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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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No 444 (Fleet Reconnaissance)/(Fleet Spotter Reconnaissance) Flight
[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 | Jul 1933 | Jan 1934 | Jul 1934 | Jul 1935 | Jul 1936]
This was formed on 15 January 1925 at RAF Lee-on-Solent equipped with Fairey IIIDs for service with the cruiser HMS Vindictive
Source - January 1925 Air Force List
| Date | Location |
| 15 Jan 1925 | RAF Lee-on-Solent |
Source - February 1925 Air Force List
| Date | Location |
| 13 Feb 1925 | RAF Base Leuchars |
| xx Feb 1925 | RAF Lee-on-Solent |
Source - March 1925 Air Force List
Source - April 1925 Air Force List
| Date | Location |
| 27 Apr 1925 | HMS Vindictive |
Source - May 1925 Air Force List
Source - June 1925 Air Force List
| Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
| Fairey IIID | School of Naval Co-operation, RAF Lee-on-Solent | Coastal Area/No 10 Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | Edward J P Burling | 27 Apr 1925 | Officer Commanding |
| Fg Off | Albert G Thackray | 23 Mar 1925 | |
| Fg Off | Philip Jones | 13 Feb 1925 | later A/Cdre |
Source - Air Force List July 1925
| Date | Location |
| 9 Oct 1925 | RAF Lee-on-Solent |
| 15 Oct 1925 | HMS Vindictive |
| 24 Nov 1925 | RAF Lee-on-Solent |
| 1 Jan 1926 | HMS Vindictive (China Station) |
| Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
| Fairey IIID | Hong Kong | Coastal Area/No 10 Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | Leonard G Maxton | 1 Nov 1925 | Officer Commanding, AFC |
| Fg Off | Albert G Thackray | 23 Mar 1925 | |
| Fg Off | Narborough H D'Aeth | 1 Nov 1925 | later AVM |
| Fg Off | Philip Jones | 13 Feb 1925 | later A/Cdre |
Source - March 1926 Air Force List
| Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
| Fairey IIID | Hong Kong | Coastal Area/No 10 Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | Leonard G Maxton | 1 Nov 1925 | Officer Commanding, AFC |
| Fg Off | Albert G Thackray | 23 Mar 1925 | |
| Fg Off | Narborough H D'Aeth | 1 Nov 1925 | later AVM |
| Fg Off | Philip Jones | 13 Feb 1925 | later A/Cdre |
Source - Air Force List July 1926
| Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
| Fairey IIID | Hong Kong | Coastal Area/No 10 Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | Leonard G Maxton | 1 Nov 1925 | Officer Commanding, AFC |
| Fg Off | Albert G Thackray | 23 Mar 1925 | |
| Fg Off | Narborough H D'Aeth | 1 Nov 1925 | later AVM |
| Fg Off | Philip Jones | 13 Feb 1925 | later A/Cdre |
Source - December 1926 Air Force List
| Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
| Fairey IIID | HMS Vindictive | China Station |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | Leonard G Maxton | 1 Nov 1925 | Officer Commanding, AFC |
| Fg Off | Narborough H D'Aeth | 1 Nov 1925 | later AVM |
| Fg Off | Hugh R M Nicholl | 19 Nov 1926 | Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | Charles R V Pugh | 19 Nov 1926 | Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | Alfred N Waring | 19 Nov 1926 | Lt, RN |
Source - Air Force List July 1927
| Date | Location |
| 1 May 1928 | RAF Lee-on-Solent |
| 9 Jul 1928 | HMS Vindictive |
| Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
| Fairey IIID | HMS Vindictive | China Station |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | Leonard G Maxton | 1 Nov 1925 | Officer Commanding, AFC |
| Flt Lt | Garth R O'Sullivan | 2 May 1928 | |
| Fg Off | Hugh R M Nicholl | 19 Nov 1926 | Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | George M Pares | 9 Sep 1927 | Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | Simon Borrett | 18 May 1928 | Lt, RN |
Source - Air Force List July 1928
| Date | Location |
| 19 Jul 1928 | RAF Lee-on-Solent |
| 30 Aug 1928 | HMS Vindictive |
| Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
| Fairey IIID | HMS Vindictive | China Station |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | Garth R O'Sullivan | 2 May 1928 | Officer Commanding, AFC |
| Fg Off | Hugh R M Nicholl | 19 Nov 1926 | Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | Simon Borrett | 18 May 1928 | Lt, RN |
Source - September 1928 Air Force List
| Date | Location |
| 2 Dec 1928 | RAF Lee-on-Solent |
| 15 Jan 1929 | HMS Vindictive |
It was redesignated as No 444 (Fleet Spotter Reconnaissance) Flight in April 1929.
| Date | Location |
| 7 Apr 1929 | RAF Lee-on-Solent |
| 30 Apr 1929 | HMS Vindictive |
| 6 Nov 1929 | RAF Lee-on-Solent |
| Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
| Fairey IIID | HMS Vindictive | Coastal Area |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | Garth R O'Sullivan | 2 May 1928 | Officer Commanding, AFC |
| Fg Off | Edward J E Burt | 3 May 1929 | Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | Simon Borrett | 18 May 1928 | Lt, RN |
Source - Air Force List July 1929
It was withdrawn from HMS Vindictive in November 1929 when the vessel began a refit.
| Date | Location |
| 6 Nov 1929 | RAF Lee-on-Solent |
| Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
| Fairey IIID | RAF Lee-on-Solent | Coastal Area |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | Garth R O'Sullivan | 2 May 1928 | Officer Commanding, AFC |
| Fg Off | George M Pares | 2 Sep 1929 | Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | Robert A Chignell | 29 Jan 1930 |
Source - Air Force List July 1930
Source - August 1930 Air Force List
Source - September 1930 Air Force List
Source - October 1930 Air Force List
Source - November 1930 Air Force List
Source - December 1930 Air Force List
In the autumn of 1930 it began providing aircraft for HMS Dorsetshire and HMS Norfolk of the 2nd Cruiser Squadron.
| Aircraft operated | Shore Station/Ship | Command/Group |
| Fairey IIID | RAF Lee-on-Solent | Coastal Area |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | Ian R Grant | 22 Apr 1931 | Officer Commanding, Lt Cdr, RN |
| Fg Off | Sidney T Morgan | 26 Aug 1930 | Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | Robert A Chignell | 29 Jan 1930 |
Source - Air Force List July 1931
In August 1931 it also took on responsibility for aircraft in HMS York of the 2nd Cruiser Squadron and the following month re-equipped with Fairey IIIFs.
Around the same time it was reallocated to provide aircraft to HMS Hood and HMS Valiant of the Battlecruiser Squadron of the Atlantic Fleet
| Aircraft operated | Naval Command | Command/Group |
| Fairey IIIF | 2nd Battle Squadron, Home Fleet | Coastal Area |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | Alec A Murray | 25 Jul 1931 | Officer Commanding, Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | Douglas W Mackendrick | 4 Jan 1932 | Lt, RN |
Source - Air Force List July 1932
From December 1932 until December 1933 it operated at least one Seal
| Aircraft operated | Naval Command | Command/Group |
| Fairey IIIF | Capital Ships, Home Fleet | Coastal Area |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | Douglas W Mackendrick | 4 Jan 1932 | Officer Commanding, Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | Francis W N Bassett | 22 May 1933 | Lt, RN |
Source - Air Force List July 1933
In September 1933 it was transferred to the Home Fleet providing aircraft to HMS Barham, HMS Renown and HMS Valiant.
| Aircraft operated | Naval Command | Command/Group |
| Fairey IIIF | Capital Ships, Home Fleet | Coastal Area |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | Douglas W Mackendrick | 4 Jan 1932 | Officer Commanding, Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | Francis W N Bassett | 22 May 1933 | Lt, RN |
Source - January 1934 Air Force List
From February to August 1934 it operated at least one Seagull V.
| Aircraft operated | Naval Command | Command/Group |
| Fairey IIIF | Capital Ships, Home Fleet | Coastal Area |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Fg Off | Francis W N Bassett | 22 May 1933 | Lt Cdr, RN |
| Fg Off | Herbert C Ranald | 11 Jan 1934 | Lt Cdr, RN |
| Fg Off | John O Mansell | 23 May 1934 | Lt, RN |
Source - Air Force List July 1934
It provided aircraft to HMS Nelson from October 1934.
It began to operate some Walrus Is in January 1935.
| Date | Location |
| 5 Jun 1935 | RAF Mount Batten |
| Aircraft operated | Naval Command | Command/Group |
| Fairey IIIF | Capital Ships, Home Fleet | Coastal Area |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | Richard A Peyton | 3 Sep 1934 | Officer Commanding, Lt Cdr, RN |
| Flt Lt | Edward O F Price | 10 Dec 1934 | Lt Cdr, RN |
| Fg Off | Herbert C Ranald | 11 Jan 1934 | Lt Cdr, RN |
| Fg Off | John O Mansell | 23 May 1934 | Lt, RN |
Source - Air Force List July 1935
In August/September 1935 it took over HMS Royal Sovereign and HMS Ramillies from No 447 Flight but lost HMS Barham and HMS Valiant.
In January 1936 HMS Ramillies returned to No 447 Flight but in May it took over HMS Repulse.
It began to operate some Hawker Ospreys in January 1936.
It began to operate some Blackburn Shark IIs and Swordfish Is in March 1936.
| Aircraft operated | Naval Command | Command/Group |
| Fairey IIIF Hawker Osprey Blackburn Shark II Fairey Swordfish I |
Capital Ships, Home Fleet | Coastal Command |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | Richard A Peyton | 3 Sep 1934 | Officer Commanding, Lt Cdr, RN |
| Flt Lt | D C V Pelly | 27 Dec 1935 | Lt, RN |
| Fg Off | John O Mansell | 23 May 1934 | Lt, RN |
Source - Air Force List July 1936
It was disbanded on 15 July 1936, being absorbed into Nos 702 and 705 (Catapult) Flights.
Re-equipment and movement dates are based on those shown in 'Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm' by Ray Sturtivant
[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 | Jul 1933 | Jan 1934 | Jul 1934 | Jul 1935 | Jul 1936]
This page was last updated on 08/07/19
