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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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Practice Camp/No 3 Armament Training Camp/Station, Sutton Bridge - Personnel and locations
[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 | Jan 1934 | Jul 1934 | Jul 1935 | Jul 1936 | Jul 1937 | Jul 1938 | Jan 1939 | Apr 1939 | May 1939]
Practice Camps were temporary units usually set up in March/April each year to permit operational squadrons to carry out live firing and bombing practices on nearby ranges. They usually closed around October/November, this continuing until the early 1930s
| Location | Command/Group |
| Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire | Inland Area |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | Anthony R Arnold | 1 Apr 1927 | Officer Commanding, DSC, DFC |
| Flt Lt | John D S Denholm | 1 Apr 1927 | Armament duties |
| Fg Off | Cyril H Roberts | 1 Apr 1927 | |
|
Medical Branch |
|||
| Fg Off | Richard G Freeman | 1 Apr 1927 | |
Source - July 1927 Air Force List
| Location | Command/Group |
| Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire | Inland Area |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | William Sowrey | 8 Apr 1928 | Officer Commanding, DFC, AFC; later A/Cdre |
| Flt Lt | John D S Denholm | 28 Mar 1928 | Armament duties |
| Fg Off | Ian W C Mackenzie | 14 Apr 1928 | |
| Fg Off | Cyril H Roberts | 29 Mar 1928 | |
|
Medical Branch |
|||
| Fg Off | Gerard T O'Brien | 29 Mar 1928 | |
Source - July 1928 Air Force List
| Location | Command/Group |
| Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire | Inland Area |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | William Sowrey | 8 Apr 1928 | Officer Commanding, DFC, AFC; later A/Cdre |
| Flt Lt | John D S Denholm | 28 Mar 1928 | Armament duties |
| Fg Off | Ralph H W Empson | 18 Jun 1928 | Armament duties |
| Fg Off | Cyril H Roberts | 29 Mar 1928 | |
|
Medical Branch |
|||
| Fg Off | Gerard T O'Brien | 29 Mar 1928 | |
Source - September 1928 Air Force List
| Location | Command/Group |
| Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire | Inland Area |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | 25 Mar 1929 | Officer Commanding; later AM | |
| Flt Lt | Charles Crawford | 20 Mar 1929 | |
| Fg Off | John Parsons | 20 Mar 1929 | |
| Fg Off | Eric M Thompson | 4 Jun 1929 | |
|
Medical Branch |
|||
| Fg Off | Nigel M Jerram | 1 May 1929 | |
Source - July 1929 Air Force List
| Location | Command/Group |
| Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire | Inland Area |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Wg Cdr | Dermott L Allen | 8 Mar 1930 | Officer Commanding, AFC |
| Flt Lt | Clifford W Busk | 8 Mar 1930 | Armament duties, MC, AFC; later A/Cdre |
| Fg Off | Alexander H Montgomery | 5 Mar 1930 | later A/Cdre |
| Fg Off | Colin E V L'E Feasey | 2 Jun 1930 | |
| Fg Off | Charles H R Little | 8 Mar 1930 | |
|
Medical Branch |
|||
| Flt Lt | Leslie I Hyder | 30 Mar 1930 | MRCS, LRCP |
The camp closed on 31 October 1930, with the Civil Assistant (Mr Barnshaw) and Station Warden (Mr Pettit) remaining in charge of the camp during the Winter season.
Source - July 1930 Air Force List
Source - August 1930 Air Force List
Source - September 1930 Air Force List
Source - October 1930 Air Force List
Source - November 1930 Air Force List
Source - December 1930 Air Force List
It began to re-assemble on 5 March 1931 and re-opened on 6 April 1931.
| Location | Command/Group |
| Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire | Inland Area |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Wg Cdr | Kenneth C Buss | 12 Mar 1931 | Officer Commanding, OBE; later A/Cdre |
| Flt Lt | Edward D MacL Hopkins | 10 Mar 1931 | Armament duties; later A/Cdre |
| Fg Off | Gerald E F Procter | 10 Mar 1931 | |
| Fg Off | Douglas C Harrison | 25 Mar 1931 | |
|
Medical Branch |
|||
| Flt Lt | Gerald W McAleer | 2 Apr 1931 | MB, ChB |
Source - July 1931 Air Force List
The camp closed on 30 October 1931
It was redesignated No 3 Armament Training Camp on 1 January 1932 under the control of the Air Armament School.
| Location | Command/Group |
| Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire | Air Armament School |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Wg Cdr | William Sowrey | 1 Mar 1932 | Officer Commanding, DFC, AFC; later A/Cdre |
| Flt Lt | Sylvanus G Connolly | 5 Mar 1932 | Armament duties |
| Fg Off | George F Hales | 16 Mar 1932 | |
| Fg Off | Michael T M Hyland | 16 Mar 1932 | |
| Fg Off | Laurence M Hooper | 15 Mar 1932 | |
|
Medical Branch |
|||
| Flt Lt | Philip C Barling | 24 Mar 1932 | |
Source - July 1932 Air Force List
| Location | Command/Group |
| Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire | Air Armament School |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Wg Cdr | William Sowrey | 28 Feb 1933 | Officer Commanding, DFC, AFC; later A/Cdre |
| Flt Lt | Matthew C Dick | 1 Mar 1933 | Armament duties, AFC |
| Flt Lt | Joseph C C Slater | 2 Mar 1933 | Armament duties |
| Flt Lt | Ronald W M Clark | 20 Mar 1933 | |
| Fg Off | Michael T M Hyland | 24 Mar 1933 | |
| Fg Off | Richard M Messiter | 25 Mar 1933 | |
| Fg Off | Richard T S Morris | 20 Mar 1933 | |
|
Medical Branch |
|||
| Flt Lt | Alfred E Vawser | 21 Mar 1933 | LMSSA |
|
Civilian Stores Officer |
|||
| Fg Off (Ret) | F Barnshaw | ||
|
Warrant Officer |
|||
| WO | John Sullivan | 31 Mar 1933 | |
Source - July 1933 Air Force List
Source - January 1934 Air Force List
| Location | Command/Group |
| Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire | Inland Area/Armament Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Wg Cdr | Frederick Sowrey | 19 Mar 1934 | Officer Commanding, DSO, MC, AFC |
| Flt Lt | Vyvian Q Blackburn | 7 Mar 1934 | |
| Flt Lt | Charles E St J Beamish | 4 Mar 1934 | Armament duties |
| Flt Lt | Wilfred P J Thompson | 17 Apr 1934 | |
| Fg Off | Raymond W P Collings | 10 Mar 1934 | |
| Fg Off | Lionel R S Freestone | 1 Mar 1934 | Armament duties; later A/Cdre |
| Fg Off | John N Baxter | 26 Feb 1934 | |
| Fg Off | Leslie E B Stonhill | 29 Jan 1934 | |
|
Medical Branch |
|||
| Flt Lt | Thomas V O'Brien | 10 Mar 1934 | MB, ChB |
|
Civilian Stores Officer |
|||
| Fg Off (Ret) | F Barnshaw | ||
|
Warrant Officer |
|||
| WO II | Charles Stonebridge | 2 Mar 1934 | |
Source - July 1934 Air Force List
| Location | Command/Group |
| Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire | Inland Area/Armament Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | Charles L King | 18 Feb 1935 | Officer Commanding, MC, DFC; later A/Cdre |
| Flt Lt | Patrick de C Festing Smith | 20 Feb 1935 | |
| Flt Lt | John Marson | 3 Jun 1935 | Armament duties; later AVM |
| Fg Off | Ronald Hanson | 5 Jun 1935 | |
| Fg Off | Charles M Windsor | 3 Jun 1935 | |
| Fg Off | William F C Hobson | 28 Feb 1935 | Armament duties |
| Fg Off | Cederic W Williams | 20 Feb 1935 | |
|
Medical Branch |
|||
| Flt Lt | Ogilvie M Fraser | 1 Mar 1935 | MB, ChB |
|
Civilian Stores Officer |
|||
| Fg Off (Ret) | F Barnshaw | ||
|
Warrant Officer |
|||
| WO II | George J Langfield | 19 Feb 1935 | |
Source - July 1935 Air Force List
| Location | Command/Group |
| Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire | Training Command/Armament Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Wg Cdr | Harry A Smith | 19 Aug 1935 | Officer Commanding, MC |
| Flt Lt | Duncan B McGill | 28 Oct 1935 | |
| Flt Lt | John Marson | 3 Jun 1935 | Armament duties; later AVM |
| Fg Off | John R Palmer | 28 Oct 1935 | |
| Fg Off | C H B Bullock | 27 Feb 1936 | Armament duties |
|
- |
|||
| 5 Airman Pilots | |||
|
Medical Branch |
|||
| Fg Off | A S Amsden | 1 Mar 1936 | MRCS, LRCP |
|
Civilian Assistant |
|||
| Fg Off | M J Wyatt | RAFO | |
|
Civilian Stores Officer |
|||
| Fg Off (Ret) | F Barnshaw | ||
|
Warrant Officer |
|||
| WO II | George J Langfield | 19 Feb 1935 | |
Source - July 1936 Air Force List
| Location | Command/Group |
| Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire | Training Command/Armament Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Wg Cdr | Harry A Smith | 19 Aug 1935 | Officer Commanding, MC |
| Flt Lt | Noel H Fresson | 22 Jun 1936 | Armament duties; later A/Cdre |
| Flt Lt | J A H Louden | 30 Mar 1937 | Armament duties |
| Flt Lt | F A A H Strath | 11 Jan 1937 | |
| Flt Lt | F C de la P Beresford-Peirse | 18 Dec 1936 | Armament duties |
| Plt Off | M W Hamlyn | 26 Apr 1937 | |
| Plt Off | S M Bird | 12 Apr 1937 | |
|
- |
|||
| Fg Off | R P Smillie | late RAF | |
|
- |
|||
| 6 Airman Pilots | |||
|
Medical Branch |
|||
| Flt Lt | D G Smith | 12 Jan 1937 | MB, ChB |
|
Education Officer |
|||
| Mr | A A McGregor | 9 Nov 1936 | Grade III, BSc |
|
Equipment Officer |
|||
| Fg Off (Ret) | F Barnshaw | ||
Source - July 1937 Air Force List
It was redesignated No 3 Armament Training Station on 1 April 1938.
| Location | Command/Group |
| Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire | Training Command/No 25 (Armament) Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Wg Cdr | F O Soden | 5 Feb 1938 | Officer Commanding, |
| Sqn Ldr | E G Granville | 11 Apr 1938 | Armament duties |
| Flt Lt | J B S Monypenny | 23 Aug 1937 | |
| Flt Lt | A Golding | 3 Jul 1937 | Armament duties |
| Flt Lt | D E B Wheeler | 21 Dec 1937 | Armament duties |
| Plt Off | F Harrison | 25 Oct 1937 | |
| Plt Off | S M Bird | 12 Apr 1937 | |
| Plt Off | M T Kirkwood | 4 May 1938 | |
| APO | B Ruffell | 7 May 1938 | |
| APO | R B Whittington | 7 May 1938 | |
|
- |
|||
| Fg Off | R P Smillie | late RAF | |
|
- |
|||
| 5 Airman Pilots | |||
|
Medical Branch |
|||
| Fg Off | J McWhirter | 9 Sep 1937 | MB, BCh |
|
Education Officer |
|||
| Mr | A A McGregor | 9 Nov 1936 | Grade III, BSc |
|
Equipment Officer |
|||
| Fg Off (Ret) | F Barnshaw | ||
|
Warrant Officers |
|||
| WO | J R Stone | 6 Jul 1937 | |
| WO | C E Edge | 14 Jan 1938 | |
Source - July 1938 Air Force List
| Location | Command/Group |
| Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire | Training Command/No 25 (Armament) Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Wg Cdr | F O Soden | 5 Feb 1938 | Officer Commanding, |
| Sqn Ldr | E G Granville | 11 Apr 1938 | Armament duties |
| Flt Lt | A Golding | 3 Jul 1937 | Armament duties |
| Flt Lt | D E B Wheeler | 21 Dec 1937 | Armament duties |
| Fg Off | F Harrison | 25 Oct 1937 | |
| Plt Off | M T Kirkwood | 4 May 1938 | |
| Plt Off | B Ruffell | 7 May 1938 | |
|
- |
|||
| Flt Lt | R P Smillie | Adjutant, RAFO | |
|
Medical Branch |
|||
| Fg Off | J McWhirter | 9 Sep 1937 | MB, BCh |
|
Education Officer |
|||
| Mr | A A McGregor | 9 Nov 1936 | Grade III, BSc |
|
Equipment Officer |
|||
| Fg Off (Ret) | F Barnshaw | ||
|
Warrant Officers |
|||
| WO | J R Stone | 6 Jul 1937 | |
| WO | C E Edge | 14 Jan 1938 | |
| WO | T C Power | 12 Sep 1936 | |
Source - January 1939 Air Force List
| Location | Command/Group |
| Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire | Training Command/No 25 (Armament) Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Wg Cdr | F O Soden | 5 Feb 1938 | Officer Commanding, |
| Sqn Ldr | E G Granville | 11 Apr 1938 | Armament duties |
| Flt Lt | A Golding | 3 Jul 1937 | Armament duties |
| Plt Off | M T Kirkwood | 4 May 1938 | |
| Plt Off | B Ruffell | 7 May 1938 | |
| APO | R T Sturgess | 17 Dec 1938 | |
|
- |
|||
| Flt Lt | R P Smillie | Adjutant, RAFO | |
|
Medical Branch |
|||
| Fg Off | J McWhirter | 9 Sep 1937 | MB, BCh |
|
Commissioned Armament Officer |
|||
| Fg Off | R H Howse | 7 Jan 1939 | |
|
Education Officer |
|||
| Mr | A A McGregor | 9 Nov 1936 | Grade III, BSc |
|
Equipment Officer |
|||
| Fg Off (Ret) | F Barnshaw | ||
|
Warrant Officers |
|||
| WO | J R Stone | 6 Jul 1937 | |
| WO | C E Edge | 14 Jan 1938 | |
| WO | T C Power | 12 Sep 1936 | |
| WO | W T Innocent | 27 Jan 1937 | |
Source - April 1939 Confidential Air Force List
| Location | Command/Group |
| Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire | Training Command/No 25 (Armament) Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Wg Cdr | F O Soden | 5 Feb 1938 | Officer Commanding, |
| Sqn Ldr | E G Granville | 11 Apr 1938 | Armament duties |
| Sqn Ldr | A Golding | 3 Jul 1937 | Armament duties |
| Plt Off | M T Kirkwood | 4 May 1938 | |
| Plt Off | B Ruffell | 7 May 1938 | |
| Plt Off | R T Sturgess | 17 Dec 1938 | |
|
- |
|||
| Flt Lt | R P Smillie | Adjutant, RAFO | |
|
Medical Branch |
|||
| Fg Off | J McWhirter | 9 Sep 1937 | MB, BCh |
|
Commissioned Armament Officer |
|||
| Fg Off | R H Howse | 7 Jan 1939 | |
|
Education Officer |
|||
| Mr | A A McGregor | 9 Nov 1936 | Grade III, BSc |
|
Equipment Officer |
|||
| Fg Off (Ret) | F Barnshaw | ||
|
Warrant Officers |
|||
| WO | J R Stone | 6 Jul 1937 | |
| WO | C E Edge | 14 Jan 1938 | |
| WO | T C Power | 12 Sep 1936 | |
| WO | W T Innocent | 27 Jan 1937 | |
Source - May 1939 Confidential Air Force List
Personnel Movements: May - Sep 1939
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | A Golding | 15 May 1939 | Posted to Woolwich Arsenal for Special Duty (Armament) |
| Wg Cdr | J M Mason | 23 Jul 1939 | Arrived on posting pending assuming command |
| Gp Capt | F O Soden | 26 Jul 1939 | Attached to RAF Tangmere for duty as Camp Commandant, OTC Camp, Chichester |
| Gp Capt | F O Soden | 1 Aug 1939 | Relinquished command of No 3 ATS |
| Wg Cdr | J M Mason | 1 Aug 1939 | Assumed command of No 3 ATS |
| Gp Capt | F O Soden | 7 Aug 1939 | Posted to RAF Finningley to command |
| Flt Lt | R P Smillie | 2 Sep 1939 | Remained at RAF Sutton Bridge as OC, Care & Maintenance Party |
| Fg Off( Retd) | F Barnshaw | 2 Sep 1939 | Remained at RAF Sutton Bridge as Member, Care & Maintenance Party |
| Fg Off | G G Robinson | 2 Sep 1939 | Remained at RAF Sutton Bridge as Member, Care & Maintenance Party |
Source - RAF Sutton Bridge ORB
Unit Movements: Jan - Jul 1936
| Unit | Date | Notes |
| No 3 Armament Training Camp | 2 Sep 1939 | Transferred to RAF West Freugh |
Source - RAF Swinderby ORB
It was disbanded into No 4 Air Observer School on 3 September 1939.
[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 | Jan 1934 | Jul 1934 | Jul 1935 | Jul 1936 | Jul 1937 | Jul 1938 | Jan 1939 | Apr 1939 | May 1939]
This page was last updated on 10/09/20
