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HQ No 51 Group Personnel, locations and units 1939 - 1945

[Dec 1939 | Jun 1941 | Jul 1942 | Dec 1943 | Jun 1944 | Jun 1945]

This Group was formed on 11 May 1939 at RAF Hendon to take over responsibility for some of the Elementary and Reserve Flying Training Schools from No 50 Group, moving to its new HQ in Leeds on 8 August 1939.

December 1939

Location Command Controlled
Moorfield House, Alma Road, Otley Road, Leeds 6 Reserve Command

  • No 4 Elementary Flying Training School - Brough

  • No 6 Elementary Flying Training School - Sywell

  • No 7 Elementary Flying Training School - Desford

  • No 3 Air Observer Navigation School - Hamble

  • No 9 Elementary Flying Training School - Ansty

  • No 4 Air Observer Navigation School - Ansty

  • No 11 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School - Perth

  • No 7 Air Observer Navigation School - Oxford

  • No 12 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School - Prestwick

  • No 1 Air Observer Navigation School - Prestwick

  • No 2 Supplementary School of W/T Training - Prestwick

  • No 14 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School - Elmdon

  • No 22 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School - Cambridge

  • No 24 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School - Belfast

  • No 30 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School - Derby

  • No 9 Air Observer Navigation School - Blackpool

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Gp Capt J Noakes 11 May 1939 Officer Commanding, AFC, MM
Air Staff
Wg Cdr H V Drew 26 Jul 1939  
Sqn Ldr W M Graham 26 Jul 1939  
Flt Lt J E C G F Gyll-Murray 26 Jul 1939  
Flt Lt R N Smith 30 May 1939  
Staffs of the Services
Navigation
Sqn Ldr J H McN Campbell 26 Jul 1939  
Fg Off E G Palmer  3 Apr 1939  
Engineer
Sqn Ldr William F Beckwith 14 Aug 1939 later AVM
Medical
Flt Lt R S Peill 23 Oct 1939  
Miscellaneous
Capt W E C Kendle   Code and Cypher Duties, IARO
Flt Lt W Small   RAFO
Fg Off M E Wood   Camp Commandant
Supernumerary
Flt Lt K E Cornabé 28 Aug 1939  

Source - December 1939 Confidential Air Force List

It was taken over by Flying Training Command on 27 May 1940.

June 1941

Location Command Controlled
Moorfield House, Alma Road, Otley Road, Leeds 6 Flying Training Command

  • SHQ RAF Ansty

    • No 9 Elementary Flying Training School

    • No 4 Air Observer Navigation School

  • SHQ RAF Bobbington

    • No 3 Air Observer Navigation School

  • SHQ RAF Brough

    • No 4 Elementary Flying Training School

  • SHQ RAF Carlisle

    • No 15 Elementary Flying Training School

  • SHQ RAF Derby

    • No 16 Elementary Flying Training School

  • SHQ RAF Desford

    • No 7 Elementary Flying Training School

  • SHQ RAF Elmdon

    • No 14 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School

  • SHQ RAF Meir

    • No 5 Elementary Flying Training School

  • SHQ RAF North Luffenham

    • No 17 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School

  • SHQ RAF Perth

    • No 11 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School

    • No 5 (Supplementary) Flying Instructors School

  • SHQ RAF Prestwick

    • No 1 Air Observer Navigation School

  • SHQ RAF Sealand

    • No 19 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School

  • SHQ RAF Yeadon

    • No 20 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School

 

Rank Name Date Notes
A/Cdre Brian E Baker 30 May 1940 Air Officer Commanding, DSO, MC, AFC; later AM
Air Staff
Gp Capt J Noakes 30 May 1940 Senior Air Staff Officer, AFC, MM
Flt Lt C Sarsfield-Sampson  8 Aug 1940  
Flt Lt N A West 21 Jan 1941  
Administrative Staff
Sqn Ldr E L Ardley 20 May 1940 Senior Personnel Staff Officer
Fg Off E J Carthew 27 May 1940 Personnel Duties
Plt Off S Hulme  3 Mar 1941 Personnel Duties
Plt Off R D Hyem  3 Mar 1941  
Plt Off W H C Coates 10 Mar 1941 MC
Staffs of the Services
Navigation
Flt Lt E G Palmer 26 Jul 1939  
Signals
Flt Lt W Small  1 Sep 1939  
Armament
Fg Off J E Moir 10 Apr 1940  
Photography
Fg Off  AC Watkins 20May 1940  
Medical
Wg Cdr F B C L B Crawford  5 Apr 1941 Senior Medical Officer, MB, BCh, DPH
Fg Off K R H Wardrop 19 Feb 1941 MB, ChB
Physical Training
Fg Off W H Turner 27 Sep 1940  
Miscellaneous Appointments
Plt Off C H Webb 17 Jan 1941 MC
Plt Off J Elcoate 31 Jan 1941  

Source - June 1941 Confidential Air Force List

July 1942

Location Command Controlled
Moorfield House, Alma Road, Otley Road, Leeds 6 Flying Training Command

  • SHQ RAF Ansty

    • No 9 Elementary Flying Training School

  • SHQ RAF Brough

    • No 4 Elementary Flying Training School

  • SHQ RAF Carlisle

    • No 15 Elementary Flying Training School

  • SHQ RAF Derby

    • No 16 Elementary Flying Training School

  • SHQ RAF Desford

    • No 7 Elementary Flying Training School

  • SHQ RAF Elmdon

    • No 14 Elementary Flying Training School

  • SHQ RAF Perth

    • No 11 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School

    • No 5 (Elementary) Flying Instructors School

  • No 24 Elementary Flying Training School - Sealand

  • No 28 Elementary Flying Training School - Wolverhampton

  • No 3 Pupil Pilots Pool - Wolverhampton

 

Rank Name Date Notes
A/Cdre George C Bailey  7 Mar 1942 Air Officer Commanding, DSO
Air Staff
Gp Capt L B Duggan 14 Nov 1941 Senior Air Staff Officer, AFC, MM
Sqn Ldr T Gadd 26 Jan 1942  
Sqn Ldr C Sarsfield-Sampson  8 Aug 1940  
Fg Off W H C Coates 10 Mar 1941 MC
Fg Off F S Cannell  3 Nov 1941  
Administrative Staff
Wg Cdr J Everidge 16 Jun 1941 Senior Personnel Staff Officer, MC
Flt Lt R W Hemsley 19 Dec 1941  
Fg Off R D Hyem  3 Mar 1941  
Fg Off F V Hargreaves 25 Mar 1942  
Fg Off J W Elcoate 25 Feb 1942  
Fg Off H H Norris 16 Mar 1942  
Plt Off J E R Ratcliffe  7 May 1942  
Staffs of the Services
Navigation
Plt Off P W W Hornsey  5 May 1942  
Medical
Sqn Ldr T D L Bolan  5 Jan 1942 Senior Medical Officer, LRCP & S
Flt Lt R C Witt  5 Jan 1942 MRCS, LRCP
Fg Off D H Meldrum 30 Nov 1941 MRCS, LRCP
Physical Training
Fg Off C L Bigam 15 Sep 1941  
Educational
Mr N Gibson  6 May 1942 Group Education Officer, RAFVR
RAF Regiment
Lt Col H A Holme 23 Feb 1942
Flt Lt R N Kennedy 29 Jan 1942  

Source - July 1942 Confidential Air Force List

December 1943

Location Command Controlled
Moorfield House, Alma Road, Otley Road, Leeds 6 Flying Training Command

  • SHQ RAF Ansty

    • No 9 Elementary Flying Training School

  • SHQ RAF Brough

    • No 4 Elementary Flying Training School

  • SHQ RAF Carlisle

    • No 15 Elementary Flying Training School

  • SHQ RAF Derby

    • No 16 Elementary Flying Training School

  • SHQ RAF Desford

    • No 7 Elementary Flying Training School

  • SHQ RAF Elmdon

    • No 14 Elementary Flying Training School

  • SHQ RAF Perth

    • No 11 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School

  • No 24 Elementary Flying Training School - Sealand

  • No 28 Elementary Flying Training School - Wolverhampton

  • Pupil Pilots Pool - Wolverhampton

 

Rank Name Date Notes
A/Cdre George C Bailey  7 Mar 1942 Air Officer Commanding, DSO
Air Staff
Gp Capt L B Duggan 14 Nov 1941 Senior Air Staff Officer, AFC, MM
Sqn Ldr T Gadd 26 Jan 1942  
Sqn Ldr H M Ferriera 18 Jun 1942 AFC
Administrative Staff
Wg Cdr J Everidge 16 Jun 1941 Senior Administrative Staff Officer, MC
Sqn Ldr R D Hyem  3 Mar 1941 Personnel
Staffs of the Services
Medical
Wg Cdr J Aitken  1 May 1943 Senior Medical Officer, MB, ChB
Educational
Mr S R Williams 16 Aug 1943 Grade II, MA, RAFVR
RAF Regiment
Lt Col H A Holme 23 Feb 1942
Sqn Ldr F S Cannell  1 Jun 1942  

Source - December 1943 Confidential Air Force List

June 1944

Location Command Controlled
Moorfield House, Alma Road, Otley Road, Leeds 6 Flying Training Command

  • SHQ RAF Brough

    • No 4 Elementary Flying Training School

  • SHQ RAF Carlisle

    • No 15 Elementary Flying Training School

  • SHQ RAF Derby

    • No 16 Elementary Flying Training School

  • SHQ RAF Desford

    • No 7 Elementary Flying Training School

  • SHQ RAF Elmdon

    • No 14 Elementary Flying Training School

  • SHQ RAF Perth

    • No 11 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School

  • No 24 Elementary Flying Training School - Sealand

  • No 28 Elementary Flying Training School - Wolverhampton

  • Pupil Pilots Pool - Wolverhampton

  • No 51 Group Communication Flight - Yeadon

 

Rank Name Date Notes
A/Cdre George C Bailey  7 Mar 1942 Air Officer Commanding, DSO
Air Staff
Gp Capt L B Duggan 14 Nov 1941 Senior Air Staff Officer, AFC, MM
Sqn Ldr T Gadd 26 Jan 1942  
Sqn Ldr H M Ferriera 18 Jun 1942 AFC
Administrative Staff
Wg Cdr J Everidge 16 Jun 1941 Senior Administrative Staff Officer, MC
Sqn Ldr H H Norris  1 Feb 1944 Personnel
Staffs of the Services
Medical
Wg Cdr J Aitken  1 May 1943 Senior Medical Officer, MB, ChB
Educational
Mr S R Williams 16 Aug 1943 Grade II, MA, RAFVR
RAF Regiment
Lt Col H A Holme 23 Feb 1942

Source - June 1944 Confidential Air Force List

June 1945

Location Command Controlled
Moorfield House, Alma Road, Otley Road, Leeds 6 Flying Training Command

  • SHQ RAF Brough

    • No 4 Elementary Flying Training School

  • SHQ RAF Carlisle

    • No 15 Elementary Flying Training School

  • SHQ RAF Derby

    • No 16 Elementary Flying Training School

  • SHQ RAF Desford

    • No 7 Elementary Flying Training School

  • SHQ RAF Elmdon

    • No 14 Elementary Flying Training School

  • SHQ RAF Perth

    • No 11 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School

  • No 24 Elementary Flying Training School - Sealand

  • No 28 Elementary Flying Training School - Wolverhampton

  • Pupil Pilots Pool - Wolverhampton

  • No 51 Group Communication Flight - Yeadon

 

Rank Name Date Notes
A/Cdre Douglas Iron 12 Jun 1944 Air Officer Commanding, CBE
Air Staff
Gp Capt F F W Hall  4 Sep 1944 Senior Air Staff Officer,
Sqn Ldr T Gadd 26 Jan 1942  
Sqn Ldr H M Ferriera 18 Jun 1942 AFC
Administrative Staff
Wg Cdr J Everidge 16 Jun 1941 Senior Administrative Staff Officer, MC
Sqn Ldr H V Campbell 11 Jan 1945 OBE
Staffs of the Services
Medical
Wg Cdr J Aitken  1 May 1943 Senior Medical Officer, MB, ChB
RAF Regiment
Wg Cdr C E Harvey 31 Aug 1944

Source - June 1944 Confidential Air Force List

[Dec 1939 | Jun 1941 | Jul 1942 | Dec 1943 | Jun 1944 | Jun 1945]

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