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Aviation History
1957
1957 - 0215.PDF
Fairey Flycatcher fleet fighters and Fairey IIIF fleet spotter reconnaissance aircraft were extensively used by F.A.A. flights in the 1920s and 1930s. Machines of each type are seen (Flycatchers foremost) aboard the carrier H.M.S. "Glorious" during 1930. BELOW SQUADRON STATUS An Outline History of R.A.F. and F.A.A. "Flights PART I By R. C. STURTIVANT MUCH has been written—and much remains to be written—of the histories of Royal Air Force squadrons, but littleor no account has been published of the activities of the numbered flights of the R.A.F., which, although generally short-lived, have appeared in great profusion, around 400 having been formed during the war years. These flights appeared as early as 1918; Appendix XXVI toThe War in the Air lists Flight No. 471 as a single-seat fighter unit of the 5th Group, on November 11, 1918, being equippedwith Sopwith Camels. The use of flight numbers in the 400 series was evidently intended to avoid confusion with normalsquadrons, whose numbers at that stage never exceeded 274. The series lapsed after the war, but was revived in 1923 onthe re-organization of the Fleet Air Arm. Flight numbers com- mencing at 401 were allocated to fleet fighter units; fleet spotterunits commenced at 420, fleet spotter reconnaissance units at 440, and fleet torpedo bomber units at 460. In addition the coastalreconnaissance units were re-organized as flights, with numbers commencing at 480. The original six fleet fighter flights, numbered 401 to 406 inclu-sive, had a varied equipment including Parnall Panthers (with 406 Flight) and Gloster Mars X/Nightjar (with 401 Flight); but theywere soon fitted throughout with Fairey Flycatchers. By 1932 these flights had increased to nine in number, Nos. 407, 408 and409 all receiving Flycatchers initially. But this aircraft was by now rapidly becoming obsolete, and deliveries of Hawker Nimrodand Osprey replacements had begun. Re-equipment was complete by 1934. The fleet spotter flights were four in number, Nos. 420,421 and422 being attached to the Home Fleet, and No. 423 to the Medi- terranean Fleet. Varied equipment included the Parnall Panther,Fairey IIID, Avro Bison and Blackburn Blackburn. These flights were disbanded in 1928, and their duties were transferred to thefleet spotter reconnaissance flights. The latter were originally four in number (440 to 443), but by 1927 had increased to seven,and on the disbandment of the fleet spotter flights, to eleven —numbered 440 to 450. Basic equipment was the Fairey IIID,which was gradually replaced by the Fairey IIIF. Numbers 445, 446 and 449 Flights received the Fairey IIIF Mk VI (or Seal)shortly before disbandment. Numbers 447/450 Flights had no IIIDs, as they retained the former fleet spotter equipmentfor some time—447/448 having Bisons, and 449/450 having Blackburns. The fleet torpedo bomber flights, originally Nos. 460 to 462,were equipped with Blackburn Darts, and later Blackburn Ripons. Their numbers were increased to seven (460/466) by 1931, andFairey IIIFs were scheduled as replacements, but only 460 Flight received these before the disbandment.A further re-organization of the Fleet Air Arm, on April 3, 1933, led to the abolition of independent flights, except for thoseemployed on catapult duties with the Fleet (i.e., Nos. 403, 406, 407, 443, 444 and 447), and to the establishment of squadrons inthe 800 series. The catapult flights were later re-numbered in the 700 series, and by 1939 were given full squadron status. In addition to the Fleet Air Arm flights, Coastal Area (now NOTWITHSTANDING its extent, this compilation (necessarily of a"specialist" nature) is stated by the author to be by no means exhaustive. It is hoped, nevertheless, that it will throw light on the activities ofa series of units which, although rarely publicized, have done—and are continuing to do—extremely valuable work. The table has been pre-pared to assist in clarifying the allocations of numbers to squadrons and flights of the Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. Coastal Command) had three flights, numbered 480-482. No. 480was formed on April 1, 1923, by combining the Naval Co-opera- tion Flight and 230 Squadron, at Calshot. Originally equippedwith F.2A and F.5 flying-boats, this unit received five Super- marine Southamptons in 1925, and in a further re-organization inJanuary 1929, became 201 Squadron. Similarly, 481 Flight, equipped with six Fairey IIIDs, and based at Kalafrana (Malta),became 202 Sqn., whilst 482 Flight, with Southamptons at Cattewater, became 203 Sqn. Thus, the gradual expansion of the Royal Air Force and FleetAir Arm put a temporary halt to the series of numbered flights. This was not to last, however, for war brought fresh needs forsmall units which, although operational, did not justify the title of squadron at their inception (although events were to demand theeventual granting of full squadron status in many instances). At home, the R.A.F. Meteorological Flight at Mildenhall wasredesignated 401 Met. Flight, and the Air Ministry Met. Flight at Aldergrove became 402 Met. Flight. Both used Gladiators asbasic equipment, but other types used to a lesser degree included the Hawker Hart, Hawker Hurricane, Bristol Bulldog, BristolBlenheim and Vickers-Supermarine Spitfire. These two units made ascents to obtain temperatures, pressures and humidities,sorties being given the code-name THUM (Temperature HUMidity). In the Sudan, 403 Flight operated with Vincents as part of254 Wing, being employed on special work in support of the Abyssinian patriots against the Italians in the Lake Tana area.This designation was later transferred to a new met. flight formed at Bircham Newton in November 1940, with three Bristol Blen-heims. All three met. flights operated under Coastal Command, being later supplemented by Nos. 404 (St. Eval) and 405 (Aider-grove), which, with No. 403, obtained meteorological information from over the Atlantic. Other flights formed in 1940 included 419 (Special Duties)Flight equipped with agent-dropping Lysanders, and eventually becoming 138 Sqn.; 420 (Night Fighter) Flight, which usedBostons for experiments in the use of aerial mines in the inter- ception of enemy aircraft, eventually becoming 93 Sqn.; 421Fighter Flight which operated Hurricanes and Spitfires (coded "LZ") from Gravesend and West Mailing; and 422 (Night Fighter)Flight with Hurricanes at Tangmere, and later Ford (this became 96 Squadron on December 18, 1940). Malta-based 431 GeneralReconnaissance Flight operated Marylands from Luqa, keeping watch on ports in southern Italy. In early November 1940 itreported the presence of an Italian battle fleet at Taranto, and as a result of their reconnaissance the highly successful Fleet AirArm torpedo attack of November 11 took place. By early 1941 the decision had been made to form^ within the
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