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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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Blind Approach Training and Development Unit/Wireless Intelligence Development Unit - Personnel, aircraft and locations
Personnel Movements: Sep - Dec 1939
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| WO | K Munro | 26 Sep 1939 | Arrived on posting from SHQ, RAF Hendon for flying instruction duties |
| Fg Off | H E Bufton | 29 Sep 1939 | Arrived on posting from No 214 Sqn for flying instruction duties |
| Sgt | A Reece | 29 Sep 1939 | Arrived on posting from School of Air Navigation for flying instruction duties |
| Sqn Ldr | R S Blucke | 1 Oct 1939 | Arrived on posting from the Air Ministry and assumed command of BATDU |
| Plt Off | E T Downing | 11 Dec 1939 | Arrived on posting from Air Ministry for duty as Blind Approach Instructor on Link Trainers |
Source - No 109 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/852)
Organisational Movements: Sep - Dec 1939
| Date | Notes |
| 1 Sep 1939 | Avro Anson, L9155 and crew evacuated from RAF Hendon to RAF Upavon pending formation of BATDU |
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| 18 Sep 1939 | Blind Approach Training and Development Unit formed at RAF Boscombe Down |
| 18 Sep 1939 | Avro Anson, L9155 and crew moved from RAF Upavon to RAF Boscombe Down on formation of BATDU |
| 9 Oct 1939 | No 1 Course commenced training - 6 x NCO pilots from No 6 Group |
| 10 Oct 1939 | Anson, L7967 was received from School of Air Navigation |
| 21 Oct 1939 | No 1 Course terminated |
| 23 Oct 1939 | No 2 Course commenced training - 5 x Officer and 1 x NCO pilots from Bomber Command |
| 5 Nov 1939 | No 2 Course terminated |
| 6 Nov 1939 | No 3 Course commenced training - 5 x Officer and 1 x NCO pilots from Bomber Command |
| 19 Nov 1939 | No 3 Course terminated |
| 20 Nov 1939 | No 4 Course commenced training - 2 x Officer and 4 x NCO pilots from Bomber Command |
| 2 Dec 1939 | No 4 Course terminated |
| 4 Dec 1939 | No 5 Course commenced training - 5 x Officer and 2 x NCO pilots from Bomber Command |
| 17 Dec 1939 | No 5 Course terminated |
Source - No 109 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/852)
Personnel Movements: Jan - Dec 1940
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | R S Blucke | 1 Jan 1940 | Promoted to Wg Cdr |
| Plt Off | E T Downing | 16 Feb 1940 | Promoted to Fg Off |
| WO | K Munro | 1 Apr 1940 | Appointed to a commission in the rank of Fg Off in the GD Branch |
| Fg Off | R J Sage | 15 Apr 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 76 Sqn for flying instruction duties |
| Fg Off | H E Bufton | 15 Apr 1940 | Promoted to Act Flt Lt |
| Sgt | A Reece | 15 May 1940 | Promoted to Flt Sgt |
| Fg Off | R J Sage | 1 Jun 1940 | Posted to No 106 Sqn, RAF Finningley |
| Act Flt Lt | H E Bufton | 1 Jun 1940 | Posted to No 214 Sqn, RAF Stradishall |
| Fg Off | K Munro | 2 Jun 1940 | Posted to No 1 SFTS, RAF Netheravon |
| Flt Sgt | A Reece | 3 Jun 1940 | Posted to No 1 School of General Reconnaissance |
| Fg Off | E T Downing | 6 Jun 1940 | Assumed responsibility for overseeing disbandment |
| Wg Cdr | R S Blucke | 7 Jun 1940 | Posted to HQ, Bomber Command |
| Wg Cdr | R S Blucke | 13 Jun 1940 | Resumed command of BATDU |
| Flt Lt | E J Alway | 19 Jun 1940 | Attached from AI (1E), Air Ministry for installation of 'Special Equipment' |
| Flt Lt | R K Budge | 19 Jun 1940 | Attached from AI (1E), Air Ministry for installation of 'Special Equipment' |
| Fg Off | R J Sage | 19 Jun 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 106 Sqn, RAF Finningley |
| Fg Off | K Munro | 19 Jun 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 1 SFTS, RAF Netheravon |
| Flt Lt | H E Bufton | 20 Jun 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 214 Sqn, RAF Stradishall for duty as OC Flying |
| Flt Sgt | A Reece | 21 Jun 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 1 School of General Reconnaissance |
| Sqn Ldr | D G Stokes | 23 Jun 1940 | Attached from School of Air Navigation for temporary navigation duty |
| Flt Lt | J B Voyce | 23 Jun 1940 | Attached from School of Air Navigation for temporary navigation duty |
| Sqn Ldr | D G Stokes | 26 Jun 1940 | Ceased to be attached from School of Air Navigation for temporary navigation duty |
| Flt Lt | J B Voyce | 26 Jun 1940 | Ceased to be attached from School of Air Navigation for temporary navigation duty |
| Plt Off | E P M Fernbank | 28 Jun 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 10 OTU |
| Plt Off | P B Hennessy | 28 Jun 1940 | Arrived on posting from RAF Cottesmore |
| Flt Sgt | A Reece | 28 Jun 1940 | Appointed to a commission in the rank of Plt Off in the GD Branch |
| Act Flt Lt | H E Bufton | 1 Jul 1940 | OC Flying, promoted to Act Sqn Ldr |
| Plt Off | J N Walker | 2 Jul 1940 | Arrived on posting from RAF Cranwell for duty as Signals Officer |
| Plt Off | A J O Hitchman | 2 Jul 1940 | Arrived on posting from RAF Catterick for duty as Armament Officer |
| Plt Off | L G Bull | 3 Jul 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 9 Sqn, RAF Honington |
| Plt Off | G F Harcourt-Powell | 3 Jul 1940 | Arrived on posting from RAF Driffield |
| Plt Off | J S Kendrick | 3 Jul 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 201 Sqn, RAF Sullom Voe for Navigation duties |
| Plt Off | J P Dunne | 3 Jul 1940 | Arrived on posting from RAF St Athan for Navigation duties |
| Plt Off | G Goldsmith | 4 Jul 1940 | Arrived on posting from RAF Upwood for Navigation duties |
| Plt Off | J Northrop | 4 Jul 1940 | Arrived on posting from RAF Upwood for Navigation duties |
| Plt Off | G F Grant | 5 Jul 1940 | Arrived on posting from RAF Dyce for Navigation duties |
| Plt Off | C V D Willis | 6 Jul 1940 | Arrived on posting from RAF Sullom Voe for Navigation duties |
| Fg Off | H J Cundall | 7 Jul 1940 | Arrived on posting from RAF St Athan for duty as Unit Navigation Officer |
| Plt Off | J P Dunne | 8 Jul 1940 | Returned to RAF St Athan as surplus to Establishment |
| Flt Lt | D Saward | 21 Jul 1940 | Arrived on posting from RAF Andover for duty as Unit Signals Officer |
| Sgt | F P Fry | 13 Aug 1940 | Air Observer, appointed to commission in the rank of Plt Off |
| Plt Off | J N Walker | 30 Aug 1940 | Signals Officer, promoted to Act Fg Off, wef 2 Jul 1940 |
| Fg Off | K Munro | 5 Sep 1940 | Killed in a flying accident |
| Flt Lt | E J Alway | 5 Sep 1940 | Died from injuries sustained in a flying accident |
| Sgt | C K Hames | 5 Sep 1940 | Died from injuries sustained in a flying accident |
| Act Sqn Ldr | H E Bufton | 9 Sep 1940 | OC Flying, promoted to Flt Lt |
| Flt Lt | D Saward | 28 Sep 1940 | Unit Signals Officer, promoted to Sqn Ldr and posted to Air Ministry |
| Fg Off | E T Downing | 28 Sep 1940 | Adjutant, promoted to Act Flt Lt, wef 10 Jul 1940 |
| Fg Off | R J Sage | 28 Sep 1940 | Promoted to Act Flt Lt, wef 10 Jul 1940 |
| Act Flt Lt | R J Sage | 15 Oct 1940 | Promoted to Flt Lt, wef 3 Sep 1940 |
| Fg Off | J S Kendrick | 15 Oct 1940 | Promoted to Flt Lt, wef 3 Sep 1940 |
| Wg Cdr | R S Blucke | 8 Nov 1940 | Posted to Directorate of Flying Training, Air Ministry |
| Sqn Ldr | H E Bufton | 8 Nov 1940 | Assumed command of WIDU |
| Plt Off | G Goldsmith | 9 Nov 1940 | Killed in a flying accident |
| Plt Off | F P Fry | 9 Nov 1940 | Killed in a flying accident |
| Sgt | H McGeoch | 9 Nov 1940 | Killed in a flying accident |
| Sgt | J E Murphy | 9 Nov 1940 | Killed in a flying accident |
| Sgt | D N Biggs | 9 Nov 1940 | Killed in a flying accident |
| Flt Lt | J S Kendrick | 20 Nov 1940 | Proceeded to RAF St Athan prior to embarkation for Specialist Navigation Course in Canada |
| Fg Off | K J Somerville | 26 Nov 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 10 Sqn |
| Act Fg Off | J N Walker | 29 Nov 1940 | Signals Officer, promoted to Act Flt Lt, wef 25 Sep 1940 |
Source - No 109 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/852 and AIR27/853)
Organisational Movements: Jan - Dec 1940
| Date | Notes |
| 1 Jan 1940 | No 6 Course commenced training - 7 x Officer and 2 x NCO pilots |
| 12 Jan 1940 | No 6 Course terminated |
| 15 Jan 1940 | No 7 Course commenced training - 5 x Officer and 2 x NCO pilots |
| 25 Jan 1940 | Ansons, N9938 and N9945 were received from the manufacturers |
| 27 Jan 1940 | No 7 Course terminated |
| 29 Jan 1940 | No 8 Course commenced training - 4 x Officer and 2 x NCO pilots |
| 10 Feb 1940 | No 8 Course terminated |
| 12 Feb 1940 | No 9 Course commenced training - 5 x Officer and 2 x NCO pilots |
| 24 Feb 1940 | No 9 Course terminated |
| 26 Feb 1940 | No 10 Course commenced training - 5 x Officer and 1 x NCO pilots |
| 5 Mar 1940 | Anson, N9998 was received from the manufacturers |
| 9 Mar 1940 | No 10 Course terminated |
| 11 Mar 1940 | No 11 Course commenced training - 7 x Officer and 1 x NCO pilots |
| 25 Mar 1940 | No 11 Course terminated |
| 27 Mar 1940 | No 12 Course commenced training - 8 x Officer and 4 x NCO pilots |
| 8 Apr 1940 | No 12 Course terminated |
| 8 Apr 1940 | No 13 Course commenced training - 5 x Officer and 1 x NCO pilots |
| 15 Apr 1940 | No 14 Course commenced training - 5 x Officer and 1 x NCO pilots |
| 20 Apr 1940 | No 13 Course terminated |
| 22 Apr 1940 | No 15 Course commenced training - 5 x Officer and 2 x NCO pilots |
| 27 Apr 1940 | No 14 Course terminated |
| 29 Apr 1940 | No 16 Course commenced training - 5 x Officer and 1 x NCO pilots |
| 5 May 1940 | No 15 Course terminated |
| 6 May 1940 | No 17 Course commenced training - 4 x Officer and 2 x NCO pilots |
| 11 May 1940 | No 16 Course terminated |
| 13 May 1940 | No 18 Course commenced training - 5 x Officer and 1 x NCO pilots |
| 18 May 1940 | No 17 Course terminated |
| 20 May 1940 | No 19 Course commenced training - 7 x Officer pilots |
| 25 May 1940 | No 18 Course terminated |
| 27 May 1940 | No 20 Course commenced training - 4 x Officer pilots |
| 1 Jun 1940 | No 19 Course terminated |
| 3 Jun 1940 | No 21 Course commenced training - 3 x Officer and 3 x NCO pilots |
| 6 Jun 1940 | No 20 Course abandoned, personnel returned to units |
| 6 Jun 1940 | No 21 Course abandoned, personnel returned to units |
| 6 Jun 1940 | Unit disbanded |
| 13 Jun 1940 | Unit was reformed with an establishment of 8 x Ansons and 3 x Whitleys to investigate enemy wireless signals with its original personnel being recalled |
| 17 Jun 1940 | No 1 B/A VHF Course commenced - 10 Airmen Radio Mechanics of Bomber Command |
| 21 Jun 1940 | No 1 B/A VHF Course terminated |
| 24 Jun 1940 | No 2 B/A VHF Course commenced - 14 Airmen Radio Mechanics of Bomber Command |
| 28 Jun 1940 | No 2 B/A VHF Course terminated |
| 1 Jul 1940 | Whitley, P5019 was received from No 27 MU, RAF Shawbury |
| 1 Jul 1940 | Whitleys, P4943 and P4944 were received from No 20 MU, RAF Aston Down |
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| 1 Jul 1940 | No 3 B/A VHF Equipment Course commenced - 11 Airmen Radio Mechanics of Bomber Command |
| 5 Jul 1940 | Whitleys, P4943 and P4944 returned to No 20 MU, RAF Aston Down |
| 5 Jul 1940 | Whitleys, P5047 and P5057 were received from No 6 MU, RAF Brize Norton |
| 5 Jul 1940 | Anson, R3313 was received from Hamble |
| 5 Jul 1940 | No 3 B/A VHF Equipment Course terminated |
| 8 Jul 1940 | No 4 B/A VHF Equipment Course commenced - 13 x Radio Mechanics, 2 x WEM and 3 x WOps |
| 12 Jul 1940 | No 4 B/A VHF Equipment Course terminated |
| 15 Jul 1940 | Ansons, K6258 and K6318 were received from RAF Silloth but found unfit for use |
| 15 Jul 1940 | No 5 B/A VHF Equipment Course commenced - 6 x Radio Mechanics |
| 17 Jul 1940 | Whitley, P5053 was received from No 6 MU, RAF Brize Norton (to replace P5019) |
| 19 Jul 1940 | No 5 B/A VHF Equipment Course terminated |
| 22 Jul 1940 | No 6 B/A VHF Equipment Course commenced - 13 x Radio Mechanics |
| 23 Jul 1940 | Ansons, R9812, R9813, R9814 and R9815 were received from the manufacturers |
| 27 Jul 1940 | No 6 B/A VHF Equipment Course terminated |
| 29 Jul 1940 | No 7 B/A VHF Equipment Course commenced - 12 x Radio Mechanics |
| 2 Aug 1940 | No 7 B/A VHF Equipment Course terminated |
| 3 Aug 1940 | Anson, N9534 was received from No 9 MU, RAF Cosford |
| 4 Aug 1940 | Ansons, R9828, R9829, R9830 and R9837 were received from the manufacturers but appeared to be a duplication |
| 5 Aug 1940 | No 8 B/A VHF Equipment Course commenced - 5 x Radio Mechanics |
| 8 Aug 1940 | Ansons, N4953, K6258, K6318 and K6241 returned to contractors as unfit for service |
| 9 Aug 1940 | No 8 B/A VHF Equipment Course terminated |
| 19 Aug 1940 | No 9 B/A VHF Equipment Course commenced - 8 x Airmen |
| 2 Sep 1940 | No 9 B/A VHF Equipment Course terminated |
| 2 Sep 1940 | No 10 B/A VHF Equipment Course commenced - 12 x Radio Mechanics |
| 7 Sep 1940 | No 10 B/A VHF Equipment Course terminated |
| 9 Sep 1940 | No 11 B/A VHF Equipment Course commenced - 8 x Radio Mechanics |
| 13 Sep 1940 | No 11 B/A VHF Equipment Course terminated |
| 16 Sep 1940 | No 12 B/A VHF Equipment Course commenced - 5 x Radio Mechanics |
| 20 Sep 1940 | No 12 B/A VHF Equipment Course terminated |
| 23 Sep 1940 | No 13 B/A VHF Equipment Course commenced - 3 x Radio Mechanics and 5 x WEMs |
| 27 Sep 1940 | No 13 B/A VHF Equipment Course terminated |
| 30 Sep 1940 | No 14 B/A VHF Equipment Course commenced - 2 x Radio Mechanics, 2 x WEMs and 1 x WOp |
| 30 Sep 1940 | Personnel with the Advanced HQ at HQ Fighter Command were absorbed into HQ No 80 Wing |
| 4 Oct 1940 | No 14 B/A VHF Equipment Course terminated |
| 7 Oct 1940 | No 15 B/A VHF Equipment Course commenced - 1 x WEM and 3 x WOps |
| 11 Oct 1940 | No 15 B/A VHF Equipment Course terminated |
| 14 Oct 1940 | Unit was redesignated Wireless Intelligence Development Unit, wef 30 Sep 1940 |
| 20 Oct 1940 | Ansons, R9828 and R9830 despatched to RAF Watchfield for AST |
| 21 Oct 1940 | Ansons, R9829 and R9837 despatched to RAF Watchfield for AST |
| 24 Oct 1940 | No 16 B/A VHF Equipment Course commenced - 9 x Radio Mechanics |
| 30 Oct 1940 | No 16 B/A VHF Equipment Course terminated |
| 13 Nov 1940 | B/A Equipment (Ground) Course commenced - 9 x WEMs and 1 x Radio Mechanic |
| 23 Nov 1940 | B/A Equipment (Ground) Course terminated |
| 9 Dec 1940 | B/A Equipment (Ground) Course commenced - 9 x Radio Mechanic |
| 10 Dec 1940 | WIDU redesignated No 109 Sqn |
Source - No 109 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/852 and AIR27/853)
This page was last updated on 11/03/21©
