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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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No 903 (County of London) (Balloon) Sqn Personnel and locations
[Jan 1939| Apr 1939 | May 1939]
Auxiliary Air Force Officers shown in italics.
Personnel Movements: May - Dec 1938
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | G M Haslam | 16 May 1938 | Assumed command of No 903 Sqn |
| Flt Lt | R M Hall | 16 May 1938 | Arrived on posting and assumed duties of Adjutant |
| Mr | R G Frith | 5 Jul 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Flt Lt |
| Mr | N F Blackie | 5 Jul 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Fg Off |
| Mr | L Kemp | 5 Jul 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Fg Off |
| Mr | J T Phelan | 5 Jul 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as an APO |
| Mr | W T Gwyn-Jones | 15 Aug 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as an APO |
| E G Dixon | 30 Aug 1938 | Appointed Honorary Air Commodore, OBE, JP | |
| APO | J T Phelan | 20 Sep 1938 | Promoted to Fg Off |
| Fg Off | E Clayton | 24 Sep 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Fg Off |
| APO | W T Gwyn-Jones | 26 Sep 1938 | Promoted to Fg Off |
| Mr | A G Birch | 4 Nov 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as an APO |
| Fg Off | N F Blackie | 8 Nov 1938 | Promoted to Flt Lt |
| Fg Off | L Kemp | 8 Nov 1938 | Promoted to Flt Lt |
| Mr | D K Etherington | 9 Nov 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as an APO |
Source - No 903 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2223)
Organisational Movements: May - Dec 1938
| Date | Notes |
| 16 May 1938 |
Formed at No 1 Balloon Centre, Kidbrooke on as No 903 (Balloon) (County of London) Squadron as part of the Auxiliary Air Force. |
| 16 May 1938 | Recruiting for AAF personnel commenced |
| 4 Sep 1938 | Annual Training Camp commenced at RAF Kidbrooke (15 days) |
| 27 Sep 1938 | AAF personnel embodied |
| 28 Sep 1938 | 'E' and 'F' Flights departed RAF Kidbrooke for War Sites |
| 8 Oct 1938 | 'E' and 'F' Flights returned to RAF Kidbrooke and AAF personnel ceased to be embodied |
| 1 Nov 1938 | No 30 Group (and No 903 Sqn), transferred from Fighter Command to Balloon Command |
Source - No 903 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2223)
| Balloon Centre | Command/Group |
| No 1 Balloon Centre, Kidbrooke | Balloon Command/No 30 (Balloon) Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Hon A/Cdre | E G Dixon | 30 Aug 1938 | Honorary Air Commodore, OBE, JP |
| Sqn Ldr | G M Haslam | 16 May 1938 | Officer Commanding, TD |
| Flt Lt | R M Hall | 16 May 1938 | |
| Flt Lt | R G Frith | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Flt Lt | N F Blackie | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Flt Lt | L Kemp | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | J T Phelan | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | W T Gwyn-Jones | 15 Aug 1938 | |
| Fg Off | E Clayton | 24 Sep 1938 | |
| APO | A G Birch | 4 Nov 1938 | |
| APO | D K Etherington | 9 Nov 1938 |
Source - January 1939 Air Force List
Personnel Movements: Jan - May 1939
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Mr | F J Cleare | 5 Jan 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Fg Off, wef 4 Nov 1938 |
| Dr | W W Walker | 15 Feb 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Fg Off for Medical duties, wef 2 Dec 1938 |
| Fg Off | M V Maloney | 6 Feb 1939 | RAFO Class 'CC', appointed for duty as Assistant Adjutant |
| Flt Lt | R M Hall | 22 Feb 1939 | Adjutant, relinquished his SSC on appointment to a commission to Unattached List, Indian Army |
| Flt Lt | C J Dickinson | 23 Feb 1939 | RAFO Class 'CC', appointed for duty as Adjutant |
| Mr | R R Goding | 30 Mar 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Fg Off, wef 4 Nov 1938 |
Source - No 903 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2223)
| Balloon Centre | Command/Group |
| No 1 Balloon Centre, Kidbrooke | Balloon Command/No 30 (Balloon) Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Hon A/Cdre | E G Dixon | 30 Aug 1938 | Honorary Air Commodore, OBE, JP |
| Sqn Ldr | G M Haslam | 16 May 1938 | Officer Commanding, TD |
| Flt Lt | R G Frith | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Flt Lt | N F Blackie | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Flt Lt | L Kemp | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | J T Phelan | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | W T Gwyn-Jones | 15 Aug 1938 | |
| Fg Off | E Clayton | 24 Sep 1938 | |
| Fg Off | F J Cleare | 4 Nov 1938 | |
| APO | A G Birch | 4 Nov 1938 | |
| APO | D K Etherington | 9 Nov 1938 | |
| Fg Off | M V Maloney | Assistant Adjutant, late RAF | |
| Medical Branch | |||
| Fg Off | W W Walker | 2 Dec 1938 | MB, ChB |
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 | E G Dixon | 30 Aug 1938 | Honorary Air Commodore, OBE, JP |
| Sqn Ldr | G M Haslam | 16 May 1938 | Officer Commanding, TD |
| Flt Lt | R G Frith | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Flt Lt | N F Blackie | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Flt Lt | L Kemp | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | J T Phelan | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | W T Gwyn-Jones | 15 Aug 1938 | |
| Fg Off | E Clayton | 24 Sep 1938 | |
| Fg Off | F J Cleare | 4 Nov 1938 | |
| Fg Off | R R Goding | 4 Nov 1938 | |
| APO | A G Birch | 4 Nov 1938 | |
| APO | D K Etherington | 9 Nov 1938 | |
| Fg Off | M V Maloney | Assistant Adjutant, late RAF | |
| Medical Branch | |||
| Fg Off | W W Walker | 2 Dec 1938 | MB, ChB |
Source - May 1939 Confidential Air Force List
Personnel Movements: May - Dec 1939
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Mr | R S L Kail | 10 May 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as an APO, wef 14 Apr 1939 |
| Sqn Ldr | G M Haslam | 6 Jun 1939 | Promoted to Wg Cdr |
| Flt Lt | R G Frith | 6 Jun 1939 | Promoted to Sqn Ldr and assumed duties of Administrative Officer |
| AC | E F Taylor | 7 Jun 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as an APO |
| AC | L H Farbrother | 7 Jun 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as an APO |
| AC | V C Humfrey | 7 Jun 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as an APO |
| Mr | L F Thurlow | 5 Jul 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as an APO |
| Mr | L T Rye | 5 Jul 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as an APO |
| Fg Off | F J Cleare | 15 Sep 1939 | Appointed Technical Officer |
| AC2 | S V Pearce | 5 Oct 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the RAFVR as a Plt Off |
| AC2 | S F E Hulbert | 5 Oct 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the RAFVR as a Plt Off |
| Flt Lt | L Kemp | 14 Oct 1939 | Posted to No 949 Sqn on formation |
| Fg Off | A G Birch | 16 Oct 1939 | Promoted to Act Flt Lt |
| Fg Off | W W Walker | 16 Oct 1939 | Medical Officer, promoted to Act Flt Lt |
| Fg Off | W J Amlot | 16 Oct 1939 | Equipment Officer, Promoted to Act Flt Lt |
| Plt Off | S V Pearce | 18 Oct 1939 | Reported for duty |
| Plt Off | S F E Hulbert | 18 Oct 1939 | Reported for duty |
| Flt Lt | N F Blackie | 19 Oct 1939 | Posted to No 948 Sqn on formation |
| Fg Off | E Clayton | 27 Oct 1939 | Promoted to Flt Lt, wef 18 Sep 1939 |
| Fg Off | R R Goding | 27 Oct 1939 | Promoted to Flt Lt, wef 18 Sep 1939 |
| Flt Lt | C J Dickinson | 29 Oct 1939 | Adjutant, RAFO Class 'CC', appointed to a commission in the RAFVR as a Flt Lt |
| Fg Off | M V Maloney | 29 Oct 1939 | Assistant Adjutant, RAFO Class 'CC', appointed to a commission in the RAFVR as a Flt Lt |
| APO | L H Farbrother | 1 Nov 1939 | Promoted to Act Flt Lt and assumed command of 'B' Flight |
| Flt Lt | C J Dickinson | 6 Nov 1939 | Adjutant, posted to HQ, No 31 Group for duty as Sqn Ldr (Organisation) |
| APO | E F Taylor | 8 Nov 1939 | Confirmed in his appointment and regraded as Plt Off and promoted to Act Fg Off |
| APO | V C Humfrey | 8 Nov 1939 | Confirmed in his appointment and regraded as Plt Off and promoted to Act Fg Off |
| APO | L F Thurlow | 8 Nov 1939 | Confirmed in his appointment and regraded as Plt Off |
| APO | L T Rye | 8 Nov 1939 | Confirmed in his appointment and regraded as Plt Off and promoted to Act Fg Off |
| APO | R S L Kail | 8 Nov 1939 | Confirmed in his appointment and regraded as Plt Off |
| Sqn Ldr | R G Frith | 18 Nov 1939 | Administrative Officer, posted to No 904 Sqn to command |
| Fg Off | V C Humfrey | 18 Nov 1939 | Assumed duties of Administrative Officer |
| Flt Lt | A G Birch | 10 Dec 1939 | Ceased to be attached to Sqn HQ |
Source - No 903 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2223)
Organisational Movements: May - Dec 1939
| Date | Notes |
| 11 Jun 1939 | 25% of the squadron was placed on embodiment for a month at a time for four months. |
| 23 Aug 1939 | Full embodiment of AAF personnel |
| 25 Aug 1939 | All Flights departed RAF Kidbrooke for their War Sites |
| 26 Aug 1939 | Sqn HQ, moved to its War Location, Dulwich College |
| 29 Nov 1939 | Sqn HQ moved to Forest Hill House, Manor Mount Road |
| 29 Nov 1939 | 'C' Flight HQ moved to 38 The Avenue, Gypsy Hill |
Source - No 903 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2223)
Personnel Movements: Jan - Dec 1940
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Fg Off | F J Cleare | 30 Jan 1940 | Technical Officer, attached to No 928 Sqn |
| Plt Off | A Williams | 2 Feb 1940 | Arrived on posting for Equipment duties. |
| Fg Off | W J Amlot | 5 Feb 1940 | Equipment Officer, posted to No 19 Balloon Centre as supernumerary |
| Flt Lt | R R Goding | 12 Feb 1940 | Proceeded to No 1 Balloon Centre for course (1 week) |
| Flt Lt | L H Farbrother | 12 Feb 1940 | Proceeded to No 1 Balloon Centre for course (1 week) |
| Flt Lt | A G Birch | 12 Feb 1940 | Proceeded to No 1 Balloon Centre for course (1 week) |
| Plt Off | R S L Kail | 12 Feb 1940 | Proceeded to No 1 Balloon Centre for course (1 week) |
| Plt Off | V C Humfrey | 12 Feb 1940 | Proceeded to No 1 Balloon Centre for course (1 week) |
| Plt Off | L T Rye | 12 Feb 1940 | Proceeded to No 1 Balloon Centre for course (1 week) |
| Plt Off | E F Taylor | 12 Feb 1940 | Proceeded to No 1 Balloon Centre for course (1 week) |
| Fg Off | W E Parker | 24 Feb 1940 | Medical Officer, attached to No 4 Balloon Centre |
| Plt Off | L T Rye | 25 Feb 1940 | Attached to Rollestone Camp for No 13 Anti-Gas Course |
| Fg Off | W E Parker | 27 Feb 1940 | Medical Officer, ceased to be attached to No 4 Balloon Centre |
| Flt Lt | H V Smith | 28 Feb 1940 | Attached to No 4 Balloon Centre for Administrative duties |
| ACW1 | Clayton | 3 Mar 1940 | Driver Petrol, posted to RAF Kenley |
| Plt Off | G P Pemberton | 13 Mar 1940 | Reported for duty |
| Flt Lt | A G Birch | 15 Apr 1940 | Attached to HQ No 30 Group for Operations duties |
| Flt Lt | A G Birch | 27 Apr 1940 | Ceased to be attached to HQ No 30 Group for Operations duties |
| May and June 1940 do not give details of personnel movements | |||
| Fg Off | R M Corker | 5 Jul 1940 | Arrived on posting for Medical duties |
| Plt Off | A D Bide | 7 Jul 1940 | Arrived on posting on appointment to a commission, wef 3 Jul 1940 |
| Fg Off | J N Macdonald | 8 Jul 1940 | Medical Officer, posted to HQ, No 30 Group |
| Plt Off | D K Etherington | 19 Jul 1940 | Posted to No 957 Sqn |
| Fg Off | A Williams | 26 Jul 1940 | Equipment Officer, attached to No 1 Balloon Centre |
| Fg Off | E Howitt | 26 Jul 1940 | Attached for duty as Equipment Officer |
| Plt Off | D R Weldon | 27 Jul 1940 | Arrived on posting on appointment to a commission, wef 23 Jul 1940 |
| Fg Off | L F Thurlow | 29 Jul 1940 | Attached to HQ Balloon Command of Organisation duties |
| Fg Off | W T Gwyn-Jones | 31 Jul 1940 | Attached to No 961 Sqn, Dover |
| Fg Off | R M Corker | 2 Aug 1940 | Medical Officer, attached to No 3 Balloon Centre (3 days) |
| Fg Off | W T Gwyn-Jones | 30 Aug 1940 | Ceased to be attached to No 961 Sqn, Dover |
| Flt Lt | A G Birch | 20 Sep 1940 | Attached to HQ No 30 Group for Operations duties |
| Plt Off | L T Rye | 27 Sep 1940 | Ceased to be attached to No 2 Balloon Centre |
| Plt Off | Roost | 1 Oct 1940 | Attached from No 902 Sqn |
| Fg Off | L F Thurlow | 6 Oct 1940 | Ceased to be attached to No 3 Balloon Centre |
| Sqn Ldr | J C W MacBryan | 17 Oct 1940 | Attached to No 1 BTU, pending posting |
| Fg Off | Fitzgerald | 21 Oct 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 961 Sqn |
| Plt Off | G A Allen | 24 Oct 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 906 Sqn |
| AC1 | A E Cownden | 28 Oct 1940 | Admitted to Wilson Hospital, Mitcham after being injured in a air raid |
| AC | Hayes | 28 Oct 1940 | Admitted to Wilson Hospital, Mitcham after being injured in a air raid |
| AC | Gleig | 28 Oct 1940 | Admitted to Wilson Hospital, Mitcham after being injured in a air raid |
| AC1 | A E Cownden | 29 Oct 1940 | Died from injuries |
| Wg Cdr | Gritan | 4 Dec 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 904 Sqn |
| AC1 | J H Hill | 9 Dec 1940 | Died from injuries |
| AC2 | G L Hill | 9 Dec 1940 | Died from injuries |
| Plt Off | G A Allen | xx Dec 1940 | Attached to Rollestone Camp for Anti-Gas Course |
| Plt Off | D R Weldon | 16 Dec 1940 | Attached to No 2 Balloon Centre (plus 1 x Sgt and 4 x LACs) |
| Cpl | E F Beck | 23 Dec 1940 | Appointed to a commission as a Plt Off on Probation |
| Plt Off | E F Beck | 26 Dec 1940 | Posted to No 967 Sqn |
Source - No 903 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2223)
Organisational Movements: Jan - Dec 1940
| Date | Notes |
| 23 Mar 1940 | Squadron transferred from No 1 Balloon C entre to No 2 Balloon Centre, Hook, Surbiton |
| xx Mar 1940 | The Squadron Badge was authorised by HM King George VI* |
 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 |
|
| 8 Jun 1940 | Mobile crew, 'A' Flight moved off to join No 912 Sqn, RAF Cardington |
| 6 Sep 1940 | Rover crew, 'D' Flight moved to join No 954 Sqn |
| 23 Nov 1940 | Sqn HQ moved from Forest Hill House, Manor Mount Road to Champion Hill |
Source - No 903 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2223), except *
[Jan 1939 | Apr 1939 | May 1939]
This page was last updated on 17/10/23©
