Ibsley Wing or Middle Wallop Wing?

[MW Giles]

In the period 1941 to 1943 were Squadrons operating with 10 Group in that bit of the world part of the Ibsley Wing or the Middle Wallop Wing?

Looking at the records the units themselves sometimes refer to the Wing they are flying with as one and a couple of operations later they refer to the other, only to swap back again later on.

I believed that the Sector station set the Wing, which would mean that it should be Middle Wallop, but enough people refer to the Ibsley Wing as an entity to make me wonder. Ibsley was where the day fighter squadrons in that area were mainly based, which would make sense.

Can anyone provide any clarity?

Martin

[Bruce Lander]

The Ibsley Wing seemed to be commanded by the following Wing Commanders
Flying :-
Ian Gleed Nov1941 - June 1942
C F "Bunny" Currant June 1942 - ???
E P P Gibbs July 1942 - Oct 1942
T D F Dalton Morgan Oct 1942 - Mar 1943 9 also noted as Middle Wallop
W/Cdr (F) at this time

Middle Wallop W/Cdr (F)
A H Boyd Aug 1941 - ????
T D F Dalton-Morgan Oct 1942 -July 1943
Exact relationship between the two bases still not clear

[MW Giles]

Thanks Bruce

If you look at the AIR 50 claims at PRO

Boyd - 10/41 = MW
Gleed - 3/42-5/42 = MW
Gibbs - 8/42 = Ibsley
Dalton-Morgan - 12/42 = MW
Dalton-Morgan - 4/43 = Ibsley

Very confusing

[Bruce Lander]

Just one more Wing leader to further confuse things :-
E F J "Jack" Charles - August 1943 - Sep 1943 noted as simultaneously Wing Leader at both Ibsley and Middle Wallop !
Also two additional ones doubtful but :-
A H Donaldson - Mar 1943 - April 1943
E H Thomas - April 1943 - July 1943

Bruce Lander