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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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RAF Detling Personnel and units
The station opened in 1938 as the home of No 500 (County of Kent) Squadron but without a Station HQ, which probably opened in late 1939 but details are not included in the ORB.
Personnel Movements: Sep - Dec 1939
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Sqn Ldr | L P Martin | 5 Nov 1939 | Arrived on posting for Operations Room duties |
| Plt Off | F F Walter | 5 Nov 1939 | Arrived on posting for Operations Room duties (Fg Off post) |
| Plt Off | C E Prescott | 8 Nov 1939 | Arrived on posting from No 1 Wing, RAF Halton |
| Rev | G W Simons | 10 Nov 1939 | Appointed RC Chaplain, wef 16 Aug 1939 |
| Rev | J H Watt | 10 Nov 1939 | Appointed C of E Chaplain, wef 6 Nov 1939 |
| Fg Off | Gross | 17 Nov 1939 | Promoted to Flt Lt, wef 26 Sep 1939 |
| Plt Off | R J O Compston | 20 Nov 1939 | RAFVR, arrived on embodiment |
| Plt Off | E J Wenham | 22 Nov 1939 | RAFVR, arrived on posting for Meteorological duties |
| Fg Off | H A Buss | 27 Nov 1939 | Arrived on posting |
| Plt Off | R H Deighton | 1 Dec 1939 | RAFVR, arrived on posting for duty as Station Intelligence Officer |
| Sqn Ldr | N D Crockart | 4 Dec 1939 | Assumed duties of Adjutant |
| Flt Lt | C F Snowden-Gamble | 4 Dec 1939 | Adjutant, relinquished post temporarily |
| Sqn Ldr | N D Crockart | 21 Dec 1939 | Relinquished duties of Adjutant |
| Flt Lt | C F Snowden-Gamble | 21 Dec 1939 | Resumed duties of Adjutant |
| Fg Off | H A Buss | 9 Dec 1939 | Promoted to Act Flt Lt, wef 4 Dec 1939 |
| Plt Off | R J O Compston | 9 Dec 1939 | Promoted to Act Flt Lt, wef 4 Dec 1939 |
| Cpl | Childs | 9 Dec 1939 | Promoted to Temp Sgt, wef 8 Dec 1939 |
| LAC | King | 9 Dec 1939 | Promoted to Temp Cpl, wef 1 Dec 1939 |
| LAC | Maber | 9 Dec 1939 | Promoted to Temp Cpl, wef 1 Dec 1939 |
| LAC | Brown | 9 Dec 1939 | Promoted to Temp Cpl, wef 1 Dec 1939 |
| LAC | Brooks | 9 Dec 1939 | Promoted to Temp Cpl, wef 1 Dec 1939 |
| Cpl | Hurd | 20 Dec 1939 | Promoted to Temp Sgt, wef 18 Dec 1939 |
| Plt Off (Act Flt Lt) | C F Snowden-Gamble | 22 Dec 1939 | Adjutant, confirmed in his appointment and promoted to Fg Off, wef 1 Dec 1939 |
| Fg Off | E A Spencer-Edwards | 22 Dec 1939 | Promoted to Act Flt Lt (unpaid), wef 19 Dec 1939 |
| Fg Off | J Reeves | 22 Dec 1939 | Promoted to Act Flt Lt (unpaid), wef 19 Dec 1939 |
| Plt Off | R H Deighton | 22 Dec 1939 | Promoted to Act Fg Off (unpaid), wef 19 Dec 1939 |
| Plt Off | L S Litchfield | 22 Dec 1939 | Promoted to Act Fg Off (unpaid), wef 19 Dec 1939 |
Source - RAF Detling ORB
Unit Movements: Sep - Dec 1939
| Unit | Date | Notes |
| 'B' Flight, No 48 Sqn | 24 Nov 1939 | Departed RAF Detling on return to RAF Thorney Island |
Source - RAF Detling ORB
Personnel Movements: Jan - Dec 1940
| Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
| Flt Lt | R E X Mack | 5 Jan 1940 | Posted to No 500 Sqn, wef 2 Jan 1940 |
| Plt Off | D Claude Jones | 11 Jan 1940 | Promoted to Fg Off, wef 13 Nov 1939 |
| Flt Lt | G B Iles | 15 Jan 1940 | Arrived on posting for Sqn Ldr - Operations Room duties |
| Plt Off | Mathews | 15 Jan 1940 | Arrived on posting for Meteorological duties |
| Sqn Ldr | H L Nunn | 16 Jan 1940 | Sqn Ldr - Operations Room, posted to HQ No 16 Group for 'P' Staff duties |
| Act Flt Lt | H A Buss | 12 Jan 1940 | Promoted to Act Sqn Ldr, wef 11 Jan 1940 |
| Plt Off | P Reeves | 12 Jan 1939 | Promoted to Act Fg Off, wef 22 Dec 1939 |
| Flt Lt | M H Fitzgerald | 16 Jan 1940 | Arrived on posting from RAF Bircham Newton for Intelligence duties |
| Plt Off | M M Banks | 17 Jan 1940 | Posted to RAF Bircham Newton for Intelligence duties |
| Flt Lt | G B Iles | 17 Jan 1940 | Promoted to Acting Sqn Ldr, wef 13 Jan 1940 |
| Flt Lt | W K Lemay | 17 Jan 1940 | Promoted to Acting Sqn Ldr, wef 15 Jan 1940 |
| Act Sqn Ldr | M H Fitzgerald | 17 Jan 1940 | Reposted for Intelligence duties (Operations Room) |
| Fg Off | J P H Balston | 22 Jan 1940 | Appointed Officer i/c Parachute Section |
| Sqn Ldr | W K LeMay | 22 Jan 1940 | Relinquished responsibility for Parachute Section |
| Plt Off | E N Harris | 22 Jan 1940 | Appointed Officer i/c Instruments |
| Fg Off | J P H Balston | 22 Jan 1940 | Relinquished responsibility for Instruments |
| Act Sqn Ldr | M H Fitzgerald | 28 Jan 1940 | Appointed Station Intelligence Officer |
| Act Fg Off | R H Deighton | 28 Jan 1940 | Relinquished duties of Station Intelligence Officer |
| Act Flt Lt | R J O Compston | 30 Jan 1940 | Promoted to Act Sqn Ldr, wef 25 Jan 1940 |
| Plt Off (Act Flt Lt) | J W A Legge-Williams | 15 Feb 1940 | Confirmed in his appointment and promoted to Fg Off, wef 2 Jul 1939 |
| Fg Off | J Reeves | 15 Feb 1940 | Transferred to A & SD Branch with present rank and seniority 29 Aug 1939 |
| APO on probation | E N Harris | 15 Feb 1940 | Confirmed in his appointed and regraded Plt Off, wef 23 Jul 1939 |
| APO on probation | J G Lane | 15 Feb 1940 | Confirmed in his appointed and regraded Plt Off, wef 12 Aug 1939 |
| APO on probation | A Swainston | 15 Feb 1940 | Confirmed in his appointed and regraded Plt Off, wef 16 Aug 1939 |
| APO on probation | S Wheelwright | 15 Feb 1940 | Confirmed in his appointed and regraded Plt Off, wef 16 Sep 1939 |
| Wg Cdr | C P Gabriel | 15 Feb 1940 | Relinquished command of the Station on account of illness |
| Sqn Ldr | J H Lowe | 15 Feb 1940 | Assumed temporary command of the Station |
| Fg Off | D Claude Jones | 19 Feb 1940 | Attached to No 1 Balloon Centre fore Accountant duties (1 month) |
| Wg Cdr | C P Gabriel | 19 Feb 1940 | Resumed command of the Station |
| Sqn Ldr | J H Lowe | 19 Feb 1940 | Relinquished temporary command of the Station |
| Plt Off | L S Litchfield | 20 Feb 1940 | Relinquished rank of Act Fg Off, wef 1 Feb 1940 |
| Plt Off | P Reeves | 20 Feb 1940 | Relinquished rank of Act Fg Off, wef 1 Feb 1940 |
| Plt Off | H Jones | 21 Feb 1940 | Arrived on posting to No 500 Sqn, wef 5 Feb 1940 |
| Plt Off | H C Cooke | 21 Feb 1940 | Posted in for Operations Room duties, wef 15 Feb 1940 |
| Plt Off | E H Varley | 21 Feb 1940 | Posted in for Meteorological duties, wef 19 Feb 1940 |
| Plt Off | E A Lundie | 26 Feb 1940 | Posted to No 500 Sqn, wef 25 Feb 1940 |
| Plt Off | L S Litchfield | 29 Feb 1940 | Posted to HQ No 2 RAF Component for duty as PA to AOC |
| ASO | E M Goule | 29 Feb 1940 | Arrived on posting for Codes and Cypher duties, wef 4 Feb 1940 |
| Plt Off | P Reeves | 2 Mar 1940 | Posted to RAF Catterick for Operations duties |
| Plt Off | R H Deighton | 2 Mar 1940 | Posted to RAF Catterick for Operations duties |
| Plt Off | A R Nivison-Smith | 7 Mar 1940 | Arrived on attachment from No 1 CACU, RAF Thorney Island, wef 6 Mar 1940 |
| Plt Off | R H McConnell | 7 Mar 1940 | Ceased to be attached from No 1 CACU, RAF Thorney Island, wef 6 Mar 1940 |
| Wg Cdr | C P Gabriel | 9 Mar 1940 | Resumed command of the Station |
| Plt Off | A V K Chaffey | 12 Mar 1940 | Posted to No 500 Sqn |
| Plt Off | A D S Hicks | 12 Mar 1940 | Arrived on attachment from No 1 CACU, RAF Thorney Island, wef 9 Mar 1940 |
| Plt Off | P Mallalieu | 12 Mar 1940 | Arrived on attachment from No 1 CACU, RAF Thorney Island, wef 9 Mar 1940 |
| Plt Off | C S S Rendle | 12 Mar 1940 | Ceased to be attached from No 1 CACU, RAF Thorney Island, wef 5 Mar 1940 |
| Plt Off | A R Nivison-Smith | 12 Mar 1940 | Ceased to be attached from No 1 CACU, RAF Thorney Island, wef 9 Mar 1940 |
| Plt Off | J W Bocca | 12 Mar 1940 | Ceased to be attached from No 1 CACU, RAF Thorney Island, wef 9 Mar 1940 |
| Plt Off | Grisenthwaite | 12 Mar 1940 | Ceased to be attached from No 1 CACU on posting to No 500 Sqn, wef 11 Mar 1940 |
| Act Sqn Ldr | G B Iles | 15 Mar 1940 | Promoted to Temp Sqn Ldr, wef 1 Mar 1940 |
| Act Sqn Ldr | W K LeMay | 15 Mar 1940 | Promoted to Temp Sqn Ldr, wef 1 Mar 1940 |
| Flt Lt | H M Yeatman | 29 Mar 1940 | Assumed duties of Station Gas Officer |
| Sqn Ldr | G B Iles | 29 Mar 1940 | Relinquished duties of Station Gas Officer |
| Plt Off | C E Prescott | 29 Mar 1940 | Appointed to Intelligence duties in the Operations Room, wef 26 Mar 1940 |
| Gp Capt | T A Langford-Sainsbury | 27 May 1940 | Attached from HQ, No 16 Group |
| Gp Capt | T A Langford-Sainsbury | 28 May 1940 | Assumed command of of all flying at RAF Detling |
| Flt Lt | Mackenzie | 30 May 1940 | Attached to Intelligence Section from HQ Coastal Command for Press Liaison duties |
| Gp Capt | T A Langford-Sainsbury | 4 Jun 1940 | Posted to RAF Thorney Island |
| Gp Capt | F L Hopps | 11 Jun 1940 | Arrived on posting pending assuming command of the Station |
| Wg Cdr | C P Gabriel | 15 Jun 1940 | Posted to HQ, No 16 Group for Operations Room duties |
| Gp Capt | F L Hopps | 15 Jun 1940 | Assumed command of the Station |
| Wg Cdr | E P M Davis | 19 Jul 1940 | Arrived on posting pending assuming command of the Station |
| Gp Capt | F L Hopps | 20 Jul 1940 | Relinquished command of the Station |
| Wg Cdr | E P M Davis | 20 Jul 1940 | Assumed command of the Station |
| Wg Cdr | E P M Davis | 7 Aug 1940 | Promoted to Act Gp Capt, wef 19 Jul 1940 |
| Gp Capt | E P M Davis | 13 Aug 1940 | Killed in action |
| Wg Cdr | C F Toogood | 16 Aug 1940 | Arrived on posting for duty as Officer Commanding |
| Wg Cdr | C F Toogood | 7 Sep 1940 | Promoted to Act Gp Capt, wef 17 Aug 1940 |
| Plt Off | P Mallalieu | 8 Nov 1940 | Killed in a flying accident |
| Plt Off | A V K Chaffey | 8 Nov 1940 | Killed in a flying accident |
| Wg Cdr | E A Hodgson | 6 Dec 1940 | Assumed command of the Station |
| Wg Cdr | C J Turner | 17 Dec 1940 | Assumed command of the Station |
| Wg Cdr | E A Hodgson | 22 Dec 1940 | Resumed command of the Station |
From April the format of the ORB changed and few personnel movements are given in the F540.
Source - RAF Detling ORB
Unit Movements: Jan - Dec 1940
| Unit | Date | Notes |
| No 254 Sqn det | xx May 1940 | Arrived from RAF Sumburgh |
| No 48 Sqn det | 11 May 1940 | Arrived from RAF Thorney Island |
| No 825 Sqn FAA | 18 May 1940 | Arrived from RNAS Worthy Down |
| No 1 CACF | 18 May 1940 | Arrived |
| No 819 Sqn FAA det | 22 May 1940 | Arrived from RNAS Ford |
| No 819 Sqn FAA det | 23 May 1940 | Returned to RNAS Ford |
| No 235 Sqn det | 28 May 1940 | Arrived from Bircham Newton |
| No 806 Sqn FAA det | 28 May 1940 | Arrived from RNAS Worthy Down |
| No 825 Sqn FAA | 31 May 1940 | Returned to RNAS Worthy Down |
| No 801 Sqn FAA | 31 May 1940 | Arrived |
| No 806 Sqn FAA det | 31 May 1940 | Left |
| No 826 Sqn FAA | 31 May 1940 | Arrived |
| No 826 Sqn FAA | 1 Jun 1940 | Left |
| No 815 Sqn FAA | 2 Jun 1940 | Arrived |
| No 254 Sqn det | 5 Jun 1940 | Returned to RAF Sumburgh |
| No 235 Sqn det | 6 Jun 1940 | Returned to RAF Bircham Newton |
| No 48 Sqn det | 7 Jun 1940 | Returned to RAF Thorney Island |
| No 220 Sqn det | xx Jun 1940 | Arrived |
| No 220 Sqn det | xx Jun 1940 | Left |
| No 801 Sqn FAA | 23 Jun 1940 | Returned to RNAS Worthy Down |
| No 815 Sqn FAA | 27 Jun 1940 | Left |
| No 825 Sqn FAA | 1 Jul 1940 | Arrived from RNAS Worthy Down |
| No 53 Sqn | 4 Jul 1940 | Arrived from RAF Gatwick |
| No 825 Sqn FAA | 5 Jul 1940 | Returned to RNAS Worthy Down |
| No 235 Sqn det | xx Jul 1940 | Left |
| No 812 Sqn FAA det | 27 Aug 1940 | Arrived from RAF North Coates |
| No 812 Sqn FAA det | 28 Aug 1940 | Returned to RAF North Coates |
| No 236 Sqn det | 16 Sep 1940 | Arrived |
| No 812 Sqn FAA det | 27 Dec 1940 | Arrived |
| No 236 Sqn det | xx xxx xxxx | Left |
Source - RAF Detling ORB
This page was last updated on 13/07/20©
