Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Home Page

Main Menu

Quick Menu

Members' Area

What New?

About this site

Reunions

Help Needed?

Glossary

Bibliography

Sign Guest Book

View Guest Book

Link to Amazon

Online Store

Contact Me

No 421 (Fleet Spotter) 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]

May 1923 |

May 1923

Source - May 1923 Air Force List

This was formed on 1 April 1923 at RAF Base Gosport equipped with six Westland Walruses.

Date Location
 1 Apr 1923 RAF Base Gosport

July 1923

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Westland Walrus RAF Base Gosport Coastal Area/No 10 Group

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Edward R Openshaw  1 Apr 1923 Officer Commanding
Fg Off Louis M Hilton  1 Apr 1923 DFC
Fg Off Louis J Chandler  1 Apr 1923 MBE
Fg Off William L Payne  1 Apr 1923  
Fg Off Cecil G Hancock  1 Apr 1923  
Plt Off

Arthur P Revington

 1 Apr 1923 later A/Cdre
Plt Off Horace S C Bassett  9 Apr 1923  
Plt Off Patrick J A Hume-Wright 11 Apr 1923  

Source - Air Force List July 1923

Date Location
xx Sep 1923 Novar
xx Oct 1923 RAF Base Gosport

January 1924

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Westland Walrus RAF Base Gosport Coastal Area/No 10 Group

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Edward R Openshaw  1 Apr 1923 Officer Commanding
Flt Lt Louis J Chandler  1 Apr 1923 MBE
Fg Off Louis M Hilton  1 Apr 1923 DFC
Fg Off Frank W van Blommestein 21 Nov 1923  
Fg Off

Arthur P Revington

 1 Apr 1923 later A/Cdre
Fg Off Patrick J A Hume-Wright 11 Apr 1923  
Plt Off Sylvanus G Connolly 21 Nov 1923  
Plt Off Ronald H Carter 21 Nov 1923  
Attached from Royal Navy
Lt Malcolm E B Deane  1 Aug 1923  
Lt Malcolm Farquhar  1 Aug 1923  
Lt Alexander G Rodger  1 Aug 1923  
Lt Ion W G White 21 Nov 1923 DSC
Lt Lachlan D Macintosh 21 Nov 1923 DSC
Lt Harry S M Smith 21 Nov 1923  

Source - Air Force List January 1924

May 1924

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Westland Walrus RAF Base Gosport Coastal Area/No 10 Group

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Edward R Openshaw  1 Apr 1923 Officer Commanding
Flt Lt Louis J Chandler  1 Apr 1923 MBE
Fg Off Louis M Hilton  1 Apr 1923 DFC
Fg Off Frank W van Blommestein 21 Nov 1923  
Fg Off

Arthur P Revington

 1 Apr 1923 later A/Cdre
Fg Off Patrick J A Hume-Wright 11 Apr 1923  
Fg Off Sylvanus G Connolly 21 Nov 1923  
Plt Off Harry M Mellor  1 Apr 1924  
Attached from Royal Navy
Lt Malcolm E B Deane  1 Aug 1923  
Lt Malcolm Farquhar  1 Aug 1923  
Lt Alexander G Rodger  1 Aug 1923  
Lt Ion W G White 21 Nov 1923 DSC
Lt Lachlan D Macintosh 21 Nov 1923 DSC
Lt Harry S M Smith 21 Nov 1923  

Source - Air Force List July 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

April 1925

Source - April 1925 Air Force List

The Walruses were replaced by Avro Bison Is in May 1925.

May 1925

Source - May 1925 Air Force List

Date Location
 8 May 1925 RAF Base Leuchars (and Novar)

June 1925

Source - June 1925 Air Force List

Date Location
23 Jun 1925 RAF Spittlegate
23 Jun 1925 RAF Base Gosport

July 1925

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Avro Bison I RAF Base Gosport Coastal Area/No 10 Group

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Edward R Openshaw  1 Apr 1923 Officer Commanding
Fg Off

Arthur P Revington

 1 Apr 1923 later A/Cdre
Fg Off Sylvanus G Connolly 21 Nov 1923  
Fg Off Harry M Mellor  1 Apr 1924  

Source - Air Force List July 1925

Date Location
22 Jul 1925 HMS Argus (Deck Landing Trials)
24 Jul 1925 RAF Base Gosport
28 Sep 1925 HMS Furious
15 Oct 1925 RAF Base Gosport
 6 Nov 1925 HMS Furious
 9 Nov 1925 RAF Base Gosport
 8 Jan 1926 HMS Furious

The Bison Is were replaced by Bison IIs in August 1925.

March 1926

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Avro Bison II RAF Base Gosport Coastal Area/No 10 Group

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Louis M Hilton 23 Jul 1925 Officer Commanding, DFC
Fg Off

Arthur P Revington

 1 Apr 1923 later A/Cdre
Fg Off Sylvanus G Connolly 21 Nov 1923  
Fg Off John M Fuller 23 Sep 1925 Lt, RM
Fg Off Robert M Giddy 22 Jul 1925 Lt, RM
Fg Off James I Robertson 30 Jul 1925 Lt , RN
Fg Off John B Heath 30 Jul 1925 Lt , RN
Fg Off Kenneth A B Hutson 30 Nov 1925 Lt , RN

Source - March 1926 Air Force List

Date Location
30 Mar 1926 RAF Base Gosport
 6 Jun 1926 HMS Furious
12-14 Jun 1926 HMS Furious (Detachment)
15 Jun 1926 RAF Base Gosport

July 1926

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Avro Bison II RAF Base Gosport Coastal Area/No 10 Group

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Louis M Hilton 23 Jul 1925 Officer Commanding, DFC
Fg Off Sylvanus G Connolly 21 Nov 1923  
Fg Off John M Fuller 23 Sep 1925 Lt, RM
Fg Off Robert M Giddy 22 Jul 1925 Lt, RM
Fg Off James I Robertson 30 Jul 1925 Lt , RN
Fg Off John B Heath 30 Jul 1925 Lt , RN
Fg Off Kenneth A B Hutson 30 Nov 1925 Lt , RN

Source - Air Force List July 1926

Date Location
 7 Sep 1926 HMS Furious
 1 Nov 1926 RAF Base Gosport

December 1926

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Avro Bison II RAF Base Gosport Coastal Area/No 10 Group

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Louis M Hilton 23 Jul 1925 Officer Commanding, DFC
Fg Off Sylvanus G Connolly 21 Nov 1923  
Fg Off John M Fuller 23 Sep 1925 Lt, RM
Fg Off Robert M Giddy 22 Jul 1925 Lt, RM
Fg Off James I Robertson 30 Jul 1925 Lt , RN
Fg Off John B Heath 30 Jul 1925 Lt , RN
Fg Off Kenneth A B Hutson 30 Nov 1925 Lt , RN
Fg Off Robert W Gordon  1 Sep 1926 Lt , RM

Source - December 1926 Air Force List

Date Location
14 Jan 1927 HMS Furious

In March 1927 it was split into two with No 421A staying with HMS Furious and No 421B going to HMS Eagle.

No 421A Flight No 421B Flight
15 Mar 1927 HMS Furious 15 Mar 1927 HMS Eagle
28 Mar 1927 RAF Base Gosport  7 Apr 1927 RAF Hal Far
 6 Jun 1927 HMS Furious 31 Aug 1927 HMS Eagle
11 Jul 1927 RAF Base Gosport    

July 1927

No 421A Flight

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Avro Bison II HMS Furious Coastal Area/No 10 Group

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Louis M Hilton 23 Jul 1925 Officer Commanding, DFC
Fg Off Sylvanus G Connolly 21 Nov 1923  
Fg Off Robert M Giddy 22 Jul 1925 Lt, RM
Fg Off John B Heath 30 Jul 1925 Lt , RN

No 421B Flight

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Avro Bison II HMS Eagle RAF Mediterranean

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Fg Off James I Robertson 15 Mar 1927 Lt , RN
Fg Off Robert W Gordon 15 Mar 1927 Lt , RM
Fg Off Edward J E Burt 21 Dec 1926 Lt , RN

Source - Air Force List July 1927

In October 1927 No 421A was amalgamated with No 443 A Flight as No 443 (Composite) Flight on board HMS Furious. 

No 421A Flight No 421B Flight
15 Mar 1927 HMS Furious 15 Mar 1927 HMS Eagle
28 Mar 1927 RAF Base Gosport  7 Apr 1927 RAF Hal Far
 6 Jun 1927 HMS Furious 31 Aug 1927 HMS Eagle
11 Jul 1927 RAF Base Gosport 25 Oct 1927 RAF Hal Far
    25 Apr 1928 HMS Argus
     5 May 1928 RAF Base Gosport

Nos 421A and 421B Flights were reunited in June 1928.

July 1928

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Avro Bison II HMS Furious RAF Mediterranean

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Louis M Hilton 23 Jul 1925 Officer Commanding, DFC
Fg Off Robert M Giddy 22 Jul 1925 Lt, RM
Fg Off James I Robertson 15 Mar 1927 Lt , RN
Fg Off Harry M Mellor 26 Jan 1927 Armament duties
Fg Off Robert W Gordon 15 Mar 1927 Lt , RM
Fg Off Edward J E Burt 21 Dec 1926 Lt , RN
 

Source - Air Force List July 1928

Date Location
 8 Aug 1928 RAF Base Gosport
 6 Sep 1928 RAF Base Leuchars
10 Sep 1928 Novar

September 1928

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Avro Bison II HMS Furious RAF Mediterranean

 

 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Lewin B Duggan  9 Jul 1928 Officer Commanding, DFC
Flt Lt Graham C Bladon 10 Jun 1928 later A/Cdre
Fg Off Robert M Giddy 22 Jul 1925 Lt, RM
Fg Off James I Robertson 15 Mar 1927 Lt , RN
Fg Off Harry M Mellor 26 Jan 1927 Armament duties
Fg Off Robert W Gordon 15 Mar 1927 Lt , RM
Fg Off Edward J E Burt 21 Dec 1926 Lt , RN

Source - September 1928 Air Force List

Date Location
xx Oct 1928 RAF Base Leuchars
14 Oct 1928 HMS Furious
14 Oct 1928 RAF Base Leuchars
19 Oct 1928 HMS Furious
16 Nov 1928 RAF Base Gosport
 4 Jan 1929 HMS Furious
15 Apr 1929 Chickerell

The Bisons were replaced by Fairey IIFs in January 1929

It was redesignated No 447 (Fleet Spotter Reconnaissance) Flight on 26 April 1929.

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]

This page was last updated on 08/07/19

         [Top of Page]