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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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No 52 Sqn Personnel, aircraft and locations
[Jul 1937 | Jul 1938 | Jan 1939 | Apr 1939 | May 1939 | Jan-Apr 1940 | Jul -Dec 1941]
Personnel Movements: Jan - Jul 1937
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Fg Off | G J I Clennell | 18 Jan 1937 | Assumed command of 'A' Flight and No 52 Sqn |
| Flt Lt | W N Ash | 6 Apr 1937 | Arrived on posting and assumed command of No 52 Sqn |
| Fg Off | G J I Clennell | 6 Apr 1937 | Assumed command of 'B' Flight |
| Sqn Ldr | L C Bennett | 3 May 1937 | Arrived on posting and assumed command of No 52 Sqn |
| Flt Lt | W N Ash | 3 May 1937 | Relinquished command of No 52 Sqn and assumed command of 'A' Flight |
Source - No 52 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/501)
Organisational Movements: Jan - Jul 1937
| Date | Notes |
| 18 Jan 1937 | Reformed at Abingdon from 'B' Flight of No 15 Squadron, equipped with Hawker Hinds under No 1 Group |
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| 1 Mar 1937 | Squadron moved from RAF Abingdon to RAF Upwood and was transferred to No 2 Group |
Source - No 52 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/501)
| Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
| Hawker Hind | RAF Upwood | Bomber Command/No 2 (Bomber) Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | L C Bennett | 3 May 1937 | Officer Commanding, |
| Flt Lt | W N Ash | 1 Apr 1937 | |
| Fg Off | G J I Clennell | 18 Jan 1937 | |
| Plt Off | V E Marshall | 18 Jan 1937 | |
| Plt Off | B O Huxtable | 22 Mar 1937 | |
| Plt Off | J H McMichael | 18 Jan 1937 | |
| Plt Off | R M Blennerhassett | 18 Jan 1937 | |
| Plt Off | D O Butler | 18 Jan 1937 | |
| Plt Off | J A F Mertens | 22 Mar 1937 | |
| Plt Off | G W Parsons | 22 Mar 1937 | |
| Plt Off | S G Cooper | 22 Mar 1937 | |
| APO | W J Smith | 22 May 1937 |
Source - July 1937 Air Force List
Personnel Movements: Jul 1937 - Jul 1938
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Plt Off | A Chalmers | 3 Jan 1938 | Arrived on posting from RAF College, wef 18 Dec 1937, and allocated to 'B' Flight |
| Plt Off | J W E Leighton | 8 Jan 1938 | Arrived on posting from No 11 FTS and allocated to 'A' Flight |
| Plt Off | A P Phillipson | 8 Jan 1938 | Arrived on posting from No 11 FTS and allocated to 'B' Flight |
| Plt Off | T H Kilroy | 21 Jan 1938 | Confirmed in his rank |
| Plt Off | R M Blennerhassett | 7 Feb 1938 | Posted to No 24 Sqn |
| Fg Off | V E Marshall | 1 Apr 1938 | Assumed command of 'A' Flight |
| APO | L H Folkard | 15 May 1938 | Arrived on posting from No 11 FTS, wef 7 May 1938 |
Source - No 52 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/501)
Organisational Movements: Jul 1937 - Jul 1938
| Date | Notes |
| 9 Nov 1937 | Squadron received its first Fairey Battle |
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| 14 Dec 1937 | Squadron fully equipped with Fairey Battles |
Source - No 52 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/501)
| Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
| Fairey Battle I | RAF Upwood | Bomber Command/No 2 (Bomber) Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | L C Bennett | 3 May 1937 | Officer Commanding, |
| Flt Lt | G J I Clennell | 18 Jan 1937 | |
| Fg Off | V E Marshall | 18 Jan 1937 | |
| Plt Off | B O Huxtable | 22 Mar 1937 | |
| Plt Off | J H McMichael | 18 Jan 1937 | |
| Plt Off | J A F Mertens | 22 Mar 1937 | Navigation duties |
| Plt Off | S G Cooper | 22 Mar 1937 | |
| Plt Off | W J Smith | 22 May 1937 | |
| Plt Off | H R A de Belleroche | 4 Sep 1937 | |
| Plt Off | J W E Leighton | 8 Jan 1938 | |
| Plt Off | M R Atkinson | 4 Sep 1937 | |
| Plt Off | T H Kilroy | 23 Oct 1937 | |
| Plt Off | A Chalmers | 18 Dec 1937 | |
| Plt Off | A P Phillipson | 8 Jan 1938 | |
| APO | L H Folkard | 7 May 1938 | |
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5 Airman Pilots |
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Source - July 1938 Air Force List
Personnel Movements: Jul 1938 - Jan 1939
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | F W L Wild | 6 Jul 1938 | Arrived on posting, wef 6 Jul 1938, and assumed command of 'A' Flight |
| Fg Off | V E Marshall | 6 Jul 1938 | Relinquished command of 'A' Flight |
| Plt Off | J H McMichael | 10 Aug 1938 | Promoted to Fg Off |
| Plt Off | M Coupland | 20 Aug 1938 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | J A F Mertens | 22 Aug 1938 | Promoted to Fg Off |
| Flt Lt | G J I Clennell | 26 Aug 1938 | Transferred to Class 'C', RAFO |
| Fg Off | V E Marshall | 26 Aug 1938 | Assumed command of 'B' Flight |
| Plt Off | S G Cooper | 26 Aug 1938 | Transferred to Air Branch, Royal Navy |
| Plt Off | W J Smith | 1 Oct 1938 | Assumed duties of Adjutant |
| Plt Off | J H McMichael | 1 Oct 1938 | Relinquished duties of Adjutant and returned to 'B' Flight |
| Plt Off | F J Knight | 6 Oct 1938 | Arrived on posting, wef 9 Jul 1938, from E & RFTS, Brough |
Source - No 52 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/501)
Organisational Movements: Jul 1938 - Jan 1939
| Date | Notes |
| 3 Sep 1938 | Squadron proceeded to RAF Evanton for Annual Armament Practice Camp |
| 24 Sep 1938 | Squadron returned from RAF Evanton on completion of Annual Armament Practice Camp |
| 14 Dec 1938 | Squadron commence to re-equip with Battles fitted with Merlin II engines |
Source - No 52 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/501)
| Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
| Fairey Battle I | RAF Upwood | Bomber Command/No 2 (Bomber) Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | L C Bennett | 3 May 1937 | Officer Commanding, |
| Flt Lt | F W L Wild | 4 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | V E Marshall | 18 Jan 1937 | Navigation duties |
| Fg Off | B O Huxtable | 22 Mar 1937 | |
| Fg Off | J H McMichael | 18 Jan 1937 | |
| Fg Off | J A F Mertens | 22 Mar 1937 | Navigation duties |
| Plt Off | W J Smith | 22 May 1937 | |
| Plt Off | H R A de Belleroche | 4 Sep 1937 | |
| Plt Off | J W E Leighton | 8 Jan 1938 | |
| Plt Off | A P Phillipson | 8 Jan 1938 | |
| Plt Off | M R Atkinson | 4 Sep 1937 | |
| Plt Off | T H Kilroy | 23 Oct 1937 | |
| Plt Off | A Chalmers | 18 Dec 1937 | |
| Plt Off | L H Folkard | 7 May 1938 | |
| Plt Off | K F Vare | 4 Jun 1938 | |
| Plt Off | M Coupland | 20 Aug 1938 | |
| Plt Off | F J Knight | 9 Jul 1938 |
Source - January 1939 Air Force List
Personnel Movements: Jan - Apr 1939
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | W S P Simonds | 10 Jan 1939 | Arrived on posting pending assuming command of No 52 Sqn |
| Sqn Ldr | L C Bennett | 16 Jan 1939 | Relinquished command of No 52 Sqn on posting to RAF Staff College |
| Sqn Ldr | W S P Simonds | 16 Jan 1939 | Assumed command of No 52 Sqn |
| Fg Off | V E Marshall | 8 Feb 1939 | Posted to No 13 FTS for duty as CGI |
| Fg Off | J A F Mertens | 2 Mar 1939 | Promoted to Act Flt Lt |
| Fg Off | J H McMichael | 8 Mar 1939 | Posted to HQ No 2 Group for 'P' Staff duties |
| Plt Off | M Coupland | 12 Mar 1939 | Posted to No 13 FTS as Navigation Lecturer |
| Plt Off | F J Knight | 15 Mar 1939 | Assumed duties of Adjutant |
| Plt Off | W J Smith | 15 Mar 1939 | Relinquished duties of Adjutant and returned to 'A' Flight |
| Plt Off | M R Atkinson | 18 Mar 1939 | Attached to RAF Manston for SN Course |
| Plt Off | L H Folkard | 18 Mar 1939 | Attached to RAF Manston for SN Course |
| Sgt | Evans | 18 Mar 1939 | Attached to RAF Manston for SN Course |
| Act Flt Lt | J A F Mertens | 24 Mar 1939 | Assumed command of 'A' Flight |
| Flt Lt | F W L Wild | 24 Mar 1939 | Assumed command of 'B' Flight |
| APO | Marcou | 1 Apr 1939 | Arrived on posting from No 6 FTS |
| Fg Off | B O Huxtable | 17 Apr 1939 | Promoted to Act Flt Lt |
| Flt Lt | F W L Wild | 19 Apr 1939 | Posted to RAF Hucknall |
| Act Flt Lt | B O Huxtable | 19 Apr 1939 | Assumed command of 'B' Flight |
| Plt Off | W J Smith | 24 Apr 1939 | Posted to RAF Cranwell for duty as Flying Instructor |
Source - No 52 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/501)
Organisational Movements: Jan - Apr 1939
| Date | Notes |
| 2 Feb 1939 | Squadron received five Avro Ansons in order to train Air Observers and VR Pilots |
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| 1 Apr 1939 | First batch of VR Pilots and some Air Observers reported for training |
Source - No 52 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/501)
| Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
| Fairey Battle I Avro Anson I |
RAF Upwood | Bomber Command/No 2 (Bomber) Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | L C Bennett | 3 May 1937 | Officer Commanding, |
| Sqn Ldr | W S P Simonds | 11 Jan 1939 | |
| Flt Lt | F W L Wild | 4 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | J A F Mertens | 22 Mar 1937 | Navigation duties |
| Fg Off | B O Huxtable | 22 Mar 1937 | |
| Plt Off | W J Smith | 22 May 1937 | |
| Plt Off | H R A de Belleroche | 4 Sep 1937 | |
| Plt Off | J W E Leighton | 8 Jan 1938 | |
| Plt Off | M R Atkinson | 4 Sep 1937 | |
| Plt Off | A Chalmers | 18 Dec 1937 | |
| Plt Off | A P Phillipson | 8 Jan 1938 | |
| Plt Off | L H Folkard | 7 May 1938 | |
| Plt Off | K F Vare | 4 Jun 1938 | |
| Plt Off | M Coupland | 20 Aug 1938 | |
| Plt Off | F J Knight | 9 Jul 1938 | |
| Plt Off | E E Morton | 28 Jan 1939 | |
| Warrant Officer | |||
| WO | H Vatcher | 6 Jan 1939 | MBE |
Source - April 1939 Confidential Air Force List
| Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
| Fairey Battle I Avro Anson I |
RAF Upwood | Bomber Command/No 2 (Bomber) Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | L C Bennett | 3 May 1937 | Officer Commanding, |
| Sqn Ldr | W S P Simonds | 11 Jan 1939 | |
| Flt Lt | F W L Wild | 4 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | J A F Mertens | 22 Mar 1937 | Navigation duties |
| Fg Off | B O Huxtable | 22 Mar 1937 | |
| Plt Off | W J Smith | 22 May 1937 | |
| Plt Off | H R A de Belleroche | 4 Sep 1937 | |
| Plt Off | J W E Leighton | 8 Jan 1938 | |
| Plt Off | M R Atkinson | 4 Sep 1937 | |
| Plt Off | A Chalmers | 18 Dec 1937 | |
| Plt Off | A P Phillipson | 8 Jan 1938 | |
| Plt Off | L H Folkard | 7 May 1938 | |
| Plt Off | K F Vare | 4 Jun 1938 | |
| Plt Off | M Coupland | 20 Aug 1938 | |
| Plt Off | F J Knight | 9 Jul 1938 | |
| Plt Off | E E Morton | 28 Jan 1939 | |
| Warrant Officer | |||
| WO | R J V Hadley | 31 Mar 1937 | |
Source - May 1939 Confidential Air Force List
Personnel Movements: May - Dec 1939
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Wg Cdr | G Combe | 16 May 1939 | Arrived on posting and assumed command of No 52 Sqn |
| Plt Off | Scoltock | 31 May 1939 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | J W E Leighton | 17 Jun 1939 | Promoted to Fg Off |
| Plt Off | A Chalmers | 17 Jun 1939 | Promoted to Fg Off |
| Plt Off | M R Atkinson | 17 Jun 1939 | Promoted to Fg Off |
| Fg Off | J W E Leighton | 17 Jun 1939 | Assumed duties of Adjutant |
| Plt Off | F J Knight | 17 Jun 1939 | Relinquished duties of Adjutant and returned to 'A' Flight |
| Plt Off | Marcou | 21 Jul 1939 | Posted to CFS for Flying Instructors' Course |
| Plt Off | Edgar | 31 Jul 1939 | Arrived on posting from No 11 FTS |
| Plt Off | Boulding | 31 Jul 1939 | Arrived on posting from No 11 FTS |
| Plt Off | Tillet | 4 Aug 1939 | Arrived on posting from RAF College, Cranwell |
| Plt Off | Anstey | 20 Aug 1939 | Arrived on posting from New Zealand |
| Plt Off | Allcock | 20 Aug 1939 | Arrived on posting from New Zealand |
| Plt Off | Clarke | 20 Aug 1939 | Arrived on posting from New Zealand |
| Plt Off | Cunningham | 20 Aug 1939 | Arrived on posting from New Zealand |
| Fg Off | Robins | 29 Aug 1939 | Arrived on posting for duty as Squadron Engineer Officer |
| Fg Off | M R Atkinson | 29 Aug 1939 | Assumed command of 'C' Flight on formation |
| Fg Off | Wilberforce (VR) | 2 Sep 1939 | Departed on posting to his mobilisation unit |
| Sgt | Russell (VR) | 2 Sep 1939 | Departed on posting to his mobilisation unit |
| Sgt | Turnbull (VR) | 2 Sep 1939 | Departed on posting to his mobilisation unit |
| Plt Off | Chappell | 3 Sep 1939 | Arrived on posting from No 3 Air Observers' School |
| Plt Off | Maclaren | 14 Sep 1939 | Arrived on posting from No 98 Sqn for duty as Navigation and Link Trainer Instructor |
| Plt Off | Fischer | 14 Sep 1939 | Arrived on posting from No 98 Sqn for duty as Navigation and Link Trainer Instructor |
| Sgt | Walker | 14 Sep 1939 | Arrived on posting from No 98 Sqn for duty as Screened Air Observer |
| Sgt | Reddington | 14 Sep 1939 | Arrived on posting from No 98 Sqn for duty as Screened Air Observer |
| Sgt | Martin | 14 Sep 1939 | Arrived on posting from No 98 Sqn for duty as Screened Air Observer |
| Sgt | Harrison | 14 Sep 1939 | Arrived on posting from No 98 Sqn for duty as Screened Air Observer |
| Plt Off | A P Phillipson | 2 Oct 1939 | Proceeded to RAF Boscombe for No 1 Course, Tracer Firing |
| AC | Holloway | 5 Oct 1939 | WOP/AG, absorbed into 'Screened Establishment' |
| AC | Jones | 5 Oct 1939 | WOP/AG, absorbed into 'Screened Establishment' |
| AC | Bishop | 5 Oct 1939 | WOP/AG, absorbed into 'Screened Establishment' |
| AC | Fletcher | 5 Oct 1939 | WOP/AG, absorbed into 'Screened Establishment' |
| Plt Off | F J Knight | 18 Oct 1939 | Ceased to be screened |
| Plt Off | E E Morton | 18 Oct 1939 | Ceased to be screened |
| Sgt | Reddington | 18 Oct 1939 | Ceased to be screened |
| Sgt | Martin | 18 Oct 1939 | Ceased to be screened |
| AC | Holloway | 18 Oct 1939 | Ceased to be screened |
| AC | Jones | 18 Oct 1939 | Ceased to be screened |
| Plt Off | Allcock | 18 Oct 1939 | Absorbed into 'Screened Establishment' |
| Plt Off | Clarke | 18 Oct 1939 | Absorbed into 'Screened Establishment' |
| Sgt | Gill | 18 Oct 1939 | Absorbed into 'Screened Establishment' |
| Sgt | Smalley | 18 Oct 1939 | Absorbed into 'Screened Establishment' |
| AC | Williams | 18 Oct 1939 | Absorbed into 'Screened Establishment' |
| AC | Mathers | 18 Oct 1939 | Absorbed into 'Screened Establishment' |
| Plt Off | J R Anderson | 18 Oct 1939 | Killed in a flying accident |
| AC1 | R A W Keogh | 18 Oct 1939 | Killed in a flying accident |
| Wg Cdr | G Combe | 26 Nov 1939 | Posted to HQ AASF for duty as Senior Armament Officer |
| Wg Cdr | L G Nixon | 28 Nov 1939 | Arrived on posting and assumed command of No 52 Sqn |
Source - No 52 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/501)
Screened Personnel: 10 Sep 1939
| Rank | Name | Notes |
| Wg Cdr | G Combe | Officer Commanding, |
| Sqn Ldr | W S P Simonds | Officer i/c Training |
| Act Flt Lt | J W E Leighton | Adjutant |
| Flt Lt | J A F Mertens | Captain of aircraft |
| Act Flt Lt | B O Huxtable | Captain of aircraft |
| Act Flt Lt | M R Atkinson | Captain of aircraft |
| Fg Off | K F Vare | Captain of aircraft |
| Fg Off | L H Folkard | Captain of aircraft |
| Fg Off | A P Phillipson | Captain of aircraft |
| Plt Off | F J Knight | Captain of aircraft |
| Plt Off | E E Morton | Captain of aircraft |
| Sgt | J Forbes | Captain of aircraft |
| Sgt | R Atkinson | Captain of aircraft |
| Sgt | D J Evans | Captain of aircraft |
| Sgt | K H W Dodkin | Captain of aircraft |
| Sgt | A Reeve | Air Observer |
| Sgt | S W Yarker | Air Observer |
| Cpl | A Marvell | Wireless Operator/Air Gunner |
Source - May 1939 Confidential Air Force List
Organisational Movements: May - Dec 1939
| Date | Notes |
| 8 Jul 1939 | The Squadron Badge was authorised by HM King George VI*, wef June 1939 |
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| 23 Aug 1939 | The Squadron Badge was presented by the AOC, No 2 Group |
| 29 Aug 1939 | 'C' Flight was formed |
| 1 Sep 1939 | The squadron began using Alconbury as a dispersal site |
| 3 Sep 1939 | Squadron was transferred to No 6 Group as a Group Pool Squadron for training crews for No 1 Group |
| 7 Sep 1939 | Dispersed aircraft returned to RAF Upwood from Alconbury |
| 9 Sep 1939 | Squadron moved from RAF Upwood to Kidlington with personnel housed at RAF Abingdon |
| 18 Sep 1939 | Squadron moved from RAF Abingdon to RAF Benson |
| 28 Sep 1939 | Decision made that No 52 Sqn would provide three weeks operational training following three weeks elementary training with No 63 Sqn |
Source - No 52 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/501), except*
The Squadron Badge on this page is Crown Copyright and has been produced by Mary Denton on behalf of the RAF Heraldry Trust and is displayed on this page with the permission of the RAFHT.
© Crown Copyright is reproduced with the permission of the Directorate of Intellectual Property Rights
Personnel Movements: Jan - Apr 1940
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | W S P Simonds | 26 Mar 1940 | Officer i/c Training, posted to No 98 Sqn, RAF Finningley |
| Sqn Ldr | K D Knocker | 26 Mar 1940 | Posted from No 2 CFF for duty as Officer i/c Training |
Source - No 52 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/501)
Organisational Movements: Jan - Apr 1940
| Date | Notes |
| 6 Apr 1940 | Squadron reduced to 'Number Basis' on being absorbed into No 12 Operational Training Unit |
Source - No 52 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/501)
Personnel Movements: Jul - Dec 1941
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Plt Off | F Kerr | 1 Jul 1941 | Arrived on posting and assumed command of No 52 Sqn |
| Flt Lt | P Gearey | 2 Sep 1941 | Arrived on posting and assumed command of No 52 Sqn |
| Fg Off | Speight | 30 Sep 1941 | Arrived on posting from the UK for duty as Equipment Officer |
| Cpl | J H Attwood | 22 Oct 1941 | Reduced to the ranks by sentence of a Field General Court Martial for causing damage, by neglect, to an aircraft by fire. |
| Flt Lt | R B Whittington | xx Nov 1941 | Arrived on posting and assumed command of No 52 Sqn |
| Sqn Ldr | F L Newall | 25 Dec 1941 | Arrived on posting from the UK and assumed command of No 52 Sqn |
| Plt Off | J S Broad | 25 Dec 1941 | Arrived on posting from the UK |
Source - No 52 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/501)
Organisational Movements: Jul - Dec 1941
| Date | Notes |
| 1 Jul 1941 | No 52 Sqn was reformed at RAF Habbaniya, Iraq as a Maintenance Unit |
| 29 Jul 1941 | 1 x Senior NCO and 22 x airmen posted to No 261 Sqn |
Source - No 52 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/501)
[Jul 1937 | Jul 1938 | Jan 1939 | Apr 1939 | May 1939 | Jan-Apr 1940 | Jul -Dec 1941]
This page was last updated on 17/10/23©
