Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

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Wessex Bombing Area Personnel, units and locations

[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]

Formed on 12 April 1926 from No 7 Group, initially under the control of Inland Area until 1 Junb 1926 when executive control passed to HQ Air Defences of Great Britain.

July 1926

Location Command  
RAF Andover Air Defences of Great Britain

  • SHQ RAF Andover

  • No 12 (Bombing) Squadron - Andover

  • Staff College - Andover

  • No 58 (Bombing) Squadron - Worthy Down

  • No 11 (Bombing) Squadron  - Netheravon

  • SHQ Spittlegate

  • No 100 (Bombing) Squadron - Spittlegate

  • No 39 (Bombing) Squadron - Spittlegate

  • SHQ Bircham Newton

  • No 7 (Bombing) Squadron - Bircham Newton

  • No 99 (Bombing) Squadron - Bircham Newton

  • No 9 (Bombing) Squadron - Manston

  • No 207 (Bombing) Squadron - Eastchurch

 

Rank Name Date Notes
AVM John M Steel 12 Apr 1926 Air Officer Commanding, CB, CMG, CBE; later ACM
Gp Capt

Hon John D Boyle

12 Apr 1926 CBE, DSO; later A/Cdre
Wg Cdr Malcolm Spicer 12 Apr 1926  
Sqn Ldr Claud W Mackay 12 Apr 1926  
Sqn Ldr

Hon Ralph A Cochrane

 12 Apr 1926 AFC; later ACM
Flt Lt

Geoffrey A H Pidcock

 12 Apr 1926 later AVM
Flt Lt Sylvester L Quine 12 Apr 1926 MC
Flt Lt James Lawson 12 Apr 1926  
Flt Lt John Bussey 12 Apr 1926  
Flt Lt William G E Hayman 12 Apr 1926  
Fg Off Henry F V Battle 12 Apr 1926 later A/Cdre
Stores Officers
Sqn Ldr Harry T Foxon 12 Apr 1926

 
Flt Lt Ernest D Galloway 12 Apr 1926

 
Medical Branch
Sqn Ldr John T T Forbes  1 Jun 1926  
Hon Sqn Ldr (Flt Lt) Francis  W Squair 28 Apr 1926 MB, TD
Education Officers
Capt Charles W Pollock  1 Jun 1926 Grade III, MA
Maj Benson Steel 12 Apr 1926 Grade III, MC, BA

Source - July 1926 Air Force List

December 1926

Location Command  
RAF Andover Air Defences of Great Britain

  • SHQ RAF Andover

  • No 12 (Bombing) Squadron - Andover

  • Staff College - Andover

  • No 58 (Bombing) Squadron - Worthy Down

  • No 11 (Bombing) Squadron  - Netheravon

  • SHQ Spittlegate

  • No 100 (Bombing) Squadron - Spittlegate

  • No 39 (Bombing) Squadron - Spittlegate

  • SHQ Bircham Newton

  • No 7 (Bombing) Squadron - Bircham Newton

  • No 99 (Bombing) Squadron - Bircham Newton

  • No 9 (Bombing) Squadron - Manston

  • No 207 (Bombing) Squadron - Eastchurch

 

Rank Name Date Notes
AVM John M Steel 12 Apr 1926 Air Officer Commanding, CB, CMG, CBE; later ACM
Gp Capt

Hon John D Boyle

12 Apr 1926 CBE, DSO; later A/Cdre
Wg Cdr Malcolm Spicer 12 Apr 1926  
Sqn Ldr William W J Guilfoyle 27 Jul 1926 OBE, MC; later A/Cdre
Sqn Ldr Claud W Mackay 12 Apr 1926  
Sqn Ldr

Hon Ralph A Cochrane

 12 Apr 1926 AFC; later ACM
Flt Lt

Geoffrey A H Pidcock

 12 Apr 1926 later AVM
Flt Lt Sylvester L Quine 12 Apr 1926 MC
Flt Lt James Lawson 12 Apr 1926  
Flt Lt Frederick H Isaac  2 Nov 1926 DFC
Flt Lt William G E Hayman 12 Apr 1926  
Fg Off Henry F V Battle 12 Apr 1926 later A/Cdre
Stores Officers
Sqn Ldr Ernest D Galloway 12 Apr 1926

 
Flt Lt Leonard H Vernon 15 Sep 1926

 
Medical Branch
Sqn Ldr John T T Forbes  1 Jun 1926  
Education Officers
Capt Charles W Pollock  1 Jun 1926 Grade III, MA

Source - December 1926 Air Force List

Unit Movements Dec 1926 - Jul 1927

Unit Date Notes
SHQ RAF Worthy Down  1 Dec 1926 Formed
Staff College Flt & WBA Communications Flt 28 Mar 1927 Amalgamated and redesignated Andover Communications Flt
No 7 Sqn  7 Apr 1927 Moved from Bircham Newton to Worthy Down completed

Source - No 3 Group ORB

July 1927

Location Command  
RAF Andover Air Defence of Great Britain

  • SHQ RAF Andover

  • No 12 (Bombing) Squadron - Andover

  • Staff College - Andover

  • SHQ, Worthy Down

  • No 7 (Bombing) Squadron - Worthy Down

  • No 58 (Bombing) Squadron - Worthy Down

  • No 11 (Bombing) Squadron  - Netheravon

  • SHQ Spittlegate

  • No 100 (Bombing) Squadron - Spittlegate

  • No 39 (Bombing) Squadron - Spittlegate

  • SHQ Bircham Newton

  • No 99 (Bombing) Squadron - Bircham Newton

  • No 9 (Bombing) Squadron - Manston

  • No 207 (Bombing) Squadron - Eastchurch

 

Rank Name Date Notes
AVM Sir John M Steel 12 Apr 1926 Air Officer Commanding, KBE, CB, CMG; later ACM
Gp Capt

Ulrick J D Bourke

 22 Nov 1922 CMG
Wg Cdr Malcolm Spicer 12 Apr 1926  
Sqn Ldr William W J Guilfoyle 27 Jul 1926 OBE, MC; later A/Cdre
Sqn Ldr Claud W Mackay 12 Apr 1926  
Sqn Ldr

Hon Ralph A Cochrane

 12 Apr 1926 AFC; later ACM
Flt Lt

Geoffrey A H Pidcock

 12 Apr 1926 later AVM
Flt Lt Sylvester L Quine 12 Apr 1926 MC
Flt Lt James Lawson 12 Apr 1926  
Flt Lt Frederick H Isaac  2 Nov 1926 DFC
Flt Lt William G E Hayman 12 Apr 1926  
Fg Off Henry F V Battle 12 Apr 1926 later A/Cdre
Stores Officers
Sqn Ldr Walter Thorne 25 May 1927

later AVM
Flt Lt Leonard H Vernon 15 Sep 1926

 
Medical Branch
Wg Cdr Frank N B Smartt 13 May 1927 MB, BA
Fg Off Maurice O'Regan 25 Jan 1927  
Education Officers
Capt Charles W Pollock  1 Jun 1926 Grade III, MA

Source - July 1927 Air Force List

Unit Movements Jul 1927 - Jul 1928

Unit Date Notes
SHQ RAF Upper Heyford 25 Sep 1927 Formed
Oxford University Air Sqn 25 Sep 1927 Formed at RAF Upper Heyford
Oxford University Air Sqn  4 Nov 1927 Renamed Station Flight, Upper Heyford
SHQ RAF Bicester 30 Nov 1927 Formed
No 10 Sqn  3 Jan 1928 Formed with HQ and 1 Flt at Upper Heyford
No 99 Sqn  5 Jan 1928 Move from RAF Bircham Newton to RAF Upper Heyford completed
No 39 Sqn  9 Jan 1928 Move from RAF Spittlegate to RAF Bircham Newton completed
No 100 Sqn 10 Jan 1928 Move from RAF Spittlegate to RAF Bicester completed
AHQ RAF Spittlegate  1 Mar 1928 Transferred to Inland Area
No 101 Sqn 21 Mar 1928 Formed with HQ and 1 Flt at Bircham Newton
RAF Netheravon  2 Apr 1928 Transferred to HQ Inland Area, except Signals Section and Works Services

Source - No 3 Group ORB

July 1928

Location Command  
RAF Andover Air Defence of Great Britain

  • SHQ Andover

    • No 12 (Bombing) Squadron - Andover

  • Staff College - Andover

  • SHQ Bicester

    • No 100 (Bombing) Squadron - Bicester

  • SHQ Bircham Newton

    • No 39 (Bombing) Squadron - Bircham Newton

    • No 101 (Bomber) Squadron - Bircham Newton

  • No 207 (Bombing) Squadron - Eastchurch

  • No 9 (Bombing) Squadron - Manston

  • No 11 (Bombing) Squadron  - Netheravon

  • SHQ Upper Heyford

    • No 10 (Bombing) Squadron - Upper Heyford

    • No 99 (Bombing) Squadron - Upper Heyford

    • Station Flight - Upper Heyford

  • SHQ Worthy Down

    • No 7 (Bombing) Squadron - Worthy Down

    • No 58 (Bombing) Squadron - Worthy Down

 

Rank Name Date Notes
AVM Sir John M Steel 12 Apr 1926 Air Officer Commanding, KBE, CB, CMG; later ACM
Gp Capt

Ulrick J D Bourke

 22 Nov 1922 CMG
Wg Cdr Horace Gordon-Dean  6 Sep 1927 AFC; later A/Cdre
Sqn Ldr Wilfred A McClaughry 22 Feb 1928 DSO, MC, later AVM
Sqn Ldr Claud W Mackay 12 Apr 1926  
Sqn Ldr

Arthur W F Glenny

 30 Jul 1927 MC, DFC; later A/Cdre
Flt Lt

Geoffrey A H Pidcock

 12 Apr 1926 later AVM
Flt Lt Sylvester L Quine 12 Apr 1926 MC
Flt Lt James Lawson 12 Apr 1926  
Flt Lt Frederick H Isaac  2 Nov 1926 DFC
Flt Lt Henry E Farrow  1 Mar 1928  
Flt Lt Henry F V Battle 12 Apr 1926 later A/Cdre
Stores Officers
Sqn Ldr Walter Thorne 25 May 1927

later AVM
Flt Lt Leonard H Vernon 15 Sep 1926

 
Accountant Branch
Flt Lt Oswald K Griffin 19 Mar 1928 later A/Cdre
Medical Branch
Wg Cdr William A S Duck  4 Jun 1928 OBE
Education Officers
Capt Charles W Pollock  1 Jun 1926 Grade III, MA

Source - July 1928 Air Force List

September 1928

Location Command  
RAF Andover Air Defence of Great Britain

  • SHQ Andover

    • No 12 (Bombing) Squadron - Andover

  • Staff College - Andover

  • SHQ Bicester

    • No 100 (Bombing) Squadron - Bicester

  • SHQ Bircham Newton

    • No 39 (Bombing) Squadron - Bircham Newton

    • No 101 (Bomber) Squadron - Bircham Newton

  • No 207 (Bombing) Squadron - Eastchurch

  • No 9 (Bombing) Squadron - Manston

  • No 11 (Bombing) Squadron  - Netheravon

  • SHQ Upper Heyford

    • No 10 (Bombing) Squadron - Upper Heyford

    • No 99 (Bombing) Squadron - Upper Heyford

    • Station Flight - Upper Heyford

  • SHQ Worthy Down

    • No 7 (Bombing) Squadron - Worthy Down

    • No 58 (Bombing) Squadron - Worthy Down

 

Rank Name Date Notes
AVM Sir John M Steel 12 Apr 1926 Air Officer Commanding, KBE, CB, CMG; later ACM
Gp Capt

Ulrick J D Bourke

 22 Nov 1922 CMG
Wg Cdr Horace Gordon-Dean  6 Sep 1927 AFC; later A/Cdre
Sqn Ldr Wilfred A McClaughry 22 Feb 1928 DSO, MC, later AVM
Sqn Ldr Claud W Mackay 12 Apr 1926  
Sqn Ldr

Arthur W F Glenny

 30 Jul 1927 MC, DFC; later A/Cdre
Flt Lt

Geoffrey A H Pidcock

 12 Apr 1926 later AVM
Flt Lt Sylvester L Quine 12 Apr 1926 MC
Flt Lt James Lawson 12 Apr 1926  
Flt Lt Frederick H Isaac  2 Nov 1926 DFC
Flt Lt Henry E Farrow  1 Mar 1928  
Stores Officers
Sqn Ldr Walter Thorne 25 May 1927

later AVM
Flt Lt Leonard H Vernon 15 Sep 1926

 
Accountant Branch
Flt Lt Oswald K Griffin 19 Mar 1928 later A/Cdre
Medical Branch
Wg Cdr William A S Duck  4 Jun 1928 OBE
Education Officers
Capt Charles W Pollock  1 Jun 1926 Grade III, MA

Source - September 1928 Air Force List

Unit Movements Sep 1928 - Jul 1929

Unit Date Notes
No 10 Sqn 15 Oct 1928 2nd Flight formed
No 11 Sqn 29 Dec 1928 Embarked for transfer to RAF India
No 39 Sqn 29 Dec 1928 Embarked for transfer to RAF India
No 101 Sqn  1 Jan 1929 2nd Flight formed
No 33 Sqn  1 Mar 1929 Formed with HQ and 1 Flt at RAF Netheravon
No 35 Sqn  1 Mar 1929 Formed with HQ and 1 Flt at RAF Bircham Newton
Oxford University Air Sqn 14 Mar 1929 Administration assumed by HQ WBA for all purposes except training
No 33 Sqn 29 Jun 1929 2nd and 3rd Flights formed
No 35 Sqn 29 Jun 1929 2nd and 3rd Flights formed

Source - No 3 Group ORB

July 1929

Location Command  
RAF Andover Air Defence of Great Britain

  • SHQ Andover

    • No 12 (Bombing) Squadron - Andover

  • Staff College - Andover

  • Communication Flight - Andover

  • No 100 (Bombing) Squadron - Bicester

  • SHQ Bircham Newton

    • No 35 (Bombing) Squadron - Bircham Newton

    • No 101 (Bomber) Squadron - Bircham Newton

  • No 207 (Bombing) Squadron - Eastchurch

  • No 9 (Bombing) Squadron - Manston

  • No 33 (Bombing) Squadron  - Netheravon

  • SHQ Upper Heyford

    • No 10 (Bombing) Squadron - Upper Heyford

    • No 99 (Bombing) Squadron - Upper Heyford

    • Station Flight - Upper Heyford

  • SHQ Worthy Down

    • No 7 (Bombing) Squadron - Worthy Down

    • No 58 (Bombing) Squadron - Worthy Down

  • Oxford University Air Squadron - Oxford

 

Rank Name Date Notes
AVM Sir John M Steel 12 Apr 1926 Air Officer Commanding, KBE, CB, CMG; later ACM
Gp Capt John T Cull  7 Jan 1929 DSO
Wg Cdr Horace Gordon-Dean  6 Sep 1927 AFC; later A/Cdre
Wg Cdr Wilfred A McClaughry 22 Feb 1928 DSO, MC, DFC; later AVM
Sqn Ldr

George H F Padley

 29 Apr 1929 Engineer duties
Sqn Ldr

Arthur W F Glenny

 30 Jul 1927 MC, DFC; later A/Cdre
Sqn Ldr

Robert H M S Saundby

17 Dec 1928 MC, DFC, AFC; later AM
Sqn Ldr

John K Summers

  5 Apr 1929 MC
Sqn Ldr

Benjamin J Silly

17 Dec 1928 MC, DFC; later A/Cdre
Flt Lt Sylvester L Quine 12 Apr 1926 MC
Flt Lt James Lawson 12 Apr 1926  
Flt Lt Henry E Farrow  1 Mar 1928 later A/Cdre
Flt Lt

Gilbert L Ormerod

 17 Sep 1928 Armament duties
Flt Lt Reginald V M Odbert  2 Mar 1929 Armament duties
Flt Lt Herbert T Herring 26 Apr 1929  
Fg Off John R Brown  4 Mar 1929 Signals duties
Fg Off Francis G Cator 15 Dec 1928 Photographic duties
Fg Off Alan P Bett xx Aug 1928 later A/Cdre
Stores Officers
Sqn Ldr Walter Thorne 25 May 1927

later AVM
Flt Lt Leonard H Vernon 15 Sep 1926

 
Fg Off Maurice H Jenks  6 Nov 1928  
Accountant Branch
Flt Lt Oswald K Griffin 19 Mar 1928 later A/Cdre
Medical Branch
Wg Cdr William A S Duck  4 Jun 1928 OBE
Education Officer
Capt Charles W Pollock  1 Jun 1926 Grade III, MA
Works and Buildings Directorate
Mr A H Matheson   Superintending Civil Engineer (Acting), AMICE

Source - July 1929 Air Force List

Unit Movements Jul 1929 - Jul 1930

Unit Date Notes
Andover Communications Flt  1 Sep 1929 Renamed Station Flight, Andover
No 101 Sqn 12 Sep 1929 Move from RAF Bircham Newton to RAF Andover completed
No 33 Sqn 14 Sep 1929 Move from RAF Netheravon to RAF Eastchurch completed
Signals Section and Works Services, RAF Netheravon 15 Sep 1929 Transferred to HQ Inland Area
No 207 Sqn  9 Nov 1929 Move from RAF Eastchurch to RAF Bircham Newton completed

Source - No 3 Group ORB

July 1930

Location Command  
RAF Andover Air Defence of Great Britain

  • SHQ Andover

    • No 12 (Bomber) Squadron - Andover

    • No 101 (Bomber) Squadron - Bircham Newton

    • Station Flight

  • Staff College - Andover

  • No 100 (Bomber) Squadron - Bicester

  • SHQ Bircham Newton

    • No 35 (Bomber) Squadron - Bircham Newton

    • No 207 (Bomber) Squadron - Bircham Newton

  • No 9 (Bomber) Squadron - Manston

  • No 33 (Bomber) Squadron  - Eastchurch

  • SHQ Upper Heyford

    • No 10 (Bomber) Squadron - Upper Heyford

    • No 99 (Bomber) Squadron - Upper Heyford

    • Station Flight - Upper Heyford

  • SHQ Worthy Down

    • No 7 (Bomber) Squadron - Worthy Down

    • No 58 (Bomber) Squadron - Worthy Down

  • Oxford University Air Squadron - Oxford

 

Rank Name Date Notes
AVM Sir John M Steel 12 Apr 1926 Air Officer Commanding, KBE, CB, CMG; later ACM
Gp Capt John T Cull  7 Jan 1929 DSO
Wg Cdr Horace Gordon-Dean  6 Sep 1927 AFC; later A/Cdre
Wg Cdr Wilfred A McClaughry 22 Feb 1928 DSO, MC, DFC; later AVM
Sqn Ldr

George H F Padley

 29 Apr 1929 Engineer duties
Sqn Ldr

Arthur W F Glenny

 30 Jul 1927 MC, DFC; later A/Cdre
Sqn Ldr

Robert H M S Saundby

17 Dec 1928 MC, DFC, AFC; later AM
Sqn Ldr

John K Summers

  5 Apr 1929 MC
Sqn Ldr

Benjamin J Silly

17 Dec 1928 MC, DFC; later A/Cdre
Sqn Ldr Thomas S Ivens 22 Sep 1929 Armament duties
Flt Lt Guy Y Tyrrell 16 Sep 1929 Photographic duties, MC
Flt Lt

Allan L A Perry-Keene

 3 Mar 1930 later AVM
Flt Lt Alwyn J Warwick  1 Aug 1929  
Flt Lt William D Gardiner 27 Apr 1930 DFC
Flt Lt William S Allen 22 Sep 1929 Signals duties
Flt Lt

David W F Bonham-Carter

12 Aug 1929 later A/Cdre
Flt Lt John R Brown  4 Mar 1929 Signals duties, DFC
Stores Officers
Sqn Ldr Walter Thorne 25 May 1927

later AVM
Flt Lt Leonard H Vernon 15 Sep 1926

 
Fg Off Alexander H Allan 21 Sep 1929  
Accountant Branch
Flt Lt Oswald K Griffin 19 Mar 1928 later A/Cdre
Medical Branch
Wg Cdr William A S Duck  4 Jun 1928 OBE, MRCS, LRCP, DPH
Education Officer
Capt Charles W Pollock  1 Jun 1926 Grade III, MA
Works and Buildings Directorate
Mr A H Matheson   Superintending Civil Engineer (Acting), AMICE

Source - July 1930 Air Force List

August 1930

Source - August 1930 Air Force List

September 1930

Source - September 1930 Air Force List

October 1930

Source - October 1930 Air Force List

November 1930

Source - November 1930 Air Force List

December 1930

Source - December 1930 Air Force List

Unit Movements Jul 1930 - Jul 1931

Unit Date Notes
SHQ RAF Boscombe Down  3 Nov 1930 Formed
No 100 Sqn  4 Nov 1930 Transferred to Coastal Area and move to Donibristle completed
No 33 Sqn  5 Nov 1930 Move from RAF Eastchurch to RAF Bicester completed
No 9 Sqn  4 Dec 1930 Move from RAF Manston to RAF Boscombe Down completed
Special Duty Flight (Chemical Warfare)  2 Mar 1931 Moved from Netheravon to Boscombe Down and transferred to HQ WBA for all purposes except operations and experiments
No 40 Sqn  1 Apr 1931 Formed with HQ and 3 Flts at RAF Upper Heyford

Source - No 3 Group ORB

July 1931

Location Command  
RAF Andover Air Defence of Great Britain

  • SHQ Andover

    • No 12 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 101 (Bomber) Squadron

    • Station Flight

  • Staff College - Andover

  • No 33 (Bomber) Squadron  - Bicester

  • SHQ Bircham Newton

    • No 35 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 207 (Bomber) Squadron

  • SHQ Boscombe Down

    • No 9 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 10 (Bomber) Squadron

  • SHQ Upper Heyford

    • No 40 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 99 (Bomber) Squadron

    • Station Flight

  • SHQ Worthy Down

    • No 7 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 58 (Bomber) Squadron

  • Oxford University Air Squadron - Oxford

 

Rank Name Date Notes
AVM

Cyril L N Newall

  6 Feb 1931 Air Officer Commanding, CMG, CBE, AM; later MRAF
Gp Capt John T Cull  7 Jan 1929 DSO
Wg Cdr George E M Reid 20 Dec 1930 DSO, MC
Wg Cdr George W Williamson 22 Sep 1930 OBE, MC
Sqn Ldr

John K Summers

  5 Apr 1929 MC
Sqn Ldr

Benjamin J Silly

17 Dec 1928 MC, DFC; later A/Cdre
Sqn Ldr Thomas S Ivens 22 Sep 1929 Armament duties
Sqn Ldr Edward A Beaulah 23 Apr 1931  
Sqn Ldr Alban S Ellerton  5 Aug 1930 OBE; later A/Cdre
Flt Lt Guy Y Tyrrell 16 Sep 1929 Photographic duties, MC
Flt Lt

Allan L A Perry-Keene

 3 Mar 1930 later AVM
Flt Lt Alwyn J Warwick  1 Aug 1929  
Flt Lt William D Gardiner 27 Apr 1930 DFC
Flt Lt

David W F Bonham-Carter

12 Aug 1929 later A/Cdre
Flt Lt

William E G Mann

  1 Nov 1930 Signals duties, DFC; later A/Cdre
Flt Lt Percy E Gwyer  9 Feb 1931 Engineer duties
Stores Officers
Sqn Ldr Walter Thorne 25 May 1927

later AVM
Flt Lt Alexander H Allan 21 Sep 1929

 
Fg Off Hugh J Young  8 Sep 1930 MBE
Accountant Branch
Sqn Ldr

Reginald Byrne

 9 Jul 1930 MC; later A/Cdre
Medical Branch
Wg Cdr William A S Duck  4 Jun 1928 OBE, MRCS, LRCP, DPH
Education Officer
Capt Sydney Brew  1 Sep 1930 Grade II, FRAeS
Works and Buildings Directorate
Capt H T Huntress   Superintending Civil Engineer (Acting), OBE

Source - July 1931 Air Force List

Unit Movements Jul 1931 - Jul 1932

Unit Date Notes
No 18 Sqn 20 Oct 1931 Formed with HQ and 1 Flt at RAF Upper Heyford
No 57 Sqn 20 Oct 1931 Formed with HQ and 1 Flt at RAF Netheravon
No 18 Sqn 29 Feb 1932 2nd and 3rd Flights formed
No 57 Sqn 31 Mar 1932 2nd and 3rd Flights formed

Source - No 3 Group ORB

July 1932

Location Command  
RAF Andover Air Defence of Great Britain

  • SHQ Andover

    • No 12 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 101 (Bomber) Squadron

    • Station Flight

  • Staff College - Andover

  • No 33 (Bomber) Squadron  - Bicester

  • SHQ Bircham Newton

    • No 35 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 207 (Bomber) Squadron

  • SHQ Boscombe Down

    • No 9 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 10 (Bomber) Squadron

  • No 57 (Bomber) Squadron - Netheravon

  • SHQ Upper Heyford

    • No 18 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 40 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 99 (Bomber) Squadron

    • Station Flight

  • SHQ Worthy Down

    • No 7 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 58 (Bomber) Squadron

  • Oxford University Air Squadron - Oxford

 

Rank Name Date Notes
AVM

Sir Tom I Webb-Bowen

 26 Sep 1931 Air Officer Commanding, KCB, CMG
Gp Capt

John S T Bradley

 8 Nov 1931 OBE; later AM
Wg Cdr Robert D Oxland 20 Dec 1931 OBE; later AVM
Sqn Ldr Edward A Beaulah 23 Apr 1931  
Sqn Ldr

John J Breen

  2 Jan 1932 later AM
Sqn Ldr

John K Summers

  5 Apr 1929 Navigation duties, MC
Sqn Ldr

Ernest J D Townesend

 23 Feb 1932 Engineer duties; later A/Cdre
Sqn Ldr Alban S Ellerton  5 Aug 1930 OBE; later A/Cdre
Sqn Ldr

Eric B Grenfell

  1 Feb 1932 Armament duties, AFC; later A/Cdre
Flt Lt Robert J Rodwell 15 Aug 1931 Engineer duties; later A/Cdre
Flt Lt

Allan L A Perry-Keene

 3 Mar 1930 later AVM
Flt Lt

William E G Mann

  1 Nov 1930 Signals duties, DFC; later A/Cdre
Flt Lt William D Gardiner 27 Apr 1930 DFC
Flt Lt Edward M Drummond  7 Jul 1931 Signals duties
Flt Lt

David W F Bonham-Carter

12 Aug 1929 later A/Cdre
Flt Lt

James Silvester

11 Feb 1932 later A/Cdre
Flt Lt Frederick C Rowland  5 Apr 1932 Engineer duties
Stores Officers
Sqn Ldr Walter Thorne 25 May 1927

later AVM
Flt Lt Alexander H Allan 21 Sep 1929

 
Fg Off Montague W Keey 27 Oct 1931  
Accountant Branch
Sqn Ldr

Reginald Byrne

 9 Jul 1930 MC; later A/Cdre
Medical Branch
Wg Cdr Frank N B Smartt 18 Jan 1932 MB, BCh
Education Officer
Capt Sydney Brew  1 Sep 1930 Grade II, FRAeS
Works and Buildings Directorate
Capt H T Huntress   Superintending Civil Engineer (Acting), OBE

Source - July 1932 Air Force List

Unit Movements Jul 1932 - Jul 1933

Unit Date Notes
SHQ RAF Abingdon  1 Sep 1932 Formed
No 57 Sqn  5 Sep 1932 Moved from RAF Netheravon to RAF Upper Heyford
No 40 Sqn  8 Oct 1932 Moved from RAF Upper Heyford to RAF Abingdon
Station Flight 28 Oct 1932 Moved from RAF Upper Heyford to RAF Abingdon

Source - No 3 Group ORB

July 1933

Location Command  
RAF Andover Air Defence of Great Britain

  • SHQ Abingdon

    • No 40 (Bomber) Squadron

    • Station Flight

  • SHQ Andover

    • No 12 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 101 (Bomber) Squadron

    • Station Flight

    • Air Pilotage School

  • Staff College - Andover

  • No 33 (Bomber) Squadron  - Bicester

  • SHQ Bircham Newton

    • No 35 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 207 (Bomber) Squadron

  • SHQ Boscombe Down

    • No 9 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 10 (Bomber) Squadron

  • SHQ Upper Heyford

    • No 18 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 57 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 99 (Bomber) Squadron

    • Station Flight

  • SHQ Worthy Down

    • No 7 (Bomber) Squadron

    • No 58 (Bomber) Squadron

  • Oxford University Air Squadron - Oxford

 

Rank Name Date Notes
AVM

Sir Tom I Webb-Bowen

 26 Sep 1931 Air Officer Commanding, KCB, CMG
Air Staff
Gp Capt

John S T Bradley

 8 Nov 1931 Senior Air Staff Officer, OBE; later AM
Wg Cdr

John J Breen

  2 Jan 1932 later AM
Sqn Ldr Edward A Beaulah 23 Apr 1931  
Sqn Ldr

Eric B C Betts

 8 Aug 1932 DSC, DFC; later AVM
Personnel Staff
Sqn Ldr Alban S Ellerton  5 Aug 1930 OBE; later A/Cdre
Flt Lt

John A Gray

17 Dec 1932 DFC; later AVM
Flt Lt

Sidney N Webster

 5 Jul 1932 AFC, later AVM
Equipment Staff
Wg Cdr Frederick W Stent  1 Nov 1932 Senior Equipment Staff Officer, MC
Engineer Section
Sqn Ldr Victor R Scriven  5 Apr 1933  
Flt Lt William G Campbell 12 Mar 1933  
Stores Section
Wg Cdr William C Clark 30 Jan 1933  
Sqn Ldr Walter Thorne 25 May 1927

later AVM
Flt Lt Alexander H Allan 21 Sep 1929

 
Attached to the Staff
Armament
Wg Cdr

Patrick Huskinson

 1 Apr 1933 MC; later A/Cdre
Flt Lt

John L Wingate

 9 Jan 1933 later A/Cdre
Navigation
Flt Lt Cecil B Riddle 16 Dec 1932  
Photography
Flt Lt James B Barrett 26 Jan 1933  
Services
Signals
Flt Lt

William E G Mann

  1 Nov 1930 Signals duties, DFC; later A/Cdre
Flt Lt

George P Chamberlain

26 Sep 1932 later AVM
Accountant
Sqn Ldr

Reginald Byrne

 9 Jul 1930 MC; later A/Cdre
Medical
Wg Cdr Arthur S Glynn 13 Jan 1933 Principal Medical Officer, MB, ChB
Educational
Major Benson Steel  1 Sep 1932 Grade II, MC, BA
Works
Mr S Dexter   Superintending Engineer
Warrant Officer
WO II Alexander Callander 30 May 1932  

Source - July 1933 Air Force List

It was split into Western Area and Central Area on 1 October 1933 with its units being distributed as follows: -

Western Area Central Area
Station Unit Station Unit
RAF Abingdon No 40 Sqn

Station Flt

 RAF Andover No 12 Sqn

No 101 Sqn

Air Pilotage School

Station Flight

Staff College
RAF Bicester No 33 Sqn RAF Boscombe Down No 9 Sqn

No 10 Sqn

Special Duty Flt
RAF Bircham Newton No 35 Sqn

No 207 Sqn

 RAF Worthy Down No 7 Sqn

No 58 Sqn
RAF Upper Heyford No 18 Sqn

No 57 Sqn

No 99 Sqn

    

Source - No 3 Group ORB

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This page was last updated on 07/04/20

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