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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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No 166 Sqn Personnel, aircraft and locations
[Jul 1937 | Jul 1938 | Jan 1939 | Apr 1939 | May 1939]
Personnel Movements: Nov 1936 - Jul 1937
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | 1 Nov 1936 | Arrived on posting and assumed command of No 166 Sqn | |
| Sqn Ldr | 2 Jan 1937 | Arrived on posting and assumed command of No 166 Sqn | |
| Flt Lt | 2 Jan 1937 | Relinquished command of No 166 Sqn | |
| Sgt | N W Baker | 22 Jul 1937 | Killed in a flying accident |
| Sgt | E J McMillan | 22 Jul 1937 | Killed in a flying accident |
| Sgt | J W Barker | 22 Jul 1937 | Killed in a flying accident |
| AC1 | E J McDonald | 22 Jul 1937 | Killed in a flying accident |
| AC1 | W H Gray | 22 Jul 1937 | Killed in a flying accident |
| AC2 | E J Musker | 22 Jul 1937 | Killed in a flying accident |
Source - No 166 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/1089)
Organisational Movements: Nov 1936 - Jul 1937
| Date | Notes |
| 1 Nov 1936 | Squadron reformed at Boscombe Down from 'A' Flight of No 97 Squadron, equipped with Handley Page Heyford IIIs |
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| 14 Jan 1937 | Advance Party proceeded from RAF Boscombe Down to RAF Leconfield |
| 20 Jan 1937 | Main Party proceeded from RAF Boscombe Down to RAF Leconfield |
| 5 Feb 1937 | Air Party proceeded from RAF Boscombe Down to RAF Leconfield |
| 1 Mar 1937 | Squadron became independent from No 97 Sqn and second flight formed |
Source - No 166 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/1089)
| Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
| Hadley Page Heyford III | RAF Leconfield | Bomber Command/No 4 (Bomber) Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | 2 Jan 1937 | Officer Commanding, later A/Cdre | |
| Flt Lt | 1 Nov 1936 | later AVM | |
| Flt Lt | G R Howie | 7 Jun 1937 | |
| Fg Off | G M Lindeman | 1 Nov 1936 | |
| Plt Off | R B Harvey | 1 Nov 1936 | |
| Plt Off | V P Paterson | 1 Nov 1936 | |
| Plt Off | N C Harding | 19 Dec 1936 | |
| Plt Off | C A Richardson | 7 Mar 1937 | |
| Plt Off | P F Rutter | 14 Mar 1937 | |
| Plt Off | J W B Richardson | 20 Dec 1936 | |
| Plt Off | David M Strong | 20 Dec 1936 | later A/Cdre |
Source - July 1937 Air Force List
Personnel Movements: Jul 1937 - Jul 1938
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sgt | N W Baker | 22 Jul 1937 | Killed in a flying accident |
| Sgt | E J McMillan | 22 Jul 1937 | Killed in a flying accident |
| Sgt | J W Barker | 22 Jul 1937 | Killed in a flying accident |
| AC1 | E J McDonald | 22 Jul 1937 | Killed in a flying accident |
| AC1 | W H Gray | 22 Jul 1937 | Killed in a flying accident |
| AC2 | E J Musker | 22 Jul 1937 | Killed in a flying accident |
| Sqn Ldr | J C Foden | 2 Oct 1937 | Arrived on posting and assumed command of No 166 Sqn |
| Sqn Ldr | 2 Oct 1937 | Relinquished command of No 166 Sqn and assumed command of 'A' Flight | |
| Fg Off | R B Harvey | 18 Oct 1937 | Assumed the duties of Adjutant |
| Plt Off | N C Harding | 18 Oct 1937 | Relinquished the duties of Adjutant |
| Sqn Ldr | J C Foden | 1 Jan 1938 | Promoted to Wg Cdr |
| Plt Off | H B Barton | 1 May 1938 | Killed in a motor accident |
Source - No 166 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/1089)
Organisational Movements: Jul 1937 - Jul 1938
| Date | Notes |
| 24 Aug 1937 | Squadron proceeded to RAF Aldergrove for Annual Armament Training |
| 19 Sep 1937 | Squadron returned from RAF Aldergrove on completion of Annual Armament Training |
| 15 Oct 1937 | Detachment proceeded to RAF Upper Heyford to participate in bombing trials at Otmoor Ranges |
| 21 Jan 1938 | Detachment moved from RAF Upper Heyford to RAF Mildenhall to continue trials at Landguard Fort |
| 14 Apr 1938 | Detachment returned to RAF Leconfield from RAF Mildenhall |
| 7 Jun 1938 | Squadron ceased to be operational on the formation of Air Observers School |
Source - No 166 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/1089)
| Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
| Hadley Page Heyford III | RAF Leconfield | Bomber Command/No 4 (Bomber) Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Wg Cdr | J C Foden | 1 Oct 1937 | Officer Commanding, AFC |
| Sqn Ldr | R W M Clark | 6 Jul 1937 | DFC |
| Sqn Ldr | 1 Nov 1936 | later AVM | |
| Fg Off | G M Lindeman | 1 Nov 1936 | |
| Fg Off | R B Harvey | 1 Nov 1936 | Navigation duties |
| Fg Off | P F Rutter | 14 Mar 1937 | |
| Fg Off | J H Barrett | 27 Nov 1937 | |
| Plt Off | V P Paterson | 1 Nov 1936 | Navigation duties |
| Plt Off | N C Harding | 19 Dec 1936 | |
| Plt Off | J W B Richardson | 20 Dec 1936 | |
| Plt Off | David M Strong | 20 Dec 1936 | later A/Cdre |
| Plt Off | RE Shorter | 30 Jun 1937 | |
| Plt Off | T P A Bradley | 4 Sep 1937 | |
| Plt Off | G A Lane | 23 Oct 1937 | |
| Plt Off | W B Keddy | 23 Oct 1937 | |
| Plt Off | J A Piddington | 23 Oct 1937 | |
| Plt Off | A J Hannigan | 27 Nov 1937 | |
| Plt Off | L A McSherry | 27 Nov 1937 | |
| Plt Off | D Gibson | 19 Feb 1938 | |
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12 Airman Pilots |
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Source - July 1938 Air Force List
Personnel Movements: Jul 1938 - Jan 1939
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | J B T Whitehead | 1 Oct 1938 | Promoted to Sqn Ldr |
| Sqn Ldr | R W M Clark | xx Oct 1938 | Assumed command of No 166 Sqn |
| Wg Cdr | J C Foden | xx Oct 1938 | Relinquished command of No 166 Sqn on posting as No 4 Group Examining Officer |
Source - No 166 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/1089)
Organisational Movements: Jul 1938 - Jan 1939
| Date | Notes |
| 23 Nov 1938 | Detachment proceeded to RAF Aldergrove for Gunnery and Bombing practice with No 26 Air Observers' Course |
| 21 Dec 1938 | Squadron returned from RAF Aldergrove |
Source - No 166 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/1089)
| Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
| Hadley Page Heyford III | RAF Leconfield | Bomber Command/No 4 (Bomber) Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Wg Cdr | J C Foden | 1 Oct 1937 | Officer Commanding, AFC |
| Sqn Ldr | R W M Clark | 6 Jul 1937 | DFC |
| Sqn Ldr | J B T Whitehead | 22 Sep 1938 | |
| Fg Off | G M Lindeman | 1 Nov 1936 | |
| Fg Off | R B Harvey | 1 Nov 1936 | Navigation duties |
| Fg Off | P F Rutter | 14 Mar 1937 | |
| Fg Off | J H Barrett | 27 Nov 1937 | |
| Fg Off | V P Paterson | 1 Nov 1936 | Navigation duties |
| Fg Off | N C Harding | 19 Dec 1936 | |
| Fg Off | J W B Richardson | 20 Dec 1936 | |
| Fg Off | David M Strong | 20 Dec 1936 | later A/Cdre |
| Plt Off | J T Bouwens | 18 Jul 1938 | |
| Plt Off | RE Shorter | 30 Jun 1937 | |
| Plt Off | T P A Bradley | 4 Sep 1937 | |
| Plt Off | G A Lane | 23 Oct 1937 | |
| Plt Off | W B Keddy | 23 Oct 1937 | |
| Plt Off | J A Piddington | 23 Oct 1937 | |
| Plt Off | A J Hannigan | 27 Nov 1937 | |
| Plt Off | L A McSherry | 27 Nov 1937 | |
| Plt Off | D Gibson | 19 Feb 1938 | |
| Plt Off | A G Gibson | 10 Jul 1938 |
Source - January 1939 Air Force List
| Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
| Hadley Page Heyford III | RAF Leconfield | Bomber Command/No 4 (Bomber) Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Wg Cdr | J C Foden | 1 Oct 1937 | Officer Commanding, AFC |
| Sqn Ldr | R W M Clark | 6 Jul 1937 | DFC |
| Sqn Ldr | J B T Whitehead | 22 Sep 1938 | |
| Fg Off | G M Lindeman | 1 Nov 1936 | |
| Fg Off | R B Harvey | 1 Nov 1936 | Navigation duties |
| Fg Off | P F Rutter | 14 Mar 1937 | |
| Fg Off | J H Barrett | 27 Nov 1937 | |
| Fg Off | V P Paterson | 1 Nov 1936 | Navigation duties |
| Fg Off | N C Harding | 19 Dec 1936 | |
| Fg Off | J W B Richardson | 20 Dec 1936 | |
| Fg Off | David M Strong | 20 Dec 1936 | later A/Cdre |
| Fg Off | RE Shorter | 30 Jun 1937 | |
| Plt Off | J T Bouwens | 18 Jul 1938 | |
| Plt Off | T P A Bradley | 4 Sep 1937 | |
| Plt Off | G A Lane | 23 Oct 1937 | |
| Plt Off | W B Keddy | 23 Oct 1937 | |
| Plt Off | J A Piddington | 23 Oct 1937 | |
| Plt Off | A J Hannigan | 27 Nov 1937 | |
| Plt Off | L A McSherry | 27 Nov 1937 | |
| Plt Off | D Gibson | 19 Feb 1938 | |
| Plt Off | A G Gibson | 10 Jul 1938 | |
| Warrant Officer | |||
| WO | C Tompkins | 15 Feb 1939 | MM |
Source - April 1939 Confidential Air Force List
| Aircraft operated | Location | Command/Group |
| Hadley Page Heyford III | RAF Leconfield | Bomber Command/No 4 (Bomber) Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Wg Cdr | J C Foden | 1 Oct 1937 | Officer Commanding, AFC |
| Sqn Ldr | R W M Clark | 6 Jul 1937 | DFC |
| Sqn Ldr | J B T Whitehead | 22 Sep 1938 | |
| Flt Lt | G M Lindeman | 1 Nov 1936 | |
| Fg Off | R B Harvey | 1 Nov 1936 | Navigation duties |
| Fg Off | P F Rutter | 14 Mar 1937 | |
| Fg Off | J H Barrett | 27 Nov 1937 | |
| Fg Off | V P Paterson | 1 Nov 1936 | Navigation duties |
| Fg Off | N C Harding | 19 Dec 1936 | |
| Fg Off | J W B Richardson | 20 Dec 1936 | |
| Fg Off | David M Strong | 20 Dec 1936 | later A/Cdre |
| Fg Off | R E Shorter | 30 Jun 1937 | |
| Fg Off | J T Bouwens | 18 Jul 1938 | |
| Plt Off | T P A Bradley | 4 Sep 1937 | |
| Plt Off | G A Lane | 23 Oct 1937 | |
| Plt Off | W B Keddy | 23 Oct 1937 | |
| Plt Off | J A Piddington | 23 Oct 1937 | |
| Plt Off | A J Hannigan | 27 Nov 1937 | |
| Plt Off | L A McSherry | 27 Nov 1937 | |
| Plt Off | D Gibson | 19 Feb 1938 | |
| Plt Off | A G Gibson | 10 Jul 1938 | |
| Warrant Officer | |||
| WO | C Tompkins | 15 Feb 1939 | MM |
Source - May 1939 Confidential Air Force List
Personnel Movements: Jan 1939 - Apr 1940
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Sgt | E J Davidge | 26 Sep 1939 | Appointed to a Commission as a Plt Off and posted to No 77 SQn |
| Flt Lt | R B Vaux | 12 Mar 1940 | Killed in a flying accident |
| Plt Off | H B Hunter | 12 Mar 1940 | Killed in a flying accident |
| Plt Off | P R Johnson | 12 Mar 1940 | Killed in a flying accident |
Source - No 166 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/1089)
Organisational Movements: Jan 1939 - Apr 1940
| Date | Notes |
| xx Jan 1939 | Squadron commenced re-equipment with Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Is* |
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| 2 Sep 1939 | Last Heyford was delivered to No 4 MU for disposal |
| 6 Sep 1939 | 12 x aircraft moved at short notice to RAF Benson |
| 17 Sep 1939 | All aircraft moved from RAF Benson to RAF Abingdon on transfer to No 6 Group as a Group Pool Training Sqn |
| 28 Nov 1939 | Squadron received its first Armstrong Whitworth Whitley III |
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| 6 Apr 1940 | Squadron disbanded on being absorbed into No 10 Operational Training Unit |
Source - No 166 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/1089), except *
[Jul 1937 | Jul 1938 | Jan 1939 | Apr 1939 | May 1939]
This page was last updated on 17/10/23©
