Fleet Air Arm Archive 1939-1945 - The Men

List of all Fleet Air Arm
Commanding Officers 1939-1945

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L -
M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W

- X - Y - Z

JS Bailey RN
Born
Rank: Sub Lt (1941), Lt. Cdr (A)(1943)
Honours and Awards: OBE date
Died
Other information
- 1 probable victory, BF109 in Kirkenes raid from HMS Victorious
(827 sqdn) (other crew in Albacore: Lt LC Williams, and L/A CT
Roberts). 30.7.1941
- CO of first operation sqdn to receive Fairey Barracuda, 1.1943.
- squadron aircrew had numerous problems with the new Barracuda, and assisted by RN Test Pilots from A&AEE Boscombe Down, notably Lt Cdr Baker-Falkner, 1-8.1943
- became CO of 768 Deck Landing Training School, Machrihanish, 6.1943
- barrier crash HMS Tracker in swordfish 2.9.1943 (768 sqdn)
- DLT, crashed HMS Ravager 8.12.1943 (768 sqdn)
- hit barrier HMS Argus in martlet 25.4.1944 (768 sqdn)
- barrier crash HMS Argus in martlet 12.5.1944 (768 sqdn
- hit barrier HMS Argus in martlet 2.6.1944 (768 sqdn
- barrier crash HMS Argus in martlet 4.6.1944 (768 sqdn)
- hit barrier HMS Argus in barracuda 25.6.1944 (768 sqdn)
- barrier crash HMS Argus in martlet 13.9.1944 (768 sqdn)
- end of posting with 769 sqdn, 10.1944.
- CO of 815 Barracuda sqd at Mullaghmore and Machrihanish, 1-3.1945

Commands:

827	Feb 1943	Aug 1943
815	Jan 1945	April 1945

ON Bailey RN
Born
Rank: Lt Cdr
Honours and Awards
Died
Other information
- held posting of CO 882 sqdn for 3 weeks, 15.7.1941 to 10.8.1941
- briefly, for 2 weeks, in command of 891 sqdn until it disbaned after the disaster of HMS Dasher blowing up with heavy lost of life.
- OBE
- Seniority 12.1953 (C)

Commands:

882	July 1941	Aug 1941
891	March 1943	April 1943	disbanded after hms dasher blew up, 27.3.1943

PEI Bailey RN
Born
Rank: Lt Cdr
Honours and Awards
Died
Other information
- took up command of 886 when it became part of the 24th Naval Fighter Wing
- on D-Day +1 shot down in seafire in English channel by AA fire from Allied ships, rescued 7.6.1944 (886 sqdn).
- served onboard HMS Attacker 10-12.1944, Dekheila and Helwan till April 1945 (879 sqdn)
- MBIM
- Seniority 12.1959 (C)

Commands:

886	Oct 1943	July 1944
879	Nov 1944	April 1945

C Baillard RNVR
Born
Rank: Lt Cdr (A)
Honours and Awards
Died
Other information
- took up command of 881 for ops in Norwegian waters, onboard HMS Pursuer, and HMS Trumpeter 1.1945 and HMS Puncher 2.1945 (881 sqdn).
- Onboard HMS Pursuer to Wingfield, Capetown 4.45 where re-equiped with hellcats for working up as part of 12th Carrier Air Group with the British Pacific Fleet still in command at Wingfield at the end of WW2 (881 sqdn).

Commands:

881	Oct 1944	End of WW2

RS Baker-Falkner RN
Born
Rank: Lt Cdr (A)
Honours and Awards: DSC (1942), DSO (1944), MID, Battle of Britain
Missing:18.7.1944
Other information
-involved in Dunkirk evacuation 1940 (812 sqdn)
- took part in the Battle of Britain 1940 (812 sqdn/600 sqdn?)
- involved in Petsamo raid 1941 (812 sqdn)
- took part in Ministry film "Find, Fix, and Strike" (767 sqdn)
- was Fairey Barracuda test pilot at A&AEE Boscombe Down (1942-1943)
- took up command as first Wing Leader 8th Naval TBR Wing, 10.1943
- led FAA attack on German Battleship Tirpitz, Operation Tungsten, 3.4.1944 (No.
8 TBR)
- led FAA strike against enemy shipping off Norway, Operation Ridge Able 1944
(No 8 TBR)
- FTR after a/s patrol on return from Operation Mascot against Tirpitz (No 8 TBR)

See Personnel Record [coming soon]

Commands:

827	Aug 1943	Oct 1943
8th Naval TBR Wing (827, 830 sqdns)	Oct 1943	July 1944	Lost 18.7.1944

GC Baldwin RN
Born
Rank: Lt (1942), Lt Cdr (A) (1943).
Honours and Awards: DSC (1943) & Bar (post June 1944)
Died
Other information:
- 1 confirmed victory, Dw520, shot down in seafire on Operation Torch, La Senia
airfield 8.11.1942 (807 sqdn)
- took up command of 807 sqdn onboard HMS Hunter for the Mediterranean where the sqdn subsequently maintained detachments at Gibraltar and Blida
- second wing leader 4th Naval Fighter Wing taking part in operations in Italy
- involved in invasion of South of France, 8.1944
- Operations in the Aegean providing Army co-operation support
- Saw service with the East Indies Fleet, early 1945
- CBE
- Seniority 12.1958 (C)

Commands:

807	Oct 1943	June 1944
4th Fighter Wing (807, 809, 879 sqdns)	June 1944	Nov 1945

JG Baldwin RN
Born
Rank: Lt (1943), Lt Cdr (1945)
Honours and Awards: DSC
Died
Other information
- embarked HMS Biter for escort duties, attacking and damaging U-203 25.4.1943 (811 sqdn).
- led sqdn in HMS Victorious on operations against Sakishima Gunto islands (1834/1836 sqdns)
- part of 1st Carrier Air Group, British Pacific Fleet, 1945
- took part in attacks on Japanese targets near Tokyo, 1945 (1834/1836 sqdns)
- Air Group Commander of 51st Training Air Group, 1949

Commands:

811	Jan 1943	April 1943
1834	26 April 1945	End of WW2
1836	21 May 1945	June 1945

EE Barringer RNVR
Born
Rank: Lt (A)(1944), Lt Cdr (1944).
Honours and Awards: MID (capture of Lothringen/Bismarck, 1941)
Died
Other information
- involved in destroying 6 Italian destroyers in the Red Sea, HMS Eagle, 1941 (803 sqdn)
- involved in capture of German supply ship Lothringen with HMS Dunedin during search for the German battleship Bismarck, 1941 (803 sqdn)

See autobiography.

Commands:

835

Feb 1944

Aug 1944

NA Bartlett RN
Born
Rank: Lt Cdr
Honours and Awards
Died
Other information
- 1 confirmed victory, Operation Pedestal, S79 shot down 12.8.1942 (806 sqdn)
- took command of 890 sqdn at Port Ellen, RAF 15 Group, till 12.1943 (890 sqd),
- based at Puttalam and onboard HMS Atheling, 3-8.1944
- Seniority 9.1949 (Lt Cdr)

Commands:

890	Nov 1943	Aug 1944	Sqdn disbanded

RL Bigg-Wither RN
Born
Rank: Lt Cdr (A)
Honours and Awards DSC & bar (pre March 1944)
Died
Other information
- Operation Mascot against German battleship Tirpitz 1944
- Operation Goodwood aganst Tirpitz, 8.1944
- joined as Wing Leader 6th Naval Fighter Wing, 9.1944
- led strikes on Sakishima Gunto islands in the East China Seas, 4-5.1945
- led Japanese operations in the Tokyo area, 1945
- recommended VC for his senior pilot, Lt RH Gray, DSC, RCNVR killed in action, 1945

Commands:

1841	March 1944	End of WW2
6th Naval Fighter Wing	Aug 1944	June 1945	disbanded into 2nd CAG

FDG Bird RM
Born
Rank: Captain Royal Marines
Honours and Awards
Died
Other information
- formed up the first 888 martlet sqdn in Nov 1941 at Lee-on-Solent, Nov 1941
- provided cover during the landings at Madagascar, 5.1942.
- took part in the invasion of North Africa, Operation Torch , abortive dusk chase after 3 Ju88, from HMS Formidable (888 sqdn)
- involved in landings of Sicily, 7.1943
- involved in landings at Salerno, 9.1943
- OBE
- Seniority 12.1958 (Col)

Commands:

888	Nov 1941	Oct 1943
759 CFI	1943	1944

RA Bird RN
Born 1917
Rank: Lt (1941), Lt Cdr (1943)
Honours and Awards DSC & Bar
Died 10.4.1946
Other information
- commanded 881 for operations during simulated invasion of Norway, HMS Furious and HMS Unicorn, 7.1943
- 1 confirmed damaged, Fw200, in hurricane, from Ariguani in Convoy OG75,
4.10.1941 (804 sqdn)

- 1 confirmed shared victory, Potez 63-11 at Diego Suarez, Madagascar operations
6.5.1942 (881 sqdn)
- 1 confirmed shared victory, Bv138, in martlet shared Am974 from HMS Furious
8.7.1943 (881sqdn)
- CO of 882 joining HMS Searcher in 2.1945 for ops off Norway, including 1 confirmed victory and 1 confirmed damaged, in wildcat, both Bf109 26.3.1945 (882 sqdn)
- led successful strike on U-Boat base at Kilbotn, 5.1945 (882 sqdn)
-- Died HMS Gannet 10.4.1946

Commands:

881	March 1943	Nov 1943
882	Nov 1944	June 1945

AF Black RN
Born
Rank: Lt Cdr
Honours and Awards DSC (post 1942)
Died
Other information
took up command of reformed 805 sqdn at Aboukir
and embarked HMS Illustrious for ops in the defence of Crete
- sqdn became part of RN Fighter Sqdn in Western Desert, 7.1941 (with RAF 264, 269 and 234 Wings)
- Seniority 6.1952 (C)

Commands:

805	Jan 1941	May 1942

AW Bloomer RN
Born
Rank: Lt Cdr
Honours and Awards DSC (1945)
Died
Other information
- took up command of 809 sqdn, part of the East Indies Fleet
- provided fighter cover for the re-occupation of Rangoon , HMS Attacker, 5.1945
- led bombing and fighter cover during photo recco Operation over Malaya and Sumtatra, 6.1945
- took part in providing cover for the re-occupation of Malya after VJ-Day.
-Seniority 12.1953 (Cdr)

Commands:

809	April 1945	end of WW2+

AP Boddam-Whetham RN
Born
Rank: Lt Cdr
Honours and Awards: DSC (1943)
Died
Other information
- took up command of the reformed 850 sqdn at Squantum
- undertook ops in the English Channel under RAF Coastal Command, 4-5.44 (850 sqdn)
- commanding 848 sqdn and providing cover and anti-shipping patrols to the D-Day Normandy invasion forces under RAF Coastal Command at Manston and Thorney island.
- Seniority 2.1946 (Lt Cdr)

Commands:

850	Sept 1943	May 1944
848	May 1944	Aug 1944

AS Bolt RN
Born 1907 England
Rank: Lt Cdr (1939)
Honours and Awards DSO (Korea, 1951), DSC (1940) & Bar (1941, Battle of Matapan)
Died
Other information
- joined RN in 1923
- involved in search for the German pocket battleship Graf Spee in the Indian Ocean, autumn 1939, HMS Glorious (812 sqdn).
- returned to UK with HMS Glorious, needed for defence in the invasion of Norway.
- awarded DSO Captain of HMS Thesue (Korea)
- involved in lengthy spotting in Battle of Matapan from HMS Warspite in
swordfish (floats) 28.5.1941 (700 sqdn)
- CB
- Seniority 7.1956 (Rear Admiral)

Commands:

812	June 1939	April 1940

S Borrett RN
Born
Rank: Lt Cdr
Honours and Awards
Died
Other information
- rescued from sinking of HMS Courageous, 17.9.1939 (811 sqdn)
- took up comand of 815 sqdn, one of first FAA sqdns to be under RAF Coastal Command for operations in the English Channel, from 8.4.1940 based at Bircham Newton.
-seniority 30.6.1942 (Cdr)

Commands:

811	July 1939	Sept 1939	HMS Courageous sunk and sqdn ceased to exist 17.9.1939
815	Oct 1939	Nov 1939	Sqdn disbanded
815	Nov 1939	April 1940

BE Boulding RN
Born
Rank: Lt Cdr
Honours and Awards DSC
Died
Other information
- took up command of 822 sqdn re-equipping with Barracuda.
- joined as Wing Leader of 45th Naval TBR for intended service in the Eastern Fleet, with HMS Indefatigable, 10.1943.
- joined as Wing Leader of 21st Naval TBR for intended service in the Eastern Fleet, with HMS Illustrious, 11.1943.
- Seniority 1.8.1945 (Lt Cdr)

Commands:

822	Aug 1943	Dec 1943
45th Naval TBR Wing (822,823 sqdns)	Oct 1943	Dec 1943
21st Naval TBR Wing (810,847 sqdns)	Nov 1943	Feb 1944

RA Brabner MP, RNVR
Born 1912 UK
Rank: Lt (1940), Lt Cdr (A) (1941)
Honours and Awards DSO DSC
Died 27.3.1945
Other information
- Member of Parliament for Hythe in 1939.
- Air ace with 5 confirmed destroyed enemy aircraft, 1 shared destroyed, 1 probable and 1 shared destroyed.
- 1 confirmed destroyed Cr42 and 2 probable destroyed in fulmar 28.11.1940 (806
sqdn)
- commanded flight of Buffaloes in Crete, early 1941 (805 sqdn)
- rescued by HMS Hotspur after ditching 10.3.1941(806 sqdn)
- involved in the major Malta convoys operation Harpoon, June 1942, and in Operation Pedestal, Aug 1942 in HMS Eagle (801 sdqn)
- 1 confirmed destroyed Mc200, 1 confirmed destroyed S.79, 1 shared destroyed Ju.88, and 1 damaged, Ba99, [Cant z1007?], and 1 probable S.79, in hurricane from
HMS Eagle, 14.6.1942 (801 sqdn).
- killed 27.3.1945

See Aces High biography

Commands:

801	Aug 1941	Sept 1942

RE Bradshaw RN
Born
Rank: Lt Cdr (A)
Honours and Awards: DSC (1941/43) and Bar (1944/45)
Died
Other information
- provided anti-submarine support in the Sicily Invasions, 6.1943 (826 sqdn).
- commanded 852 sqdn from its first formation at Squantum.
- involved in anti-shipping strikes off norwegian coast (852 sqdn).
- sqdn on HMS Nabob when badly damaged by torpedoes from U-354
- took up command of 828 sqdn, immediately after VJ-Day, following the sqdn being involved in strikes against the Japanese mainland the previous month.

Commands:

826	May 1943	Aug 1943	sqd disbanded
852	Nov 1943	Oct 1944
828	End of WW2+

HP Bramwell RN
Born
Rank: Lt Cdr (1940)
Honours and Awards DSO, DSC (1940)
Died
Other information
- took part in operations during the Norwegian campaign, 4.1940
- shot down 1 Do18 shared with other skua, 16.4.1940
- He111 shot down, shared with other skua, 26.4.1940
- CO of 778 sqdn, Arbroath 1941-1942.
- seniority 31.12.1942 (Cdr)

Commands:

801	Jan 1940	April 1940

S Brilliant RN
Born
Rank: Lt Cdr (A)
Honours and Awards
Died
Other information
- commanded 824 barracuda sqdn on its re-forming at Katukurunda, Ceylon.

Commands:

824	July 1945	End of WW2+

EM Britton RN
Born 1920
Rank: Lt Cdr (A)
Honours and Awards
Died 21.6.1946
Other information

took command of one of the first sqdns to be equiped with Barracuda, sqdn joining No 52 Naval TBR Wing , 11.1943
first Wing leader of 2nd Naval TBR Wing
Wing Leader of 12th TBR Wing on HMS Begum in 2.1944 for BPF
joined HMS Indomitable in 7.1944 for operations

Died 21.6.1946 HMS Falcon, Malta

Commands:

831	Sept 1943	Jan 1944
2nd Naval TBR Wing (828, 841 sqdns)	Jan 1944	July 1944
12th Naval TBR Wing (815, 817 sqdns)	Jan 1944	Dec 1944
52nd Naval TBR Wing (829, 831 sqdns - ex 815, 817 sdqns)	Jan 1944	Feb/March 1944

HH Britton RN
Born
Rank: Lt
Honours and Awards
Died
Other information
- took up command of 828 sqdn at Hal Far.
- sqdn joined 828 sqdn to attack shipping and illumination of Pantellaria, 5.1943.

Commands:

828	March 1943	May 1943

HF Bromwich RN
Born
Rank: Lt Cdr (A)
Honours and Awards
Died
Other information
- provided fighter cover in Operation Tungsten, atttack on German battleship Tirpitz, 3.4.1944 (801 sqdn)
- provided cover in strikes on shipping off Norway, 5.1944
- provided cover in Operation Mascot, against the Tirpitz, 17.7.1944
- Seniority 11.1945 (Lt Cdr)

Commands:

801	Nov 1943	July 1944

DG Brooker RNVR
Born
Rank: Lt Cdr (A)
Honours and Awards
Died 20.3.1945
Other information
- took command of the first commissiing of 1846 sqdn at Brunswick
- killed HMS Colossus, 20.3.1945

Commands:

1846	July 1944	March 1945	killed 20.3.1945 the sqdn disbanding soon after

D Brooks RNVR
Born
Rank: Lt Cdr (A)
Honours and Awards: DSC (pre 1944) and bar (1944)(Tirpitz)
Died
Other information
- Led second strike in Operation Tungsten, against German battleship Tirpitz, 3.4.1944 (No 52 Naval TBR)
- joined 821 sqdn, HMS Trumpter for the Far East, 7.1945

Commands:

831	Feb 1944	May 1944
821	June 1945	End of WW2+

FW Brown RM
Born
Rank: Captain Royal Marines
Honours and Awards
Died
Other information
- took part in Malta convoys, HMS Eagle, 2.1942 and 3.1942
- ended command when HMS Eagle sunk 11.8.1942 and sqdn ceased to exist.

Commands:

824	Aug 1941	Aug 1942	Sqdn disbanded

JM Brown RNVR
Born
Rank: Lt Cdr
Honours and Awards DSC (pre 1943)
Died
Other information
- took part in providing anti-submarine operations under RAF Coastal Command (156 GR Wing) in English Channel during D-Day invasion of Normandy.

Commands:

838	Nov 1943	Aug 1944

JM Bruen RN
Born Dublin, Eire 20.12.1910
Rank: Lt (1940), Lt Cdr
Honours and Awards: DSO, DSC (for ops March 1941)
Died
Other information
- Air Ace with 4 destroyed enemy aircraft, 4 shared destroyed, 2 damaged, 2 shared damaged, 1 shared damaged on ground.
- first saw action over Dakar when leading attack on the French Fleet, 9.1940 (803 sqdn)
- 1 confirmed destroyed Ju88 in fulmar, 21.3.1941, Tripoli (803 sqdn)
- led sqdn in attacks on Madagascar, in Operation Ironclad, 5-7.5.1942
- took part in Operation Pedestal convoy to Malta, 8.1942 (800 sqdn)
- took part in the landings in Oran/La Senia, Algeria (North Africa), 11.1942
- 1destroyed D-520 at Oran airfield, 8.11.1942 (800sqdn)

See biography in "Aces High"

Commands:

803	June 1940	Oct 1940
803	Nov 1940	July 1941
800	March 1942	Dec 1942

JPG Bryant RN (RAF)
Born
Rank: Lt Cdr (Sqdn Ldr, RAF)
Honours and Awards
Died
Other information
- commanded 802 sqdn in the Mediterranean with HMS Glorious.
- involved in the search for German pocket battleship Graf Spee in the Indian Ocean, 1939
- seniority 31.12.1940 (Cdr)

Commands:

802	Jan 1938	March 1940

RF Bryant RN
Born
Rank: Lt Cdr (A)
Honours and Awards
Died
Other information
- took command of 808 sqdn which in 6.1945 was involved in strikes against Sumatran airfields
-took part in providing cover during occupation of Malaya after VJ-Day.
- Seniority 6.1951 (Lt Cdr)

Commands:

808	June 1945	End of WW2

DK Buchanon-Dunlop RN
Born
Rank: Lt Cdr
Honours and Awards DSC
Died
Other information
- involved in operations duing Dunkirk evacuation and in the English Channel as senior observer (812 sqdn)
- took part in anti-submarine patrols and bombing strikes in Madagascar landings, 5.1942
- survived the bombing of HMS Indomitable during Operation Pedestal to Malta, 8.1942
- served on HMS Indefatigable during Operation Mascot, attack against German battleship Tirpitz, 17.7.1944
- served on the British delegation in Nuremberg Trials.
- Seniority 6.1955 (C)

Commands:

827	May 1942	Sept 1942

JB Buckley RN
Born British
Rank: Lt Cdr
Honours and Awards: MID
Died 21.3.1943
Other information:
- involved in operations in the English Channel against U-boats, E-boats and enemy shipping in the lead up to the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Forces
- taken POW 29 May 1940, shot down during Dunkirk evacuation period
- escaped POW camp 3.1943 and died 21.3.1943 in canoe escaping from Germany to Sweden

See CWGC database

Commands:

825	Feb 1940	May 1940	POW 29.5.1940

DJ Bunyan RNVR
Born
Rank: Lt Cdr (A)
Honours and Awards
Died
Other information
- CO of 846 sqdn, with plans to join 4th CAG on HMS Illustrious in the BPF, instead role was a s a trials unit.

Commands:

846	16 June 1945	End of WW2	disbanded Sept 1945

AR Burch RM
Born
Rank: Major Royal Marines
Honours and Awards
Died
Other information
- involved in convoy escort duty in HMS Furious, 7.1945

Commands:

822	Oct 1941	Aug 1942

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