Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
Central Gunnery School - Personnel, aircraft and locations
Personnel Movements: Nov - Dec 1939 (Permanent staff of the unit.)
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Gp Capt | W H Poole | 6 Nov 1939 | Assumed command of the Central Gunnery School |
| Sqn Ldr | J Grandy | 6 Nov 1939 | Arrived on posting |
| Sqn Ldr | E C Ingham | 6 Nov 1939 | Arrived on posting |
| Gp Capt | W H Poole | 13 Nov 1939 | Relinquished command of the Central Gunnery School |
| Wg Cdr | G V Howard | 13 Nov 1939 | Arrived on posting and assumed command of the Central Gunnery School |
| Gp Capt | W H Poole | 19 Nov 1939 | Departed on posting |
| Sqn Ldr | P Haynes | 27 Nov 1939 | Arrived on posting and assumed duty as Armament Instructor |
| Fg Off | J W Piggott | 27 Nov 1939 | Assumed duties of Adjutant |
Source - Central Gunnery School ORB (AIR 29/605)
Organisational Movements: Nov - Dec 1939
| Date | Notes |
| 6 Nov 1939 | Formed at RAF Warmwell |
| w/c 11 Nov 1939 | Aircraft loaned by Bomber Command began to arrive |
| 13 Nov 1939 | No 1 Course commenced (4 x Officers and 12 x Airmen) - [Course Photo] |
| 9 Dec 1939 | No 1 Course completed (4 x Officers and 12 x Airmen) |
| 11 Dec 1939 | No 2 Course commenced (8 x Officers and 12 x Airmen) - [Course Photo] |
Source - Central Gunnery School ORB (AIR 29/605)
Personnel Movements: Nov - Dec 1939 (Permanent staff of the unit.)
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| AC2 | W Wright | 4 Jan 1940 | Died in SSQ |
| Flt Lt | A G Duguid | 10 Jan 1940 | Arrived on posting and assumed command of 'A' Flight |
| Plt Off | W G Pearson | 25 Jan 1940 | Arrived on posting for Administrative duties |
| Plt Off | C A Potter | 29 Jan 1940 | Arrived on posting from RAF Manby |
| Fg Off | I N Bonard | 20 Mar 1940 | Posted to RAF Harwell |
| Fg Off | J W Piggott | 20 Mar 1940 | Adjutant, attached to RAF Loughborough for Administrative course |
| Flt Lt | G D Garvin | 24 Mar 1940 | Arrived on posting, wef 19 Mar 1940 |
| Plt Off | G P Robertson | 26 Mar 1940 | Arrived on posting, wef 25 Mar 1940 |
| Plt Off | C P Best | 26 Mar 1940 | Arrived on posting, wef 25 Mar 1940 |
| Plt Off | V G W Engstrom | 26 Mar 1940 | Arrived on posting, wef 25 Mar 1940 |
| Flt Lt | A M Smith | 2 Apr 1940 | Arrived on posting |
| Flt Lt | J N Glover | 17 Apr 1940 | Arrived on posting |
| Wg Cdr | G V Howard | 22 Apr 1940 | Admitted to Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester after baling out of Master, N7551 |
| Flt Lt | J N Glover | 28 Apr 1940 | Posted to No 271 Sqn, RAF Doncaster |
| Wg Cdr | G V Howard | 29 Apr 1940 | Transferred from Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester to RAF Hospital, Torquay |
| Wg Cdr | G V Howard | 17 May 1940 | Discharged from RAF Hospital, Torquay |
| Sqn Ldr | E C Ingham | 2 Jul 1940 | Killed in a flying accident |
| Sqn Ldr | J Goodhart | 6 Jul 1940 | Arrived on posting from HQ Bomber Command for duty as Officer i/c Development |
| Wg Cdr | G V Howard | 14 Jul 1940 | Assumed command of RAF Warmwell as well as CGS |
| Wg Cdr | G V Howard | 1 Aug 1940 | Posted to RAF Warmwell |
| Sqn Ldr | S H Potter | 6 Jul 1940 | Arrived on posting from HQ No 61 Group |
| Wg Cdr | C M Champion de Crespigny | 9 Aug 1940 | Arrived on posting and assumed command of the Central Gunnery School |
| Wg Cdr | I E Brodie | 8 Sep 1940 | Arrived on posting and assumed command of the Central Gunnery School |
| Flt Lt | A M Smith | 10 Sep 1940 | Posted to No 264 Sqn |
| Plt Off | W S Thimblethorpe | 26 Sep 1940 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | A Wroblewski | 6 Nov 1940 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | G Schmidt | 6 Nov 1940 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | A Krekowski | 6 Nov 1940 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | M Szalewicz | 6 Nov 1940 | Arrived on posting |
| Sqn Ldr | P Haynes | 15 Dec 1940 | Chief Instructor, promoted to Wg Cdr, wef 1 Dec 1940 |
Source - Central Gunnery School ORB (AIR 29/605)
Organisational Movements: Nov - Dec 1939
| Date | Notes |
| 19 Jan 1940 | No 2 Course completed (8 x Officers and 11 x NCOs and Airmen) |
| 22 Jan 1940 | No 3 Course commenced - [Course Photo] |
| 8 Mar 1940 | No 3 Course completed |
| 11 Mar 1940 | No 4 Course commenced - [Course Photo] |
| 15 Mar 1940 | 1 x Wellington was collected from RAF
Hullavington
|
| 15 Mar 1940 | 1 x Blenheim was collected from RAF Cottesmore
|
| 3 Apr 1940 | 2 x Defiants collected from RAF Ternhill
|
| 13 Apr 1940 | No 4 Course completed |
| 15 Apr 1940 | No 5 Course commenced - [Course Photo] |
| 15 May 1940 | No 5 Course completed |
| 16 May 1940 | No 6 Gunnery Leaders' Course commenced - [Course Photo] |
| 14 Jun 1940 | No 6 Gunnery Leaders' Course completed |
| 17 Jun 1940 | No 7 Gunnery Leaders' Course commenced - [Course Photo] |
| 10 Jul 1940 | Advance party of No 10 BGS departed RAF Warmwell for RAF Dumfries |
| 12 Jul 1940 | No 7 Gunnery Leaders' Course completed |
| 13 Jul 1940 | No 10 BGS completed its moved from RAF Warmwell to RAF Dumfries |
| 16 Jul 1940 | No 8 Gunnery Leaders' Course commenced - [Course Photo] |
| 9 Aug 1940 | No 8 Gunnery Leaders' Course completed |
| 12 Aug 1940 | No 9 Gunnery Leaders' Course commenced - [Course Photo] |
| 6 Sep 1940 | No 9 Gunnery Leaders' Course completed |
| 9 Sep 1940 | No 10 Gunnery Leaders' Course commenced - [Course Photo] |
| 4 Oct 1940 | No 10 Gunnery Leaders' Course completed |
| 7 Oct 1940 | No 11 Gunnery Leaders' Course commenced - [Course Photo] |
| 1 Nov 1940 | No 11 Gunnery Leaders' Course completed |
| 4 Nov 1940 | No 12 Gunnery Leaders' Course commenced - [Course Photo] |
| 6 Dec 1940 | No 12 Gunnery Leaders' Course completed |
| 9 Dec 1940 | No 13 Gunnery Leaders' Course commenced - [Course Photo] |
Source - Central Gunnery School ORB (AIR 29/605)
Personnel Movements: Jan - Dec 1944 (Permanent staff of the unit.)
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | Edwards | 1 Mar 1944 | Senior Medical Officer, posted to RAF West Kirby |
| Wg Cdr | A C Deere | 18 Mar 1944 | To HQ No 11 Group |
| Sqn Ldr | A L Winskill | 18 Mar 1944 | Assumed command of Pilot Gunnery Instructors' Training Wing |
| Sgt | R Allott | 1 Apr 1944 | Killed in a flying accident |
| LAC | A W S Stickler | 1 Apr 1944 | Killed in a flying accident |
| LACW | Lewis | 14 Apr 1944 | Nursing Orderly, attached pending posting to HQ No 76 Wing |
| LACW | Dolinsky | 14 Apr 1944 | Nursing Orderly, attached from HQ No 76 Wing pending posting to CGS |
| LACW | Rees | 21 Apr 1944 | D/Clerk/O, attached pending posting to RAF West Kirby |
| AC | Fenwick | 24 Apr 1944 | Nursing Orderly, attached pending posting to RAF Perranporth |
| LACW | Eggleston | 26 Apr 1944 | D/Clerk/O, attached pending posting to RAF North Coates |
| LACW | Griffin | 1 May 1944 | Nursing Orderly, attached pending posting to RAF Great Massingham |
| Cpl | Elems | 2 May 1944 | Nursing Orderly, attached pending posting to RAF Millom |
| Cpl | Brennan | 28 May 1944 | Nursing Orderly, attached pending posting to RAF Felixstowe |
| Sqn Ldr | W E Nicholas | 18 Jun 1944 | To RAF Staff College |
| LAC | Barrington | 1 Jun 1944 | Nursing Orderly, attached from No 18 (P) AFU pending posting to CGS |
| LACW | Finch | 7 Jun 1944 | Nursing Orderly, attached pending posting to RAF Husbands Bosworth |
| Flt Sgt | Shipp | 7 Jun 1944 | Nursing Orderly, attached pending posting to Scarborough |
| LAC | Smith | 17 Jun 1944 | Dispenser, attached pending posting to RAF Sidmouth |
| LACW | Knell | 28 Jun 1944 | Discharged from WAAF on Compassionate Grounds |
| WO | I A Morgan | 24 Jul 1944 | Killed in a flying accident |
| ACW | Sochrie | 1 Jul 1944 | Nursing Orderly, attached from RAF Hospital Kirkham |
| ACW | Jackson | 1 Jul 1944 | Nursing Orderly, attached from RAF Hospital Kirkham |
| Flt Off | K M Watts | 25 Aug 1944 | To HQ No 25 Group for WAAF (G) duties |
| Flt Off | E L Salter | 26 Aug 1944 | Reported to unit for WAAF (G) duties |
| Wg Cdr | W J Ralphs | 2 Sep 1944 | Departed unit |
| Flt Lt | J K Shaw | 14 Oct 1944 | Killed in a flying accident |
| Fg Off | A J Walker | 14 Oct 1944 | Killed in a flying accident |
| WO | D S Weed | 14 Oct 1944 | Killed in a flying accident |
| Wg Cdr | P H Scoley | 22 Nov 1944 | Reported for duty as Chief Technical Officer |
| Fg Off | L Mahon | 2 Dec 1944 | To Air Ministry for duty with ADO Mails |
| Fg Off | F C Meadows | 3 Dec 1944 | To PHU, Morecombe for duty at NAS Arbroath |
| Wg Cdr | B Ingham | 13 Dec 1944 | Reported for duty |
| Fg Off | T G Jones | 17 Dec 1944 | Reported for duty |
| Sqn Ldr | P L Arnott | 29 Dec 1944 | Reported for duty as CFI |
Source - Central Gunnery School ORB (AIR 29/605)
Personnel Movements: Jan - Dec 1945
The personnel listed below were permanent staff of the unit.
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Wg Cdr | K M Bastin | 5 Jan 1945 | From No 1 AGS as OC, Gunnery Leaders' Wing |
| Wg Cdr | A E Lowe | 7 Jan 1945 | To RAF Staff College |
| Flt Lt | A M Leigh | 30 Jan 1945 | Cashiered from the RAF and sentenced to 3 months imprisonment |
| WO | Wilson | 3 Feb 1945 | Armament Officer, attached to unit to advise on 20mm Cannon maintenance |
| Sqn Ldr | H Harvey | 4 Feb 1945 | Armament Officer from HQ FTC |
| Flt Lt | F W Hammond | 4 Feb 1945 | Equipment Officer from RAF Bridlington |
| SO | E P Goodwin | 7 Feb 1945 | From HQ No 25 Group |
| SO | D Shaw | 7 Feb 1945 | Died on active service |
| Sqn Ldr | A J S Negus | 12 Feb 1945 | Posted out wef 7 Apr 1945 |
| SO | Ogilvie | 14 Feb 1945 | Ceased to attached to CGS and posted to RAF Halfpenny Green |
| Sqn Ldr | D G Andrews | 22 Feb 1945 | Posted out |
| Sqn Ldr | L W Alford | 23 Feb 1945 | Accountant Officer, posted out |
| WO | Wilson | 23 Feb 1945 | SM10 Air Ministry, ceased to be attached and returned to AM |
| Flt Lt | R H Martin | 25 Feb 1945 | Education Officer, to RAF Bridgnorth |
| SO | I M Churchill | 28 Feb 1945 | Attached from RAF Manby |
| Flt Lt | H E Davies | 1 Mar 1945 | Education Officer, from Twyford |
| Flt Lt | R O Jenkins | 19 Mar 1945 | Reported for duty as Station Adjutant |
| Flt Lt | F L Simpson | 22 Mar1945 | To HQ No 25 Group |
| Fg Off | C F Caple | 2 Apr 1945 | To No 2 PDC |
| Flt Lt | T G Keegan | 3 Apr 1945 | To No 5 PDC |
| Flt Lt | B P Roche | 3 Apr 1945 | To ACAS (I), Dept AD 1K |
| Sqn Ldr | A Vicary | 6 Apr 1945 | From EANS as Senior Admin Officer |
| Fg Off | Lainghburt | 8 Apr 1945 | Posted out |
| Fg Off | Couldray | 9 Apr 1945 | Reported for duty as Servicing Wing Adjutant |
| Sqn Ldr | D C Rigler | 9 Apr 1945 | From RAF Coltishall for Instructor duties |
| Sqn Ldr | A J S Negus | 10 Apr 1945 | Departed for RAF Shawbury |
| Fg Off | H Holloway | 10 Apr 1945 | From No 4 (P) AFU for Instructor duties |
| Flt Lt | |J R Cockin | 18 Apr 1945 | To RAF Brighton |
| Fg Off | T Moore | 24 Apr 1945 | Attached from No 1699 Flight for short refresher course with Gunnery Leaders' Wing |
| Sqn Ldr | D C Rigler | 26 Apr 1945 | To HQ Fighter Command |
| Fg Off | R Powell | 30 Apr 1945 | Catering Officer, to RAF Boscombe Down for Flt Lt's post |
| Fg Off | White | 10 May 1945 | Catering Officer, reported for duty |
| Fg Off | White | 11 May 1945 | Catering Officer, returned to RAF Barrow on cancellation of his posting |
| Cpl | J Smith | 11 May 1945 | Killed in a road accident |
| Fg Off | E W Mitchell | 13 May 1945 | Flying Control Officer, attached from RAF Manby |
| Flt Lt | J A Browne | 20 May 1945 | Armament Officer, reported for duty |
| Flt Lt | D W Hawkins | 20 May 1945 | Reported for duty |
| Flt Lt | H E Davies | 22 May 1945 | Education Officer, terminated his employment with the RAF |
| Flt Off | Andrews | 24 May 1945 | To EAAS |
| Flt Off | Hughes | 24 May 1945 | To EAAS |
| Flt Lt | A J Rook | 24 May 1945 | Medical Officer, to RAF Shawbury |
| Flt Lt | G D Currie | 4 Jun 1945 | To Brighton for repatriation to Australia |
| Fg Off | H J Blackwell | 4 Jun 1945 | To Brighton for repatriation to Australia |
| Fg Off | M H Lynch | 4 Jun 1945 | To Brighton for repatriation to Australia |
| WO | Heard | 4 Jun 1945 | To Brighton for repatriation to Australia |
| Flt Lt | B D Spark | 5 Jul 1945 | Killed in a flying accident |
| Gp Capt | E S Butler | 29 Jul 1945 | Supernumerary pending taking over command of unit |
| Gp Capt | E S Butler | 1 Aug 1945 | Assumed command of unit |
| Gp Capt | M H Dwyer | 1 Aug 1945 | To British Army of the Rhine |
| Sqn Ldr | F J Kelsh | 18 Aug 1945 | To No 100 PDC for Class 'A' Release |
| Flt Off | Henderson | 24 Aug 1945 | To RAF Jurby on posting |
| SO | Essex | 24 Aug 1945 | From HQ No 25 Group Pool |
| Wg Cdr | K M Bastin | 31 Aug 1945 | To No 100 PDC for Class 'A' Release |
| Flt Lt | R H Springett | 5 Sep 1945 | Proceeded to RAF Henlow for No 13 Electronics Course at School of Aeronautical Engineering |
| Wg Cdr | J Mills | 10 Sep 1945 | From RAF Manby as OC, Gunnery Leader Wing |
| Flt Lt | R O Jenkins | 15 Sep 1945 | Left unit for release |
| Flt Lt | H G M Gordon | 17 Sep 1945 | Left unit for release |
| Fg Off | R T Spiller | 18 Sep 1945 | Left unit for release |
| Flt Lt | D W Miller | 19 Sep 1945 | Left unit for release |
| Sqn Ldr | G May | 24 Sep 1945 | Reported for duty |
| Flt Lt | A Hagan | 26 Sep 1945 | Reported for duty as Station Adjutant |
| Fg Off | W H Goulding | 26 Sep 1945 | Reported for duty as MT Officer |
| Fg Off | A E Turner | 26 Sep 1945 | Reported for duty for Accountant Officer duties |
| Plt Off | Butler | 27 Sep 1945 | Reported for duty on commissioning |
| Fg Off | Broughton | 3 Oct 1945 | Reported for duty for Instructor duties |
| Sqn Ldr | C E Broad | 4 Oct 1945 | Reported for duty as OC, Bomber Combat Flight |
| Sqn Ldr | P L Arnott | 15 Oct 1945 | Proceed to RAF Manby pending commencement of RAF Mission to India |
| Sqn Ldr | W B Wilson | 16 Oct 1945 | Tech (A), proceed to No 5 PDC pending posting to India |
| Fg Off | Turner | 19 Oct 1945 | Accountant Officer, to RAF Eastchurch |
| Sqn Ldr | Wallington | 19 Oct 1945 | From RAF Barrow as Station Armament Officer |
| Fg Off | Whitecross | 22 Oct 1945 | GD/Admin, to SPTU, RAF Cark |
| Flt Lt | Lund | 25 Oct 1945 | Supernumerary pending assumption of command of C & M Party |
| Flt Lt | Rainer | 26 Oct 1945 | GD (G), to No 100 PDC for Class 'A' Release |
| Fg Off | Castle | 26 Oct 1945 | Tech (E), to No 100 PDC for Class 'A' Release |
| Fg Off | Henderson | 26 Oct 1945 | ASD/PFO, to No 100 PDC for Class 'A' Release |
| Fg Off | Fussell | 26 Oct 1945 | GD (S), to No 100 PDC for Class 'A' Release |
| Flt Lt | M J T Langoon | 28 Oct 1945 | ASD/Photo, to No 100 PDC for Class 'A' Release |
| Flt Lt | E J Laws | 28 Oct 1945 | GD (G), to No 100 PDC for Class 'E' Release |
| Fg Off | F D Pyne | 29 Oct 1945 | GD u/t Admin, attached to School of Admin for No 39 Elementary Course |
| Fg Off | A L Lambert | 29 Oct 1945 | ASD/LTI, to No 100 PDC for Class 'E' Release |
| Flt Lt | J Smith | 30 Oct 1945 | Attached to RAF Hullavington |
| Sqn Ldr | Buckley | 31 Oct 1945 | Reported for duty as Senior Accountant Officer |
| Fg Off | Ward | 31 Oct 1945 | Reported for duty as Electrical Officer |
| Flt Lt | R H Springett | 1 Nov 1945 | Proceeded to PDC on being released |
| Advance Party | 5 Nov 1945 | Proceeded to RAF Leconfield by road | |
| Flt Lt | Eastley | 6 Nov 1945 | From No 5 (P) AFU |
| Fg Off | Blackburn | 7 Nov 1945 | From HQ FTC as MT Officer |
| Daily Servicing Sqn Advance Party | 9 Nov 1945 | Proceeded to RAF Leconfield by road | |
| Fg Off | Hunter | 9 Nov 1945 | To No 100 PDC for Class 'E' Release |
| All aircraft of Daily Servicing Sqn | 10 Nov 1945 | Proceeded to RAF Leconfield | |
| Main Party | 12 Nov 1945 | Proceeded to RAF Leconfield by road | |
| Fg Off | Hession | 9 Nov 1945 | To RAF Cark of posting |
| Sqn Ldr | Hammond | 16 Nov 1945 | Equipment officer, to SEAC |
| All R & I aircraft | 19 Nov 1945 | Proceeded to RAF Leconfield | |
| Fg Off | Hodgson | 22 Nov 1945 | From RAF Halfpenny Green as Flying Control Officer |
| Sqn Ldr | Foxley | 27 Nov 1945 | Accountant Officer, proceeded to No 100 PDC for Class 'A' Release |
Source - Central Gunnery School ORB (AIR 29/605)
This page was last updated on 17/10/23