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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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No 901 (County of London) (Balloon) Sqn Personnel and locations
[Jan 1939| Apr 1939 | May 1939]
Auxiliary Air Force personnel shown in italics.
Personnel Movements: May - Dec 1938
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | J S Wheelwright | 16 May 1938 | Assumed command of No 901 Sqn |
| Flt Lt | D W Morrish | 16 May 1938 | RAFO, assumed duties of Adjutant |
| Mr | W C Titheradge | 5 Jul 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Fg Off |
| Mr | R A Cooksey | 5 Jul 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Fg Off |
| Mr | C F Lamb | 5 Jul 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Fg Off |
| Mr | A R Hind | 5 Jul 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Fg Off |
| Mr | W V Dumbreck | 5 Jul 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Fg Off |
| The Rt Hon | Sir Kingsley Wood | 27 Sep 1938 | Appointed Honorary Air Commodore |
| Fg Off | W C Titheradge | 28 Oct 1938 | Promoted to Flt Lt |
| Mr | J F Hart | 4 Nov 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Fg Off |
| Mr | H W Hailstone | 4 Nov 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Fg Off |
| Mr | S S Gates | 4 Nov 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Fg Off |
| Mr | K H F Veasey | 4 Nov 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Fg Off |
| Mr | E G Titheradge | 4 Nov 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Fg Off |
Source - No 901 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2219)
Organisational Movements: May - Dec 1938
| Date | Notes |
| 16 May 1938 |
Formed at No 1 Balloon Centre, RAF Kidbrooke as No 901 (Balloon) (County of London) Squadron as part of the Auxiliary Air Force. |
| 16 May 1938 |
Recruiting for Auxiliary Air Force members commenced |
| 4 Sep 1938 | Squadron commence 15 days Annual Training at RAF Kidbrooke |
| 27 Sep 1938 | Embodiment notices issued to all AAF personnel |
| 28 Sep 1938 | 'A' and 'B' Flights departed RAF Kidbrooke for their war siites. |
| 8 Oct 1938 | All personnel and equipment returned to RAF Kidbrooke |
| 1 Nov 1938 | Control of No 30 Group was transferred from HQ, Fighter Command to the newly formed HQ, Balloon Command. |
Source - No 901 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2219)
| Balloon Centre | Command/Group |
| No 1 Balloon Centre, Kidbrooke | Balloon Command/No 30 (Balloon) Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Hon A/Cdre | The Rt Hon Sir Kingsley Wood | 27 Sep 1938 | Honorary Air Commodore, MP |
| Sqn Ldr | J S Wheelwright | 16 May 1938 | Officer Commanding, DSC |
| Flt Lt | D W Morrish | 16 May 1938 | |
| Flt Lt | W C Titheradge | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | R A Cooksey | 5 Jul 1938 | TD |
| Fg Off | C F Lamb | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | A R Hind | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | W V Dumbreck | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | J F Hart | 4 Nov 1938 | DSC |
| Fg Off | H W Hailstone | 4 Nov 1938 | |
| Fg Off | S S Gates | 4 Nov 1938 | |
| Fg Off | K H F Veasey | 4 Nov 1938 |
Source - January 1939 Air Force List
Personnel Movements: Jan - Apr 1939
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Fg Off | J G Pawson | 6 Feb 1939 | RAFO, appointed for duty as Assistant Adjutant |
| Dr | E L Martin | 14 Feb 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Flt Lt for duty as Medical Officer, wef 26 Sep 1938 |
Source - No 901 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2219)
| Balloon Centre | Command/Group |
| No 1 Balloon Centre, Kidbrooke | Balloon Command/No 30 (Balloon) Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Hon A/Cdre | The Rt Hon Sir Kingsley Wood | 27 Sep 1938 | Honorary Air Commodore, MP |
| Sqn Ldr | J S Wheelwright | 16 May 1938 | Officer Commanding, DSC |
| Flt Lt | D W Morrish | 16 May 1938 | RAFO |
| Flt Lt | W C Titheradge | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | R A Cooksey | 5 Jul 1938 | TD |
| Fg Off | C F Lamb | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | A R Hind | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | W V Dumbreck | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | J F Hart | 4 Nov 1938 | DSC |
| Fg Off | H W Hailstone | 4 Nov 1938 | |
| Fg Off | E G Titheradge | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | S S Gates | 4 Nov 1938 | |
| Fg Off | K H F Veasey | 4 Nov 1938 | |
| Medical Branch | |||
| Flt Lt | E L Martin | 26 Sep 1938 | MRCS, LRCP |
Source - April 1939 Confidential Air Force List
| Balloon Centre | Command/Group |
| No 1 Balloon Centre, Kidbrooke | Balloon Command/No 30 (Balloon) Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Hon A/Cdre | The Rt Hon Sir Kingsley Wood | 27 Sep 1938 | Honorary Air Commodore, MP |
| Sqn Ldr | J S Wheelwright | 16 May 1938 | Officer Commanding, DSC |
| Flt Lt | D W Morrish | 16 May 1938 | RAFO |
| Flt Lt | W C Titheradge | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | R A Cooksey | 5 Jul 1938 | TD |
| Fg Off | C F Lamb | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | A R Hind | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | W V Dumbreck | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | J F Hart | 4 Nov 1938 | DSC |
| Fg Off | H W Hailstone | 4 Nov 1938 | |
| Fg Off | E G Titheradge | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | S S Gates | 4 Nov 1938 | |
| Fg Off | K H F Veasey | 4 Nov 1938 | |
| Medical Branch | |||
| Flt Lt | E L Martin | 26 Sep 1938 | MRCS, LRCP |
| Warrant Officer | |||
| WO | F F Dunlop | 31 Aug 1938 | |
Source - May 1939 Confidential Air Force List
Personnel Movements: May - Aug 1939
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Mr | A Blande | 2 May 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Fg Off, wef 13 Mar 1939 |
| Mr | T Rowley | 23 May 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Plt Off, wef 19 Apr 1939 for Accountant duties |
| Sqn Ldr | J S Wheelwright | 6 Jun 1939 | Promoted to Wg Cdr |
| Fg Off | W C Titheradge | 6 Jun 1939 | Promoted to Sqn Ldr |
| Sir Michael Bruce-Bruce | 23 Jun 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Fg Off, wef 22 Apr 1939 | |
| Mr | P C Campbell | 27 Jun 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Fg Off, wef 14 Mar 1939 |
| Mr | C Green | 27 Jun 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Plt Off, wef 26 May 1939 |
| Mr | C E Simons | 27 Jun 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Plt Off, wef 31 May 1939 |
Source - No 901 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2219)
Nominal Roll of Officers - 25 Aug 1939
| Rank | Name | Notes |
| Wg Cdr | J S Wheelwright | Officer Commanding, No 901 Sqn |
| Sqn Ldr | W C Titheradge | Administrative Officer |
| Flt Lt | D W Morrish | Adjutant |
| Fg Off | G L Pawson | Assistant Adjutant |
| Flt Lt | E L Martin | Medical Officer |
| Plt Off | T Rowley | Armament Officer |
| Fg Off | A R Hind | Equipment Officer |
| Fg Off | E G Titheradge | Officer Commanding 'A' Flight |
| Fg Off | W V Dumbreck | Officer Commanding 'B' Flight |
| Fg Off | S S Gates | Officer Commanding 'C' Flight |
| Fg Off | C F Lamb | Officer Commanding 'D' Flight |
| Fg Off | J F Hart | Officer Commanding 'E' Flight |
| Fg Off | R A Cooksey | Supernumerary |
| Fg Off | H W Hailstone | Supernumerary |
| Fg Off | K H F Veasey | Supernumerary |
| Fg Off | A Blande | Supernumerary |
| Fg Off | P C Campbell | Supernumerary |
| Fg Off | Sir M W S Bruce-Bruce | Supernumerary |
| Fg Off | H E C Rubie | Supernumerary |
| Plt Off | C Green | Supernumerary |
| Plt Off | C E Simons | Supernumerary |
Source - No 901 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2219)
Personnel Movements: Sep - Dec 1939
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | D W Morrish | 3 Sep 1939 | Posted to No 14 E & RFTS, Castle Bromwich for flying duties. |
| Fg Off | A Blande | 3 Sep 1939 | Transferred from 'E' Flight and assumed duties of Adjutant |
| Fg Off | R A Cooksey | 3 Sep 1939 | Transferred from 'B' Flight to 'E' Flight |
| Flt Sgt | Pratt | 3 Sep 1939 | Proceeded to Ford Motor Co, Dagenham for 3 week course on Fordson tractors |
| Flt Lt | C F Lamb | 11 Sep 1939 | Admitted to SSQ, RAF Kidbrooke |
| Flt Lt | S P V Phillips | 12 Sep 1939 | Arrived on posting for duty as Adjutant |
| Flt Lt | C F Lamb | 13 Sep 1939 | Transferred to RAF Hospital, Halton |
| Fg Off | K H F Veasey | 17 Sep 1939 | Reported sick |
| Fg Off | R A Cooksey | 17 Sep 1939 | Transferred from 'E' Flight to 'D' Flight |
| Flt Lt | E L Martin | 19 Sep 1939 | Medical Officer, posted to No 934 Sqn, Plymouth |
| Fg Off | C Huddlestone | 20 Sep 1939 | Arrived on posting for duty as Medical Officer |
| Fg Off | K H F Veasey | 21 Sep 1939 | Returned to duty |
| Flt Lt | C F Lamb | 5 Oct 1939 | Returned from sick leave |
| Wg Cdr | J S Wheelwright | 5 Oct 1939 | Reported sick at home |
| Sqn Ldr | W C Titheradge | 5 Oct 1939 | Assumed temporary command of No 901 Sqn |
| Fg Off | R A Cooksey | 16 Oct 1939 | Posted to No 949 Sqn |
| Plt Off | C Green | 19 Oct 1939 | Posted to No 948 Sqn |
| Mr | A D Proudfoot | 1 Nov 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the RAFVR as a Plt Off, wef 5 Sep 1939 |
| Mr | D R H Levett | 1 Nov 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the RAFVR as a Plt Off, wef 5 Oct 1939 |
| Plt Off | C E Simons | 9 Nov 1939 | Posted to No 949 Sqn |
| Fg Off | R A Cooksey | 11 Nov 1939 | Arrived on posting from No 949 Sqn |
| Flt Lt | C F Lamb | 28 Nov 1939 | Attached to HQ, No 30 Group |
| Flt Lt | C F Lamb | 2 Dec 1939 | Released from the Service |
| Flt Lt | A R Hind | 9 Dec 1939 | Equipment Officer, released from the Service until 1 Mar 1940 |
| Wg Cdr | J S Wheelwright | 14 Dec 1939 | Returned from sick leave and resumed command of No 901 Sqn. |
| Sqn Ldr | W C Titheradge | 5 Oct 1939 | Relinquished temporary command of No 901 Sqn |
Source - No 901 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2219)
Organisational Movements: May - Dec 1939
| Date | Notes |
| 12 Jun 1939 | Squadron commenced providing 25% of the
personnel to be embodied for 4 weeks detachment at a time until 1 Oct 1939
as follows: -
|
| 25 Aug 1939 | Personnel began reporting for duty on mobilisation |
| 25 Sep 1939 | 'B' Flight HQ moved from LCC Non-Residential Training Centre, Abbey Wood, SE2 to Woolwich Arsenal |
| 25 Sep 1939 | 'C' Flight HQ moved from Saye and Sele Lodge, Belvedere, Kent to LCC Non-Residential Training Centre, Abbey Wood, SE2 |
| 14 Nov 1939 | 'D' Flight HQ moved from Federation Hall, Abbey Wood, SE2 to No 1 Commonwealth Way |
| 25 Nov 1939 | 'E' Flight HQ moved from Methodist Church Hall, Eglinton Hill, Plumstead, SE18 to 'Belmont', Eaglesfield Road, Shooters Hill, SE18 |
| 23 Dec 1939 | 4 x Flights amalgamated as follows: - 'A/E' and 'C/D' |
Source - No 901 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2219)
Dispersed Site Locations:
|
Site |
Location |
from |
to |
|
1/1 |
On Green bounded by Plumstead Common Road, St Margaret's Grove and Blendon Road |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/2 |
Plumstead Common |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/3 |
Slade School |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/4 |
Grass Plot, Lakedale Road |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/5 |
Wynne's Common |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/6 |
Wynne's Common |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/7 |
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25 Aug 1939 |
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1/8 |
Rockmount Road |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/9 |
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25 Aug 1939 |
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1/10 |
Ground west of Grenning Street |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/11 |
30 yds west of LCC Non-Residential Traning Centre |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/12 |
Waste ground, north of Railway Road |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/13 |
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25 Aug 1939 |
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1/14 |
Sewell Road |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/15 |
Sewell Road |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/16 |
Harrow Manor Way |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/17 |
Belvedere Road |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/18 |
Belvedere Road |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/19 |
North of Railway |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/20 |
Gertrude Road |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/21 |
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25 Aug 1939 |
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1/22 |
North Road, 100 yds north of Caldy Road, Belvedere |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/23 |
Woolwch Arsenal |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/24 |
In a field staggered to the east of andf 340 yds from 1/23 and 1/25 |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/25 |
In Norman Road, 470 yds north of 1/23 |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/26 |
In a field staggered to the east of andf 340 yds from 1/25 and 1/27 |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/27 |
In field 470 yds NNE of 1/25 |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/28 |
Junction of Rochdale Road and Bevan Road |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/29 |
Junction of Bostall Lane and Commonwealth Way |
25 Aug 1939 |
20 Nov 1939 |
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1/29 |
Bostall Heath |
20 Nov 1939 |
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1/30 |
Waste ground west of Bostall Lane |
28 Aug 1939 |
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1/31 |
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25 Aug 1939 |
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1/32 |
Lessness Abbey |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/33 |
North of Railway |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/34 |
Abbet Wood |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/35 |
North of Railway |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/36 |
Elstree Gardens |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/37 |
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25 Aug 1939 |
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1/38 |
Maryon Wilson Park |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/39 |
Barrack Field, Woolwich |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/40 |
Woolwich Common |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/41 |
Recreation Ground |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/42 |
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25 Aug 1939 |
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1/43 |
Shooters Hill Golf Course |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/44 |
Waste ground, north of Dothill Road |
25 Aug 1939 |
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1/45 |
Junction of Ennis Road and Macoma Road |
25 Aug 1939 |
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Source - No 901 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2219)
Personnel Movements: Jan - Dec 1940
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Fg Off | A Blande | 30 Jan 1940 | Attached to HQ, No 30 Group |
| AC2 | Evans | 4 Feb 1940 | Admitted to hospital following a traffic accident |
| Plt Off | T J McNicholl | 7 Feb 1940 | Attached for Equipment duties |
| Plt Off | H C Redgrave | 8 Feb 1940 | Released from the Service on appointment to a Temporary commission in the RNVR |
| Fg Off | J F Hart | 12 Feb 1940 | Posted to No 936 Sqn |
| Fg Off | G L Pawson | 12 Feb 1940 | Attached to Air Ministry pending posting to RAF Watton |
| Fg Off | R F McClatchy | 13 Feb 1940 | Attached for Medical duties |
| Fg Off | W R Parker | 13 Feb 1940 | Medical Officer, attached to No 952 Sqn, wef 17 Jan 1940 |
| Wg Cdr | J S Wheelwright | 16 Feb 1940 | Reported sick at home |
| Sqn Ldr | W C Titheradge | 16 Feb 1940 | Reported sick at home |
| Flt Lt | S P V Phillips | 19 Feb 1940 | Adjutant, admitted to hospital |
| Plt Off | M E Cauvin | 25 Feb 1940 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | C H R Hulbert | 25 Feb 1940 | Arrived on posting |
| Flt Lt | S P V Phillips | 1 Mar 1940 | Adjutant, commenced sick leave |
| Flt Lt | S P V Phillips | 8 Mar 1940 | Adjutant, returned from sick leave |
| Plt Off | C McM Brown | 13 Mar 1940 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | S S Durant | 14 Mar 1940 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | A D Proudfoot | 21 Mar 1940 | Posed to No 3 Balloon Centre |
| Flt Lt | W V Dumbreck | 25 Mar 1940 | Attached to No 1 Balloon Centre for duty as Training Officer |
| Flt Lt | S S Gates | 23 Apr 1940 | Attached to No 1 Balloon Centre |
| Plt Off | L C Carter | 14 May 1940 | Arrived on posting, wef 12 May 1940 |
| Plt Off | F L Darke | 14 May 1940 | Arrived on posting, wef 12 May 1940 |
| Flt Lt | E G Titheradge | 6 Jun 1940 | Appointed Active Defence Officer, wef 1 Jun 1940 |
| Plt Off | F L Darke | 1 Jul 1940 | Allocated to 'D' Flight |
| Plt Off | S S Durant | 1 Jul 1940 | Moved from 'D' Flight to 'C' Flight |
| AC2 | Stubbington | 4 Jul 1940 | Sustained burns in a petrol stove explosion in the War HQ cookhouse |
| Plt Off | H C Liddell | 11 Jul 1940 | Arrived on posting and and allocated to 'D' Flight |
| AC | Shepheard | 14 Jul 1940 | Admitted to Erith Hospital after being struck in the face by a winch starting handle |
| Sgt | Briggs | 9 Sep 1940 | Admitted to the Royal Herbert Hospital following an accident on Rochester Way, SE9 |
| LAC | Reynolds | 9 Sep 1940 | Admitted to the Royal Herbert Hospital following an accident on Rochester Way, SE9 |
| LAC | A E Ward | 17 Sep 1940 | Killed in an air raid on Site 1/31 |
| LAC | Lewis | 17 Sep 1940 | Admitted to hospital following an air raid on Site 1/31 |
| AC1 | Richards | 17 Sep 1940 | Admitted to hospital following an air raid on Site 1/31 |
| AC2 | Drakard | 17 Sep 1940 | Admitted to hospital following an air raid on Site 1/31 |
| AC2 | W E Davis | 17 Sep 1940 | Admitted to hospital following an air raid on Site 1/31 |
| Flt Lt | H E C Rubie | 26 Sep 1940 | Attached to No 956 Sqn |
| Plt Off | Kirke | 1 Oct 1940 | Arrived on posting and and allocated to 'E' Flight |
| LAC | J J Holland | 16 Oct 1940 | Killed in an air raid on Site 1/20 |
| AC1 | Peach | 16 Oct 1940 | Admitted to hospital following an air raid on Site 1/20 |
| AC1 | J W Colley | 25 Oct 1940 | Killed in an air raid whilst on leave |
| Plt Off | Kirke | 26 Oct 1940 | Moved from 'E' Flight to 'D' Flight |
| Plt Off | C H R Hulbert | 26 Oct 1940 | Attached to HQ, No 30 Group for Plotting Course |
| Plt Off | Meredith | 21 Nov 1940 | Allocated to 'D' Flight (on posting?) |
| Plt Off | Kirke | 21 Nov 1940 | Moved from 'D' Flight to 'C' Flight |
| Plt Off | Hardy | 22 Nov 1940 | Attached to HQ, No 30 Group for course |
| Plt Off | C H R Hulbert | 25 Nov 1940 | Attached to Rollestone Camp for Anti-Gas Course |
| Plt Off | Lingwood | 28 Nov 1940 | Arrived on posting and allocated to 'E' Flight |
| Plt Off | L C Carter | 18 Dec 1940 | Posted to No 910 Sqn |
| AC2 | J H Stubbington | 24 Dec 1940 | Died from injuries |
Source - No 901 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2219)
Organisational Movements: Jan - Dec 1940
| Date | Notes |
| 16 Jul 1940 | 'A' Flight HQ moved from Old Mill Inn, Plumstead Common, SE18 to 'Oaklands', St Margaret's Grove, Plumstead, SE18 |
| 25 Sep 1939 | 'C' Flight HQ moved from LCC Non-Residential Training Centre, Abbey Wood, SE2 to 'Harrow Inn', Abbey Wood |
Source - No 901 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2219)
[Jan 1939| Apr 1939 | May 1939]
This page was last updated on 17/10/23©
