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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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[Apr 1920 | May 1920 | Jun 1920 | Jul 1920 | Aug 1920 | Jul 1921 | Apr 1921 | Aug 1921 | Jul 1922 | May 1923 | Jul 1923 | May 1924 | Jul 1925 | Jul 1935 | Jul 1936 | Aug 1936 | Jul 1937 | Jul 1938 | Jan 1939 | Apr 1939 | May 1939]
With the formation of the RAF on 1 April 1918, all British military and naval aircraft came under its control. This included all aircraft operated from ships of the Royal Navy, leading to the situation whereby the air and ground crews on board these ships were members of the RAF and the crews of the ships were members of the Royal Navy. Effectively the small RAF staffs on board the ship operated in much the same way as the staff at a shore based RAF station, the airfield being the flight deck of the carrier. Whilst on board ship the RAF personnel were subject to Naval discipline under the jurisdiction of the ship's captain, the senior RAF officer acting as the captain's air advisor.
Initially a number of squadrons were allocated to man the carriers these being No 3 Squadron, No 203 Squadron, No 210 Squadron and No 205 Squadron but on 1 April the RAF formed the Fleet Air Arm of The RAF and these squadrons were split up into a series of smaller Flights numbered in the 400 series. With the transfer of the FAA to the Admiralty in July 1939, RAF HQ Units in carriers ceased to exist, with most of the posts being taken over by naval officers, although some RAF personnel continued to be seconded to the Royal Navy for some time.
The original HMS Pegasus was being built at the John Brown yards on Clydebank when it was bought by the Admiralty on 27 February 1917. It was launched on 9 June 1917 and commissioned as a seaplane carrier on 15 August 1917. In 1923 the forward flying off deck was removed and in was reclassified as an aircraft tender on 26 February 1924. It was paid off to the reserve on 7 May 1925 but was recommissioned 1929 as a ferry carrier, finally being sold for scrapping at Morecombe on 22 August 1931.
The HQ Unit was formed in December 1918 at Dundee but it was 6 March 1920 before she sailed to Turkey and presumably disbanded on her return in December 1923. It reformed on 20 March 1924 and disbanded on its return from Singapore on 31 March 1925.
| Fleet | Units operated |
| Mediterranean Fleet |
|
| Rank | Name | Branch | Notes |
| Flt Lt | Francis N Halsted | A & S | |
| Obs Off | Eric B C Betts | O | DSC, DFC; later AVM |
| Obs Off | Leonard Ritson | O | |
| Fg Off | Frederick H Isaac | A & S | |
| Obs Off | Ernest J Garner | O | |
| Fg Off | William Wheatley | T | |
| Fg Off | Geoffrey R B Smyth | A | |
| Fg Off | Edward D H Davies | S | later A/Cdre |
| Fg Off | George A A Pennington | A & S | |
| Fg Off | Stephen C Strafford | A | DFC; later AM |
| Obs Off | Douglas R W Thompson | O | |
| Plt Off | Sidney A Conway | Stores |
Source - Air Force List April 1920
| Fleet | Command/Group | Units operated |
| Mediterranean Fleet | Mediterranean Group |
|
| Rank | Name | Branch | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | Francis N Halsted | A & S | 24 Nov 1919 | |
| Obs Off | Eric B C Betts | O | 5 Dec 1919 | DSC, DFC; later AVM |
| Obs Off | Leonard Ritson | O | 5 Dec 1919 | |
| Fg Off | Frederick H Isaac | A & S | 9 Dec 1919 | |
| Obs Off | Ernest J Garner | O | 5 Dec 1919 | |
| Fg Off | William Wheatley | T | 1 Mar 1920 | |
| Fg Off | Geoffrey R B Smyth | A | 9 Dec 1919 | |
| Fg Off | Edward D H Davies | S | 27 Feb 1920 | later A/Cdre |
| Fg Off | George A A Pennington | A & S | 27 Feb 1920 | |
| Fg Off | Stephen C Strafford | A | 2 Dec 1919 | DFC; later AM |
| Obs Off | Douglas R W Thompson | O | 2 Dec 1919 | |
| Plt Off | Sidney A Conway | Stores | 14 Jan 1920 |
Source - Air Force List May 1920
| Fleet | Command/Group | Units operated |
| Mediterranean Fleet | Mediterranean Group |
|
| Rank | Name | Branch | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | Francis N Halsted | A & S | 24 Nov 1919 | |
| Obs Off | Eric B C Betts | O | 5 Dec 1919 | DSC, DFC; later AVM |
| Obs Off | Leonard Ritson | O | 5 Dec 1919 | |
| Fg Off | Frederick H Isaac | A & S | 9 Dec 1919 | |
| Obs Off | Ernest J Garner | O | 5 Dec 1919 | |
| Fg Off | Geoffrey R B Smyth | A | 9 Dec 1919 | |
| Fg Off | Stephen C Strafford | A | 2 Dec 1919 | DFC; later AM |
| Obs Off | Douglas R W Thompson | O | 2 Dec 1919 | |
| Plt Off | Sidney A Conway | Stores | 14 Jan 1920 |
Source - Air Force List June 1920
| Fleet | Command/Group | Units operated |
| Mediterranean Fleet | Mediterranean Group |
|
| Rank | Name | Branch | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | Francis N Halsted | A & S | 24 Nov 1919 | |
| Obs Off | Douglas R W Thompson | O | 2 Dec 1919 | |
| Obs Off | Eric B C Betts | O | 5 Dec 1919 | DSC, DFC; later AVM |
| Obs Off | Leonard Ritson | O | 5 Dec 1919 | |
| Fg Off | Frederick H Isaac | A & S | 9 Dec 1919 | |
| Fg Off | Stephen C Strafford | A | 2 Dec 1919 | DFC; later AM |
| Obs Off | Ernest J Garner | O | 5 Dec 1919 | |
| Fg Off | Sidney A Conway | Stores | 14 Jan 1920 | |
| Fg Off | Geoffrey R B Smyth | A | 9 Dec 1919 |
Source - Air Force List July 1920
| Fleet | Command/Group | Units operated |
| Mediterranean Fleet | Mediterranean Group |
|
| Rank | Name | Branch | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | Roger M Field | SO | 10 Jul 1920 | |
| Flt Lt | Francis N Halsted | A & S | 24 Nov 1919 | |
| Obs Off | Douglas R W Thompson | O | 2 Dec 1919 | |
| Obs Off | Eric B C Betts | O | 5 Dec 1919 | DSC, DFC; later AVM |
| Obs Off | Leonard Ritson | O | 5 Dec 1919 | |
| Fg Off | Frederick H Isaac | A & S | 9 Dec 1919 | |
| Fg Off | Stephen C Strafford | A | 2 Dec 1919 | DFC; later AM |
| Obs Off | Ernest J Garner | O | 5 Dec 1919 | |
| Fg Off | Sidney A Conway | Stores | 14 Jan 1920 | |
| Fg Off | Geoffrey R B Smyth | A | 9 Dec 1919 |
Source - August 1920 Air Force List
Source - April 1921 Air Force List
| Fleet | Command/Group | Units operated |
| Mediterranean Fleet | Mediterranean Group |
|
| Rank | Name | Branch | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | Roger M Field | A & S | 10 Jul 1920 | |
| Flt Lt | Frederic C Lander | A & S | 15 Oct 1920 | AFC |
| Obs Off | Eric B C Betts | O | 5 Dec 1919 | DSC, DFC; later AVM |
| Obs Off | Leonard Ritson | O | 5 Dec 1919 | MBE |
| Fg Off | James W Young | A | 24 Jan 1921 | |
| Fg Off | Esmond S Ades | S | 11 Aug 1920 | |
| Fg Off | Stephen C Strafford | A & S | 2 Dec 1919 | DFC; later AM |
| Obs Off | Robert B Hunter | O | 31 Aug 1920 | |
| Fg Off | Edward D H Davies | S | 27 Feb 1920 | later A/Cdre |
| Fg Off | William Wheatley | T | 1 Mar 1920 | |
| Fg Off | Sidney A Conway | T | 14 Jan 1920 | |
| Fg Off | Geoffrey R B Smyth | A | 9 Dec 1919 |
Source - Air Force List July 1921
| Fleet | Command/Group | Units operated |
| Mediterranean Fleet | Mediterranean Group |
|
| Rank | Name | Branch | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | Roger M Field | A & S | 10 Jul 1920 | |
| Flt Lt | Frederic C Lander | A & S | 15 Oct 1920 | AFC |
| Flt Lt | Eric B C Betts | O | 5 Dec 1919 | DSC, DFC; later AVM |
| Obs Off | Leonard Ritson | O | 5 Dec 1919 | MBE |
| Fg Off | James W Young | A | 24 Jan 1921 | |
| Fg Off | Esmond S Ades | S | 11 Aug 1920 | |
| Fg Off | Stephen C Strafford | A & S | 2 Dec 1919 | DFC; later AM |
| Obs Off | Robert B Hunter | O | 31 Aug 1920 | |
| Fg Off | Edward D H Davies | S | 27 Feb 1920 | later A/Cdre |
| Fg Off | William Wheatley | T | 1 Mar 1920 | |
| Fg Off | Sidney A Conway | T | 14 Jan 1920 | |
| Fg Off | Geoffrey R B Smyth | A | 9 Dec 1919 |
Source - Air Force List August 1921
| Fleet | Command/Group | Units operated |
| Mediterranean Fleet | Mediterranean Group |
|
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | Roger M Field | 10 Jul 1920 | |
| Flt Lt | Arthur R T Pipon | 1 Dec 1921 | DSC |
| Fg Off | William V Simons | 5 Dec 1921 | |
| Fg Off | James W Young | 24 Jan 1921 | |
| Fg Off | Esmond S Ades | 11 Aug 1920 | |
| Fg Off | 8 May 1921 | later A/Cdre | |
| Fg Off | Leon Martin | 3 Dec 1921 | |
| Fg Off | William E James | 24 Feb 1922 | |
| Fg Off | Sidney A Conway | 14 Jan 1920 | |
| Plt Off | Jasper G Peck | 20 Jan 1922 | |
| Plt Off | Dennis C Prance | 9 Mar 1922 | |
| Stores Officer | |||
| Fg Off | Christopher J Elliott | 20 Jan 1922 | |
Source - Air Force List July 1922
| Fleet | Command/Group | Units operated |
| Mediterranean Fleet | Mediterranean Group |
|
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | Roger M Field | 10 Jul 1920 | |
| Flt Lt | Edward D Davis | 7 Jun 1922 | later AVM |
| Fg Off | William V Simons | 5 Dec 1921 | |
| Fg Off | 8 May 1921 | later A/Cdre | |
| Fg/Obs Off | Leon Martin | 3 Dec 1921 | |
| Fg Off | 7 Jun 1922 | later A/Cdre | |
| Fg Off | Archibald J Rankin | 3 Mar 1923 | later A/Cdre |
| Fg Off | William E James | 24 Feb 1922 | |
| Fg/Obs Off | Jasper G Peck | 20 Jan 1922 | |
| Fg/Obs Off | Dennis C Prance | 9 Mar 1922 | |
| Stores Officer | |||
| Fg Off | Christopher J Elliott | 20 Jan 1922 | |
Source - May 1923 Air Force List
| Fleet | Command/Group | Units operated |
| Mediterranean Fleet | Mediterranean Group |
|
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | Roger M Field | 10 Jul 1920 | |
| Flt Lt | Edward D Davis | 7 Jun 1922 | later AVM |
| Fg Off | 8 May 1921 | later A/Cdre | |
| Fg Off | Percival Harris | 23 Mar 1923 | |
| Fg/Obs Off | Leon Martin | 3 Dec 1921 | |
| Fg Off | 7 Jun 1922 | later A/Cdre | |
| Fg/Obs Off | Lance D Stewart | 5 May 1923 | |
| Fg/Obs Off | Jasper G Peck | 20 Jan 1922 | |
| Fg/Obs Off | Dennis C Prance | 9 Mar 1922 | |
| Stores Officer | |||
| Fg Off | Christopher J Elliott | 20 Jan 1922 | |
Source - Air Force List July 1923
| Fleet | Command/Group | Units operated |
| Special duty in Singapore |
|
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | Edward L Tomkinson | 21 Mar 1924 | DSO, AFC |
| Flt Lt | Gerald E Livock | 21 Mar 1924 | DFC |
| Fg Off | Edward P M Davis | 21 Mar 1924 | AFC, AM |
| Fg Off | Frederick H Isaac | 21 Mar 1924 | DFC |
| Fg/Obs Off | Leon Martin | 21 Mar 1924 | |
| Fg Off | 21 Mar 1924 | later A/Cdre | |
| Fg Off | Archibald J Rankin | 21 Mar 1924 | later A/Cdre |
| Fg/Obs Off | Harry A Dinnage | 21 Mar 1924 | |
| Fg/Obs Off | Lance D Stewart | 21 Mar 1924 | |
| Stores Officer | |||
| Fg Off | Albert J Redman | 21 Mar 1924 | DFC |
Source - Air Force List May 1924
She was paid off at Devonport on 7 May 1925.
On 21 December 1934 HMS Ark Royal was renamed HMS Pegasus.
| Station | Units operated |
| Portsmouth |
Source - Air Force List July 1935
| Station | Units operated |
| Portsmouth |
Source - Air Force List July 1936
Source - August 1936 Air Force List
| Station | Units operated |
| Portsmouth |
Source - Air Force List July 1937
| Station | Units operated |
| Portsmouth |
Source - Air Force List July 1938
| Station | Units operated |
| Portsmouth |
Source - Air Force List January 1939
| Station | Units operated |
| Portsmouth |
Source - Confidential Air Force List April 1939
| Station | Units operated |
| Portsmouth |
Source - Confidential Air Force List May 1939
[Apr 1920 | May 1920 | Jun 1920 | Jul 1920 | Aug 1920 | Jul 1921 | Apr 1921 | Aug 1921 | Jul 1922 | May 1923 | Jul 1923 | May 1924 | Jul 1925 | Jul 1935 | Jul 1936 | Aug 1936 | Jul 1937 | Jul 1938 | Jan 1939 | Apr 1939 | May 1939]
This page was last updated on 08/07/19
