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41 Squadron Between the World Wars

16/7/2022

While going through old e-mails, I recalled that Alistair McFarland gave me editing rights to the Association website’s blog back in August 2016, and was pleasantly surprised to find they are still valid.

Consequently, as there haven’t been any Blog posts for some time, I thought I might provide some material from my current research into 41 Squadron’s interwar pilots. I hope you find them of interest.

Regards
Steve Brew

SOME FASCINATING FACTS AND STATISTICS

There were 199 pilots on 41 Squadron between April 1923 and August 1939, and my research has allowed me to compile some fascinating demographic and other statistical data. For example, I have established that:

155 (78%) were officers & 44 (22%) were NCOs.

Of the 155 officers, 107 (69%) entered on Short Service Commissions, 45 (29%) on Permanent Commissions, and 3 (2%) via the RAFO.

25 (13%) officers were RAF College graduates, of whom two were awarded the Sword of Honour.

23 officers attended RAF Staff College.

24 (12%) were promoted to Air ranks, including 11 Air Commodores, 9 Air Vice-Marshals, 2 Air Marshals, and 2 Air Chief-Marshals.

5 officers were Knighted.

Of the 44 NCOs, 24 (55%) were initially apprentices, 18 (41%) were direct entry, and two are currently unknown.

50 (25%) of the pilots fought in WWI, 152 (76%) fought in WWII, 37 (19%) in both World Wars, 30 (15%) in neither, and 6 in North or South Russia in 1919; four served in the ATA during WWII, and four are currently unknown.

160 (80%) of the men were from the United Kingdom, 11 (5.5%) from Éire, 9 (4.5%) each from Canada & New Zealand, 5 (2.5%) from South Africa, one from Australia, and four are currently of unknown origin.

Citizenship aside, their countries of birth reflect the far reaches of the British Empire: only 124 (62%) were born in England, 10 in Éire, 9 in each Canada & New Zealand, 8 in each Scotland and Wales, 7 each in India and South Africa, and one in each Australia, Ceylon, China, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Paraguay, Russia, Singapore and Spain; five countries of birth are currently unknown.

Only 65% of the pilots died of natural causes. Tragically, 45 (23% - almost a quarter of them) were killed in military or civil flying accidents, 12 (6%) were killed in action, 6 died of illness, two in motor vehicle accidents, one on active service; three are currently unknown.

18 men became test pilots.

4 men were court martialed and dismissed from the service, one directly from 41 Sqn.

3 men were involved in pre-WWII helicopter (‘autgiro’) development.

1 man was kidnapped as a child (and safely returned!)

And finally, to close out the list, 41 Squadron’s first post-WWI Adjutant was the only man to hold the position who was not a pilot. Having been wounded on the Western Front in May 1916, his left arm was amputated at the shoulder, and he was fitted with a prosthesis and hook. He joined the RFC in April 1917, served with the RAF throughout WWII, rose to the rank of Wing Commander, and retired in 1954.

I don’t know to what extent 41 Squadron’s statistics reflect those of other RAF squadrons during the period – I am not sure such figures even exist – but the data provides a fascinating insight into the men of the era, and the legacy inherited by today’s 41 Squadron.

[Below image: 41 Squadron Armstrong-Whitworth Siskin IIIa being serviced with oxygen at Northolt, no date but ca late 1920s (public domain)]

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