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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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No 909 (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 | D A J Buxton | 15 May 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF in the rank of Sqn Ldr |
| Sqn Ldr | D A J Buxton | 16 May 1938 | Assumed command of No 909 Sqn |
| Flt Lt | E E Ellison | 16 May 1938 | Appointed for duty as Recruiting Officer for No 4 Balloon Centre |
| Sgt | C H Dore | 16 May 1938 | Arrived on posting for Recruiting duties for No 4 Balloon Centre |
| Cpl | S B Camm | 16 May 1938 | Arrived on posting for Recruiting duties |
| AC2 | A R Weston | 16 May 1938 | Arrived on posting for Recruiting duties for No 4 Balloon Centre |
| Dr | G A H Norman | 20 May 1938 | Services enlisted for conducting medical examinations of recruits for No 4 Balloon Centre |
| Sqn Ldr (Hon A/Cdre) | Bertie C H Drew | 25 Jul 1938 | RAFO, appointed for duty as Commanding Officer, No 4 Balloon Centre |
| Flt Lt | J R Stewart | 25 Jul 1938 | AAF & RAFO, , appointed for duty as Adjutant, No 4 Balloon Centre, wef 21 Jul 1938 |
| Mr | C T Ashton | 24 Aug 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF in the rank of APO, wef 5 Jul 1938 |
| Mr | G D'O Sheppard | 24 Aug 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF in the rank of APO, wef 5 Jul 1938 |
| Mr | A H E Dew | 24 Aug 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF in the rank of APO, wef 5 Jul 1938 |
| Mr | T A Huson | 24 Aug 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF in the rank of APO, wef 12 Jul 1938 |
| Mr | J T Wordsworth | 11 Oct 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF in the rank of APO, wef 5 Jul 1938* |
| Mr | C E Benson | 12 Dec 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF in the rank of Flt Lt, wef 5 Sep 1938 |
| Mr | P E Paget | 12 Dec 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF in the rank of APO, wef 18 Nov 1939 |
| Hon | H J A Sely | 12 Dec 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF in the rank of APO, wef 19 Nov 1938 |
| Mr | C T Ashton | 20 Dec 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF in the rank of Fg Off, wef 22 Oct 1938* |
| Mr | G D'O Sheppard | 20 Dec 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF in the rank of Fg Off, wef 22 Oct 1938* |
| Mr | A H E Dew | 20 Dec 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF in the rank of Fg Off, wef 22 Oct 1938* |
| Mr | T A Huson | 20 Dec 1938 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF in the rank of Fg Off, wef 22 Oct 1938* |
Source - No 909 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2238 and London Gazette*)
Organisational Movements: May - Dec 1938
| Date | Notes |
| 16 May 1938 |
Formed at Territorial Drill Hall, Loughton, Buckhurst Hill as No 909 (Balloon) (County of Essex) Squadron as part of the Auxiliary Air Force to commence recruiting for No 4 Balloon Centre, Chigwell, Essex. |
| 16 May 1938 | Recruiting established in the grounds of the Territorial Drill Hall |
| 7 Sep 1938 | Squadron took over its own accommodation at No 4 Balloon Centre |
| 27 Sep 1938 | Embodiment notices despatched to Auxiliary personnel |
| 28 Sep 1938 | 'A' and 'B' Flights deployed to War Sites |
| 29 Sep 1938 | 'C' Flight deployed to War Sites |
| 29 Sep 1938 | Sqn HQ moved to West Ham Stadium |
| 30 Sep 1938 | 'D' and 'E' Flights deployed to War Sites |
| 3 Oct 1938 | 'A' and 'B' Flights returned to No 4 Balloon Centre |
| 4 Oct 1938 | Auxiliary personnel sent home, except for volunteers who remained at their stations |
| 7 Oct 1938 | Auxiliary personnel recalled for an exercise |
| 8 Oct 1938 | Auxiliary personnel disembodied |
Source - No 909 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2238)
| Balloon Centre | Command/Group |
| No 4 Balloon Centre, Chigwell, Essex | Balloon Command/No 30 (Balloon) Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | D A J Buxton | 16 May 1938 | Officer Commanding, |
| Flt Lt | E E Ellison | 16 May 1938 | |
| APO | C T Ashton | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| APO | G D'O Sheppard | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| APO | A H E Dew | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| APO | T A Huson | 12 Jul 1938 | |
| APO | J T Wordsworth | 5 Jul 1938 |
Source - January 1939 Air Force List
Personnel Movements: Jan - May 1939
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | A D Drysdale | 1 Apr 1939 | RAFO, appointed for duty as Adjutant |
Source - No 909 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2238)
| Balloon Centre | Command/Group |
| No 4 Balloon Centre, Chigwell, Essex | Balloon Command/No 30 (Balloon) Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | D A J Buxton | 16 May 1938 | Officer Commanding, |
| Flt Lt | E E Ellison | 16 May 1938 | |
| Fg Off | C T Ashton | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | G D'O Sheppard | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | A H E Dew | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | T A Huson | 12 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | J T Wordsworth | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | Hon H J A Sely | 19 Nov 1938 | |
| Plt Off | H W Kerr | 15 Feb 1939 | |
| APO | P E Paget | 18 Nov 1939 |
Source - April 1939 Confidential Air Force List
| Balloon Centre | Command/Group |
| No 4 Balloon Centre, Chigwell, Essex | Balloon Command/No 30 (Balloon) Group |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | D A J Buxton | 16 May 1938 | Officer Commanding, |
| Flt Lt | E E Ellison | 16 May 1938 | |
| Flt Lt | Sir T F Buxton | 15 Feb 1939 | Bart |
| Flt Lt | A D Drysdale | RAFO | |
| Fg Off | C T Ashton | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | G D'O Sheppard | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | A H E Dew | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | T A Huson | 12 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | J T Wordsworth | 5 Jul 1938 | |
| Fg Off | Hon H J A Sely | 19 Nov 1938 | |
| Fg Off | E S Horning | 1 Mar 1939 | |
| Fg Off | H V Smith | RAFO | |
| Plt Off | H W Kerr | 15 Feb 1939 | |
| APO | P E Paget | 18 Nov 1939 |
Source - May 1939 Confidential Air Force List
Personnel Movements: May - Dec 1939
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | C E Benson | 13 Feb 1939 | Transferred to No 930 Sqn and promoted to Sqn Ldr to command |
| Fg Off | E S Horning | 1 Mar 1939 | Arrived on posting |
| Mr | H W Kerr | 7 Mar 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF in the rank of Plt Off, wef 15 Feb 1939 |
| Sir | T F Buxton | 24 Mar 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF in the rank of Flt Lt wef 15 Feb 1939* |
| Mr | G P G De Worms | 30 Jun 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF in the rank of Plt Off, wef 26 May 1939* for Accountant duties |
| Mr | G A Mitchell | 4 Jul 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF in the rank of Plt Off, wef 26 May 1939* |
| Sqn Ldr | D A J Buxton | 11 Jul 1939 | Promoted to Wg Cdr, wef 6 Jun 1939* |
| Mr | K E Parkes | 11 Jul 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF in the rank of Fg Off, wef 5 May 1939* |
| Mr | H Macfarlane | 11 Jul 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF in the rank of Fg Off, wef 26 May 1939* |
| Fg Off | A H E Dew | 28 Jul 1939 | Promoted to Flt Lt, wef 22 May 1939* |
| APO | P E Paget | 28 Jul 1939 | Promoted to Fg Off, wef 5 May 1939* |
| Fg Off | A H E Dew | 1 Aug 1939 | Promoted to Flt Lt, wef 22 May 1939* |
| Fg Off | J T Wordsworth | 1 Aug 1939 | Promoted to Flt Lt, wef 22 May 1939* |
| Mr | H D Thomson | 15 Aug 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF in the rank of Plt Off, wef 1 Aug 1939* |
| Flt Lt | A H E Dew | 15 Aug 1939 | Promoted to Sqn Ldr, wef 6 Jun 1939* |
| Fg Off | T A Huson | 22 Aug 1939 | Promoted to Flt Lt, wef 17 Jul.1939* |
| Mr | N E Poole | 8 Sep 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF in the rank of Plt Off, wef 25 Aug 1939* |
| Hon | J R Bethell | 12 Sep 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF in the rank of Plt Off, wef 8 Aug 1939* |
| Mr | A C McCarthy | 22 Sep 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF in the rank of Plt Off, wef 10 Aug 1939* |
| Dr | H J Harcourt | 10 Oct 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF in the rank of Fg Off, wef 29 Aug 1939* for medical duties |
| Act Cpl | C H Smith | 10 Oct 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the RAFVR, A & SD Branch in the rank of Plt Off, wef 5 Oct 1939* |
| AC1 | P L Wheeley | 10 Oct 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the RAFVR, A & SD Branch in the rank of Plt Off, wef 5 Oct 1939* |
| Fg Off | E S Horning | 13 Oct 1939 | Proceeded to No 4 Balloon Centre with party of airmen |
| Plt Off | N E Poole | 16 Oct 1939 | Proceeded to No 949 Sqn with party of airmen |
| Flt Lt | G D'O Sheppard | 20 Oct 1939 | Proceeded to No 4 Balloon Centre with party of airmen |
| Fg Off | C T Ashton | 27 Oct 1939 | Promoted to Flt Lt, wef 18 Sep 1939* |
| Fg Off | H J A Sely | 27 Oct 1939 | Promoted to Flt Lt, wef 18 Sep 1939* |
| Plt Off | H W Kerr | 21 Nov 1939 | Promoted to Fg Off, wef 20 Oct 1939* |
| Plt Off | ? | 21 Nov 1939 | Arrived on posting from HQ, Balloon Command |
| Fg Off | K E Parkes | 29 Nov 1939 | Proceeded to No 910 Sqn with party of airmen and winches/balloons |
| Plt Off | P R Brodewick | 31 Nov 1939 | Arrived on posting from Air Ministry |
| Plt Off | A C McCarthy | 1 Dec 1939 | Relinquished his commission in the AAF on account of medical unfitness* |
Source - No 909 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2238 and London Gazette*)
Organisational Movements: May - Dec 1939
| Date | Notes |
| 12 Jun 1939 | 25% of the squadron was placed on embodiment for a month at a time for four months. |
| 24 Aug 1939 | Squadron personnel (all officers and 90% airmen) reported for duty on call-up |
| 25 Aug 1939 | Squadron proceeded to its War Sites |
| 13 Oct 1939 | Party of 24 NCOs and Airmen departed for No 4 Balloon Centre |
| 16 Oct 1939 | Party of 12 NCOs and Airmen departed for No 949 Sqn |
| 20 Oct 1939 | Party of 24 NCOs and Airmen departed for No 4 Balloon Centre |
Source - No 909 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2238)
Personnel Movements: Jan - Dec 1940
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Plt Off | P S Frost | 22 Feb 1940 | Arrived on posting and allocated to 'D' Flight |
| Plt Off | Broadhead | 22 Feb 1940 | Arrived on posting and allocated to 'C' Flight |
| Flt Lt | A D Drysdale | 20 May 1940 | Adjutant, attached to No 1 SFTS, RAF Netheravon |
| Flt Lt | G W E Baker | 20 May 1940 | Attached from No 972 Sqn for duty as Adjutant |
| Plt Off | G T Benton | 9 Jul 1940 | Arrived on posting and allocated to 'D' Flight |
| Plt Off | G B Earle | 9 Jul 1940 | Arrived on posting and allocated to 'C' Flight |
| Plt Off | L G C Sims | 9 Jul 1940 | Arrived on posting and allocated to 'B' Flight |
| Flt Lt | G W E Baker | 22 Jul 1940 | Adjutant, granted sick leave until 2 Aug 1940 |
| Plt Off | P S Frost | 22 Jul 1940 | Assumed duties of Adjutant |
| Plt Off | Norton | 28 Jul 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 904 Sqn |
| Plt Off | H D Thomson | 29 Jul 1940 | Ceased to be attached to the Air Ministry |
| Plt Off | Raphael | 2 Aug 1940 | Assume duties of MT Officer |
| Wg Cdr | D A J Buxton | 12 Aug 1940 | Assumed temporary command of No 4 Balloon Centre |
| Plt Off | G Mitchell | 2 Sep 1940 | Arrived on posting and allocated to 'A' Flight |
| Fg Off | Wright | 3 Sep 1940 | Arrived on posting for duty as Medical Officer |
| Fg Off | H J Harcourt | 3 Sep 1940 | Medical Officer, posted to No 931 Sqn |
| AC1 | E J W Bond | 20 Sep 1940 | Killed on active service |
| AC1 | A Myers | 20 Sep 1940 | Killed on active service |
| AC1 | W E Webb | 20 Sep 1940 | Killed on active service |
| Wg Cdr | D A J Buxton | 3 Oct 1940 | Proceeded on sick leave |
| Sqn Ldr | A H E Dew | 3 Oct 1939 | Assumed temporary command of No 909 Sqn |
| WO | L A Ford | 11 Nov 1940 | Killed on active service |
Source - No 909 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2238)
Organisational Movements: Jan - Dec 1940
| Date | Notes |
| 19 May 1940 | Sqn HQ moved from St Peters Vicarage to 'The Cedars, Portway, West Ham, E15 |
| 19 May 1940 | 'E' Flight HQ moved from Gainsborough Road School to 'The Cedars, Portway, West Ham, E15 |
| 25 Jun 1940 | Squadron stores held at No 4 Balloon Centre transferred to Sqn HQ |
| 29 Jun 1940 | 2 x mobile crews attached to No 956 Sqn, Langley |
| 2 Aug 1940 | Squadron Balloon Maintenance Party disbanded, for revision training of personnel |
| 13 Aug 1940 | Mobile crew formed and standing by at Site C27 |
| 14 Aug 1940 | Mobile crew formed for Rover Sqn and standing by at Sqn HQ |
| 2 Aug 1940 | Squadron HQ Balloon Maintenance Party recommenced repairing balloons |
| 16 Aug 1940 | 2 x mobile crews attached to No 959 Sqn, Falmouth |
| 17 Aug 1940 | 1 x mobile crew attached to No 961 Sqn, Dover |
| 15 Nov 1940 | 'B' Flight HQ evacuated to SHQ |
Source - No 909 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2238)
[Jan 1939| Apr 1939 | May 1939]
This page was last updated on 17/10/23©
