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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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No 924 (East Lancashire) (Balloon) Sqn Personnel and locations
[May 1939]
Auxiliary Air Force personnel shown in italics.
Personnel Movements: Feb - Apr 1939
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | J M Pye-Smith | 5 Feb 1939 | RAFO, reported for duty |
| Flt Lt | J M Pye-Smith | 6 Feb 1939 | Assumed duties of Adjutant |
| Cpl | Ryall | 9 Feb 1939 | Arrived on posting for Medical duties |
| LAC | Webster | 9 Feb 1939 | Clerk, arrived on posting |
| AC1 | Peacock | 9 Feb 1939 | Arrived on posting for Equipment duties |
| AC2 | Rowe | 9 Feb 1939 | Arrived on posting for Equipment duties |
| Capt | A P Besley | 13 Feb 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Sqn Ldr, and assumed command of No 924 Sqn, gazetted 14 Mar 1939* |
| Sgt | Sabin | 15 Feb 1939 | Arrived on posting |
| Mr | S J Palmer | 16 Feb 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as an APO, gazetted 24 Mar 1939* |
| Mr | W E Ballard | 16 Feb 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as an APO, gazetted 24 Mar 1939* |
| Mr | R C Hawkins | 16 Feb 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as an APO, gazetted 24 Mar 1939* |
| Mr | W Gresty | 16 Feb 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as an APO, gazetted 14 Apr 1939* |
| Mr | F B Holt | 16 Feb 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as an APO, gazetted 14 Apr 1939* |
| Capt | H G Dehn | 16 Feb 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as an APO, gazetted 2 May 1939* |
| Capt | C Arnold | 16 Feb 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as an APO, gazetted 9 Jun 1939* |
| LAC | Bellingham | 22 Feb 1939 | Clerk/Accounts, arrived on posting |
| Sqn Ldr | A P Besley | 26 Feb 1939 | Attached to RAF Cardington for course |
| Sgt | Sabin | 3 Mar 1939 | Attached to RAF Uxbridge for Disciplinary Course |
| Sqn Ldr | A P Besley | 6 Mar 1939 | Ceased to be attached to RAF Cardington for course (1 week) |
| Cpl | Allmark | 6 Mar 1939 | Arrived on posting for Instructional duties |
| LAC | Heron | 6 Mar 1939 | Arrived on posting for Instructional duties |
| LAC | Atkinson | 6 Mar 1939 | Arrived on posting for Instructional duties |
| APO | S J Palmer | 17 Apr 1939 | Attached to RAF Cardington for course |
| APO | H G Dehn | 17 Apr 1939 | Attached to RAF Cardington for course |
| APO | W Gresty | 17 Apr 1939 | Attached to RAF Cardington for course |
| APO | C Arnold | 17 Apr 1939 | Attached to RAF Cardington for course |
| APO | W E Ballard | 17 Apr 1939 | Attached to RAF Cardington for course |
| APO | R C Hawkins | 17 Apr 1939 | Attached to RAF Cardington for course |
| APO | F B Holt | 17 Apr 1939 | Attached to RAF Cardington for course |
| Sqn Ldr | A P Besley | 18 Apr 1939 | Posted to No 10 Balloon Centre, gazetted 9 Jun 1939* (retained command of No 924 Sqn) |
Source - No 924 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2256) & * London Gazette
Organisational Movements: Feb - Apr 1939
| Date | Notes |
| 13 Feb 1939 |
Formed at The Old Grammar School, Long Millgate, Manchester as part of the Auxiliary Air Force. |
| 14 Feb 1939 | Town Centre officially opened at The Old Grammar School, Long Millgate, Manchester |
| 20 Feb 1939 | Recruiting commenced |
| 6 Mar 1939 | 'A' Flight commenced training |
| 7 Mar 1939 | 'B' Flight commenced training |
| 8 Mar 1939 | 'C' Flight commenced training |
| 9 Mar 1939 | 'D' Flight commenced training |
Source - No 924 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2256)
| Balloon Centre | Command/Group |
| Not yet allocated | Balloon Command |
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | A P Besley | 13 Feb 1939 | Officer Commanding, |
| Flt Lt | J M Pye-Smith | RAFO | |
| APO | S J Palmer | 16 Feb 1939 | |
| APO | W E Ballard | 16 Feb 1939 | |
| APO | R C Hawkins | 16 Feb 1939 | |
| APO | W Gresty | 16 Feb 1939 | MC |
| APO | F B Holt | 16 Feb 1939 |
Source - May 1939 Confidential Air Force List
Personnel Movements: May - Sep 1939
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | A P Besley | 12 May 1939 | Relinquished command of No 924 Sqn |
| APO | F B Holt | 15 May 1939 | Transferred to No 926 Sqn, gazetted 8 Aug 1939* |
| APO | S J Palmer | 15 May 1939 | Promoted to Flt Lt, gazetted 8 Aug 1939* |
| APO | W E Ballard | 15 May 1939 | Confirmed in his appointment and regraded Plt Off, gazetted 28 Jul 1939* |
| APO | H G Dehn | 16 May 1939 | Promoted to Flt Lt, gazetted 8 Aug 1939* |
| Mr | A C Neill | 16 May 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as an APO, gazetted 30 Jun 1939* |
| Mr | R C Hawkins | 16 May 1939 | Confirmed in his appointment and regraded Plt Off, gazetted 1 Aug 1939* |
| Mr | J H D Marshall | 17 May 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as an APO, gazetted 16 Jun 1939* |
| APO | W Gresty | 19 May 1939 | Promoted to Flt Lt, gazetted 8 Aug 1939* |
| APO | C Arnold | 20 May 1939 | Promoted to Flt Lt, gazetted 1 Aug 1939* |
| Sqn Ldr (Des) | W T Barnes | 19 Jun 1939 | Attached to RAF Cardington for course |
| APO | J H D Marshall | 19 Jun 1939 | Attached to RAF Cardington for course |
| APO | Mason | 19 Jun 1939 | Attached to RAF Cardington for course |
| Mr | W T Barnes | 30 Jun 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Sqn Ldr, and assumed command of No 924 Sqn, wef 12 May 1939 |
| Mr | F L Bradshaw | 7 Jul 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Plt Off, gazetted 1 Aug 1939* |
| Mr | E W Collins | 8 Aug 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as an APO on probation, gazetted 12 Sep 1939* |
| Mr | H Hollins | 8 Aug 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as an APO on probation, gazetted 12 Sep 1939* |
| Flt Lt | J M Pye-Smith | 20 Aug 1939 | Adjutant, attached to No 907 Sqn |
| Flt Lt | J M Pye-Smith | 23 Aug 1939 | Adjutant, ceased to be attached to No 907 Sqn |
| Mr | P Nuttall | 24 Aug 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Plt Off for Accountant duties, gazetted 3 Oct 1939* |
| Mr | H Burgess | 25 Aug 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Plt Off for Equipment duties, gazetted 26 Sep 1939* |
| Mr | R T Read | 30 Aug 1939 | Appointed to a commission in the AAF as a Plt Off, gazetted 12 Sep 1939* |
Source - No 924 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2256) & * London Gazette
Nominal Roll of Officers: 3 Sep 1939
| Rank | Name | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | W T Barnes | Officer Commanding, No 924 Sqn |
| Flt Lt | J M Pye-Smith | RAFO, Adjutant |
| Plt Off | P Nuttall | Accountant Officer |
| Plt Off | H Burgess | Equipment Officer |
| Fg Off | C D Hoff | Medical Officer |
| Flt Lt | C Arnold | Officer Commanding 'A' Flight |
| Plt Off | W E Ballard | 'A' Flight |
| Plt Off | E W Collins | 'A' Flight |
| Flt Lt | H G Dehn | Officer Commanding 'B' Flight |
| Plt Off | A C Neill | 'B' Flight |
| Plt Off | H Hollins | 'B' Flight |
| Flt Lt | W Gresty | Officer Commanding 'C' Flight |
| Plt Off | R C Hawkins | 'C' Flight |
| Plt Off | R T Read | 'C' Flight |
| Flt Lt | S J Palmer | Officer Commanding 'D' Flight |
| Plt Off | J H D Marshall | 'D' Flight |
| Plt Off | F L Bradshaw | 'D' Flight |
Source - No 924 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2256)
Personnel Movements: Sep - Dec 1939
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | A N Greg | 6 Oct 1939 | Arrived on posting from No 6 Balloon Centre |
| Plt Off | J H D Marshall | 6 Oct 1939 | Appointed as Sqn Technical Officer |
Source - No 924 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2256)
Organisational Movements: May - Sep 1939
| Date | Notes |
| 23 Aug 1939 | Squadron was embodied and AAF personnel called-out |
| 25 Aug 1939 | First five sites occupied by 'D' Flight |
| 26 Aug 1939 | 'C' Flight HQ established at Buile Hill Park, Eccles Old Road, Pendleton |
| 29 Aug 1939 | Sqn HQ moved from Town Centre to No 10 Balloon Centre, Bowlec |
| 5 Sep 1939 | Sqn HQ moved to Salisbury Buildings, Trafford Road, Salford 6 |
Source - No 924 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2256)
Personnel Movements: Jan - Dec 1940
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Plt Off | G P Taylor | 16 Jan 1940 | Arrived on posting |
| Flt Lt | S J Palmer | 21 Jan 1940 | Proceed to HQ Balloon Command |
| Plt Off | P S P Morter | 9 Feb 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 920 Sqn for Barrage Control duties, wef 5 Feb 1940 |
| Plt Off | DeGruchy | 18 Feb 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 42 Group |
| Cpl | Wyatt | 6 Mar 1940 | Appointed to a commission as a Plt Off |
| Cpl | Williams | 6 Mar 1940 | Appointed to a commission as a Plt Off |
| Cpl | Metcalfe | 6 Mar 1940 | Appointed to a commission as a Plt Off |
| Plt Off | Wyatt | 8 Mar 1940 | Embarked at Le Havre for Home Establishment |
| Plt Off | Williams | 8 Mar 1940 | Embarked at Le Havre for Home Establishment |
| Plt Off | Metcalfe | 8 Mar 1940 | Embarked at Le Havre for Home Establishment |
| Plt Off | E W Carroll | 8 Mar 1940 | Arrived on posting from RAF Component for Meteorological duties |
| Plt Off | F J Phillips | 12 Mar 1940 | Arrived on posting from RAF Component for Meteorological duties |
| Plt Off | P S P Morter | 14 Mar 1940 | Admitted to No 16 Naval Hospital after being injured in fall from a hotel window in Boulogne |
| Plt Off | P P Butter | 29 Mar 1940 | Arrived on posting from No 933 Sqn |
| The entries for April 1940 are missing | |||
| Plt Off | F J Phillips | 21 May 1940 | Proceeded to HQ No 2 Base Area with mobile meteorological station |
| Flt Lt | S J Palmer | 25 Jun 1940 | Proceeded to No 12 Balloon Centre, Titchfield to select sites |
| Sqn Ldr | W T Barnes | 25 Aug 1940 | Relinquished command of No 924 Sqn on posting to No 906 Sqn to command |
| Sqn Ldr | H G Dehn | 25 Aug 1940 | Assumed command of No 924 Sqn |
Source - No 924 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2256) & * London Gazette
Organisational Movements: Jan - Dec 1940
| Date | Notes |
| 13 Jan 1940 | Squadron informed it would proceed overseas on a three flight basis |
| 23 Jan 1940 | Mobilisation instructions for overseas received from No 10 Balloon Centre |
| 23 Jan 1940 | 'C' Flight sites taken over by No 926 Sqn and personnel reported to No 10 Balloon Centre for medical examination and kitting out |
| 25 Jan 1940 | Sqn HQ ceased functioning as Operational HQ and taken over by 'A' Flight |
| 27 Jan 1940 | 'B' Flight sites taken over by 'A' Flight and No 925 Sqn and personnel reported to No 10 Balloon Centre for medical examination and kitting out |
| 1 Feb 1940 | HQ Staff moved to No 10 Balloon Centre for medical examination and kitting out |
| 1 Feb 1940 | 'A' Flight sites taken over by No 926 Sqn and personnel reported to No 10 Balloon Centre for medical examination and kitting out |
| 7 Feb 1940 | Advance road party departed No 10 Balloon Centre for RAF Hook |
| 13 Feb 1940 | MT convoy departed No 10 Balloon Centre for No 5 Balloon Centre |
| 14 Feb 1940 | MT convoy departed No 5 Balloon Centre for RAF South Cerney |
| 15 Feb 1940 | MT convoy departed RAF South Cerney for Romney |
| 15 Feb 1940 | Advance rail party departed No 10 Balloon Centre |
| 18 Feb 1940 | Main party departed No 10 Balloon Centre and entrained for Southampton |
| 19 Feb 1940 | Main party arrived in Southampton and embarked on 'HMT Ulster Prince' |
| 21 Feb 1940 | 'HMT Ulster Prince' arrived at Le Havre, disembarked and proceeded to billets |
| 25 Feb 1940 | Sqn HQ established at 17 Place D'Hotel du Ville |
| 21 May 1940 | 200 non-essential personnel evacuated from Le Havre |
| 23 May 1940 | 200 non-essential personnel returned to le Havre |
| 30 May 1940 | A camp was opened at Beuzeville |
| 31 May 1940 | Stores convoy departed Le Havre for Beuzeville |
| 1 Jun 1940 | Stores convoy arrived at Beuzeville |
| 5 Jun 1940 | All stores arrived at Beuzeville as well as 198 surplus airmen (rear party) |
| 9 Jun 1940 | Rear party departed Beuzeville for Nantes |
| 10 Jun 1940 | Adjutant proceeded to Quai Floride to take command a party of 3 x officers and 80- x Other Ranks |
| 11 Jun 1940 | Rear party arrived at Nantes |
| 11 Jun 1940 | Flights reported to Quai Floride on evacuating their positions |
| 11 Jun 1940 | Squadron embarked on 'SS Vienna' at Quai Floride |
| 11 Jun 1940 | 'SS Vienna' arrived at Cherbourg and disembarked |
| 14 Jun 1940 | Squadron embarked on 'SS St Seiriol' at Cherbourg, set sail, arrived in Southampton and entrained for RAF Cardington |
| 15 Jun 1940 | Squadron arrived at RAF Cardington |
| 16 Jun 1940 | Rear party departed Nantes for St Nazaire and embarked on 'Empress of York' |
| 16 Jun 1940 | Squadron entrained for Manchester |
| 18 Jun 1940 | rear party disembarked 'Empress of York' at Liverpool and entrained for RAF Wilmslow |
| 18 Jun 1940 | rear party departed Wilmslow for RAF Cardington |
| 20 Jun 1940 | Rear party arrived at RAF Cardington |
| 20 Jun 1940 | Rear party entrained at Bedford for Manchester |
| 28 Jun 1940 | Advance party proceeded to No 12 Balloon Centre, Titchfield |
| 29 Jun 1940 | Rail party departed Manchester for Eastleigh |
Source - No 924 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2256)
[May 1939]
This page was last updated on 17/10/23©
