Courageous
 3 May 1929 RAF Hal Far
14 Jun 1929 HMS Courageous

 

July 1929

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey Flycatcher HMS Courageous Coastal Area

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Laurence C Sharman  1 Feb 1929 Officer Commanding, Lt Cdr RN
Fg Off Owen C Jones  1 Jan 1928 Lt, RM
Fg Off Robert C Giles  1 Sep 1927 Lt, RM
Fg Off John D'A Keary  9 Sep 1927  
Fg Off Henry C Toppin  1 Jan 1929 Lt, RN

Source - Air Force List July 1929

In August and September 1929 it spent two weeks based ashore at Gaza to assist in quelling a rebellion in Palestine.

Date Location
21 Aug 1929 RAF Hal Far
26 Aug 1929 HMS Courageous
28 Aug 1929 RAF Ramleh
31 Aug 1929 Gaza
 9 Sep 1929 HMS Courageous
28 Sep 1929 RAF Aboukir
 8 Oct 1929 HMS Courageous
 1 Nov 1929 RAF Calafrana
22 Nov 1929 HMS Courageous
29 Nov 1929 RAF Hal Far/Calafrana
20 Jan 1930 HMS Courageous
30 Jan 1930 RAF Base Gosport
 7 Apr 1930 RAF Donibristle
xx xxx 1930 RAF Base Gosport
7 May - 8 Aug 1930 Affiliated to No 29 Sqn, North Weald

July 1930

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey Flycatcher RAF Donibristle Coastal Area

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Laurence C Sharman  1 Feb 1929 Officer Commanding, Lt Cdr RN
Fg Off Henry C Toppin  1 Jan 1929 Lt, RN
Fg Off William H Parkin  6 Dec 1929 Lt, RN
Fg Off Maurice H Clare 30 Jul 1929  
Fg Off Henry M King 22 Mar 1930 Lt, RN
Fg Off Ralph Mountain  6 Mar 1930  

Source - Air Force List July 1930

August 1930

Source - August 1930 Air Force List

September 1930

Source - September 1930 Air Force List

October 1930

Source - October 1930 Air Force List

November 1930

Source - November 1930 Air Force List

December 1930

Source - December 1930 Air Force List

Date Location
23 Sep 1930 HMS Courageous
17 Nov 1930 RAF Base Gosport
19 Jan 1931 HMS Courageous
 1 Apr 1931 RAF Base Gosport
 1 Apr 1931 RAF Donibristle
15 May 1931 HMS Courageous
 6 Jun 1931 RAF Base Gosport

July 1931

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey Flycatcher RAF Donibristle Coastal Area

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Charles J N Atkinson  4 Jan 1931 Officer Commanding, Lt Cdr, RN
Fg Off Hon John M Southwell  9 Jun 1931 Lt, RN
Fg Off Edwin B Carnduff 30 Mar 1931 Lt, RN
Fg Off Humphrey W Metcalfe  4 Nov 1930 Lt, RN
Fg Off Maurice H Clare 30 Jul 1929  
Fg Off Ralph Mountain  6 Mar 1930  

 Source - Air Force List July 1931

Date Location
10 Sep 1931 RAF Netheravon
16 Sep 1931 RAF Base Gosport
29 Sep 1931 HMS Courageous
 1 Dec 1931 RAF Base Gosport
 4 Jan 1932 HMS Courageous
11 Feb 1932 RAF Hal Far
22 Feb 1932 HMS Courageous
13 Mar 1932 RAF Netheravon
21 Apr 1932 HMS Courageous

July 1932

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Fairey Flycatcher HMS Courageous Coastal Area

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Charles J N Atkinson  4 Jan 1931 Officer Commanding, Lt Cdr, RN
Fg Off Arthur M Pilling  6 Apr 1932 Lt, RN
Fg Off Ralph Mountain  6 Mar 1930  
Fg Off Geoffrey N Torry 9 Sep 1931 Lt, RN
Fg Off Hugh P Bramwell  9 Sep 1931 Lt, RN
Fg Off Capel F G Adye 18 May 1932  

Source - Air Force List July 1932

Date Location
15 Jul 1932 RAF Netheravon
16 Sep 1932 RAF Base Gosport
23 Sep 1932 No 3 ATC, Sutton Bridge
 3 Oct 1932 HMS Courageous
18 Oct 1932 RAF Netheravon
 2 Jan 1933 RAF Base Gosport
 3 Jan 1933 HMS Courageous
24 Mar 1933 RAF Netheravon

Hawker Nimrods and Ospreys arrived in October 1932 and the Flycatchers were withdrawn in November.

It was absorbed into No 800 Squadron on 3 April 1933.

Re-equipment and movement dates are based on those shown in 'Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm' by Ray Sturtivant

[Jul 1923 | Jan 1924 | May 1924 | Jan 1925 | Feb 1925 | Mar 1925 | Apr 1925 | May 1925 | Jun 1925 | 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]

This page was last updated on 08/07/19

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