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No 420 (Fleet Spotter) Flight

[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 was formed on 21 November 1923 at RAF Base Gosport from No 420 Flight, taking over the latter's Westland Walruses and Avro Bison Is, but by July the Walruses had been withdrawn from use.

Date Location
21 Nov 1923 RAF Base Gosport

January 1924

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Avro Bison I HMS Argus/RAF Base Gosport Coastal Area/No 10 Group
 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt John W B Grigson 21 Nov 1923 Officer Commanding, DSO, DFC; later A/Cdre
Fg Off Thomas M Williams 21 Nov 1923 MC, DFC; later AM
Fg Off Harry N V le V Noel 21 Nov 1923  
Plt Off William L Payne 21 Nov 1923  
Fg Off Arthur F Scroggs 21 Nov 1923  
Fg Off Charles H Brill 21 Nov 1923  
Fg Off Lawrence P Hirsh 21 Nov 1923  
Plt Off John S Newall 21 Nov 1923  
Attached from Royal Navy
Lt Cdr Theodore K Emsley 21 Nov 1923  
Lt Cdr Eric W Woodruff 21 Nov 1923  
Lt Henry J Johnstone 21 Nov 1923  
Lt Horace T T Bayliss 21 Nov 1923  

Source - Air Force List January 1924

Date Location
12 Apr - 2 Jun 1924 Novar (Detachment)
16 May 1924 HMS Argus

May 1924

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

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Cyril F Brewerton 17 Jan 1924 Officer Commanding,
Fg Off Thomas M Williams 21 Nov 1923 MC, DFC; later AM
Fg Off Eric Brewerton 17 Jan 1924  
Fg Off Harry N V le V Noel 21 Nov 1923  
Plt Off William L Payne 21 Nov 1923  
Plt Off Arthur F Scroggs 21 Nov 1923  
Plt Off John S Newall 21 Nov 1923  
Attached from Royal Navy
Lt Cdr Theodore K Emsley 21 Nov 1923  
Lt Cdr Eric W Woodruff 21 Nov 1923  
Lt Henry J Johnstone 21 Nov 1923  
Lt Horace T T Bayliss 21 Nov 1923  

Source - Air Force List May 1924

Date Location
20 Nov 1924 RAF Base Gosport

January 1925

Source - January 1925 Air Force List

Date Location
16 Jan 1925 HMS Argus

February 1925

Source - February 1925 Air Force List

March 1925

Source - March 1925 Air Force List

April 1925

Source - April 1925 Air Force List

Date Location
 4 Apr 1925 RAF Base Gosport

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

May 1925

Source - May 1925 Air Force List

Date Location
15 May 1925 HMS Argus

June 1925

Source - June 1925 Air Force List

July 1925

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

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Cyril F Brewerton 17 Jan 1924 Officer Commanding,
Fg Off Harry N V le V Noel 21 Nov 1923  
Fg Off William L Payne 21 Nov 1923  
Fg Off Patrick J A Hume-Wright  2 Dec 1924  
Fg Off John S Newall 21 Nov 1923  
Naval Observer Officers employed with unit
Lt Cdr Eric W Woodruff 21 Nov 1923  
Lt Bonham de L Faunce 15 Nov 1924  
Lt Robert L Wight 15 Nov 1924  

Source - Air Force List July 1925

Date Location
31 Aug - 11 Sep 1925 RAF Base Gosport (Detachment)
9 Sep - 22 Oct 1925 HMS Argus (Detachment)
22 Oct 1925 Donibristle (Detachment)
17 Sep 1925 Novar
xx Oct 1925 RAF Base Gosport
 4 Feb 1926 HMS Eagle
17 Feb 1926 RAF Hal Far

March 1926

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Avro Bison II HMS Hermes/RAF Base Malta RAF Mediterranean
 
 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Cyril F Brewerton 17 Jan 1924 Officer Commanding,
Fg Off Patrick J A Hume-Wright  2 Dec 1924  
Fg Off Berthold W Knowles 25 Jul 1925 Lt, RM
Fg Off Sidney T Morgan  5 Sep 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Hugh N Lay 19 Jul 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Sydney C Woolley 30 Jul 1925 Lt, RM
Fg Off John S Newall 21 Nov 1923  
Naval Observer Officer employed with unit
Lt Bonham de L Faunce 15 Nov 1924  

Source - March 1926 Air Force List

Date Location
17 Jun 1926 HMS Hermes

July 1926

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Avro Bison II HMS Hermes/RAF Base Malta RAF Mediterranean
 
 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Cyril F Brewerton 17 Jan 1924 Officer Commanding,
Fg Off Patrick J A Hume-Wright  2 Dec 1924  
Fg Off Berthold W Knowles 25 Jul 1925 Lt, RM
Fg Off Sidney T Morgan  5 Sep 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Hugh N Lay 19 Jul 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Sydney C Woolley 30 Jul 1925 Lt, RM
Fg Off John S Newall 21 Nov 1923  
Naval Observer Officer employed with unit
Lt Cdr Cecil L Howe    
Lt Alexander G Rodger    

Source - Air Force List July 1926

Date Location
11 Sep 1926 RAF Hal Far

December 1926

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Avro Bison II HMS Hermes/RAF Base Malta RAF Mediterranean
 
 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Cyril F Brewerton 17 Jan 1924 Officer Commanding,
Fg Off Eric D Cummings  1 Oct 1925 Armament duties
Fg Off Berthold W Knowles 25 Jul 1925 Lt, RM
Fg Off Sidney T Morgan  5 Sep 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Sydney C Woolley 30 Jul 1925 Lt, RM
Fg Off Andrew N Grey 10 Apr 1926 Lt, RN
Naval Observer Officer employed with unit
Lt Bonham de L Faunce 15 Nov 1924  

Source - December 1926 Air Force List

 
Date Location
22 Feb 1927 HMS Eagle
 7 Apr 1927 RAF Hal Far
 4 May 1927 HMS Eagle
 6 May 1927 RAF Hal Far
24 Jun 1927 HMS Eagle

July 1927

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Avro Bison II HMS Eagle/RAF Base Malta RAF Mediterranean
 
 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Thomas M Williams 21 Jan 1927 Officer Commanding, MC, DFC; later AM
Fg Off Eric D Cummings  1 Oct 1925 Armament duties
Fg Off Berthold W Knowles 25 Jul 1925 Lt, RM
Fg Off Sidney T Morgan  5 Sep 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Sydney C Woolley 30 Jul 1925 Lt, RM
Fg Off Andrew N Grey 10 Apr 1926 Lt, RN
Fg Off Wilmot S Lea 15 Feb 1927 Lt, RN

Source - Air Force List July 1927

Date Location
18 - 31 Aug 1927 RAF Hal Far (Detachment)
31 Aug - 25 Oct 1927 RAF Hal Far (Detachment)
25 Oct 1927 RAF Hal Far
16 Jan 1928 HMS Eagle
 2 Feb 1928 RAF Hal Far
 7 Mar 1928 HMS Eagle
24 Apr - 1 May 1928 RAF Hal Far (Detachment)
 1 May 1928 RAF Hal Far
23 May 1928 HMS Eagle
25 May 1928 RAF Hal Far
19 Jun 1928 HMS Eagle

July 1928

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Avro Bison II HMS Eagle/RAF Base Malta RAF Mediterranean
 
 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Thomas M Williams 21 Jan 1927 Officer Commanding, MC, DFC; later AM
Fg Off Berthold W Knowles 25 Jul 1925 Lt, RM
Fg Off Sidney T Morgan  5 Sep 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Andrew N Grey 10 Apr 1926 Lt, RN
Fg Off Wilmot S Lea 15 Feb 1927 Lt, RN
Fg Off Anthony C G Ermen 18 Feb 1928 Lt, RN
Fg Off Douglas J Harrison 17 Mar 1928  

Source - Air Force List July 1928

Date Location
24 Aug - 7 Sep 1928 RAF Hal Far (Detachment)
11 Sep 1928 Alexandria

September 1928

Aircraft operated Shore Station/Ship Command/Group
Avro Bison II HMS Eagle/RAF Base Malta RAF Mediterranean
 
 
Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt Thomas M Williams 21 Jan 1927 Officer Commanding, MC, DFC; later AM
Fg Off Sidney T Morgan  5 Sep 1925 Lt, RN
Fg Off Wilmot S Lea 15 Feb 1927 Lt, RN
Fg Off Anthony C G Ermen 18 Feb 1928 Lt, RN
Fg Off Douglas J Harrison 17 Mar 1928  

Source - September 1928 Air Force List

Date Location
20 Sep 1928 HMS Eagle
30 Oct 1928 RAF Hal Far
12 Dec 1928 HMS Eagle
14 Dec 1928 RAF Hal Far
10 Jan 1929 HMS Eagle
 1 Feb 1929 RAF Hal Far
15 Mar 1929 HMS Eagle
 5 Apr 1929 RAF Base Gosport

The Bisons were replaced by Fairey IIFs in March 1929 but the Flight was redesignated No 448 (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

[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

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