Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
[Command HQ | No 11 Group | No 12 Group | No 81 Group | Inactive Stations]
Command HQ - RAF Stanmore, Middlesex
| Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
| Air Traffic Control Centre | Barton Hall (MCA) | |
| Fighter Command Communication Sqn | Bovingdon (MCA) | |
| Air Traffic Control Centre | RAF Gloucester | Station in Home Command |
| Air Traffic Control Centre | Prestwick (MCA) | |
| HQ, Royal Observer Corps | RAF Stanmore | |
| RAF Central School of Aircraft Recognition | RAF Stanmore | |
| HQ (Unit) | RAF Stanmore Park | |
| Film Production Unit Library | RAF Stanmore Park | Functionally controlled by Air Ministry (CIO) |
| Air Traffic Control Centre | RAF Uxbridge | Station in TTC |
| Air Traffic Control Centre | RAF Watnall |
HQ - Hillingdon
| Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
| RAF Station Beaulieu (C & M) | ||
| RAF Station Bentwaters | Administered by USAF | |
| RAF Station Felixstowe | ||
| Fighter Command Control Unit | Heathrow (MCA) | |
| RAF School of Land/Air Warfare | RAF Old Sarum | Anson/Spitfire/Proctor, functionally controlled by AM (ACAS (Ops)) |
| RAF Component, Joint School of Chemical Warfare | Salisbury | Satellite of Old Sarum, functionally controlled by AM (DGD) |
| RAF Station Shepherds Grove | Administered by USAF | |
| Southern Sector | ||
| No 3617 (County of Hampshire) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Bournemouth | |
| RAF Station Box | Sector Operations Centre | |
| HQ Southern Sector | RAF Box | |
| No 909 Signals Unit | RAF Comberton | GCI |
| No 185 Signals Unit | Drytree | CH (C & M) |
| No 3512 (County of Devon (Exeter)) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Exeter | |
| No 690 Signals Unit | Exminster | GCI |
| RAF Station Filton | ||
| No 501 (County of Gloucester) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF Filton | Vampire |
| HQ, No 6 RAF Police District (UK) | RAF Filton | Functionally controlled by DPM (UK) |
| No 508 Signals Unit | Folly | CH (C & M) |
| No 392 Signals Unit | Haycastle Cross | CH (C & M) |
| No 926 Signals Unit | Hope Cove | GCI |
| No 3614 (County of Glamorgan) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Cardiff (Llandaff) | Station in Home Command |
| No 614 (County of Glamorgan) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF Llandow | Vampire, station in Maintenance Command |
| RAF Station Odiham | ||
| No 54 Sqn | RAF Odiham | Vampire |
| No 247 Sqn | RAF Odiham | Meteor |
| No 3513 (County of Devon (Plymouth)) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Plymouth | |
| No 87 Signals Unit | Poling | CH |
| No 815 Signals Unit | Portland (The Verne) | CEW |
| No 703 Signals Unit | Ringstead | CH |
| No 3507 (County of Somerset) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | RAF Rudloe Manor | Station in No 81 Group |
| No 383 Signals Unit | Sennen | CH (C & M) |
| No 227 Signals Unit | RAF Sopley | GCI |
| RAF Station Tangmere | ||
| No 1 Sqn | RAF Tangmere | Meteor |
| No 29/22 Sqn | RAF Tangmere | Meteor |
| No 708 Signals Unit | Trelanvean | CH (C & M) |
| No 943 Signals Unit | Trerew | CH (C & M) |
| No 607 Signals Unit | Truleigh Hill | CHEL |
| No 23 Signals Unit | Ventnor | CH, CHL (+CMH), CHEL |
| No 620 Signals Unit | West Prawle | CH (C & M) |
| Metropolitan Sector | ||
| No 144 Signals Unit | RAF Bawdsey | CH, CHL, CHEL |
| No 880 Signals Unit | Beachy Head | |
| RAF Station Biggin Hill | ||
| No 41/253 Sqn | RAF Biggin Hill | Meteor |
| No 600 (City of London) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF Biggin Hill | Meteor |
| No 615 (Country of Surrey) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF Biggin Hill | Meteor |
| No 3701 Radar Reporting Unit RAuxAF | Brighton | |
| No 749 Signals Unit | Dunkirk | CH |
| RAF Station Duxford | ||
| No 64 Sqn | RAF Duxford | Meteor |
| No 65 Sqn | RAF Duxford | Meteor |
| HQ, No 4 RAF Police District (UK) | RAF Duxford | Functionally controlled by DPM (UK) |
| No 3618 (County of Sussex) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Eastbourne | |
| RAF Station Fairlight | ||
| No 229 Signals Unit | RAF Fairlight | CHEL |
| No 993 Signals Unit | Foreness | CHEL |
| No 3619 (County of Suffolk) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Ipswich (Airfield) | |
| RAF Station Kelvedon | Sector Operations Centre | |
| HQ Metropolitan Sector | RAF Kelvedon | |
| No 3604 (County of Middlesex) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | London (Queen's Square) | |
| No 3700 Radar Reporting Unit RAuxAF | London (Hallam Street) | |
| RAF Station Manston | ||
| No 3500 (County of Kent) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Margate | |
| RAF Station North Weald | ||
| No 72 Sqn | RAF North Weald | Vampire |
| No 601 (City of London) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF North Weald | Meteor |
| No 604 (County of Middlesex) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF North Weald | Meteor |
| No 860 Signals Unit | Rye | CH |
| No 1 Signals Unit | St Margaret's Bay | CEW |
| No 491 Signals Unit | RAF Sandwich | GCI |
| No 783 Signals Units | RAF Trimley Heath | |
| No 919 Signals Unit | RAF Wartling | GCI |
| RAF Station Waterbeach | ||
| No 56 Sqn | RAF Waterbeach | Meteor |
| No 63 Sqn | RAF Waterbeach | Meteor |
| Fighter Command Centralised Holding Unit | RAF Waterbeach | |
| RAF Station Wattisham | ||
| No 257 Sqn | RAF Wattisham | Meteor |
| No 263 Sqn | RAF Wattisham | Meteor |
| No 289 (Rifle) Sqn, RAF Regiment | RAF Wattisham | |
| RAF Station West Malling | Maidstone, Kent | |
| No 25 Sqn | RAF West Malling | Vampire |
| No 85 Sqn | RAF West Malling | Meteor |
| No 500 (County of Kent) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF West Malling | Meteor |
| RAF Station Wethersfield | Administered by USAF | |
HQ - RAF Newton, Nottinghamshire
| Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
| RAF Station Blyton (C & M) | ||
| RAF Station East Kirkby (C & M) | ||
| RAF Station Kirknewton | Administered by the USAF | |
| RAF Station Newton | ||
| No 12 Group Communication Flight | RAF Newton | |
| RAF Station Sandtoft (C & M) | ||
| RAF Station Sturgate | Administered by the USAF | |
| Central Fighter Establishment | RAF West Raynham | Various |
|
Northern Sector |
||
| No 146 Signals Unit | Bempton | CHL, CHEL |
| RAF Station Church Fenton | ||
| No 19/152 Sqn | RAF Church Fenton | Meteor |
| No 609 (West Yorkshire) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF Church Fenton | Meteor |
| No 573 Signals Unit | Danby Beacon | CH (C & M) |
| No 545 Signals Unit | Easington | CHEL |
| No 39 Signals Unit | Goldsborough | |
| No 854 Signals Unit | Humberstone | CHL |
| RAF Station Linton-on-Ouse | ||
| No 66 Sqn | RAF Linton-on-Ouse | Meteor |
| No 92 Sqn | RAF Linton-on-Ouse | Meteor |
| No 264 Sqn | RAF Linton-on-Ouse | Meteor |
| No 275 Sqn | RAF Linton-on-Ouse | Sycamore |
| RAF Station Long Benton | ||
| No 3508 (County of Northumberland) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | RAF Long Benton | |
| No 671 Signals Unit | Maidens Hall | VHF/DF |
| RAF Station Ouston | ||
| No 607 (County of Durham) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF Ouston | Vampire, station in Home Command |
| HQ, No 21 Wing, RAF Regiment | RAF Ouston | |
| No 63 (Rifle) Sqn, RAF Regiment | RAF Ouston | |
| No 194 (Rifle) Sqn, RAF Regiment | RAF Ouston | |
| RAF Station Patrington | ||
| No 59 Signals Unit | Seaton Snook | GCI |
| RAF Station Shipton | Sector Operations Centre | |
| HQ Northern Sector | RAF Shipton | |
| No 191 Signals Unit | Staxton Wold | CH |
| No 178 Signals Unit | Stenigot | CH |
| No 3505 (East Riding) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | RAF Sutton-on-Hull | Station in TTC |
| No 608 (North Riding) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF Thornaby | Vampire, station in Home Command |
| No 3608 (North Riding) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | RAF Thornaby | |
| No 533 (Rifle) Sqn, RAF Regiment | RAF Thornaby | |
| No 729 Signals Unit | Woodlands | VHF/DF |
| No 3609 (West Yorkshire) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | RAF Yeadon | Station in Home Command |
|
Eastern Sector |
||
| No 344 Signals Unit | Bard Hill | CHL (+ CMH) Station |
| RAF Station Bawburgh | Sector Operations Centre | |
| HQ Eastern Sector | RAF Bawburgh | |
| RAF Station Coltishall | ||
| No 23 Sqn | RAF Coltishall | Vampire |
| No 141 Sqn | RAF Coltishall | Meteor |
| No 616 (South Yorkshire) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF Finningley | Meteor, station in FTC |
| No 745 Signals Unit | Happisburgh | CHL |
| No 430 Signals Unit | High Street, Darsham | CH (Rebuilding) |
| No 250 Signals Unit | Hopton | CHL (+ CMH), CHEL |
| RAF Station Horsham St Faith | ||
| No 74/34 Sqn | RAF Horsham St Faith | Meteor |
| No 245 Sqn | RAF Horsham St Faith | Meteor |
| No 966 Signals Unit | RAF Langtoft | GCI |
| RAF Station Neatishead | ||
| RAF Station North Luffenham | Administered by RCAF | |
| HQ, No 1 Fighter Wing, RCAF | RAF North Luffenham | |
| No 410 (RCAF) Sqn | RAF North Luffenham | |
| No 439 (RCAF) Sqn | RAF North Luffenham | |
| No 441 (RCAF) Sqn | RAF North Luffenham | |
| No 3504 (County of Nottingham) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Nottingham | |
| No 3620 (County of Norfolk) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Old Catton, Norwich | |
| No 696 Signals Unit | Orby | GCI |
| No 3506 (County of Northampton) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Peterborough | |
| No 613 (City of Manchester) Sqn RAuxAF | Ringway | Vampire, station in Home Command |
| No 950 Signals Unit | Skendleby | CHEL |
| No 353 Signals Unit | Stoke Holy Cross | CH |
| No 432 Signals Unit | Trimmingham | CHEL |
| No 820 Signals Unit | West Beckham | CH (+ CMH), CHEL |
| RAF Station Wymeswold | ||
| No 504 (County of Nottingham) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF Wymeswold | Meteor |
|
Western Sector |
||
| No 197 Signals Unit | Ballywooden | GCI |
| No 3502 (Ulster) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Belfast | |
| No 3613 (City of Manchester) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Bowlee | Station in Home Command |
| No 3605 (County of Warwick) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Castle Bromwich | Station in Home Command |
| No 3611 (West Lancashire) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Fazakerley | Station in Home Command |
| No 17 Signals Unit | Hack Green | GCI |
| RAF Station Honiley | ||
| No 605 (County of Warwick) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF Honiley | Vampire |
| RAF Station Hooton Park | ||
| No 610 (County of Chester) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF Hooton Park | Meteor |
| No 611 (West Lancashire) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF Hooton Park | Meteor |
| RAF Station Longley Lane | Sector Operations Centre | |
| HQ Western Sector | RAF Longley Lane | |
| No 3509 (County of Stafford) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Stoke-on-Trent | |
|
Caledonian Sector |
||
| No 602 (City of Glasgow) Sqn RAuxAF | RNAS Abbotsinch | Vampire |
| No 502 (Ulster) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF Aldergrove | Vampire, station in Coastal Command |
| RAF Station Barnton Quarry | Sector Operations Centre | |
| HQ Caledonian Sector | RAF Barnton Quarry | |
| No 3602 (City of Glasgow) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | RAF Bishopbriggs | Station in Home Command |
| No 617 Signals Unit | Crosslaw | |
| No 51 Signals Unit | Douglas Wood | CH |
| No 633 Signals Unit | Drone Hill | CH |
| No 3511 (City of Dundee) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Dundee | |
| RAF Station Dyce | ||
| No 612 (County of Aberdeen) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF Dyce | Vampire |
| No 3612 (County of Aberdeen) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | RAF Dyce | |
| No 3603 (City of Edinburgh) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Edinburgh | |
| No 170 Signals Unit | Hill Head | CH (C & M) |
| No 3510 (County of Inverness) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Inverness | |
| Fighter Command Vanguard Flight | RAF Kinloss | Neptune, station in Coastal Command |
| RAF Station Leuchars | ||
| No 43/17 Sqn | RAF Leuchars | Meteor |
| No 222 Sqn | RAF Leuchars | Meteor |
| No 151 Sqn | RAF Leuchars | Vampire |
| No 980 Signals Unit | Macmerry | GCI |
| No 625 Signals Unit | School Hill | CH (C & M) |
| RAF Station Turnhouse | ||
| RAF Turnhouse Communication Sqn | RAF Turnhouse | |
| No 603 (City of Edinburgh) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF Turnhouse | Vampire |
| HQ, No 1 RAF Police District (UK) | RAF Turnhouse | Functionally controlled by DPM (UK) |
| Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
| Armament Practice Station | RAF Acklington | |
| No 229 Operational Conversion Unit | RAF Chivenor | Vampire |
| No 48 (Rifle) Sqn, RAF Regiment | RAF Chivenor | |
| No 238 Operational Conversion Unit | RAF Colerne | |
| RAF Colerne Communication Sqn | RAF Colerne | |
| No 228 Operational Conversion Unit | RAF Leeming | Meteor |
| AOP School | RAF Middle Wallop | |
| No 657 Sqn | RAF Middle Wallop | |
| No 1906 (AOP) Flight | RAF Middle Wallop | Hoverfly |
| No 288 Sqn | RAF Middle Wallop | |
| School of Control and Reporting | RAF Middle Wallop | Spitfire |
| No 233 Operational Conversion Unit | RAF Pembrey | Vampire |
| HQ, No 81 Group | RAF Rudloe Manor | |
| No 226 Operational Conversion Unit | RAF Stradishall | Meteor |
Fighter Command, Inactive Stations
| Inactive Station | Parent Station | Status |
| Beachey Head (Radar) | Wartling | R |
| Beccles | Horsham St Faith | R |
| Benacre (Radar) | Horsham St Faith | S |
| Birch | Wattisham | S |
| Boxted | Wattisham | R |
| Bradwell Bay | Wattisham | S |
| Branscombe (Radar) | Chivenor | S |
| Burn | Church Fenton | S |
| Castle Camps | Stradishall | S |
| Chipping Onger | North Weald | S |
| Cockburnspath (Radar) | R | |
| Cocklaw (Radar) | R | |
| Creswell (Radar) | Acklington | R |
| Debach | Bentwaters | S |
| Drem | Turnhouse | R |
| Dunsfold | Odiham | R |
| Dymchurch (Radar) | West Malling | S |
| Earls Colne | Wattisham | S |
| East Fortune | Turnhouse | R |
| East Moor | Linton-on-Ouse | R |
| Eshott | Acklington | S |
| Foreness (Radar) | Sandwich | R |
| Framlingham | Bentwaters | S |
| Fullarton (Radar) | R | |
| Great Bromley (Radar) | Felixstowe | S |
| Great Massingham | West Raynham | R |
| Halesworth | Bentwaters | S |
| Hardwick | Horsham St Faith | R |
| Hartland Point (Radar) | Chivenor | R |
| Hawkshill Down | West Malling | S |
| Hitcham | Wattisham | R |
| Kingsgarth (Radar) | R | |
| Lasham | Odiham | R |
| Lavenham | Stradishall | R |
| Leicester East | Wymeswold | S |
| Leiston | Bentwaters | S |
| Little Walden | Duxford | S |
| Ludham | Coltishall | S |
| Northan (Radar) | Chivenor | S |
| Rattlesden | Wattisham | S |
| Raydon | Wattisham | S |
| St Lawrence (Radar) | Ventnor | S |
| Scorton | Leeming | S |
| Souhtborne (Radar) | Sopley | S |
| Sudbury | Wattisham | S |
| Thorpeness (Radar) | Wattisham | S |
| Walton-on-Naze (Radar) | Felixstowe | S |
| Winterton | Coltishall | S |
| Wrafton (Radar) | Chivenor | R |
S = Surplus to long-term requirements
R = Retention is currently required
Source - SD161 (151st Edition) - April 1953
County names used are those in use at the time
[Command HQ | No 11 Group | No 12 Group | No 81 Group | Inactive Stations]
This page was last updated on 16/08/23©