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crowded with children being evacuated from London. Time was
heavy on our hands. But after a few days the squadron was moved
from Hendon to the aerodrome at North Weald, in Essex, our prearranged
war station, and it was there on 3 rd September 1939, as we
stood on the grass by our aircraft, that we heard the tired voice of the
Prime Minister as it came from a portable radio set. Now there could
be no more pieces of paper, and that the time for words had passed.
We knew that at last we were in for what we had been expecting.‟ 30
Aware that the political situation was sliding inexorably towards war,
the Government called the reserves to the colours and embodied the AAF
once again into the Regular Air Force on the 24 th August. Embodiment was
completed by the 26 th , with all personnel present and accounted for, and the
Squadron fully mobilised by the 1 st September. The Squadron‟s
establishment 31 in early September 1939 was as follows:
Pilots: „A‟ Flight „B‟ Flight
F/Lt M.F.Anderson (OC) F/Lt A.J.Davies (OC)
F/O S.H.Skinner (Deputy F/O J.Cunningham (Deputy OC)
OC)
F/O G.O.Budd
F/O E.W.Prescott
F/O P.W.D.Heal
F/O R.H.Scott
P/O C.D.E.Skinner P/O A.S.Hunter
P/O H.Speke
P/O M.D.Doulton
Sgt P.E.Jackson
Sgt R.E.Havercroft
Sgt A.W.Woolley Sgt Forrest
Note: All the sergeants were posted to the Squadron from No.11 Group‟s
Aircrew Pool, St Athan, with no previous flying experience on Blenheims.
Aircraft Strength - 18 x Bristol Blenheim Mk.If („A‟ Flight 9, „B‟ Flight 7,
Reserves, 2).
Commanding Officer - Squadron Leader R.A.Budd, AAF.
Adjutant - Flying Officer J.D.St Olliffe-Lee, RAF.
Medical Officer - Flying Officer W.D.Coltart, AAF.
Stores Officer - Flight Lieutenant F.A.Mitchell, AAF.
30 C.F.Rawnsley & Robert Wright, op cit, pages 23 & 24.
31 No.604 Squadron Diary/ORB, page 20.
43