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No 904 (County of Surrey) (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 E J Davis 16 May 1938 Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Sqn Ldr and assumed command of No 904 Sqn
No other personnel movements are shown in the ORB

Source - No 904 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2225)

Organisational Movements: May - Dec 1938

Date Notes
16 May 1938

Formed as No 904 (Balloon) (County of Surrey) Squadron as part of the Auxiliary Air Force. 

 4 Aug 1938

No 2 Balloon Centre, Hook, Surbiton formed and assumed control*

27 Sep 1938 Squadron was embodied
 8 Oct 1938 Squadron was disembodied

Source - No 904 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2225), except *

January 1939

Balloon Centre Command/Group
No 2 Balloon Centre, Hook, Surbiton Balloon Command/No 30 (Balloon) Group

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Sqn Ldr E J Davis 16 May 1938 Officer Commanding,
Flt Lt E D Salthouse  5 Jul 1938  
Flt Lt W E B Barclay  5 Jul 1938 MC
Flt Lt G D H Ross   Adjutant, RAFO
Fg Off R Hews  5 Jul 1938  
Fg Off A Leon  5 Jul 1938  
Fg Off F Marshall 20 Sep 1938 TD
Fg Off H D Corlett  3 Nov 1938 TD
Fg Off J Toulmin  3 Nov 1938  
Fg Off E St H Davies  3 Nov 1938  
Fg Off A J Beard  3 Nov 1938 MC

Source - January 1939 Air Force List

Personnel Movements: Jan - May 1939

Rank Name Date Notes
  Sir William Brass  7 Mar 1939 Appointed Honorary Air Commodore, MP
No other personnel movements are shown in the ORB

Source - No 904 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2225)

April 1939

Balloon Centre Command/Group
No 2 Balloon Centre, Hook, Surbiton Balloon Command/No 30 (Balloon) Group

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Hon A/Cdre Sir William Brass  7 Mar 1939 Honorary Air Commodore, MP
Sqn Ldr E J Davis 16 May 1938 Officer Commanding,
Flt Lt E D Salthouse  5 Jul 1938  
Flt Lt W E B Barclay  5 Jul 1938 MC
Flt Lt G D H Ross   Adjutant, RAFO
Flt Lt F Marshall 20 Sep 1938 TD
Fg Off A Leon  5 Jul 1938  
Fg Off H D Corlett  3 Nov 1938 TD
Fg Off J Toulmin  3 Nov 1938  
Fg Off E St H Davies  3 Nov 1938  
Fg Off A J Beard  3 Nov 1938 MC
Fg Off C T Fitzgerald 19 Jan 1939  
2 Lt S J Saunders   Assistant Adjutant, late RAF

Source - April 1939 Confidential Air Force List

May 1939

Balloon Centre Command/Group
No 2 Balloon Centre, Hook, Surbiton Balloon Command/No 30 (Balloon) Group

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Hon A/Cdre Sir William Brass  7 Mar 1939 Honorary Air Commodore, MP
Sqn Ldr E J Davis 16 May 1938 Officer Commanding,
Flt Lt E D Salthouse  5 Jul 1938  
Flt Lt W E B Barclay  5 Jul 1938 MC
Flt Lt G D H Ross   Adjutant, RAFO
Flt Lt F Marshall 20 Sep 1938 TD
Fg Off A Leon  5 Jul 1938  
Fg Off H D Corlett  3 Nov 1938 TD
Fg Off J Toulmin  3 Nov 1938  
Fg Off E St H Davies  3 Nov 1938  
Fg Off A J Beard  3 Nov 1938 MC
Fg Off C T Fitzgerald 19 Jan 1939  
2 Lt S J Saunders   Assistant Adjutant, late RAF

Source - May 1939 Confidential Air Force List

Personnel Movements: Jun - Dec 1939

Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt E D Salthouse 16 Oct 1939 Posted to No 949 Sqn, Chigwell on formation (plus a detachment of airmen)
Fg Off H D Corlett 19 Oct 1939 Posted to No 948 Sqn, Chigwell on formation (plus a detachment of airmen)
Wg Cdr E J Davis  1 Nov 1939 Relinquished command of No 904 Sqn on posting to No 2 Balloon Centre to command
Sqn Ldr W E B Barclay  1 Nov 1939 Administrative Officer, assumed command of No 904 Sqn
Sqn Ldr H E Hills  6 Nov 1939 Arrived on posting from No 907 Sqn and assumed command of No 904 Sqn
Plt Off C A Chope  8 Nov 1939 Promoted to Act Fg
Plt Off J B Copley  8 Nov 1939 Promoted to Act Fg
Plt Off H R G Colclough 13 Nov 1939 Posted to No 949 Sqn Crewe
Fg Off A J Barnes 13 Nov 1939 Arrived on posting from No 949 Sqn Crewe and assumed command of 'E' Flight
Sqn Ldr R G Frith 18 Nov 1939 Arrived on posting from No 903 Sqn to command No 904 Sqn
Sqn Ldr H E Hills 20 Nov 1939 Relinquished command of No 904 Sqn on posting to No 906 Sqn to command
Sqn Ldr R G Frith 20 Nov 1939 Promoted to Act Wg Cdr and assumed command No 904 Sqn
Fg Off A J Barnes  1 Dec 1939 Attached to No 952 Sqn as an Act Flt Lt
Act Flt Lt A J Barnes  5 Dec 1939 Ceased to be attached to No 952 Sqn
Fg Off J Toulmin  8 Dec 1939 Attached to No 928 Sqn, Felixstowe (plus a detachment of airmen)
Fg Off J Toulmin 10 Dec 1939 Promoted to Act Flt Lt, wef 1 Dec 1939
Act Flt Lt J Toulmin 14 Dec 1939 Ceased to be attached to No 928 Sqn, Felixstowe
Flt Lt S J Saunders 27 Dec 1939 Assistant Adjutant, attached to HQ No 30 Group
Flt Lt A J Barnes 28 Dec 1939 Attached to HQ No 30 Group
Flt Lt A J Barnes 30 Dec 1939 Posted to No 951 Sqn, Bristol as Flt Lt (Balloons)
Flt Lt J A Banwell 30 Dec 1939 Posted to No 951 Sqn, Bristol as Flt Lt (Administrative)

Source - No 904 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2225)

Organisational Movements: Jun - 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 Embodiment notices despatched to all AAF personnel
25 Aug 1939 All embodied personnel were deployed to their war sites, Sqn War HQ moving to Clapham College
31 Oct 1939 'A' Flight HQ moved to Bolingbroke Grove, Wandsworth Common
22 Nov 1939 1 x Balloon crew detached to RAF Cardington (14 days)
29 Nov 1939 1 x Balloon crew detached to No 910 Sqn, Dagenham for temporary duty

Source - No 904 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2225)

Personnel Movements: Jan - Dec 1940

Rank Name Date Notes
Flt Lt A G Forbes  9 Jan 1940 Arrived on attachment from No 905 Sqn for duty as Adjutant
Flt Lt H T H Hill 10 Jan 1940 Adjutant, attached to No 2 Balloon Centre
Flt Lt A J Beard 15 Jan 1940 Posted to the Air Ministry
Flt Lt H T H Hill   4 Feb 1940 Posted to No 956 Sqn for Administrative duties
Flt Lt S J Saunders  9 Feb 1940 Assistant Adjutant, posted to No 931 Sqn for Administrative duties
Flt Lt C T Fitzgerald 12 Feb 1940 Posted to No 955 Sqn to command
Flt Lt A G Forbes 19 Feb 1940 Posted from No 905 Sqn for duty as Adjutant
Plt Off I H Borland 19 Feb 1940 Accountant Officer, attached to School of Clerk Accounting for course
Plt Off R J Carter 21 Feb 1940 Arrived on posting
Plt Off K F P Toop 21 Feb 1940 Arrived on posting
Plt Off C A Chope 21Apr 1940 Died in hospital
Flt Lt C T Fitzgerald  1 May 1940 Arrived on posting from No 955 Sqn
Plt Off A M Berners-Price  6 May 1940 Posted to No 928 Sqn
Flt Lt C T Fitzgerald  6 May 1940 Posted to 'A' Mobile Sqn
Plt Off V C Humfrey  6 May 1940 Arrived on posting from No 903 Sqn
Cpl L F Hayes  7 May 1940 Died from injuries
Plt Off J A Crossley 11 May 1940 Arrived on posting
Plt Off I S Macdonald 11 May 1940 Arrived on posting
Plt Off E W Joseph 12 May 1940 Arrived on posting
Plt Off K C Roberts 15 May 1940 Posted to No 7 MU
Plt Off J H Tylee 17 May 1940 Arrived on posting
Fg Off T B Bright 17 May 1940 Promoted to Act Flt Lt
Plt Off R J Carter 16 Jul 1940 Died in hospital
Plt Off J A Crossley 18 Jul 1940 Attached to No 992 Sqn, Dover
Plt Off V C Humfrey 18 Jul 1940 Attached to No 992 Sqn, Dover
Plt Off J A Crossley 27 Jul 1940 Ceased to be attached to No 992 Sqn, Dover
Plt Off V C Humfrey 27 Jul 1940 Ceased to be attached to No 992 Sqn, Dover
Plt Off J A Crossley 30 Jul 1940 Attached to No 1 Balloon Centre
Plt Off V C Humfrey 30 Jul 1940 Attached to No 1 Balloon Centre
Plt Off Kellett 17 Aug 1940 Attached to No 4 Balloon Centre
Plt Off Rainforth 17 Aug 1940 Attached to No 961 Sqn, Dover
Plt Off J A Crossley 17 Aug 1940 Ceased to be attached to No 992 Sqn, Dover
Plt Off V C Humfrey 17 Aug 1940 Ceased to be attached to No 992 Sqn, Dover
Flt Lt J B Copley  6 Sep 1940 Attached to No 992 Sqn, Weybridge
Plt Off E W Joseph  6 Sep 1940 Attached to No 992 Sqn, Weybridge
Plt Off T S Dorman 23 Sep 1940 Attached to No 954 Sqn, Weybridge
Flt Lt J B Copley 25 Sep 1940 Ceased to be attached to No 992 Sqn, Weybridge
Plt Off E W Joseph 25 Sep 1940 Ceased to be attached to No 992 Sqn, Weybridge
LAC J W Ravenhill 27 Sep 1940 Killed in an air raid
Plt Off S Holden  4 Nov 1940 Arrived on posting
Plt Off D G Rogers 25 Nov 1940 Attached to HQ, N0 30 Group an Officers' Course (1 week)
Plt Off E W Joseph 30 Nov 1940 Ceased to be attached to HQ, No 30 Group
Plt Off I S Macdonald  1 Dec 1940 Attached to RAF Cardington for experimental balloon training
Plt Off E W Joseph  2 Dec 1940 Attached to HQ, No 30 Group
Plt Off A B Couch  2 Dec 1940 Arrived on posting for duty as Equipment Officer
Sqn Ldr A J Beard  2 Dec 1940 Attached from HQ, No 30 Group for Barrage Control Duties
Plt Off R Kaile  2 Dec 1940 Attached from No 903 Sqn for Barrage Control Duties
Plt Off H E Sussman  2 Dec 1940 Attached from No 905 Sqn for Barrage Control Duties
Plt Off J A Crossley  2 Dec 1940 Assumed Barrage Control Duties
Sqn Ldr A J Beard  6 Dec 1940 Ceased to be attached from HQ, No 30 Group for Barrage Control Duties
Plt Off R Kaile  6 Dec 1940 Ceased to be attached from No 903 Sqn for Barrage Control Duties
Plt Off H E Sussman  6 Dec 1940 Ceased to be attached from No 905 Sqn for Barrage Control Duties
Plt Off S Holden  9 Dec 1940 Attached to HQ, N0 30 Group an Officers' Course (1 week)
Plt Off P C Stone 16 Dec 1940 Attached to No 2 Balloon Centre (plus 1 x Sgt and 4 x LACs)
Plt Off S T H Moore 30 Dec 1940 Arrived on posting

Source - No 904 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2225)

Organisational Movements: Jan - Dec 1940

Date Notes
xx xxx 1940 'A' Flight HQ moved from 7 Bolingbroke Grove, Wandsworth Common to 103 Nightingale Lane, SW13
18 Jul 1940 'A' Flight detached to form a flight of No 992 Sqn, Dover
27 Jul 1940 'A' Flight returned from detachment to No 992 Sqn, Dover
30 Jul 1940 'A' Flight attached to No 1 Balloon Centre as part of the Rover Sqn
17 Aug 1940 'A' Flight returned from detachment to No 992 Sqn, Dover
 6 Sep 1940 Detachment proceeded to Weybridge to join No 992 Sqn
17 Oct 1940 Squadron assumed operations control duties over Nos 903, 904 and 905 Sqns

Source - No 904 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2225)

[Jan 1939| Apr 1939 | May 1939]

This page was last updated on 17/10/23©

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