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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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No 253 Sqn Personnel, aircraft and locations
Personnel Movements: Oct - Dec 1939
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | E D Elliott | 30 Oct 1939 | Arrived on posting and assumed command of No 253 Sqn |
| Plt Off | H T J Anderson | 2 Nov 1939 | Promoted to Act Fg Off |
| Fg Off | G Harris | 10 Nov 1939 | Promoted to Act Flt Lt |
| Plt Off | D B Bell-Slater | 27 Nov 1939 | Admitted to RAF Hospital, Halton |
| Plt Off | M B Mallett | 11 Dec 1939 | Admitted to RN Hospital, Chatham |
| Plt Off | M B Mallett | 16 Dec 1939 | Transferred to RAF Convalescent Home, Torquay |
| Plt Off | D B Bell-Slater | 23 Dec 1939 | Posted to No 1 RAF Depot as non-effective, sick, wef 27 Nov 1939 |
Source - No 253 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/1511)
Organisational Movements: Oct - Dec 1939
| Date | Notes |
| 30 Oct 1939 | Formed at RAF Manston in No 11 Group to be equipped with 16 x Blenheims |
| 4 Nov 1939 | Miles Magister, R1834, collected from No 10 MU, RAF Hullavington |
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| 7 Nov 1939 | Miles Magister, R1836, collected from No 10 MU, RAF Hullavington |
| 15 Nov 1939 | Miles Magister, R1831, collected from No 10 MU, RAF Hullavington but damaged in a forced landing |
| xx Dec 1939 | Establishment amended from 16 x Blenheims to 16 x Battles, 15 of which had arrived by 23 Dec 1939 |
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Source - No 253 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/1511)
Personnel Movements: Jan - Dec 1940
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Plt Off | D B Bell-Slater | 13 Jan 1940 | Reposted from No 1 RAF Depot |
| Plt Off | J R Urwin-Mann | 26 Jan 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 11 Group Pool |
| Act Fg Off | H T J Anderson | 12 Feb 1940 | Promoted to Act Flt Lt, wef 2 Nov 1939 |
| Plt Off | J T Strang | 22 Feb 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 2 Ferry Pilots' Pool |
| Plt Off | M B Mallett | 14 Mar 1940 | Posted to No 1 RAF Depot as non-effective, sick, wef 16 Dec 1939 |
| Plt Off | H T J Anderson | 21 Mar 1940 | Promoted to Act Fg Off, wef 27 Feb 1940 |
| Sgt | J A Anderson | 26 Apr 1940 | Admitted to RAF Hospital, Uxbridge after abandoning Hurricane, L1668 |
| Plt Off | D L Bisgood | 13 May 1940 | Proceeded to France via RAF Manston |
| Plt Off | C G Jefferies | 13 May 1940 | Proceeded to France via RAF Manston |
| Plt Off | J B Hobbs | 13 May 1940 | Proceeded to France via RAF Manston |
| Plt Off | J T Strang | 18 May 1940 | Failed to return from a sortie but later returned safe |
| Plt Off | J D Ford | 18 May 1940 | Failed to return from a sortie but later returned safe |
| Plt Off | D B Bell-Slater | 18 May 1940 | Failed to return from a sortie but later returned safe |
| Sgt | R A Brackley | 18 May 1940 | Failed to return from a sortie but later returned safe |
| Flt Lt | G Harris | 19 May 1940 | Failed to return from a sortie but later returned safe |
| Flt Lt | H T J Anderson | 19 May 1940 | Killed in action |
| Plt Off | F W Ratford | 19 May 1940 | Killed in action |
| Sqn Ldr | E D Elliott | 21 May 1940 | Failed to return from a sortie but later reported to be a POW |
| Plt Off | J T Strang | 21 May 1940 | Returned after being shot down |
| Plt Off | J D Ford | 21 May 1940 | Returned after being shot down |
| Sgt | R A Brackley | 21 May 1940 | Returned after being shot down |
| Flt Lt | F N Clouston | 22 May 1940 | Assumed temporary command of No 253 Sqn |
| Plt Off | D B Bell-Slater | 22 May 1940 | Returned after being shot down |
| Plt Off | J D Ford | 23 May 1940 | Failed to return from a sortie but later returned safe |
| Sqn Ldr | David F W Atcherley | 28 May 1940 | Arrived on posting and assumed command of No 253 Sqn |
| Sqn Ldr | T P Gleave | 2 Jun 1940 | Arrived on posting from HQ Fighter Command |
| Flt Lt | W P Cambridge | 4 Jun 1940 | Attached to RAF Northolt for Air Fighting course (10 days) |
| Plt Off | L L Barnard | 4 Jun 1940 | Attached for instruction as Adjutant |
| Plt Off | G C T Carthew | 6 Jun 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 85 Sqn |
| Sqn Ldr | David F W Atcherley | 8 Jun 1940 | Promoted to Wg Cdr, wef 1 Mar 1940 |
| Plt Off | P L Dawburn | 8 Jun 1940 | Posted to No 17 Sqn |
| Sqn Ldr | T P Gleave | 9 Jun 1940 | Assumed command of No 253 Sqn |
| Sqn Ldr | David F W Atcherley | 9 Jun 1940 | Relinquished command of No 253 Sqn on posting to RAF Castletown to command |
| Plt Off | J T Hemingway | 15 Jun 1940 | Posted to No 85 Sqn |
| Plt Off | C D Francis | 17 Jun 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 6 OTU |
| Fg Off | J H Wedgwood | 18 Jun 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 5 OTU |
| Plt Off | L L Barnard | 28 Jun 1940 | Attached to HQ, No 12 Group for temporary duty |
| Fg Off | R F Watts | 1 Jul 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 7 OTU |
| Plt Off | T Nowak | 16 Jul 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 6 OTU |
| Plt Off | M Samolinski | 16 Jul 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 6 OTU |
| Sqn Ldr | E B King | 17 Jul 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 7 OTU as supernumerary |
| Plt Off | A A G Trueman | 20 Jul 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 6 OTU |
| Sqn Ldr | E B King | 5 Aug 1940 | Posted to No 249 Sqn to command |
| Sqn Ldr | T P Gleave | 10 Aug 1940 | Relinquished command of No 253 Sqn but remained as supernumerary |
| Sqn Ldr | H M Starr | 10 Aug 1940 | Arrived on posting and assumed command of No 253 Sqn |
| Plt Off | W Glowacki | 16 Aug 1940 | Attached from No 145 Sqn |
| Plt Off | W Urbanowicz | 16 Aug 1940 | Attached from No 145 Sqn |
| Plt Off | W Glowacki | 20 Aug 1940 | Ceased to be attached from No 145 Sqn |
| Plt Off | W Urbanowicz | 21 Aug 1940 | Ceased to be attached from No 145 Sqn |
| Fg Off | J H Wedgwood | 28 Aug 1940 | Promoted to Flt Lt, wef 6 Jul 1940 |
| Flt Lt | G A Brown | 30 Aug 1940 | Admitted to Preston Hall Hospital after being wounded in action |
| Plt Off | C D Francis | 30 Aug 1940 | Killed in action |
| Plt Off | D N O Jenkins | 30 Aug 1940 | Killed in action |
| Sgt | J H Dickinson | 30 Aug 1940 | Killed in action |
| Sqn Ldr | T P Gleave | 31 Aug 1940 | Admitted to Orpington Hospital after being wounded in action |
| Plt Off | J K G Clifton | 1 Sep 1940 | Killed in action |
| Plt Off | D B Bell-Slater | 2 Sep 1940 | Admitted to Rye Hospital after being wounded in action |
| Plt Off | A A G Trueman | 4 Sep 1940 | Killed in action |
| Flt Lt | W P Cambridge | 6 Sep 1940 | Killed in action |
| Act Sqn Ldr | G R Edge | 7 Sep 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 605 Sqn and assumed command of No 253 Sqn |
| Fg Off | R F Watts | 7 Sep 1940 | Promoted to Act Flt Lt and assumed command of 'B' Flight |
| Plt Off | R G Graves | 9 Sep 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 6 OTU |
| Plt Off | A R H Barton | 10 Sep 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 32 Sqn |
| Flt Lt | R M B D Duke-Woolley | 12 Sep 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 23 Sqn |
| Plt Off | A J Jones | 12 Sep 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 15 OTU for Engineer duties |
| Plt Off | A F Eckford | 12 Sep 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 32 Sqn |
| Plt Off | R G Graves | 14 Sep 1940 | Posted to No 85 Sqn for further training |
| Plt Off | G C T Carthew | 20 Sep 1940 | Posted to No 85 Sqn for further training |
| Plt Off | A R H Barton | 20 Sep 1940 | Admitted to Ashford Hospital after being wounded in action |
| Plt Off | G Marsland | 24 Sep 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 245 Sqn |
| Flt Lt | J H Wedgwood | 26 Sep 1940 | Posted to Flying Flight, Czech Depot, RAF Cosford as Flight Commander |
| Act Sqn Ldr | G R Edge | 27 Sep 1940 | Admitted to Willsborough Hospital, Ashford after being wounded in action |
| Flt Lt | R M B D Duke-Woolley | 27 Sep 1940 | Assumed temporary command of No 253 Sqn |
| Plt Off | M Samolinski | 27 Sep 1940 | Killed in action |
| Plt Off | R G Graves | 28 Sep 1940 | Re-posted from No 85 Sqn |
| Plt Off | R G Graves | 29 Sep 1940 | Admitted to Brockley Park Hospital, Weybridge after being wounded in action |
| Plt Off | G Henry | 1 Oct 1940 | Intelligence Officer, promoted to Act Fg Off, wef 12 Jul 1940 |
| Flt Lt | G A Brown | 1 Oct 1940 | Posted to No 71 Sqn |
| Plt Off | D S Yapp | 1 Oct 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 245 Sqn |
| Sqn Ldr | T P Gleave | 5 Oct 1940 | Posted to SHQ, RAF Kenley as non-effective, sick, wef 31 Aug 1940 |
| Act Sqn Ldr | G R Edge | 5 Oct 1940 | Posted to SHQ, RAF Kenley as non-effective, sick, wef 29 Sep 1940 |
| Plt Off | D B Bell-Slater | 5 Oct 1940 | Posted to SHQ, RAF Kenley as non-effective, sick, wef 2 Sep 1940 |
| Plt Off | A R H Barton | 5 Oct 1940 | Posted to SHQ, RAF Kenley as non-effective, sick, wef 20 Sep 1940 |
| Plt Off | R G Graves | 5 Oct 1940 | Posted to SHQ, RAF Kenley as non-effective, sick, wef 22 Sep 1940 |
| Sgt | H H Allgood | 10 Oct 1940 | Killed in a flying accident |
| Plt Off | L C Murch | 11 Oct 1940 | Admitted to Kent and Sussex Hospital, Tonbridge Wells after being wounded in action |
| Plt Off | L C Murch | 11 Oct 1940 | Posted to SHQ, RAF Kenley as non-effective, sick |
| Plt Off | D A Pennington | 13 Oct 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 245 Sqn |
| Plt Off | P G Wall | 14 Oct 1940 | Arrived on posting for duty as Adjutant (RAFVR) |
| Plt Off | C W Hammond | 16 Oct 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 245 Sqn |
| Plt Off | A H Corkett | 19 Oct 1940 | Posted to SHQ, RAF Kenley as non-effective, sick |
| Plt Off | J D Ford | 28 Oct 1940 | Rejoined the squadron from RAF Convalescent Home Torquay for ground duties |
| Sgt | P J Moore | 30 Oct 1940 | Admitted to SSQ following a flying accident |
| Plt Off | G H Wass | 30 Oct 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 15 OTU for Engineer duties |
| Act Flt Lt | G Harris | 2 Nov 1940 | Rejoined the squadron from RAF Convalescent Home Torquay |
| Plt Off | A J Jones | 5 Nov 1940 | Engineer Officer, relinquished his commission on account of ill-health |
| Act Fg Off | A C Pring | 6 Nov 1940 | Adjutant, embarked at Liverpool on posting to India |
| Plt Off | R G Graves | 6 Nov 1940 | Reposted from SHQ, RAF Kenley (ex non-effective, sick) |
| Plt Off | J D Ford | 11 Nov 1940 | Posted to SHQ, RAF Kenley as non-effective, sick |
| Act Sqn Ldr | G R Edge | 14 Nov 1940 | Posted from SHQ, RAF Kenley (ex non-effective, sick) as supernumerary |
| Act Sqn Ldr | P R Walker | 15 Nov 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 55 OTU and assumed command of No 253 Sqn |
| Flt Lt | R M B D Duke-Woolley | 15 Nov 1940 | Relinquished temporary command of No 253 Sqn |
| Act Flt Lt | G Harris | 15 Nov 1940 | Posted to No 56 OTU |
| Plt Off | T Nowak | 16 Nov 1940 | Posted to No 303 (Polish) Sqn |
| Capt | C J M F de Scitiveux | 4 Dec 1940 | French Air Force, arrived on posting from No 245 Sqn, wef 29 Nov 1940 |
| Plt Off | A H Corkett | 4 Dec 1940 | Reposted from SHQ, RAF Kenley (ex non-effective, sick), wef 24 Nov 1940 |
| Plt Off | J P B Greenwood | 9 Dec 1940 | Posted to No 5 SFTS for Instructor duty |
| Plt Off | J T Strang | 11 Dec 1940 | Posted to No 14 SFTS for Instructor duty |
| Plt Off | A H Corkett | 12 Dec 1940 | Attached to HQ, No 11 Group for R/T and Fighter Tactics course (3 days) |
| Fg Off | S R Peacock-Edwrds | 17 Dec 1940 | Embarked at Liverpool on posting overseas |
| Plt Off | D J Hammond | 17 Dec 1940 | Embarked at Liverpool on posting overseas |
| Fg Off | J P Forde | 21 Dec 1940 | Arrived on posting from SHQ, RAF Kenley for Medical duties |
Source - No 253 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/1511)
Organisational Movements: Jan - Dec 1940
| Date | Notes |
| 15 Jan 1940 | Squadron advised the it would re-equip with Hawker Hurricanes, 1 having been received by the end of the month |
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| 14 Feb 1940 | Squadron moved from RAF Manston to RAF Northolt |
| 14 Feb 1940 | A total of 10 x Hurricanes had been delivered by this date |
| 29 Feb 1940 | A total of 16 x Hurricanes had been delivered by this date |
| 31 Mar 1940 | A total of 20 x Hurricanes had been delivered by this date |
| 9 May 1940 | Squadron completed the move from RAF Northolt to RAF Kenley |
| 16 May 1940 | 'B' Flight proceeded to France |
| 17 May 1940 | 'A' Flight joined a flight of No 111 Sqn to form a composite squadron to operate from France during the day but return to RAF Kenley overnight |
| 20 May 1940 | No 111/253 Sqn disbanded but 'A' Flight joined with No 229 Sqn to for 253/229 Composite Sqn |
| 24 May 1940 | No 253/229 Sqn disbanded |
| 24 May 1940 | Squadron moved from RAF Kenley to RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey |
| 6 Jul 1940 | 'A' Flight detached to satellite airfield at Coleby Grange |
| 7 Jul 1940 | 'A' Flight moved from satellite airfield at Coleby Grange to satellite airfield at Ringway |
| 20 Jul 1940 | 'A' Flight returned from satellite airfield at Ringway |
| 21 Jul 1940 | Squadron moved from RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey to RAF Turnhouse |
| 23 Aug 1940 | Squadron, except Maintenance Flight, moved from RAF Turnhouse to RAF Prestwick |
| 29 Aug 1940 | Squadron, (pilots, aircraft and 32 ground personnel), moved from RAF Prestwick to RAF Kenley |
| 1 Sep 1940 | Maintenance Flight moved from RAF Turnhouse to RAF Grangemouth |
| 16 Sep 1940 | HQ and remaining personnel departed RAF Prestwick for RAF Kenley |
| 16 Sep 1940 | Maintenance Flight departed RAF Grangemouth for RAF Kenley |
| 8 Nov 1940 | Squadron was re-designated No 253 (Hyderabad State) (Fighter) Sqn |
Source - No 253 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/1511)
This page was last updated on 17/10/23
