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HQ No 87 Group Personnel, locations and units

[Jun 1945 | Jul 1945 | Aug 1945 | Sep 1945 | Jul 1946 | Aug 1946]

This Group was formed on 17 February 1945 at the Hotel Monsigny, Rue Monsigny in Paris within 2nd Tactical Air Force to control units in the Paris area, previously controlled by HQ RAF Unit Paris.

June 1945

Location Command Controlled
Hotel Monsigny, Rue Monsigny, Paris 2nd Tactical Air Force

  • Unable to list units at present

 

Rank Name Date Notes
AVM Walter J M Akerman 24 Apr 1945 Air Officer Commanding, CBE; later AVM
Air Staff
Wg Cdr M Hallam  9 Apr 1945 DFC
Administrative Staff
Gp Capt the Viscount Acheson 17 Feb 1945 Senior Officer i/c Administration
Wg Cdr V Mercer-Smith 27 Mar 1945  
Wg Cdr the Marquess de Amodio 17 Feb 1945  
Sqn Ldr C J Gilmour-Wood  6 Mar 1945  
Staffs of the Services
Engineer
Wg Cdr H H B Lewis 14 Mar 1945  
Signals
Wg Cdr R T Read 11 Mar 1945  
Equipment
Sqn Ldr O R Toyne 20 Mar 1945 MBE
Sqn Ldr L M Adams 20 Mar 1945  
Accountant
Sqn Ldr R Boughey  9 Mar 1945  
Medical
Wg Cdr E Donovan 13  Mar 1945 MB, ChB
WAAF Staff Officer
Sqn Off W B Thompson 20 Mar 1945 WAAF
Miscellaneous Appointment
Sqn Ldr K Hitchcock 28 Feb 1945  

Source - June 1945 Confidential Air Force List

It assumed control of units in southern France on 21 June 1945 with an Advance HQ at Château St Leger, 29 Rue Alexandre, St Germaine. 

Control was transferred to Transport Command on 15 July 1945 as No 87 (Transport) Group.

The main HQ moved to Château le Lonchere, Bougival near Paris on 1 July 1945.

July 1945

Location Command Controlled

Advance HQ:

Château St Leger, 29 Rue Alexandre, St Germaine

Main HQ:

Château le Lonchere, Bougival

 Transport Command

  • No 108 Repair and Salvage Unit

  • No 428 Repair and Salvage Unit

  • No 4 RAF Base Area

  • No 429 Equipment Park

  • No 430 Equipment Park

  • No 87 Group Communications Flight

 

Rank Name Date Notes
AVM Walter J M Akerman 24 Apr 1945 Air Officer Commanding, CBE; later AVM
Air Staff
Wg Cdr M Hallam  9 Apr 1945 DFC
Administrative Staff
Gp Capt the Viscount Acheson 17 Feb 1945 Senior Officer i/c Administration
Wg Cdr V Mercer-Smith 27 Mar 1945  
Wg Cdr the Marquess de Amodio 17 Feb 1945  
Sqn Ldr C J Gilmour-Wood  6 Mar 1945  
Staffs of the Services
Engineer
Wg Cdr H H B Lewis 14 Mar 1945  
Signals
Wg Cdr R T Read 11 Mar 1945  
Equipment
Sqn Ldr O R Toyne 20 Mar 1945 MBE
Sqn Ldr A S Duff 18 May 1945  
Sqn Ldr L M Adams 20 Mar 1945  
Accountant
Sqn Ldr R Boughey  9 Mar 1945  
Medical
Wg Cdr E Donovan 13  Mar 1945 MB, ChB
WAAF Staff Officer
Sqn Off W B Thompson 20 Mar 1945 WAAF
Miscellaneous Appointment
Sqn Ldr K Hitchcock 28 Feb 1945  
Sqn Ldr B de C F Holroyd 28 Feb 1945  

Source - July 1945 Confidential Air Force List (AIR 10/3839)

August 1945

Location Command Controlled

Advance HQ:

Château St Leger, 29 Rue Alexandre, St Germaine

Main HQ:

Château le Lonchere, Bougival

 Transport Command

  • No 339 Wing

  • No 340 Wing

  • No 326 Squadron

  • No 327 Squadron

  • No 328 Squadron

  • No 540 Squadron

  • No 871 AMES

  • No 8015 AMES

  • No 8035 AMES

  • No 8540 AMES

  • No 14020 AMES

  • No 14034 AMES

  • No 15051 AMES

  • No 254 ASRU

  • No 90 Air Stores Park

  • Air Mail Centre

  • No 4 RAF Base Area

  • Bomber Command Unit (France)

  • Bomb Disposal Liaison Party

  • No 90 Embarkation Unit

  • No 429 Equipment Park

  • No 430 Equipment Park

  • No 87 Group Communications Flight

  • Joint Air Traffic Control Centre

  • RAF Missing, Research and Enquiry Service

  • RAF Training Delegation (France)

  • No 2 Officers' Rest Centre

  • No 108 Repair and Salvage Unit

  • No 428 Repair and Salvage Unit

  • No 8 Special Liaison Unit

  • No 5274 MSU

  • No 5286 MSU

  • No 5305 MSU

  • No 55042 MSU

 

Rank Name Date Notes
AVM Walter J M Akerman 24 Apr 1945 Air Officer Commanding, CBE; later AVM
Air Staff
Wg Cdr M Hallam  9 Apr 1945 DFC
Administrative Staff
Gp Capt the Viscount Acheson 17 Feb 1945 Senior Officer i/c Administration
Wg Cdr V Mercer-Smith 27 Mar 1945  
Wg Cdr G W Jordan 28 Jun 1945 Senior Personnel Staff Officer, MBE
Wg Cdr the Marquess de Amodio 17 Feb 1945  
Sqn Ldr C J Gilmour-Wood  6 Mar 1945  
Staffs of the Services
Engineer
Wg Cdr H H B Lewis 14 Mar 1945  
Sqn Ldr S F G Hussey 14 Jul 1945  
Signals
Wg Cdr R T Read 11 Mar 1945  
Equipment
Sqn Ldr O R Toyne 20 Mar 1945 MBE
Sqn Ldr A S Duff 18 May 1945  
Sqn Ldr L M Adams 20 Mar 1945  
Accountant
Sqn Ldr R Boughey  9 Mar 1945  
Medical
Wg Cdr E Donovan 13  Mar 1945 MB, ChB
WAAF Staff Officer
Sqn Off W B Thompson 20 Mar 1945 WAAF
Miscellaneous Appointment
Sqn Ldr K Hitchcock 28 Feb 1945  
Sqn Ldr B de C F Holroyd 28 Feb 1945  

Source - August 1945 Confidential Air Force List (AIR 10/3839)

September 1945

Location Command Controlled

Advance HQ:

Château St Leger, 29 Rue Alexandre, St Germaine

Main HQ:

Château le Lonchere, Bougival

 		 Transport Command

  • No 339 Wing

  • No 340 Wing

  • No 326 Squadron

  • No 327 Squadron

  • No 328 Squadron

  • No 540 Squadron

  • No 104 AMES

  • No 106 AMES

  • No 122 AMES

  • No 127 AMES

  • No 133 AMES

  • No 871 AMES

  • No 8015 AMES

  • No 8035 AMES

  • No 14020 AMES

  • No 14034 AMES

  • No 15051 AMES

  • No 254 ASRU

  • No 90 Air Stores Park

  • Air Mail Centre

  • No 4 RAF Base Area

  • Bomber Command Unit (France)

  • Bomb Disposal Liaison Party

  • No 90 Embarkation Unit

  • No 98 Embarkation Unit

  • No 429 Equipment Park

  • No 430 Equipment Park

  • No 87 Group Communications Flight

  • Joint Air Traffic Control Centre

  • RAF Missing, Research and Enquiry Service

  • RAF Training Delegation (France)

  • No 2 Officers' Rest Centre

  • No 81 Repair and Salvage Unit

  • No 108 Repair and Salvage Unit

  • No 428 Repair and Salvage Unit

  • No 8 Special Liaison Unit

  • No 5274 MSU

  • No 5305 MSU

 

Rank Name Date Notes
AVM Walter J M Akerman 24 Apr 1945 Air Officer Commanding, CBE; later AVM
Air Staff
Wg Cdr M Hallam  9 Apr 1945 DFC
Administrative Staff
Gp Capt the Viscount Acheson 17 Feb 1945 Senior Officer i/c Administration
Wg Cdr V Mercer-Smith 27 Mar 1945  
Wg Cdr G W Jordan 28 Jun 1945 Senior Personnel Staff Officer, MBE
Wg Cdr the Marquess de Amodio 17 Feb 1945  
Sqn Ldr C J Gilmour-Wood  6 Mar 1945  
Sqn Ldr C A Male 20 Jul 1945  
Staffs of the Services
Engineer
Wg Cdr H H B Lewis 14 Mar 1945  
Sqn Ldr S F G Hussey 14 Jul 1945  
Signals
Wg Cdr R T Read 11 Mar 1945  
Equipment
Sqn Ldr O R Toyne 20 Mar 1945 MBE
Sqn Ldr A S Duff 18 May 1945  
Sqn Ldr L M Adams 20 Mar 1945  
Accountant
Sqn Ldr R Boughey  9 Mar 1945  
Medical
Wg Cdr E Donovan 13  Mar 1945 MB, ChB
Dental
Sqn Ldr R E Morgan 17 Jul 1945 LDS
WAAF Staff Officer
Sqn Off W B Thompson 20 Mar 1945 WAAF
Miscellaneous Appointment
Sqn Ldr K Hitchcock 28 Feb 1945  
Sqn Ldr B de C F Holroyd 28 Feb 1945  

Source - September 1945 Confidential Air Force List (AIR 10/3839)

July 1946

Location Command Controlled

Advance HQ:

Château St Leger, 29 Rue Alexandre, St Germaine

Main HQ:

Château le Lonchere, Bougival

 		 Transport Command

  • No 502 (Air Disarmament) Wing

  • Aircraft Safety Centre

  • No 101 AMES

  • No 104 AMES

  • No 106 AMES

  • No 108 AMES

  • No 109 AMES

  • No 121 AMES

  • No 122 AMES

  • No 127 AMES

  • No 129 AMES

  • No 133 AMES

  • Air Mail Centre

  • No 89 Embarkation Unit

  • No 90 Embarkation Unit

  • No 429 Equipment Park

  • No 87 Group Communications Flight

  • No 87 Group Police District

  • Joint Air Traffic Centre

  • RAF Element of Medloc

  • No 1 Missing, Research and Enquiry Unit

  • RAF Delegation (France)

  • No 1 Officers' Rest Centre

  • Rest Centre (Other Rnaks)

  • No 428 Repair and Salvage Unit

  • No 103 Staging Post

  • No 137 Staging Post

  • No 5042 MSU

 

Rank Name Date Notes
A/Cdr Henry N Thornton  5 Feb 1946 Air Officer Commanding, CBE; later AVM
Air Staff
Wg Cdr J Blackburn  8 Apr 1946 Senior Air Staff Officer, DSO, DFC
Sqn Ldr R Cockburn 21 Dec 1945  
Administrative Staff
Gp Capt C A Watt  6 Mar 1946 Senior Officer i/c Administration
Wg Cdr V Mercer-Smith 27 Mar 1945 Organisation
Sqn Ldr A E Morgan 27 Mar 1946 Senior Personnel Staff Officer, MBE
Sqn Ldr J V Hay 21 Feb 1946 Organisation
Sqn Ldr C J Gilmour-Wood  6 Mar 1945  
Staffs of the Services
Engineer
Wg Cdr S Leary 18 Jan 1945  
Sqn Ldr S F G Hussey 14 Jul 1945  
Signals
Sqn Ldr J R Hicks 12 Dec 1945  
Equipment
Sqn Ldr A S Duff 18 May 1945  
Accountant
Sqn Ldr A L G Cadman 25 Nov 1945  
Medical
Wg Cdr H O'B Howat  1 Nov 1945 MB, ChB
Sqn Ldr D O Hicks 14 Oct 1945 MB, BCh
Dental
Sqn Ldr W R Foreman 15 Feb 1945 LDS, RCS
Educational
Mr H I Nelson 18 Aug 1945 MA, RAFVR
Works
Sqn Ldr A L Gray  1 Jan 1946
Miscellaneous Appointment
Sqn Ldr C F Edwards 18 Nov 1945  

Source - July 1946 Confidential Air Force List (AIR 10/5239)

It was disbanded by being redesignated No 87 Wing on 15 Jul 1946 but was stiil being listed in the August edition of CAFL.

August 1946

Location Command Controlled
C/o British Army of the Rhine Transport Command

  • No 502 (Air Disarmament) Wing

  • Aircraft Safety Centre

  • No 101 AMES

  • No 104 AMES

  • No 106 AMES

  • No 108 AMES

  • No 109 AMES

  • No 121 AMES

  • No 122 AMES

  • No 127 AMES

  • No 129 AMES

  • No 133 AMES

  • Air Mail Centre

  • No 89 Embarkation Unit

  • No 90 Embarkation Unit

  • No 429 Equipment Park

  • No 87 Group Communications Flight

  • No 87 Group Police District

  • Joint Air Traffic Centre

  • RAF Element of Medloc

  • No 1 Missing, Research and Enquiry Unit

  • RAF Delegation (France)

  • No 1 Officers' Rest Centre

  • Rest Centre (Other Rnaks)

  • No 428 Repair and Salvage Unit

  • No 137 Staging Post

  • No 5042 MSU

 

Rank Name Date Notes
A/Cdr Henry N Thornton  5 Feb 1946 Air Officer Commanding, CBE; later AVM
Air Staff
Wg Cdr J Blackburn  8 Apr 1946 Senior Air Staff Officer, DSO, DFC
Sqn Ldr R Cockburn 21 Dec 1945  
Administrative Staff
Gp Capt C A Watt  6 Mar 1946 Senior Officer i/c Administration
Wg Cdr V Mercer-Smith 27 Mar 1945 Organisation
Sqn Ldr A E Morgan 27 Mar 1946 Senior Personnel Staff Officer, MBE
Sqn Ldr J V Hay 21 Feb 1946 Organisation
Sqn Ldr C J Gilmour-Wood  6 Mar 1945  
Staffs of the Services
Engineer
Wg Cdr S Leary 18 Jan 1945  
Sqn Ldr S F G Hussey 14 Jul 1945  
Signals
Sqn Ldr J R Hicks 12 Dec 1945  
Equipment
Sqn Ldr A S Duff 18 May 1945  
Accountant
Sqn Ldr A L G Cadman 25 Nov 1945  
Medical
Wg Cdr H O'B Howat  1 Nov 1945 MB, ChB
Sqn Ldr D O Hicks 14 Oct 1945 MB, BCh
Dental
Sqn Ldr W R Foreman 15 Feb 1945 LDS, RCS
Educational
Mr H I Nelson 18 Aug 1945 MA, RAFVR
Works
Sqn Ldr A L Gray  1 Jan 1946
Miscellaneous Appointment
Sqn Ldr C F Edwards 18 Nov 1945  

Source - August 1946 Confidential Air Force List (AIR 10/5239)

[Jun 1945 | Jul 1945 | Aug 1945 | Sep 1945 | Jul 1946 | Aug 1946]

This page was last updated on 29/11/23©

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