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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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No 39 Wing Personnel, units and locations
It was formed at 79 London Road, Brandon, Suffolk on 27 October 1917 as 39th (Training) Wing RFC , being placed under No 3 Group on 10 May 1918 and disbanded on 4 April 1919.
It reformed at Dunsfold on 3 December 1942 as No 39 (Reconnaissance) Wing RCAF in Army Co-operation Command with No 168, 400 and 414 Squadrons. With the disbandment of Army Co-operation Command it was transferred to No 11 Group, Fighter Command on 1 June 1943. On 12 June it took over Nos 128 and 129 Airfields (Nos 140, 231, 400, 414 and 430), being transferred to No 83 Group at the same time and on 9 July 1943 it moved to Leatherhead, where it disbanded on 1 August.
The same day it was reformed at Dunsfold as No 39 (RCAF) (Reconnaissance) Wing in No 83 Group, with Nos 128 and 129 Airfields.
Personnel Movements 1943
| Rank | Name |
Date |
Notes |
| Flt Lt | F E Clark | 1 Aug 1943 | Posted in from No 414 Sqn for Operations Room duties |
| Flt Lt | J A D Amos | 4 Aug 1943 | Posted in from No 414 Sqn for Operations Room duties |
| Act Sqn Ldr | H P Peters | 4 Aug 1943 | Posted to No 414 Sqn as OC |
| Fg Off | H H Brookes | 5 Aug 1943 | Posted to No 5051 (B) MSU for Codes and Cypher duties |
| Fg Off | H W M Telling | 5 Aug 1943 | Ceased to be detached to No 129 Airfield on posting to PDC for overseas |
| Fg Off | R J Humphries | 6 Aug 1943 | Posted to No 5 PDC for overseas |
| Fg Off | J S McGraw | 12 Aug 1943 | Posted in from RCAF Overseas HQ for Codes and Cypher duties |
| Plt Off | L S H Rowley | 13 Aug 1943 | Posted in from School of Administration, Stannington for duty as Camp Commandant |
| Flt Lt | J A D Amos | 1 Sep 1943 | Promoted to Act Sqn Ldr |
| Fg Off | McRae | 17 Sep 1943 | Ceased to be attached on being posted in |
| Wg Cdr | R C A Waddell | 19 Sep 1943 | Returned from School of Army Co-operation on completion of course |
Source - No 39 Wing ORB
Unit Composition and Movements 1943
| Unit | Date | Notes |
| Advance Party, HQ No 39 Wing | 9 Aug 1943 | Moved to Redhill |
| Main Party, HQ No 39 Wing | 10 Aug 1943 | Moved to Redhill |
Source - No 39 Wing ORB
Personnel Movements 1944
| Rank | Name |
Date |
Notes |
| Plt Off | L S H Rowley | 3 Feb 1943 | Posted to Bomber Command |
| Flt Lt | McRae | 18 Feb 1944 | Posted to HQ No 6 Group |
| Flt Lt | Mitchell | 19 Feb 1944 | Posted in for Intelligence duties |
| Flt Lt | R J Sullivan | 21 Feb 1944 | Posted in as Signals Officer |
| Act Sqn Ldr | Campbell | 22 Feb 1944 | Posted to HQ, No 84 Group |
| Plt Off | Parsons | 28 Feb 1944 | Posted to No 144 Airfield |
| Plt Off | Cousins | 29 Feb 1944 | Posted to Rear HQ, No 83 Group |
| Act Sqn Ldr | J A D Amos | 10 Mar 1944 | Proceeded to Canada on Special Aircrew Leave |
| Flt Lt | R S Sullivan | 13 Mar 1944 | Appointed Sqn Ldr - Signals |
| Flt Lt | W S Trotman | 21 Mar 1944 | Posted in for Photographic duties |
| Wg Cdr | P B Pitcher | 4 Apr 1944 | Attached to the Wing |
| Flt Lt | G W Burroughs | 11 Apr 1944 | Returned to No 414 Sqn from duty in Operations Room |
| Fg Off | E Winters | 11 Apr 1944 | Posted in for Operations Room duties |
| Wg Cdr | J M Godfrey | 2 Jul 1944 | Transferred from No 128 Airfield as Wg Cdr - Flying |
| Fg Off | J E Rankine | 12 Jul 1944 | Detached to RAF Odiham for Intelligence duties with No 414 Sqn |
| Wg Cdr | J M Godfrey | 16 Jul 1944 | Departed for the UK pending a return to Canada |
| Fg Off | N A Thompson | 16 Jul 1944 | Posted in from No 129 Wing for duty as Technical Adjutant |
| Flt Lt | A Bertwhistle | 16 Jul 1944 | Posted in for Equipment duties |
| Fg Off | E P Ward | 16 Jul 1944 | Technical Adjutant. posted out? |
| Flt Lt | MacLean | 16 Jul 1944 | Equipment Officer, posted out? |
| Fg Off | F H Parson | 17 Jul 1944 | Posted in from No 144 Wing for Signals duties |
| Sqn Ldr | W H F MacLean | 18 Jul 1944 | Posted in from No 129 Wing as Senior Administrative Officer |
| Plt Off | W Haslam | 19 Jul 1944 | Posted in for duty as MT Officer |
| Flt Lt | N R MacMillen | 19 Jul 1944 | Posted in from No 5034 (J) MSU for Signals duties |
| Sqn Ldr | R S Sullivan | 20 Jul 1944 | Posted to Rear HQ No 83 Group |
| Sqn Ldr | T D McKee | 21 Jul 1944 | Departed for PTC pending repatriation |
| Flt Lt | A T Hunt | 23 Jul 1944 | Departed for No 83 Group Disposal Unit |
| Fg Off | E P Ward | 23 Jul 1944 | Departed for No 83 Group Disposal Unit |
| Fg Off | R I Binneball | 23 Jul 1944 | Departed for No 83 Group Disposal Unit |
| Flt Lt | Handford | 24 Jul 1944 | Departed for No 13 PTC |
| Fg Off | J O McAusland | 27 Jul 1944 | Posted in for duty as Education Officer |
| Fg Off | J W Cowling | 3 Aug 1944 | Arrived on posting from No 83 GSU |
| Sqn Ldr | M F Williams | 3 Aug 1944 | SMO, temporarily detached to No 52 MFH to replace their surgeon |
| Plt Off | H N Slichter | 7 Aug 1944 | Posted in for duty as Education Officer |
| Capt | A F Goutley | 16 Aug 1944 | Posted in from No 121 Wing |
| Flt Sgt | Curtis | 18 Aug 1944 | Departed on being repatriated to Canada |
| WO1 | Williams | 18 Aug 1944 | Departed on being repatriated to Canada |
| Sgt | J A Dearlove | 18 Aug 1944 | Departed on being repatriated to Canada |
| Sgt | C H Richardson | 18 Aug 1944 | Departed on being repatriated to Canada |
| Fg Off | J E Rankine | 20 Aug 1944 | Ceased to be detached to RAF Odiham |
| Flt Lt | H I Turner | 27 Aug 1944 | Attached from No 126 Wing for Intelligence duties pending posting in |
| Fg Off | J A Barrowman | Posted out | |
| Fg Off | L J Shapley | 4 Sep 1944 | Posted from No 5008 (G) MSU to No 121 Wing |
| Plt Off | A Miller | 4 Sep 1944 | Posted from No 5008 (G) MSU to another MSU in No 126 Wing |
| Maj | DJ Corrigal | 9 Sep 1944 | ALO, posted to CMHQ |
| Fg Off | N Davis | 9 Sep 1944 | Posted in for Signals duties |
| Plt Off | W Haslam | 9 Sep 1944 | Attached to the Army with 50 MT vehicles for temporary logistics duties |
| Plt Off | H N Slichter | 9 Sep 1944 | Attached to the Army with 50 MT vehicles for temporary logistics duties |
| Plt Off | W Haslam | 15 Sep 1944 | Ceased to be ttached to the Army with 50 MT vehicles for temporary logistics duties |
| Plt Off | H N Slichter | 15 Sep 1944 | Ceased to be attached to the Army with 50 MT vehicles for temporary logistics duties |
| Flt Lt | W J M Cameron | 26 Sep 1944 | Reported to HQ No 39 Wing on ceasing to be attached to 52 MFH for Medical duties |
| Flt Sgt | F A Hopkinson | 28 Sep 1944 | Attached for temporary duty to make a film on recce operations |
| Flt Lt | N R MacMillen | 28 Sep 1944 | Departed on posting pending repatriation |
| Fg Off | H M Savage | 30 Sep 1944 | Departed on posting pending repatriation |
| Plt Off | K L Beerse | 7 Oct 1944 | Posted in for Signals duties |
| Fg Off | A H Charbonneau | 13 Oct 1944 | Posted to No 168 Sqn, No 143 Wing for Intelligence duties |
| Flt Lt | H Rickard | 14 Oct 1944 | Attached for duty as PRO |
| Plt Off | BaronH R Van Heevell | 19 Oct 1944 | Attached for duty as a Dutch Interpreter |
| Flt Lt | H Rickard | 19 Oct 1944 | Ceased to be attached for duty as PRO |
| Capt | C D Shepard | 8 Nov 1944 | Attached from HQ 4th Canadian Army Division for duty as ALO |
| Capt | J Holroyd | 11 Nov 1944 | Attached from No 121 Wing for duty as ALO |
| Gp Capt | E H G Moncrief | 13 Nov 1944 | Proceeded on leave to Canada |
| Wg Cdr | R C A Waddell | 13 Nov 1944 | Assumed command of No 39 Wing |
| Sqn Ldr | M W Hicks | 20 Nov 1944 | Posted in for duty as SMO |
| Sqn Ldr | M F Williams | 25 Nov 1944 | SMO, posted to RCAF 'R' Depot, Warrington pending repatriation |
| Plt Off | G L Wright | 30 Nov 1944 | Posted in from the Officers' School, Cosford |
| Act WO | L J Coallier | 1 Dec 1944 | Departed on repatriation to Canada |
| Flt Lt | J O McAusland | 16 Dec 1944 | Posted to No 407 Sqn |
| Plt Off | Baron H R Van Heevell | 19 Dec 1944 | Posted to Netherlands Military Mission, Brussels |
| Flt Lt | S Tooke | 20 Dec 1944 | Posted in from No 407 Sqn for Education duties |
| Flt Lt | J H Barclay | 22 Dec 1944 | Posted to No 127 Wing as Senior Administrative Officer |
| Flt Lt | H D Cougler | 23 Dec 1944 | Posted in from No 414 Sqn for duty as Adjutant |
| Gp Capt | E H G Moncrief | 24 Dec 1944 | Returned from leave in Canada |
| Wg Cdr | R C A Waddell | 24 Dec 1944 | Relinquished command of No 39 Wing |
Source - No 39 Wing ORB
Unit Movements 1944
| Unit | Date | Notes |
| No 128 Airfield | 18 Feb 1944 | Moved to RAF Odiham |
| No 5008 (C) MSU | 17 Mar 1944 | Moved from Redhill to Odiham |
| No 5028 (H) MSU | 17 Mar 1944 | Moved from Redhill to Odiham |
| No 5009 (C) MSU | 17 Mar 1944 | Moved to Redhill |
| No 5034 (J) MSU | 17 Mar 1944 | Moved to Redhill |
| 'A' Echelon HQ No 39 Wing | 13 Jun 1944 | Departed RAF Odiham |
| 'B' Echelon HQ No 39 Wing | 20 Jun 1944 | Departed RAF Odiham for RAF Old Sarum (Waterproofing of vehicles) |
| 'B' Echelon HQ No 39 Wing | 29 Jun 1944 | Embarked at Gosport |
| 'B' Echelon HQ No 39 Wing | 30 Jun 1944 | Disembarked on to the beachhead in Normandy |
| HQ No 39 Wing | 1 Jul 1944 | Moved to Airfield B8 |
| No 128 Airfield | 2 Jul 1944 | Absorbed into No 39 Wing |
| No 6168 Servicing Echelon | 20 Jul 1944 | Transferred from No 129 Wing |
| No 1 Canadian ASSU | 23 Jul 1944 | Attached to the Wing |
| No 1 Canadian ASSU | 1 Aug 1944 | Ceased to be attached to No 39 Wing on moving to Airfield B10 |
| 'A' Echelon, HQ No 39 Wing | 11 Aug 1944 | Moved to Airfield B21 |
| No 39 Wing | 15 Aug 1944 | Fully operational at Airfield B21 |
| 'A' Echelon, HQ No 39 Wing | 30 Aug 1944 | Moved to Airfield B38 but found unsuitable and moved to B34 instead |
| 'B' Echelon, HQ No 39 Wing | 2 Sep 1944 | Moved to Airfield B34 |
| 'A' Echelon, HQ No 39 Wing | 18 Sep 1944 | Commenced move to Airfield B66 |
| 'A' Echelon, HQ No 39 Wing | 20 Sep 1944 | Completed moved to Airfield B66 |
| 'B' Echelon, HQ No 39 Wing | 21 Sep 1944 | Commenced move to Airfield B66 |
| 'B' Echelon, HQ No 39 Wing | 23 Sep 1944 | Completed move to Airfield B66 |
| No 257 Mobile Dental Surgery | 24 Sep 1944 | Attached to No 39 Wing |
| No 168 Sqn & No 6168 SE | 2 Oct 1944 | Transferred to N o 143 Wing having re-equipped with Typhoons |
| 'A' Echelon, HQ No 39 Wing | 2 Oct 1944 | Moved to Airfield B78 Eindhoven |
| 'B' Echelon, HQ No 39 Wing | 4 Oct 1944 | Moved to Airfield B78 Eindhoven |
| Detachment, No 409 RSU | 14 Oct 1944 | Attached to HQ No 39 Wing |
Source - No 39 Wing ORB
Personnel Movements 1945
| Rank | Name |
Date |
Notes |
| Flt Lt | R N Meldrum | 6 Jan 1945 | Wing Electrical Officer departed to attend a course at Dartford |
| Sgt | V W Henderson | 7 Jan 1945 | Posted in for duty as NCO i/c SSQ |
| Sqn Ldr | W H Dunphy | 16 Jan 1945 | Posted in for duty as RC Chaplain |
| Flt Sgt | H J Wright | 16 Jan 1945 | NCO i/c SSQ departed on repatriation to Canada |
| Fg Off | J B Scott | 24 Jan 1945 | Junior Equipment Officer, posted to No 127 Wing |
| Plt Off | W Haslam | xx Jan 1945 | Junior MT Officer, posted to No 127 Wing for duty as Senior MT Officer |
| Plt Off | L S Smith | 27 Jan 1945 | Posted in from No 70 MTLRU for duty as Junior MT Officer |
| Fg Off | W H O'Dell | 2 Feb 1945 | Posted in from No 127 Wing for duty as Junior Equipment Officer |
| Flt Lt | J N Hobbs | 8 Feb 1945 | Posted in from No 9 PDC for Flying Control duties |
| Gp Capt | G N Sellers | 9 Feb 1945 | Posted in from RCAF Overseas HQ pending assuming command |
| Flt Lt | R C Ritchie | 12 Feb 1945 | Posted in from No 414 Sqn for Air Staff duties |
| Gp Capt | E H G Moncrief | 13 Feb 1945 | Relinquished command of No 39 Wing |
| Gp Capt | G N Sellers | 13 Feb 1945 | Assumed command of No 39 Wing |
| Wg Cdr | K W Godfrey | 15 Feb 1945 | Posted in as Wing Defence Officer |
| Fg Off | R G Kibblewhite | 22 Feb 1945 | Posted in for duty as Junior Administrative Officer |
| Fg Off | C P Wright | 28 Feb 1945 | Posted in for Intelligence duties |
| Flt Lt | A J G Godbout | 4 Mar 1945 | Posted in pending posting to a Servicing Echelon for Engineering duties |
| Flt Lt | W M Iverson | 9 Mar 1945 | Posted in from No 430 Sqn for Air Staff duties |
| Flt Lt | J G Middlemass | 11 Mar 1945 | Posted in from RCAF Overseas HQ for Intelligence duties |
| Fg Off | F Snowsell | 12 Mar 1945 | Posted in for Intelligence duties |
| Flt Lt | F E Clarke | 12 Mar 1945 | Posted to BPC pending repatriation to Canada |
| Flt Lt | A J G Godbout | 13 Mar 1945 | Posted to No 6400 Servicing Echelon as OC |
| Flt Lt | J R T Richardson | 15 Mar 1945 | Posted in as supernumerary from No 5 MFPS pending disposal |
| Sqn Ldr | J A Amos | 23 Mar 1945 | Operations Officer, departed on repatriation to Canada |
| Flt Lt | H G Phelps | 25 Mar 1945 | MT Officer, posted to Rear HQ, 2nd TAF |
| Fg Off | W R Hart | 25 Mar 1945 | Posted in from No 122 Wing as MT Officer |
| Flt Lt | R S Shaw | 26 Mar 1945 | Technical (E) Officer, posted to No 3 (RCAF) PRC |
| Flt Lt | J S S Morris | 26 Mar 1945 | Technical (E) Officer, posted to No 3 (RCAF) PRC |
| Flt Lt | S C Barrall | 29 Mar 1945 | Attached from HQ No 83 Group as an Interpreter |
| Hon Sqn Ldr | R K Cameron | 30 Mar 1945 | Posted in for duty as Protestant Padre |
| Hon Sqn Ldr | J Dunn | 1 Apr 1945 | Posted out |
| Flt Lt | R H Hamilton | 9 Apr 1945 | Arrived on posting |
| Fg Off | D C H Johnson | 12 Apr 1945 | Posted in from No 70 MTLRU |
| Fg Off | G B Lawrence | 12 Apr 1945 | Posted in from No 126 Wing for Engineering duties |
| Flt Lt | Bateman | 12 Apr 1945 | Posted to RCAF Overseas HQ |
| Plt Off | G L Wright | 15 Apr 1945 | Proceeded to Paris for short University course |
| Fg Off | J E Anderson | 18 Apr 1945 | Posted in from BPC for Signals dutries |
| Fg Off | A A Phillips | 18 Apr 1945 | Posted in from BPC for Signals dutries |
| Fg Off | L M Ramsey | 28 Apr 1945 | Personnel Counsellor attached from No 126 Wing |
| Plt Off | K L Beerse | 1 May 1945 | Posted to BPC pending repatriation to Canada |
| Flt Lt | W M Iverson | 1 May 1945 | Posted to No 3 PRC pending repatriation to Canada |
| Fg Off | J E Anderson | 7 May 1945 | Posted to No 127 Wing for Signals duties |
| Flt Lt | F H G Reinke | 9 May 1945 | Attached on temporary duty from No 143 Wing |
| Flt Lt | J N Hobbs | 10 May 1945 | Posted to No 3 PRC for repatriation |
| Flt Lt | J K Keay | 12 May 1945 | Posted in from No 9 PDC for Flying Control duties |
| Gp Capt | G N Sellers | 13 May 1945 | Admitted to No 53 MFH suffering from a duodenal unlcer |
| Wg Cdr | R C A Waddell | 13 May 1945 | Assumed temporary command of No 39 Wing |
| Gp Capt | G N Sellers | 16 May 1945 | Evacuated to No 11 Canadian General Hospital, Taplow |
| Flt Lt | N D Bryce | 16 May 1945 | Posted in from No 126 Wing as Assistant SLA |
| Fg Off | R D Walker | 16 May 1945 | Posted in from RCAF East Moor as Wing Sports Officer |
| Flt Lt | F H G Reinke | 17 May 1945 | Ceased to be attached on temporary duty and returned to HQ 2nd TAF |
| Flt Lt | C P Greaves | 26 May 1945 | Attached to No 8403 Disarmament Wing |
| Flt Lt | H E Aldridge | 28 May 1945 | Flying Control Officer, detached to No 126 Wing |
| Fg Off | C P Wright | 29 May 1945 | Attached to No 401 Sqn |
| Fg Off | W E Greneau | 29 May 1945 | Arrived from No 9 PDC for Intelligence duties |
| Fg Off | C V Godwin | 29 May 1945 | Flying Control Officer, attached from No 126 Wing |
| Fg Off | W E Greneau | 1 Jun 1945 | German Interpreter, attached from HQ No 83 Group |
| LAC | J Hutton | 7 Jun 1945 | Killed in an accident |
| Flt Lt | F J MacNamara | 9 Jun 1945 | Flying Control Officer, posted from No 127 Wing |
| Flt Lt | J B MacLean | 12 Jun 1945 | Education Officer, attached from RCAF Overseas HQ |
| Wg Cdr | R C A Waddell | 13 Jun 1945 | Promoted to Act Gp Capt and reposted to command No 39 Wing |
| Sqn Ldr | M G Brown | 13 Jun 1945 | Promoted to Act Wg Cdr and posted from No 400 Sqn as Wg Cdr - Operations |
| Plt Off | G L Wright | 18 Jun 1945 | Posted to BPC |
| Flt Lt | J W Kennedy | 29 Jun 1945 | Education Officer, attached from RCAF Overseas HQ |
| Flt Lt | R C Ritchie | 3 Jul 1945 | Posted to No 401 Sqn |
| Flt Lt | S Tooke | 3 Jul 1945 | Posted to BPC |
| Fg Off | C P Wright | 5 Jul 1945 | Posted to No 127 Wing |
| Sqn Ldr | W H F MacLean | 6 Jul 1945 | Posted to BPC pending repatriation |
| Flt Lt | N F Parsons | 6 Jul 1945 | Wing Signals Officer, posted to No 127 Wing |
| Flt Lt | H L Tipple | 7 Jul 1945 | Posted in from No 127 Wing as Wing Signals Officer |
| Capt | E N Clark | 13 Jul 1945 | Posted in from No 143 Wing for AL duties |
| Flt Lt | J A Galbraith | 16 Jul 1945 | Posted in for duty as Senior Administrative Officer |
| Fg Off | P Sawatzky | 16 Jul 1945 | Attached from HQ No 83 Group for duty as German Interpreter |
| Fg Off | N A Thompson | 23 Jul 1945 | Posted to No 3 PRC pending repatriation |
| Flt Lt | S C Barrall | 23 Jul 1945 | Ceased to be attached from HQ No 83 Group as an Interpreter |
Source - No 39 Wing ORB
Unit Movements 1945
| Unit | Date | Notes |
| 'A' Echelon HQ No 39 Wing | 6 Mar 1945 | Departed B78 for B90 |
| HQ No 39 Wing | 8 Mar 1945 | Fully operational at Airfield B90 except No 5 MFPS |
| No 5 MFPS | 9 Mar 1945 | Fully operational |
| 'A' Echelon HQ No 39 Wing | 30 Mar 1945 | Departed B90 for B104 |
| HQ No 39 Wing | 30 Mar 1945 | Fully operational at Airfield B104 |
| 'A' Echelon HQ No 39 Wing | 8 Apr 1945 | Departed B104 for B108 |
| 'A' Echelon HQ No 39 Wing | 15 Apr 1945 | Departed B108 for B116 Wunstorf |
| Aircraft of No 39 Wing | 16 Apr 1945 | Moved to B116 Wunstorf |
| 'B' Echelon HQ No 39 Wing | 17 Apr 1945 | Arrived at B116 Wunstorf |
| 'A' Echelon HQ No 39 Wing | 26 Apr 1945 | Moved from B116 for B154 |
| 'A' Echelon HQ No 39 Wing | 6 May 1945 | Moved from B154 for B156 |
| 'B' Echelon HQ No 39 Wing | 9 May 1945 | Arrived at B156 |
| No 5254 (C) MSU* | 9 Jul 1945 | Transferred from No 83 Group control to No 39 Wing |
| 'A' Party, No 6400 SE | 16 Jul 1945 | Departed for Copenhagen to join No 122 Wing |
| 'A' Party, No 6003 SE | 17 Jul 1945 | Arrived from No 122 Wing, Copenhagen to join No 39 Wing |
| Aircraft, No 400 Sqn | 18 Jul 1945 | Departed for Copenhagen to join No 122 Wing |
| 'B' Party, No 6400 SE | 18 Jul 1945 | Departed for Copenhagen to join No 122 Wing |
| Aircraft, No 400 Sqn | 18 Jul 1945 | Arrived from No 122 Wing, Copenhagen to join No 39 Wing |
| 'B' Party, No 6403 SE | 19 Jul 1945 | Arrived from No 122 Wing, Copenhagen to join No 39 Wing |
| No 39 Wing | 7 Aug 1945 | Disbanded |
*ORB states No 5454 MSU but no such unit existed
Source - No 39 Wing ORB
This page was last updated on 15/05/20©
