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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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No 144 (RCAF) Airfield/Wing Personnel, units and locations
It was formed as No 144 (RCAF) Airfield Headquarters at Digby on 1 February 1944 in No 22 Wing, No 83 Group to control Nos 441, 442 and 443 Squadrons. Initial formation was overseen by Gp Capt P Y Davoud, the Officer Commanding, No 22 Wing. On 14 March it moved to Holmsley South, then to Westhampnett on 1 April 1944, where it was transferred to No 17 Wing on 20 April, moving to Funtington the following day, being redesignated No 144 Wing on 12 May 1944, still with Nos 441, 442 and 443 Squadrons but after crossing to the Continent disbanded on 12 Jul 1944.
Personnel Movements 1944
| Rank | Name |
Date |
Notes |
| Flt Lt | E H Ramsden | xx Jan 1944 | Reported for duty as Catering Officer |
| Fg Off | R D Snewing | xx Jan 1944 | Reported for duty as Electrical Officer |
| Plt Off | R D Burn | xx Jan 1944 | Reported for duty as MT Officer |
| Flt Lt | A Birtwistle | 1 Feb 1944 | Posted in for duty as Equipment Officer |
| Wg Cdr | J Simpson | 3 Feb 1944 | Arrived on posting for duty as Local Defence Adviser |
| Fg Off | W Tucker | xx Feb 1944 | Posted in for Flying Control duties |
| Sqn Ldr | G H Giguere | 7 Feb 1944 | Posted in for duty as Sqn Ldr - Admin |
| Flt Lt | W Lingings | 7 Feb 1944 | Posted in for duty as Adjutant |
| Fg Off | D R Ambrose | 9 Feb 1944 | Posted in for Flying Control duties |
| Plt Off | C J Noonan | 9 Feb 1944 | Posted in for duty as Technical Adjutant |
| Flt Lt | M L Sherwood | 10 Feb 1944 | Posted in for duty as Chief Technical Officer |
| Flt Lt | J P Howard | 10 Feb 1944 | Posted in for Engineer duties |
| Flt Lt | F E Lundy | 12 Feb 1944 | Posted in for duty as Senior Medical Officer and promoted to Sqn Ldr |
| Flt Lt | M L Sherwood | 12 Feb 1944 | Promoted to Sqn Ldr |
| Fg Off | S B Pink | 12 Feb 1944 | Posted in for Equipment duties |
| Flt Lt | F A Minton | 13 Feb 1944 | Posted in for duty as Airfield Intelligence Officer |
| Flt Lt | T Bartlett | 17 Feb 1944 | Posted in for Engineer duties |
| Flt Lt | F A Minton | 20 Feb 1944 | Proceeded to RAF Highgate for Intelligence Course |
| Capt | J A MacDonald | 24 Feb 1944 | Posted in for duty as Airfield Dental Officer |
| Fg Off | A E Roberts | 24 Feb 1944 | Posted in for duty as Accounts Officer |
| Sqn Ldr | J S Durrant | 24 Feb 1944 | Attached to assist in the organisation of Maintenance Wing |
| Plt Off | F H Parsons | 29 Feb 1944 | Posted in for Signals duties |
| Flt Lt | Stephens | 1 Mar 1944 | Posted in for duty as Airfield Armament Officer |
| Plt Off | J Cottingham | 3 Mar 1944 | Posted in for Intelligence duties |
| Wg Cdr | J E Johnson | xx Mar 1944 | Posted in for duty as Wg Cdr - Flying |
| Wg Cdr | J E Walker | 4 Mar 1944 | Posted in for duty as Officer Commanding |
| Capt | D J Hunden | 4 Mar 1944 | Attached from Canadian Army for duty as ALO |
| Capt | E N Clarke | 4 Mar 1944 | Attached from Canadian Army for duty as ALO |
| Fg Off | J M Ghent | 12 Mar 1944 | Arrived from RAF Ayr having been posted there by mistake |
| Plt Off | J Cottingham | 25 Mar 1944 | Appointed Airfield Security Officer |
| Fg Off | J M Ghent | 25 Mar 1944 | Appointed Officer i/c Secret and Confidential Documents |
| Fg Off | D Stewart | 29 Mar1944 | Posted in for Intelligence duties |
| Fg Off | J M Ghent | 30 Mar 1944 | Posted to HQ Bomber Command |
| Flt Lt | J P Howard | 1 Apr 1944 | Posted to a GSU |
| Sqn Ldr | Hadley | 3 Apr 1944 | Posted in for duty as OD Padre |
| Capt | C F Cautley | 3 Apr 1944 | Attached from Canadian Army for duty as ALO |
| Fg Off | G Aitken | 4 Apr 1944 | Posted in for duty as Education Officer |
| Flt Lt | W J McGill | 5 Apr 1944 | Posted in for Engineer duties |
| Plt Off | R Burn | 5 Apr 1944 | Proceeded on MT Course |
| Fg Off | G Davies | 5 Apr 1944 | Attached from No 129 Airfield to organise Anti-Gas and Fire services |
| Plt Off | J Cottingham | 6 Apr 1944 | Appointed Unit Censor |
| Wg Cdr | R E H Gould | 9 Apr 1944 | Arrived on posting for duty as Local Defence Adviser |
| Wg Cdr | J Simpson | 9 Apr 1944 | Relinquished post of Local Defence Adviser |
| Capt | R F H Cowan | 10 Apr 1944 | Attached from Canadian Army for duty as ALO |
| Plt Off | R Burn | 10 Apr 1944 | Proceeded on MT Course |
| Plt Off | R E Hanley | 14 Apr 1944 | Posted in for Engineer duties |
| Sqn Ldr | G H Giguere | 16 Apr 1944 | Proceeded to RAF Clifton, York on temporary personnel duties |
| Plt Off | N K Johnston | 16 Apr 1944 | Posted in for Equipment duties |
| Fg Off | S B Pink | 16 Apr 1944 | Posted out |
| Sqn Ldr | G H Giguere | 18 Apr 1944 | Returned from RAF Clifton, York on temporary personnel duties |
| Plt Off | T A Chapman | 24 Apr 1944 | Reposted on attachment for Armament duties |
| Wg Cdr | J E Walker | 25 Apr 1944 | Killed on Active Service |
| Plt Off | T A Richards | 27 Apr 1944 | Posted in for duty as Accountant Officer |
| Fg Off | A E Roberts | 27 Apr 1944 | Posted out |
| Plt Off | L F Ring | 27 Apr 1944 | Posted in for MT duties |
| Fg Off | D Stewart | 28 Apr 1944 | Posted to No 126 Airfield for Intelligence duties |
| Fg Off | A Booth | 28 Apr 1944 | Posted in for Intelligence duties |
| Wg Cdr | A D Nesbitt | 1 May 1944 | Posted in for duty as Officer Commanding |
| Plt Off | F R Dykes | 1 May 1944 | Posted in for Signals duties in Maintenance Wing |
| Flt Lt | L R Freemn | 3 May 1944 | Posted in to understudy the role of Sqn Ldr - Admin |
| Act Sqn Ldr | J M R N Michaud | 5 May 1944 | Chaplain, posted to No 143 Airfield |
| Act Sqn Ldr | J P A Brazeau | 6 May 1944 | Posted in for duty as Chaplain |
| Fg Off | J S Rauch | 8 May 1944 | Posted in for Flying Control duties |
| Flt Lt | H R Perkins | 12 May 1944 | Posted in for duty as Protestant Padre |
| Flt Lt | M K Martin | 15 May 1944 | Posted in for Armament duties |
| Fg Off | C J E Keeble | 19 May 1944 | Posted in for Armament duties |
| Fg Off | J A Bailey | 20 May 1944 | Posted in for Engineer duties with the Servicing Echelons |
| Flt Lt | W G Townley | 20 May 1944 | Posted in for Engineer duties with the Servicing Echelons |
| Flt Lt | L R Freemn | 23 May 1944 | Posted to HQ (Rear) No 83 Group |
| Fg Off | J A G Bedard | 25 May 1944 | Posted in for Interpreter duties |
| Sqn Ldr | G H Giguere | 15 Jul 1944 | Attached to No 126 Wing pending disbandment of No 144 Wing |
| Flt Lt | W Lingings | 15 Jul 1944 | Attached to No 126 Wing pending disbandment of No 144 Wing |
| Flt Lt | Stephens | 15 Jul 1944 | Attached to No 126 Wing pending disbandment of No 144 Wing |
| Flt Lt | A Birtwistle | 15 Jul 1944 | Attached to No 39 Wing pending disbandment of No 144 Wing |
| Plt Off | L F Ring | 15 Jul 1944 | Attached to No 407 AFAP pending disbandment of No 144 Wing |
| Sqn Ldr | F E Lundy | 16 Jul 1944 | Attached to No 143 Wing pending disbandment of No 144 Wing |
| Flt Lt | F H Parsons | 16 Jul 1944 | Attached to No 39 Wing pending disbandment of No 144 Wing |
| Fg Off | F R Dykes | 16 Jul 1944 | Attached to No 125 Wing pending disbandment of No 144 Wing |
| Fg Off | McKay | 16 Jul 1944 | Attached to No 419 RSU pending disbandment of No 144 Wing |
| Flt Lt | F A Minton | 18 Jul 1944 | Attached to No 127 Wing pending disbandment of No 144 Wing |
| Fg Off | A Booth | 18 Jul 1944 | Attached to No 126 Wing pending disbandment of No 144 Wing |
| Sqn Ldr | G H Giguere | 20 Jul 1944 | Ceased to be attached to No 126 Wing pending disbandment of No 144 Wing |
| Flt Lt | W Lingings | 20 Jul 1944 | Ceased to be attached to No 126 Wing pending disbandment of No 144 Wing |
| Wg Cdr | A D Nesbitt | 21 Jul 1944 | Posted to HQ, No 84 Group on disbandment of No 144 Wing |
| Sqn Ldr | G H Giguere | 21 Jul 1944 | Assumed temporary command of No 144 Wing |
| Flt Lt | J S Rauch | 21 Jul 1944 | Posted to No 143 Wing on disbandment of No 144 Wing |
| Fg Off | Tucker | 21 Jul 1944 | Posted to No 143 Wing on disbandment of No 144 Wing |
| Fg Off | Johnstone | 21 Jul 1944 | Posted to No 401 ASP on disbandment of No 144 Wing |
| Flt Lt | R Burn | 24 Jul 1944 | Posted to No 143 Wing on disbandment of No 144 Wing |
| Flt Lt | Baxter | 24 Jul 1944 | Posted in for duty as MT Officer |
| Al RCAF Ground Officers | 30 Jul 1944 | Proceeded to No 13 PTC pending posting to 'R' Depot, Warrington | |
| Flt Lt | W Lingings | 30 Jul 1944 | Posted to HQ (Rear), No 83 Group |
| Sqn Ldr | G H Giguere | 30 Jul 1944 | Posted out on winding up the Wing |
Source - No 144 Wing ORB
Unit Composition and Movements 1943
| Unit | Date | Notes |
| No 441 Sqn | 14 Feb 1944 | Arrived at Digby to join No 144 Airfield |
| No 442 Sqn | 14 Feb 1944 | Arrived at Digby to join No 144 Airfield |
| No 443 Sqn | 14 Feb 1944 | Arrived at Digby to join No 144 Airfield |
| Advance Party, No 144 Airfield | 14 Mar 1944 | Moved from RCAF Digby to Stevenage Staging Camp |
| Advance Party, No 144 Airfield | 15 Mar 1944 | Moved from Stevenage Staging Camp to RAF Holmsley South |
| Main Road Party, No 144 Airfield | 17 Mar 1944 | Moved from RCAF Digby to RAF Holmsley South |
| Main Rail Party, No 144 Airfield | 18 Mar 1944 | Moved from RCAF Digby to RAF Holmsley South |
| Air Party, No 144 Airfield | 18 Mar 1944 | Moved from RCAF Digby to RAF Holmsley South |
| No 443 Sqn | 27 Mar 1944 | Proceeded to RAF Hutton Cranswick for Air Firing Practice |
| Advance Party, No 144 Airfield | 31 Mar 1944 | Departed RAF Holmsley South for RAF Westhampnett |
| Main Party, No 144 Airfield | 1 Apr 1944 | Departed RAF Holmsley South for RAF Westhampnett |
| No 443 Sqn | 8 Apr 1944 | Returned from RAF Hutton Cranswick on completion of Air Firing Practice |
| No 6441 Servicing Echelon | 11 Apr 1944 | Proceeded to RAF Hutton Cranswick |
| No 441 Sqn | 11 Apr 1944 | Proceeded to RAF Hutton Cranswick for Air Firing Practice |
| No 144 Airfield | 20 Apr 1944 | Transferred from No 22 Wing to No 17 Wing |
| 'A' Party, No 144 Airfield | 21 Apr 1944 | Departed from RAF Westhampnett for Funtington ALG |
| 'B' Party, No 144 Airfield | 22 Apr 1944 | Departed from RAF Westhampnett for Funtington ALG |
| No 6442 Servicing Echelon | 23 Apr 1944 | Proceeded to RAF Hutton Cranswick |
| No 144 Airfield | 14 May 1944 | Moved from Funtington ALG to RAF Ford |
| No 144 Airfield | 15 May 1944 | Redesignated No 144 Wing |
| No 2819 Sqn, RAF Regiment | 21 May 1944 | Proceeded to the Concentration Area (Old Sarum) |
| No 1309 Wing, RAF Regiment | 22 May 1944 | Proceeded to the Concentration Area (Old Sarum) |
| Main Echelon, No 144 Wing | 4 Jun 1944 | Departed RAF Ford for the Concentration Area (Old Sarum) |
| Main Echelon, No 144 Wing | 9 Jun 1944 | Departed the Concentration Area (Old Sarum) for the Marshalling Area |
| 'A' Echelon, No 144 Wing | 11 Jun 1944 | Departed the Marshalling Area |
| 'B' Echelon, No 144 Wing (Serial 1038) | 11 Jun 1944 | Departed the Marshalling Area and embarked on a LST |
| 'B' Echelon, No 144 Wing (Serial 1039) | 12 Jun 1944 | Departed the Marshalling Area and embarked on a LST |
| 'B' Echelon, No 144 Wing (Serial 1040) | 12 Jun 1944 | Departed the Marshalling Area and embarked on a LST |
| 'B' Echelon, No 144 Wing (Serial 276) | 12 Jun 1944 | Departed the Marshalling Area and embarked on a LCT |
| 'B' Echelon, No 144 Wing (All Serials) | 13 Jun 1944 | Disembarked at Coursell and proceeded to the Assembly Area |
| No 144 Wing | 14 Jun 1944 | Moved from the Assembly Area to B.4 Beny-sur-Mer |
| No 144 Wing | 14 Jun 1944 | Moved from B.4 Beny-sur-Mer to B.3 Ste Croix-sur-Mer |
| 'C' Echelon, No 144 Wing | 2 Jul 1944 | Arrived at B.3 Ste Croix-sur-Mer |
| No 144 Wing | 12 Jul 1944 | Disbanded |
Source - No 144 Wing ORB
This page was last updated on 06/06/20©
