[Jul 1937 | Jul 1938 | Jan 1939 | Apr 1939 | May 1939 | Apr-Dec 1939 | Jan-Dec 1940 | Jan-Dec  1941]

Personnel Movements Mar - Jun 1937

Rank	Name	Date	Notes
Flt Lt	John R Jones	15 Mar 1937	Posted from No 54 Sqn on formation
Plt Off	G H J Feeny	15 Mar 1937	Posted from No 54 Sqn on formation
Plt Off	M C F Mee	15 Mar 1937	Posted from No 54 Sqn on formation
Plt Off	R A Milburn	15 Mar 1937	Posted from No 54 Sqn on formation
	2 x SNCOs	15 Mar 1937	Posted from No 54 Sqn on formation
	33 x Other ranks	15 Mar 1937	Posted from No 54 Sqn on formation
Flt Lt	John R Jones	1 Apr 1937	Promoted to Sqn Ldr and assumed command of squadron

Source - No 87 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/712)

Organisational Movements: Mar - Jun 1937

Date	Notes
15 Mar 1937	Reformed at Tangmere from a nucleus proved by No 54 Squadron equipped with Fury IIs
3 May 1937	Squadron proceeded to No 3 ATC, RAF Sutton Bridge for Annual Armament Training
21 May 1937	Squadron returned from No 3 ATC, RAF Sutton Bridge on completion of Annual Armament Training
7 Jun 1937	Squadron moved from RAF Tangmere to RAF Debden
7 Jun 1937	Squadron commenced re-equipment with Gloster Gladiator Is

Source - No 87 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/712)

July 1937

Source - July 1937 Air Force List

Personnel Movements Jul 1937 - Jul 1938

Rank	Name	Date	Notes
Sqn Ldr	John R Jones	4 Jan 1938	Detached to No 3 ATC as OC, No 1 Air Firing Instructors Course
Flt Lt	D E Turner	4 Jan 1938	Assumed command of squadron
Sqn Ldr	John R Jones	30 Jan 1938	Resumed command of squadron
Flt Lt	D E Turner	30 Jan 1938	Relinquished command of squadron
Flt Lt	D E Turner	1 Jun 1938	Posted to No 85 Sqn on formation
Plt Off	D H Allen	1 Jun 1938	Posted to No 85 Sqn on formation
Plt Off	K H Blair	1 Jun 1938	Posted to No 85 Sqn on formation
Plt Off	J R M Boothby	1 Jun 1938	Posted to No 85 Sqn on formation
Plt Off	R H A Lee	1 Jun 1938	Posted to No 85 Sqn on formation
Plt Off	W N Lepine	1 Jun 1938	Posted to No 85 Sqn on formation
Sgt	G Allard	1 Jun 1938	Posted to No 85 Sqn on formation
Sgt	L G Faulkner	1 Jun 1938	Posted to No 85 Sqn on formation
Sgt	G Goodman	1 Jun 1938	Posted to No 85 Sqn on formation
Sgt	S W Lenton	1 Jun 1938	Posted to No 85 Sqn on formation

Source - No 87 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/712)

Organisational Movements: Jul 1937 - Jul 1938

Date	Notes
20 Jan 1938	The Squadron Badge which had been authorised by HM King George VI was presented by AVM E L Gossage
1 Jun 1938	'A' Flight was detached to form the nucleus of No 85 Sqn

Source - No 87 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/712)

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

July 1938

Source - July 1938 Air Force List

Personnel Movements Jul - Sep 1938

Rank	Name	Date	Notes
Sgt	T F D Dewdney	14 Sep 1938	Killed in a flying accident

Source - No 87 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/712)

Organisational Movements: Jul - Sep 1938

Date	Notes
12 Jul 1938	Squadron commenced re-equipment with Hawker Hurricane Is
24 Aug 1938	Squadron completed re-equipment with Hawker Hurricane Is (coded not applied at this stage
29 Aug 1938	Squadron proceeded to No 3 ATC, RAF Sutton Bridge for Annual Armament Training
16 Sep 1938	Squadron returned from No 3 ATC, RAF Sutton Bridge on completion of Annual Armament Training
27 Sep 1938	A new 'A' Flight formed - see below for revised structure
xx Sep 1938	Squadron adopted the code letters 'LK'

Source - No 87 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/712)

Revised structure - 27 Sep 1938

'A' Flight		'B' Flight
Rank	Name	Rank	Name
Sqn Ldr	John R Jones	Flt Lt	Frederick S Stapleton
Plt Off	C L F Colmore	Plt Off	R V Jeff
Plt Off	R L Lorimer	Plt Off	J A Campbell
APO	K W Tait	APO	T H K O'Brien
APO	R M S Rayner	APO	J D D Reed
APO	R Watson	Sgt	F H Thurgar
Sgt	L Francis	Sgt	A G Janes
Sgt	J Cowley	Sgt	G H Spencer

Source - No 87 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/712)

Personnel Movements Sep - Dec 1938

Rank	Name	Date	Notes
Sgt	T F D Dewdney	14 Sep 1938	Killed in a flying accident
Sgt	G H Spencer	17 Sep 1938	Arrived on posting from No 5 FTS
Plt Off	G H J Feeny	3 Oct 1938	Transferred to the Air Branch of the Royal Navy
Plt Off	J D Smith	6 Oct 1938	Returned from No 4 E & RFTS (Navigation Course)
Plt Off	F P Joyce	6 Oct 1938	Returned from No 4 E & RFTS (Navigation Course)
Plt Off	P C B St John	6 Oct 1938	Returned from No 4 E & RFTS (Navigation Course)
Plt Off	R L Glyde	24 Oct 1938	Arrived on posting from No 1 AACU
Sqn Ldr	John R Jones	1 Dec 1938	Injured in a motor accident
Flt Lt	Frederick S Stapleton	1 Dec 1938	Assumed command of squadron

Source - No 87 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/712)

Nominal Roll of Officers and Airmen Pilots - 1 Jan 1939

'A' Flight		'B' Flight
Rank	Name	Rank	Name
Fg Off	C L F Colmore	Plt Off	R V Jeff
Plt Off	J A Campbell	Plt Off	T H K O'Brien
Plt Off	R L Glyde	Plt Off	J D D Reed
Plt Off	R M S Rayner	Plt Off	H J R Dunn
Plt Off	R M S Rayner	APO	J R Cock
Plt Off	P C B St John	APO	C C D Mackworth
Plt Off	K W Tait	Sgt	F H Thurgar
Plt Off	R Watson	Sgt	A G Janes
Sgt	L Francis	Sgt	G H Spencer
Sgt	J Cowley
Sgt	G G Witty

Source - No 87 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/712)

January 1939

Source - January 1939 Air Force List

Personnel Movements Jan - Apr 1939

April 1939

Source - April 1939 Confidential Air Force List

May 1939

Source - May 1939 Confidential Air Force List

Personnel Movements Apr - Dec 1939

Rank	Name	Date	Notes
Sgt	Penikett	1 Apr 1939	RAFVR, attached from VR Centre, Brighton
Sgt	Nowell	2 Apr 1939	RAFVR, attached from VR Centre, Coventry
APO	Edwards	2 Apr 1939	Arrived on posting on appointment to a commission
Sqn Ldr	W E Coope	17 Apr 1939	Assumed command of squadron
Flt Lt	Frederick S Stapleton	17 Apr 1939	Relinquished command of squadron
Sgt	J A Terras	17 Apr 1939	Arrived on posting from No 5 FTS
Plt Lt	J D D Reed	10 May 1939	Relinquished his commission on account of ill-health
Flt Lt	Frederick S Stapleton	17 Jul 1939	Promoted to rank of Sqn Ldr
APO	Mitchell	6 Aug 1939	Arrived on posting from No 6 FTS
APO	P S C Pollard	6 Aug 1939	Arrived on posting from No 6 FTS
APO	P S C Pollard	5 Sep 1939	Posted to No 611 Sqn
Sgt	G G Witty	5 Oct 1939	Killed in a flying accident
Sgt	Howell	18 Oct 1939	Posted from No 3 Sqn
Plt Off	H J R Dunn	10 Nov 1939	Force landed in Belgium through lack of fuel and interned
Plt Off	Fairbank	12 Nov 1939	Arrived on posting from No 1 BTU as Squadron Adjutant
Sqn Ldr	W E Coope	14 Nov 1939	Force landed in Belgium through bad weather and interned
Fg Off	R L Glyde	14 Nov 1939	Force landed in Belgium through bad weather and interned
Flt Lt	C L F Colmore	14 Nov 1939	Assumed command of squadron
Sqn Ldr	Hill	17 Nov 1939	Assumed command of squadron
Plt Off	Beamont	20 Nov 1939	Arrived on posting from Fighter Pool
Plt Off	Saunders	20 Nov 1939	Arrived on posting from Fighter Pool
Fg Off	R L Glyde	27 Nov 1939	Returned to unit after escaping from internment and returned to UK
Plt Off	H J R Dunn	27 Nov 1939	Returned to unit after escaping from internment and returned to UK
Sqn Ldr	J S Dewar	2 Dec 1939	Arrived on posting from Thorney Island and assumed command of squadron

Source - No 87 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/712)

Organisational Movements: Apr - Dec 1939

Date	Notes
4 Sep 1939	Advance Party departed for France via Southampton and Cherbourg (SS Isle of Guernsey)
5 Sep 1939	Advance Party arrived at Boos in France
6 Sep 1939	MT Section loaded for departure for France
9 Sep 1939	Air Party departed for France and landed at Boos
17 Sep 1939	Main Party arrived at Rouen and transported to Boos by motor-bus
28 Sep 1939	Advance Party departed Boos for Merville
29 Sep 1939	Air Party departed Boos for Merville
5 Nov 1939	Squadron moved from Merville to Lille-Seclin by road

Source - No 87 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/712)

Personnel Movements Jan - Dec 1940

Rank	Name	Date	Notes
Sgt	P F H Thurgar	12 Feb 1940	Killed in a flying accident
Sgt	Marshall	28 Feb 1940	Attached to Fighter Pool for training
Sqn Ldr	J H Hill	1 Mar 1940	Posted to No 81 Sqn as OC
Fg Off	J D Smith	3 Mar 1940	Posted to Sutton Bridge
Sgt	Penikett	3 Mar 1940	Posted to Sutton Bridge
Sgt	J A Terras	3 Mar 1940	Posted to Sutton Bridge
Plt Off	Jay	6 Mar 1940	Arrived on posting from Fighter Pool
Plt Off	Darwin	6 Mar 1940	Arrived on posting from Fighter Pool
	9 x MT Drivers	9 Mar 1940	Posted out to No 14 Group
Flt Lt	Lister-Robinson	22 Mar 1940	Arrived on posting from Seclin and assumed command of 'A' Flight
Fg Off	J A Campbell	12 May 1940	Killed in action
Plt Off	P L Jarvis	14 May 1940	Killed in action
Plt Off	C C D Mackworth	14 May 1940	Killed in action
Plt Off	T J Edwards	15 May 1940	Killed in action
Plt Off	G C Saunders	19 May 1940	Killed in action
Plt Off	H J R Dunn	1 Jun 1940	Killed in a flying accident
Fg Off	J A Currie	7 Jun 1940	Posted to RAF Church Fenton
Sqn Ldr	T G Lovell-Gregg	15 Jun 1940	Arrived on posting as Supernumerary
Plt Off	E M Sopwith	15 Jun 1940	Posted to RAF Eastchurch
Plt Off	D T Jay	17 Jun 1940	Reported for duty
Plt Off	A M R McLure	18 Jun 1940	Reported for duty
Sgt	Thorogood	18 Jun 1940	Reported for duty
Sgt	S R E Wakeling	18 Jun 1940	Reported for duty
Flt Lt	H de G Donville	26 Jun 1940	Intelligence Officer, posted to RAF Hatfield Woodhouse (Lindholme)
Flt Lt	R M Williams	27 Jun 1940	Posted to HQ, Recruit Centre, Blackpool
Sqn Ldr	R A E Traill	27 Jun 1940	Posted to HQ, No 11 Group
Plt Off	K L Coghlan	28 Jun 1940	Arrived on posting as Intelligence Officer
Sqn Ldr	J S Dewar	12 Jul 1940	Posted to RAF Exeter as OC
Sqn Ldr	T G Lovell-Gregg	12 Jul 1940	Assumed command of the squadron
Plt Off	W K Sutton	12 Jul 1940	Reported for duty as Squadron Adjutant
Sgt	J H Culverwell	25 Jul 1940	Killed in a flying accident
Plt Off	Darwin	28 Jul 1940	Injured in a flying accident and admitted to hospital
Flt Lt	R V Jeff	11 Aug 1940	Killed in action
Plt Off	Van Lierde	12 Aug 1940	Reported for duty (Belgian)
Plt Off	Malegreau	12 Aug 1940	Reported for duty (Belgian)
Plt Off	de Spirlet	12 Aug 1940	Reported for duty (Belgian)
Fg Off	R L Gylde	13 Aug 1940	Killed in action
Sqn Ldr	T G Lovell-Gregg	15 Aug 1940	Killed in action
Plt Off	P W Comely	15 Aug 1940	Killed in action
Sqn Ldr	R S Mills	18 Aug 1940	Reported for duty and assumed command of the squadron
Sgt	S R E Wakeling	25 Aug 1940	Killed in action
Plt Off	Carver	30 Sep 1940	Reported for duty
Fg Off	Laycock	8 Oct 1940	Reported for duty
Plt Off	Roscoe	8 Oct 1940	Reported for duty
Sgt	Cowley	14 Oct 1940	Posted to RAF Exeter
Plt Off	D T Jay	24 Oct 1940	Killed in a flying accident
Plt Off	Musgrove	30 Oct 1940	Reported for duty
Sgt	Thom	30 Oct 1940	Reported for duty
Sgt	Went	30 Oct 1940	Reported for duty
Sgt	Wood	30 Oct 1940	Reported for duty
Sgt	Stirling	30 Oct 1940	Reported for duty
Sgt	Milburn	31 Oct 1940	Reported for duty
Fg Off	W D David	13 Nov 1940	Posted to No 152 Sqn
Plt Off	Malegreau	29 Nov 1940	Posted to No 56 Sqn
Plt Off	de Spirlet	29 Nov 1940	Posted to No 56 Sqn
Plt Off	Forsyth	1 Dec 1940	Reported for duty
Fg Off	D G Smallwood	3 Dec 1940	Reported for duty
Fg Off	Tait	3 Dec 1940	Posted to No 56 OTU
Plt Off	Mitchell	6 Dec 1940	Posted to RAF Montrose
Plt Off	Cock	8 Dec 1940	Posted to No 2 CFS, Cranwell
Flt Lt	Fordham	12 Dec 1940	Reported for duty
Sqn Ldr	R S Mills	24 Dec 1940	Posted to RAF Colerne
Flt Lt	I R Gleed	24 Dec 1940	Assumed command of the squadron
Fg Off	W K Sutton	27 Dec 1940	Adjutant, posted to RAF Sutton Bridge
Fg Off	Wood	27 Dec 1940	Reported for duty as Adjutant

Source - No 87 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/712)

Organisational Movements: Jan - Dec 1940

Date	Notes
22 Feb 1940	Squadron moved to Le Touquet due to poor conditions at Seclin
8 Mar 1940	'A' Flight returned to Seclin
9 Mar 1940	'B' Flight returned to Seclin
20 May 1940	Serviceable squadron aircraft were flown from Seclin to RAF Denbden
20 May 1940	Ground personnel departed Seclin for RAF Debden by air and sea
22 May 1940	Squadron moved from RAF Debden to RAF Church Fenton for re-equipment
21 Jun 1940	Squadron declared operational
5 Jul 1940	Squadron moved from RAF Church Fenton to RAF Exeter
12 Jul 1940	'A' Flight detached to RAF Hullavington for night fighting duties
24 Jul 1940	'A' Flight returned from RAF Hullavington
24 Jul 1940	'B' Flight detached to RAF Hullavington for night fighting duties
31 Jul 1940	'B' Flight returned from RAF Hullavington
7 Aug 1940	'A' Flight detached to Bibury Farm for night fighting duties
xx Aug 1940	'A' Flight returned from Bibury Farm
3 Sep 1940	'B' Flight detached to Bibury Farm for night fighting duties
10 Sep 1940	'A' Flight  replaced 'B' Flight at Bibury Farm
25 Sep 1940	'A' Flight  replaced 'B' Flight at Bibury Farm
2 Oct 1940	'B' Flight  replaced 'A' Flight at Bibury Farm
9 Oct 1940	'A' Flight  replaced 'B' Flight at Bibury Farm
16 Oct 1940	'A' Flight returned from Bibury Farm
17 Oct 1940	'B' Flight  replaced 'A' Flight at Bibury Farm
24 Oct 1940	'A' Flight  replaced 'B' Flight at Bibury Farm
30 Oct 1940	'B' Flight  replaced 'A' Flight at Bibury Farm
8 Nov 1940	'A' Flight  replaced 'B' Flight at Bibury Farm
15 Nov 1940	'B' Flight  replaced 'A' Flight at Bibury Farm
22 Nov 1940	'A' Flight  replaced 'B' Flight at Bibury Farm
28 Nov 1940	Squadron moved to RAF Colerne for permanent night fighting duties being located at the satellite, Charmy Down
18 Dec 1940	'A' Flight re-joined the squadron at Charmy Down from Bibury Down

Source - No 87 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/712)

Personnel Movements Jan - Dec 1941

Rank	Name	Date	Notes
Plt Off	W B Shimmons	11 Jan 1941	Arrived on posting
Sgt	H K Hughes	11 Jan 1941	Arrived on posting
Sgt	Want	30 Jan 1941	Departed on posting
Sgt	Milburn	30 Jan 1941	Departed on posting
Flt Lt	Fordham	25 Feb 1941	Departed on posting for duty as a Flight Commander
Sgt	W J C Thompson	3 Mar 1941	Arrived on posting
Sgt	Edwards	3 Mar 1941	Arrived on posting
Sgt	Reed	3 Mar 1941	Arrived on posting
Sgt	Walbank	3 Mar 1941	Arrived on posting
Fg Off	D G Smallwood	4 Mar 1941	Posted for duty as OC a Flight at RNAS Roborough
Sgt	R S Thompson	13 Mar 1941	Arrived on posting
Sgt	Sweeting	11 Apr 1941	Posted to No 79 Sqn
Sgt	R T G Stirling	14 Apr 1941	Failed to return from a night patrol, later reported to be a POW
Sgt	W J C Thompson	18 Apr 1941	Departed on posting
Sgt	Walbank	18 Apr 1941	Departed on posting
Flt Lt	Carver	27 Apr 1941	Posted to No 247 Sqn for duty as a Flight Commander
Fg Off	Laycock	5 May 1941	Posted to No 60 OTU
Plt Off	Denville	15 May 1941	Arrived on posting
Plt Off	Beadman	15 May 1941	Arrived on posting
Plt Off	Jewell	15 May 1941	Arrived on posting
Sgt	Rogerson	17 May 1941	Arrived on posting
Plt Off	R M S Rayner	1 Aug 1941	Posted to Plymouth for duty as a Liaison Officer
Plt Off	Denville	1 Aug 1941	Departed on posting
Plt Off	Beadman	1 Aug 1941	Departed on posting
Gp Capt	E J L Hope AFC	6 Aug 1941	Killed in action whilst flying with No 87 Sqn
Sgt	J M Loughridge	2 Sep 1941	Killed in a flying accident
Sgt	Gibbs RCAF	5 Sep 1941	Arrived on posting
Sgt	Peters	5 Sep 1941	Arrived on posting
Sgt	Musker RNZAF	5 Sep 1941	Arrived on posting
Sgt	P C Edwards	26 Sep 1941	Killed in a flying accident
Flt Lt	Ward	15 Sep 1941	Posted to the Middle East to command a Hurricane night fighter squadron
Fg Off	Forsyth	27 Sep 1941	Posted overseas
Sgt	Rogerson	27 Sep 1941	Posted overseas
Plt Off	Kershaw	15 Oct 1941	Arrived on posting
Plt Off	Grantham	15 Oct 1941	Arrived on posting
Sgt	Sims	15 Oct 1941	Arrived on posting
Sgt	Horsham	15 Oct 1941	Arrived on posting
Sgt	Keith	4 Nov 1941	Arrived on posting
Sgt	Miller	4 Nov 1941	Arrived on posting
Sgt	Banks	4 Nov 1941	Arrived on posting
Sgt	Henry	6 Nov 1941	Arrived on posting
Sgt	F C Robinson	6 Nov 1941	Arrived on posting
Sgt	H J Robinson RCAF	6 Nov 1941	Arrived on posting
Flt Sgt	E Matthews	14 Nov 1941	Died in hospital
Wg Cdr	I R Gleed	19 Nov 1941	Relinquished command of No 87 Sqn on posting to RAF Middle Wallop
Sqn Ldr	D G Smallwood	19 Nov 1941	Arrived on posting and assumed command of the squadron
Sgt	H J Robinson RCAF	13 Dec 1941	Killed in a flying accident
Sgt	R H Chivers	16 Dec 1941	Killed in a flying accident
Plt Off	H F Kelly	17 Dec 1941	Arrived on posting from the Isle of Man for duty as Adjutant
Flt Lt	Constantine	26 Dec 1941	Arrived on posting and assumed command of 'A' Flight
Flt Lt	Watson	26 Dec 1941	Relinquished command of 'A' Flight on posting as a Teat Pilot with Gloster Aircraft Ltd

Source - No 87 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/712)

Organisational Movements: Jan - Dec 1941

Date	Notes
xx Jun 1941	Squadron received Hurricane IICs
6 Jul 1941	Squadron moved from RAF Charmy Down to RAF Colerne

Source - No 87 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/712)

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This page was last updated on 17/10/23

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