Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Flying training units - Post-Graduate

[Pilots | Observers | Signals | Armament | Others]

This section will give brief histories of those flying training units providing courses to aircrew after having served in an operational unit: -

Pilot training units

No 62 Air School

This was formed on 24 February 1945 at Bloemspruit and disbanded on 24 February 1945.

Air-to-Ground Firing Range, Morscham/Algen

This was formed in No 83 Group, 2nd TAF on an unknown date under the administrative control of RAF Wildenrath, which was transferred to RAF Geilenkirchen on 2 November 1954.  No further details at present.

All-Weather Flight

This was formed on 8 June 1948 from the Instrument Flying Training Flight (which had been formed in 1 June 1948) as part of the Far East Communication Squadron at Changi and disbanded on 15 March 1950 on being absorbed into the FEAF Examining Squadron.

No 1 Beam Approach School

This was formed from No 1 Blind Approach School on 31 October 1941 at Watchfield under the control of No 50 Group and disbanded on 31 December 1946.

The syllabus in 1945 is shown below (taken from the log book of a course member from No 19 Course (16 - 22 Oct 1945): -

Blenheim Conversion Flight

This was formed in 1939 at Hendon and disbanded on 16 January 1940.

Blenheim Refresher Unit

This was formed by 1943 at Peshawar, moving to Poona on 15 July and disbanded in 1943.

Blind Approach School

This was formed on 28 September 1940 at Watchfield as a civilian manned and operated school operated by Air Service Training Ltd.  It was placed in No 50 Group and ran courses of two weeks duration for 6 students per course (4 from Bomber Command and 2 from Coastal Command), the first commenced on 7 October.  It was redesignated No 1 Blind Approach School in 1941.

No 1 Blind Approach School

This was formed in 1941 at Watchfield and was redesignated No 1 Beam Approach School on 31 October 1941.

Centuarus Flight

This was formed by 1943 under the control of No 24 Group at Weston-super-Mare, moving to Filton on 15 October, joining No 4 Group at the same time and disbanded on 30 September 1945.

Central Night Vision Training School

This was formed at Upper Heyford on 25 April 1943, moving to Worksop in No 91 Group on 13 February 19445, where it was redesignated the Central Vision Training School and was transferred to Transport Command on 30 November 1946.

Coastal Command Flying Instructors School

This was formed from No 12 (Operational) FIS on 23 February 1945 at St Angelo under the control of No 17 Group.  It moved to Turnberry on 9 June, being transferred to No 18 Group on 1 September and then moved to Tain on 13 November, where it disbanded on 29 October 1945 into the Coastal Command Instructors' School.

Central Flying School

Its formation authorized on 23 April 1912 as an independent unit and formally opened on 19 June, with the first course beginning on 17 August. Initially formed to give pilots holding RAeC Certificates military training, it was later tasked with the training of flying instructors and refresher training. It was subordinated to Southern Training Brigade from 5 August 1917 and transferred to HQ Training Division on 5 January 1918. Further transfers took place, to No 7 Group from 1 April 1918 and to No 8 Group on 16 September 1918. It was Renamed Flying Instructors School on 23 December 1919.

It was reformed on 26 April 1920 at Upavon within Inland Area and transferred to No 3 Group on 1 April 1926 and then No 23 Group from 12 April 1926. On 7 October 1926, it moved to Wittering but returned to Upavon between 30 August and 2 September 1935.  It came under the control of Training Command when it was formed on 1 July 1936 and transferred to Flying Training Command when Training Command was split on 27 May 1940. It was disbanded by renaming as No 7 Flying Instructors School on 1 April 1942.

It reformed again on 7 May 1946 at  Little Rissington with a capacity of 190 students, which was increased to 250 by the addition of 60 Refresher pupils, on 11 November 1946.  On 3 January 1947 the refresher commitment was removed, reducing its capacity back to 190.  From 8 January 1947, the Officer Commanding, CFS assumed the title 'Commandant' and on 1 April 1947 its capacity was again reduced, to 140. 

On 5 July 1948 its training programme was as follows: -

Its training commitment was amended on 22 October 1948 as follows: -

In May 1952, the element at Little Rissington was renamed CFS (Advanced) and No 2 FTS At South Cerney was redesignated CFS (Basic).  The CFS Helicopter Development Flight was formed at Middle Wallop on 8 March 1954 under the functional and administrative control of the Commandant, CFS with day-to-day administrative facilities provided by RAF Middle Wallop.  On 18 June 1954, this flight moved to South Cerney, where it was absorbed into the establishment of CFS (Basic).

The CFS assumed Group status with Flying Training Command on 23 April 1956.

On 1 June 1957, both elements were amalgamated into a single CFS again.  Subsequently the HQ element of CFS has been based at Cranwell from 12 April 1976, Leeming from 5 September 1977, Scampton from 19 September 1984 and back to Cranwell from 31 May 1995, where it remains to the present (2005).  However, since 1952, it has been policy to station specific elements of the CFS at other stations where a particular type of aircraft is based.  These include South Cerney, Middle Wallop, Ternhill and Shawbury (helicopters), Fairford (Gnat and Jet Provost), Kemble (Gnat), Aston Down (Jet Provost), Church Fenton (Primary Flying Squadron), Valley (Hawk - later 19 (Reserve) Squadron, Cranwell (Bulldog) and Topcliffe (Tucano).

No 2 Central Flying School

This was formed from No 2 FIS on 14 November 1940 at Cranwell, under the control of No 21 Group.  It moved to Church Lawford on 15 June 1941 and was redesignated No 1 Flying Instructors School on 13 January 1942.

14 Nov 1940                        Wg Cdr-Gp Capt E D Barnes (Gp Capt from 1 Mar 1941)

 4 Dec 1941                         Gp Capt N J Pringle

 1 Sep 1942                         Gp Capt A D Selway

No 3 Central Flying School

This was to have formed in December 1941 at Dalcross but formation never took place.

Central Flying School (India)

This was formed from the Flying Instructors' School (India) on 13 June 1944 at Ambala and disbanded on 22 July 1945.

Central Flying School (Southern Rhodesia)

This was formed from No 33 FIS on 9 May 1944 at Norton and disbanded on 9 October 1945.

Central Gliding School

This was formed on 9 August 1971 at Spitalgate from No 2 Gliding Centre at Spitalgate and No 1 Gliding Centre from Swanton Morley.  It moved to Newton on 31 January 1975, although it actually operated from nearby Syerston, being retitled the Air Cadets Central Gliding School on 1 October 1976 and is probably still in existence.

No 1 (Coastal) Engine Control Demonstration Flight

This was formed at Aldergrove, within No 1674 HCU on 29 September 1943 and provided instruction in th e use of the following engines: -

• Pratt and Whitney Twin Wasp (Liberator)

• Rolls Royce Merlin (Halifax)

• Bristol Hercules (Wellington)

Three courses of four days duration for 4 pupils each, ran concurrently, one for each type.  It moved to Longtown before moving to Great Orton on 17 November 1943.  Further moves followed to Aldergrove on 19 December and then to Angle on 18 April 1944, where it was redesignated Engine Control Instructional Flight on 17 June 1944.

Empire Central Flying School

This was formed on from a nucleus provided by the Central Flying School on 1 April 1942 at Hullavington within No 23 Group.  The objects of the school were: -

1. To study the art of flying and to examine the methods of teaching that art.

2. To provide a means of pooling experience and ensuring that flying is taught in a uniform manner throughout the British Commonwealth and in a form which meets operational requirements.

3. To make recommendation son matters concerning the technique of flying and flying instruction.

The first course (three month's duration) of 20 students commenced on 6 April 1942.

On 1 September 1942 it took over the Handling Squadron from the A & AEE at Boscombe Down.  At some point the capacity of the school was increased to 45, which on 11 April 1945 was again increased to 50 and the course duration was increased from 13 to 16 weeks.

It was redesignated the Empire Flying School on 7 May 1946.

Empire Flying School

This was formed on 7 May 1946 at Hullavington by re-naming the Empire Central Flying School.  On 30 June 1949 the Examining Wing was transferred to the CFS and moved to Brize Norton. It was absorbed into the RAF Flying College on 31 July 1949.

Empire Test Pilots School

This was formed on 28 July 1944 at Boscombe Down, moving to Cranfield in No 23 Group in October 1945.  On 12 July 1947 it moved to Farnborough were it was attached to the RAE until 26 January 1968 when it returned to Boscombe Down as part of the A & AEE.  Administration was passed to DGTE on 1 April 1992 and then to DTEO on 1 April 1995, remaining in existence to the present day.

Enemy Aircraft Flight

This was formed from No 1426 (Enemy Aircraft) Flight on 17 January 1945 under the control of Central Fighter Establishment at Tangmere and remained in existence until on at least November 1945.

No 1 Engine Consumption Unit

This began life as part of Vickers Ltd but was transferred to RAF control at Mildenhall under the control of No 3 Group, on 6 March 1942.  Its role was to instruct pilots in fuel economy techniques on Wellingtons, being redesignated No Engine Consumption Unit on 24 April and then No 1 Engine Control and Demonstration Unit on 14 September 1942 when it moved to Bassingbourn.

No 1 Engine Control and Demonstration Unit

This was formed by redesignating No 1 Engine Consumption Unit on 14 September 1942 following its move to Bassingbourn from Mildenhall.  At the same time it was transferred to No 91 Group being attached to No 11 OTU, moving to Westcott on 2 October under No 92 Group.  In November 1944 it was absorbed into the Bomber Command Instructors School, remaining at Westcott until moving to Worksop on 3 February 1945, where it disbanded on 17 January 1946.

Engine Handling School

This was formed at Heliopolis, possibly in 1944 and disbanded on 25 August 1946.

Fighter Command Instrument Training Flight/Squadron

This was formed on 13 September 1948 at Tangmere, as the Fighter Command Instrument Training Flight, with the following commitment: -

From 1 January 1949, its training commitment was amended to: -

It moved to West Raynham on 20 February 1950, where it was attached to the CFE.  It was redesignated the Fighter Command Instrument Training Squadron by December 1951 and was absorbed into CFE on 1 December 1952 being was redesignated Fighter Command Instrument Rating Squadron on in February 1956.

Fighter Support Training Unit

This was formed from No 3 RFU on 15 December 1945 at Bhopal and disbanded on 15 June 1946.

Flying Instructors School

This was formed from the Flying Officers' Instructors' School on 23 December 1919 at Upavon in No 7 Group and reverted to the title Central Flying School on 26 April 1920.

Flying Instructors School, Egypt

This was formed from the 'Gosport' Flight of the Aerial Fighting School on 3 September 1918 at El Khanka in No 38 Wing and disbanded on 22 July 1919.

Flying Instructors School (India)

This was formed by 1944 at Ambala and was redesignated CFS (India) on 13 June 1944.

No 1 Flying Instructors School

This was due to form in November/December 1940 at Upavon, when the CFS moved to Church Lawford but formation never occurred .

It eventually formed from No 2 CFS on 13 January 1942 at Church Lawford in No 23 Group, being retitled No 1 FIS (Advanced) on 7 April 1942 and was redesignated No 18 (P) AFU on 27 October 1942.

No 2 Flying Instructors School

This was formed on 10 September 1940 at Cranwell in No 21 Group and was redesignated No 2 CFS on 14 November 1940.

It reformed on 5 January 1942 at Montrose in No 21 Group, being retitled No 2 FIS (Advanced) on 7 April 1942 and absorbed No 8 SFTS on 15 April 1942.  It operated four courses at Montrose (36 students per 8 week course) and two detached courses ( 25 students per 8 week course) at Dalcross.  The detachment at Dalcross closed on 20 October 1942 and No 2 FIS disbanded on 11 July 1945.

Officers Commanding: -

10 Sep 1940                        Wg Cdr L Darvall

21 Oct 1940                        Sqn Ldr E T Smith (Temporary)

28 Oct 1940                        Sqn Ldr R L Wallace (Temporary)

 4 Nov 1940                        Wg Cdr E D Barnes (wef 28 Oct 1940)

No 3 Flying Instructors School

This was due to form on 6 October 1940 at Hatfield but formation did not proceed.

Formation was again proposed at Peterborough but did not proceed.

It eventually formed on 1 August 1942 at Hullavington as No 3 FIS (A) in No 23 Group, but operated from its satellites of Babdown Farm and Castle Combe on 8 August 1942.  It moved to Lulsgate Bottom on 30 September 1943, and the following day became self accounting.  On 21 February 1945 its capacity was increased from 100 to 125. 

It was absorbed into No 7 FIS and disbanded on 4 July 1945.

No 4 Flying Instructors School

This was formed on 3 July 1940 at Cambridge (Teversham), attached to No 22 EFTS, as No 4 (Supplementary) FIS, the 'Supplementary' being dropped on 13 January 1942.  It was redesignated No 4 FIS (Elementary) on 7 April 1942 and disbanded on 1 May 1943 by being absorbed into No 10 FIS (E) at Woodley.

No 5 Flying Instructors School

This was formed from 'E' Flight, No 11 EFTS on 8 October 1940 at Perth in No 51 Group, as No 5 (Supplementary) FIS, the 'Supplementary being dropped on 13 January 1942.  It was parented by No 11 EFTS and was redesignated No 5 FIS (Elementary) on 7 April 1942 and disbanded on 23 November 1942 by being absorbed into No 10 FIS (E) at Woodley.

No 6 Flying Instructors School

This was formed on 1 November 1941 at Staverton, as No 6 (Supplementary) FIS, the 'Supplementary being dropped on 13 January 1942.  It was redesignated No 6 FIS (Elementary) on 7 April 1942, and disbanded on 22 July 1942.

No 7 Flying Instructors School

This was formed from personnel of the CFS on 1 April 1942 at Upavon in No 23 Group, becoming No 7 FIS (Advanced) on 7 April 1942.  From 23 February 1944, its training capacity was reduced from 150 to 100 but on 19 July 1944 it was increased to 125, being reduced to 100 on 21 February 1945.  On 4 July 1945, following the disbandment of N o 3 FIS, its capacity was increased to 190 as follows: -

In April 1946 it began moving to Little Rissington where it disbanded on 7 May 1946 making way for a reformed CFS.

No 10 Flying Instructors School (Elementary)

This was formed on 22 July 1942 at Woodley in No 50 Group with an initial capacity of 90 students, later increased to 120, but was reduced to 72 on 17 June 1944, however, it was raised again on 9 July 1945 to 112.

It disbanded on 7 May 1946 into the CFS.

No 11 Flying Instructors School

This was formed from the Flying Instructors Training School  on 1 January 1944 at Shallufa, moving to El Ballah on 12 September 1945, Deversoir on 20 December and finally to Nicosia on 26 June 1946, where it disbanded on 7 January 1947.

No 12 (Operational) Flying Instructors School

This was formed on 1 May 1944 at St Angelo in No 17 Group, to train tour expired pilots from Coastal Command to be instructors in OTUs and was redesignated the Coastal Command Flying Instructors School on 23 February 1945.

No 33 Flying Instructors School

This was formed from the Rhodesian Central Flying School on 20 May 1942 at Belvedere Airport, near Salisbury.  It moved to Norton on 2 November and was redesignated the CFS (Southern Rhodesia) on 9 May 1944.

Flying Instructors Training School

This was formed on 1 December 1943 at Shallufa and was redesignated No 11 FIS on 1 January 1944.

Flying Officers' Instructors School

This was formed from the CFS on 14 August 1919 at Upavon and was redesignated the Flying Instructors School on 23 December 1919.

Flying Refresher School

This was formed from No 1 (Pilots) Refresher Flying Unit on 1 June 1949 at Finningley in No 21 Group and on 31 January 1950, its training commitment was: -

From 30 June 1950 a Jet Refresher Course was added as follows: -

It was redesignated No 101 Flying Refresher School on 1 April 1951.

No 101 Flying Refresher School

This was formed in No 21 Group from the Flying Refresher Flying School on 1 April 1951 at Finningley, but was transferred to No 25 Group on 16 April 1951, before reverting to No 21 Group on 1 October 1951 and disbanded on 1 February 1952.

No 102 Flying Refresher School

This was formed on 1 May 1951 at North Luffenham in No 25 Group.  Its task being to assist in expanding the RAF's flying training as a result of the Korean War and disbanded on 15 November 1951.

No 103 Flying Refresher School

This was formed on 16 May 1951 at Full Sutton in No 21 Group.  It was tasked with retraining fighter pilots on more modern types and disbanded on 20 November 1951.

No 104 Flying Refresher School

This was formed on 23 July 1951 at Lichfield in No 21 Group.  It was tasked with training Reserve pilots in the bomber role and disbanded on 15 February 1952.

Flying Training Command Instructors School

This was formed on 21 October 1942 at Brize Norton, as a ground based unit to teach instructional techniques to prospective instructors.  It moved to North Luffenham on 1 March 1944, then returned to Brize Norton on 16 October, where its capacity was reduced from 50 to 30 on 4 July 1945 before moving to Wittering on 17 December 1945 and finally to South Cerney on 24 May 1946, where it disbanded on 1 March 1947.

Glider Exercise Squadron

This was formed by December 1941 at Ringway, moving to Netheravon on 1 February 1942, where it was redesignated No 296 Squadron on 25 January 1942.

Glider Exercise Unit

This was formed on 18 July 1941 at Ringway as part of the CLE and was redesignated the Glider Exercise Squadron by December.

Glider Instructors Flight

This was formed on 20 January 1943 at Shobden as part of No 5 GTS, to take over the task of the Glider Instructors School.  It moved to Hockley Heath on 22 December 1943 and then to Culmhead on 31 January 1945, where it became the Glider Instructors School, affiliated to No 3 GTS.

Glider Instructors School

This was formed on 20 August 1942 at Thame, in No 23 Group as a sub-unit of and administered by RAF Kidlington.  It was disbanded on 31 January 1943, its task being taken over by the Glider Instructors Flight of No 5 GTS.  The title was resurrected by No 3 GTS on 31 January 1945 when it absorbed the Glider Instructors Flight from No 5 GTS and presumably remained until No 3 GTS closed in 1947.

Glider Pick-up Training Flight

This was formed from part of No 107 OTU on 8 January 1945 at Zeals in No 46 Group, to train pilots in the technique of 'snatching' stationary gliders using hooks attached to Dakotas.  It moved to Ibsley on 19 March and then to Ramsbury in No 4 Group on 29 October, where it disbanded on 15 November 1945.

Glider Pilots' Exercise Unit

This was formed from 'B' Flight of No 296 Squadron on 12 August 1942 at Netheravon in No 38 Group, to provide refresher flying facilities to Army glider pilots.  It moved to Chilbolton on 8 January 1943, returning to Netheravon on 10 May.  On 29 September it moved again, this time to Thruxton but returned to Netheravon, again, on 14 October but was back at Thruxton on 14 November, where it disbanded on 9 December 1943 into the Operational and Refresher Training Unit.

Ground Attack Training Unit

This was formed from the SLAIS on 27 January 1945 at Ranchi in No 228 Group and disbanded on 24 May 1945 into the Tactics and Weapons Development Unit.

No 1 Group Practice Flight

This was formed on in July 1937 at Usworth but its fate is unknown.

No 3 Group Practice Flight (1)

This was formed on in June 1937 at Honington but its fate is unknown.

No 3 Group Practice Flight (2)

This was formed on in June 1937 at Waddington but its fate is unknown.

No 4 Group Practice Flight

This was formed on in July 1937 at Dishforth but its fate is unknown.

No 5 Group Practice Flight

This was formed on in August 1937 at Mildenhall but its fate is unknown.

No 16 Group Practice Flight

This was formed on in August 1937 at Donibristle but its fate is unknown.

No 202 Group Refresher Flight

This was formed in August 1943 at Elmas and disbanded in about October 1943.

No 93 Group Screened Pilots' School

This was formed in May 1943 at Church Broughton, moving to Leicester East by April 1944 and disbanded in October 1944.

Helicopter Training Flight

This was formed on 5 February 1945 at Andover in No 43 OTU, becoming an independent unit on 9 April and disbanded on 16 January 1946.

Home Command Gliding Centre

This was formed on 1 September 1955 at Detling, moving to Hawkinge on 1 December, where it and was redesignated No 1 Home Command Gliding Centre on 27 June 1958.

No 1 Home Command Gliding Centre

This was formed by redesignating the Home Command Gliding Centre on 27 June 1958 at Hawkinge and was redesignated No 1 Gliding Centre on 23 March 1959.

No 2 Home Command Gliding Centre

This was formed on 1 July 1958 at Newton for No 64 Group and was redesignated No 2 Gliding Centre on 31 March 1959.

No 1 Gliding Centre

This was formed by redesignating No 1 Home Command Gliding Centre at Hawkinge on 23 March 1959 on the transfer of functional and administrative control from No 61 Group to HQ Flying Training Command, but was transferred to No 24 Group on 31 March 1959.  It moved to Swanton Morley on 15 January 1962 and was transferred to the functional control of HQAC.

It was absorbed into the Central Gliding School on 9 August 1971 as a detachment.

No 2 Gliding Centre

This was formed by redesignating No 2 Home Command Gliding Centre at Newton on 23 March 1959 on the transfer of functional and administrative control from No 64 Group to HQ Flying Training Command, but was transferred to No 24 Group on 31 March 1959.  It moved to Kirton-in-Lindsey on 1 September 1959.    It disbanded into the Central Gliding School on 9 August 1971.

Home Command Gliding Instructors School

This was formed by redesignating Reserve Command Gliding Instructors School on 1 August 1950 at Detling, under the functional control of No 61 Group, which was transferred to HQ Home Command on 11 April 1953.  It was replaced by the Home Command Gliding Centre on 1 September 1955.

Home Command Instrument Flight

This was formed by redesignating Reserve Command Instrument Training Flight on 1 August 1950 at  and disbanded on 22 June 1952 into the Home Command Examining Unit.

Inland Area Practice Flight

This was formed in about February 1933 at Hendon and disbanded in about July 1938.

Instant Readiness Reserve Unit

This was formed in about June 1979 at Binbrook to provide refresher training to Lightning pilots undertaking desk duty.  It was redesignated Lightning Augmentation Flight in 1981.

Irish Flying Instructors School

This was formed on 22 October 1918 at The Curragh Camp in No 11 Group and disbanded on 30 November 1922.

Javelin Instrument Rating Squadron

This was formed from the Javelin Flight of the Fighter Command Instrument Rating Squadron on in about February 1957 at Middleton-St-George and disbanded on 31 December 1966.

Lightning Augmentation Flight

This was formed from the Instant Readiness Reserve Unit on in late 1981 at Binbrook to provide refresher flying facilities to Lightning pilot on ground duties but probably disbanded in late 1982.

Middle East Air Force Instrument Training Flight

This was formed on 5 June 1950 at Shallufa, functionally controlled by HQ MEAF, administered by No 205 Group, through RAF Shallufa, with the following policy: -

1. Instrument Flying Courses designed to bring all fighter and light bomber pilots up to a rating standard.

2. Instrument Rating Refresher Flying for pilots at stations and HQs who are not in flying posts.

3. Generally to improve the instrument flying standard in the Command.

4. Facilities for IF continuation training.

5. For the furtherance of IF techniques peculiar to the requirements of te Command.

It moved to Nicosia on 15 January 1952 and disbanded on 10 May 1956.

Middle East Night Vision Training School

This was formed in November 1945 at Aqir and disbanded on 31 July 1946.

Midland Area Flying Instructors School

This was formed on 1 July 1918 at Lilbourne, moving to Feltwell on 22 April 1919 and was redesignated Northern Area FIS on 18 October 1919.

Midland Area School of Special Flying

This was formed on 17 June 1918 at Lilbourne and was redesignated Midland Area FIS on 1 July 1918.

Navigation Flight

This was formed by March 1920 under the control of Southern Area at Biggin Hill, being transferred to Inland Area on 1 April 1920 but its fate is unknown.

Navigation Staff (Pilots) Training Flight

This had been formed by October 1948 and was at Topcliffe to at least December 1949.

Near East Air Force Instrument Training Flight

This was formed from the Akrotiri Station Instrument Training Flight on by November 1962 at Akrotiri and disbanded on an unknown date.

Night Fighter Leaders School

This was formed on 1 October 1945 at West Raynham within the CFE and was redesignated the All-Weather Fighter Leaders School in July 1950.

Night Flying Flight

This was formed from  on 1 July 1923 under the control of No 5 Wing at Biggin Hill, to provide pilots with night flying training and air pilotage (navigation).  Transferred to No 6 Group on 1 May 1924 then to Fighting Area on 20 May 1926, it was also detached to Weston Zoyland during to summer periods of 1927- 1931 to provide target facilities for AA Practice Camps and was redesignated Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Flight on 22 October 1931.

North Eastern Area Flying Instructors School

This was formed from No 2 School of Special Flying on 1 July 1918 at Redcar and disbanded on 23 May 1919 into the North-Western Area FIS.

Northern Area Flying Instructors School

This was formed from the Midland Area FIS on 18 October 1919 at Feltwell in No 11 Group and disbanded on 27 November 1919.

North-Western Area Flying Instructors School

This was formed on 1 July 1918 at Ayr in No 25 Group.  It moved to Redcar on 15 January 1919 where it absorbed the NE Area FIS and disbanded on 12 June 1919.

Operational and Refresher Training Unit

This was formed on 9 December 1943, on the establishment of RAF Netheravon at Thruxton in No 38 Group, absorbing the Glider Pilot Exercise Unit its functions being: -

1. to give flying practice to those Army Glider crews who cannot be maintained in practice within the existing No 38 Group Organisation.

2. to give flying practice in their Airborne role to the reserve of RAF aircrew who cannot be absorbed into No 38 Group.

 It moved to Hampstead Norris on 1 March 1944, becoming a separate unit at the same time, then to Matching on 27 February 1945 and finally to Wethersfield on 15 October 1954, where if was disbanded on 1 April 1946.

Parachute Exercise Squadron

This was formed on 15 December 1941 at Ringway in No 70 Group, moving to Netheravon on 22 December 1941 and was redesignated No 297 Squadron on 22 January 1942.

Pilots Gunnery Instructors Training Wing

This was formed on 27 February 1942 at Wittering in No 12 Group, moving to Sutton Bridge where it merged into the CGS on 28 March 1942.

Pilot Navigation Instructors Course

This had been formed by 1945 at Halfpenny Green, moving to Cark on 29 October 1945 then to Swanton Morley on 31 December 1945 but its fate is unknown.

No 1 (Pilot) Refresher Flying Unit

This was formed from a nucleus of No 21 (P) AFU on 6 August 1947 at Moreton-in-Marsh in No 21 Group with the following training organisation: -

On 5 July 1948 its training programme was as follows: -

Its function was to provide refresher training both in the air and on the ground to enable pilots who have at one time been employed on operational duty, or have completed operational training, to proceed to an OCU, or another flying unit, in flying practice, having been brought up to date on flying matters, and to a general standard from which, with a minimum of further training, they can take up their new appointments.

It moved to Finningley on 10 January 1948, absorbing No 2 (P) RFU on 1 April, with its capacity being increased to 68, and was redesignated the Flying Refresher School on 1 June 1949.

No 2 (Pilot) Refresher Flying Unit

This was formed from a nucleus provided by Nos 5 and 21 (P) AFUs on 6 August 1947 at Valley with the following training organisation: -

Its function was to provide refresher training for pilots awaiting entry into an AFS to bring their pure flying up to the standard they had obtained when they qualified for their 'Wings'.

It moved to Finningley, where it and was absorbed into No 1  (P) RFU on 1 April 1948.

Pilot Refresher Training Unit

This had been formed by 1942 at Moreton Valence and was redesignated Refresher Flying Training School on 1 April 1942.

No 1 Practice Flying Unit

This was due to open on 18 December 1939 at Meir in No 23 Group, in order to provide currency to pilots who had completed a course at a SFTS whilst awaiting a vacancy on an operational training course, but following a postponement formation commenced in 12 February 1940 and the first course commenced on 4 March 1940.  It was transferred to No 21 Group on 17 February 1940 and by the time it disbanded on 16 June 1940 it had been transferred to No 51 Group.

Refresher Flight

This was formed on an unknown date as part of the CFS at Upavon but was transferred to No 9 SFTS at Hullavington on 24 July 1941.

Refresher Flying Flight

This was formed on in April 1984 at Church Fenton and disbanded on in mid 1992.

It reformed on 24 April 1995 at Topcliffe, as part of the Tucano Squadron of the CFS and is probably still in existence.

The Refresher Flying Squadron

This was formed from The School of Refresher Flying in 1977 at Leeming, moving to Church Fenton as part of and No 7 FTS, where it was redesignated the Refresher Flying Flight on in April 1984.

The School of Refresher Flying

This was formed on 1 July 1962 at Manby, as part of the College of Air Warfare.  It moved to Leeming in December 1973, becoming part of No 3 FTS, where it and was redesignated the Refresher Flying Squadron in 1977.

Refresher Flying Training School

This was formed on 1 May 1942 at Moreton Valence in No 23 Group, parented by RAF South Cerney.  It moved to Kirknewton on 23 May and was transferred to No 21 Group, disbanding on 31 October 1942.

No 1 Refresher Flying Unit

This was due to form in February 1944 in NWACAF but formation was cancelled in July 1944.

No 2 Refresher Flying Unit

This was due to form in February 1944 in NWATAF but formation was cancelled in July 1944.

No 3 Refresher Flying Unit

This was formed from Aircrew Transit Pool 9 February 1944 at Poona, moving to Bairagarh on 8 September 1945 and was redesignated Fighter Support Training Unit on 15 December 1945.

No 4 Refresher Flying Unit

This was formed on 16 May 1944 at Haverfordwest in No 15 Group, to replace No 7 (C) OTU.  It moved to Mullaghmore on 29 September and disbanded on 5 October 1944 to form the Loran Training Unit.

No 5 Refresher Flying Unit

This was formed from the DAF Training Flight 15 July 1944 at Canne, Italy in DAF, its function being to acclimatise single engine pilots and to maintain them in flying practice whilst awaiting posting to operational squadrons.  It moved to Perigia on 25 September, then to Gaudo on 21 February 1945, coming under MACAF.  At the same time it also took on the responsibility for Boston crews as well as single seat pilots.

It disbanded on 24 August 1945.

No 6 Refresher Flying Unit

This was formed from No 1673 HCU on 8 November 1944 at Kolar to give acclimatisation and refresher training to heavy bomber reinforcement crews prior to posting to Squadrons, and disbanded on 31 December 1945.

No 7 Refresher Flying Unit

This was formed in February 1945 at Shallufa, moving to Ballah on 12 September and disbanded on 17 September 1945.

No 8 Refresher Flying Unit

This was formed on 25 January 1945 at Yelahanka equipped with Thunderbolts, moving to Bairagarh, where it was absorbed into No 3 RFU on 25 November 1945.

Officers Commanding: -

25 Jan 1945                  Sqn Ldr E F Holmgren

No 9 Refresher Flying Unit

This was formed from No 1672 CU 31 August 1945 at Ranchi,  and disbanded on 30 November 1945.

No 1 Refresher School

This was formed from the Refresher Flight of No 17 SFTS 11 November 1946 at Enstone, moving to Moreton-in-Marsh on 17 December and amalgamated with No 21 (P) AFU to form No 1 (P) RFU on 6 August 1947.

Refresher Training Flight

This was formed in May 1944, probably at Reghaia,  and its fate is unknown.

Reserve Command Gliding Instructors School

This was formed on 1 July 1949 at Detling, and was redesignated Home Command Gliding Instructors School on 1 August 1950.

Reserve Command Instrument Training Flight      

This was formed on 1 August 1948 at White Waltham in No 63 Group, moving to Honiley on 6 June 1949 and from 1 January 1949, its training commitment was as follows: -

It was redesignated Home Command Instrument Training Flight on 1 August 1950.

Reserve Command Training Flight

This was formed on 22 September 1948 at White Waltham,  and was redesignated Home Command Training Flight on 1 August 1950.

Rhodesian Central Flying School

This was formed on 3 September 1941 at Belvedere Airport, near Salisbury,  was redesignated No 33 FIS on 20 May 1942.

RAF Seaplane Establishment

This was formed on 14 July 1919 at Lee-on-Solent and was redesignated the School of Naval Co-operation and Aerial Navigation on 23 December 1919.

Scout School, Pool of Pilots

This was formed from RNAS units on 1 April 1918 at Manston and disbanded on in December 1919.

School of Search, Survival and Rescue

This was formed on 1 June 1959 at Mount Batten in No 19 Group under the functional control of HQ Coastal Command, no further details at present.

South-Eastern Area Flying Instructors School

This was formed on 1 July 1918 at Shoreham and disbanded on 31 March 1919.

South-Western Area Flying Instructors School

This was formed from three flights of the School of Special Flying on 1 July 1918 at Gosport and disbanded on 26 February 1919.

School of Special Flying

This was formed from the RNAS School on 1 April 1918 at Redcar and was redesignated No 2 School of Special Flying on 18 May 1918.

School of Special Flying (Canada)

This was formed on 1 July 1918 at Armour Heights and disbanded in March 1919.

School of Special Flying (Egypt)

This was formed on in 1918 at El Khanka and was redesignated the Flying Instructors School on 3 September 1918.

No 1 School of Special Flying

This was formed on 18 May 1918 at Gosport and was redesignated the South-Western Area Flying Instructors School on 1 July 1918.

No 2 School of Special Flying

This was formed on 18 May 1918 at  and was redesignated the North-Eastern Area Flying Instructors School on 1 July 1918.

No 1 Specialised Low Attack Instructors School

It was formed on 7 December 1942 at Milfield in No 81 Group.  Training began on 21 January 1943 running practice camps for detached flight of operational squadrons in attacking targets such as tanks with 40mm cannon, rocket projectile and low level bombing as well as running courses for squadron executives and senior pilots.  It was absorbed into the Fighter Leaders School on 26 January 1944.

Officers Commanding: -

24 Nov 1942                        Wg Cdr Whitworth

xx xxx 1943                          Wg Cdr Gillan

15 Jun 1943                          Wg Cdr Brooker

(Specialised) Low Attack Instructors School

This was formed 5 November 1943 at Ranchi under the control of HQ 3rd TAF through No 221 Group, later being transferred to No 231 Group and disbanded on 27 January 1945 into the Ground Attack Training Unit.

Staff Navigators' School (Middle East)

This was formed on 15 July 1944 at Gianaclis under the control of No 203 Group.  Its task was to train operationally experienced Navigators for Staff Navigator posts, initially drawn from RAF Middle East but later MAAF and ACSEA.  Courses were of 12 weeks duration with an intake of 12 students per month.  I later moved to Ein Shemer, where it disbanded on 30 November 1945.

Staff Pilot Training Unit

This was formed on 17 March 1942 at Cark to train pilots in day and night flying for duty in AOSs and (O) AFUs before being posted to units in No 25 Group.  The course was of four weeks duration with 40 trainees on each course.  It disbanded on 14 November 1942.

It reformed on 12 March 1943 at Cark in No 29 Group, with an initial capacity of 40 pilots and 20 WOp/AGs which was increased to 60 and 30 respectively on 19 April 1943.  The course length was set at six weeks in winter and on 1 January 1944, the capacity was again raised to 90 staff pilots.  It was transferred to No 25 Group on 22 November 1943 and from 1 May 1944 the pupil capacity was increased to 120 and the course duration increased from six to eight weeks, it disbanded on 31 December 1945.

2nd TAF Instrument Training Flight

This was formed on 1 September 1951 at Gutersloh and disbanded on 16 March 1954.

Test Pilots School

This was formed on 15 January 1944 at Boscombe Down in No 23 Group  under the operational and technical control of the Ministry of Aircraft Production and was redesignated the Empire Test Pilots' School on 28 July 1944.

Training Command Practice Flight

This was formed by April 1931 at Manston and  in October 1937.

It reformed by 12 January 1940 at Woodley and disbanded on 27 May 1940.

Training Unit and Reserve Pool

This was formed from the Pilots Reinforcement and Reserve Pool on 21 September 1940 at Ismailia and was redesignated No 70 OTU on 10 December 1940.

Station Flight Waddington and Categorisation and Instrument Rating Flight

This was formed in November 1950 at Waddington but its fate is unknown.

Observer training units

Aerial Navigation School

This was formed in 1919 at Calshot and was redesignated the School of Aerial Navigation on 23 December 1919.

School of Aerial Navigation

This was formed on 23 December 1919 at Calshot and disbanded on 1 April 1920 into the School of Naval Co-operation and Aerial Navigation.

Airborne Interception School

This was formed from No 228 OCU on 1 February 1952 at Leeming.  Under the control of No 81 Group, it moved to Colerne on 12 June and was redesignated No 238 OCU on 15 June 1952.

Air Pilotage Flight

This was formed on 5 February 1923 at Calshot under the control of No 10 Group and was redesignated the Navigation School on in December 1926.

It was reformed as part of SHQ Andover in mid 1932 as a temporary measure, becoming an independent unit as the Air Pilotage School on 5 May 1933.

Officers Commanding: -

xx xxx 1932                            Sqn Ldr J K Summers

School of Air Pilotage

This was formed from Nos 1 and 2 Schools of Air Navigation and Bomb Dropping on 9 September 1919 at Andover under the control of No 7 Group and was redesignated the Air Pilotage School on 23 December 1919.

Officers Commanding: -

 9 Sep 1919                            Wg Cdr M G Christie

xx xxx 1919                            Maj/Sqn Ldr W A McClaughry

Air Pilotage School

This was formed from by redesignating the School of Air Pilotage on 23 December 1919 at Andover.  It was reduced to cadre on 1 April 1920 and disbanded on 15 January 1923, being absorbed into No 11 Squadron.

It reformed from a flight of No 24 Squadron on 26 October 1931 at Northolt under the control of Fighting Area and disbanded on in April 1932.

It reformed, once again, from the Air Pilotage Flight of RAF Andover on 5 May 1933 at Andover and was redesignated the Air Navigation School on 25 January 1935.

Officers Commanding: -

23 Dec 1919                            Sqn Ldr W A McClaughry

 5 May 1933                            Wg Cdr J K Summers

School for Anti-Submarine Inshore Patrol Observers

This was formed from  in August 1918 at Aldeburgh and was redesignated Marine Observers School in October 1918.

Bomber Command Squadron Navigation Officers' School

This was formed on 19 March 1945 at Worksop and closed on 24 June 1945.

Bomber Command Tactical School

This was formed on 17 October 1943 at HQ Bomber Command before moving to Hemswell on 11 March 1944 and later to Worksop, where it disbanded on 18 May 1945.

Officers Commanding: -

xx Oct 1943                        Wg Cdr J A Slater

Central Navigation and Control School

This was formed on 10 February 1950 at Shawbury, by amalgamating the Central Navigation School with the School of Air Traffic Control in No 21 Group.  From 16 February 1950, its training commitment was: -

It was transferred to No 25 Group on 1 February 1955 and was redesignated the Central Air Traffic Control School on 11 February 1963 when it absorbed the School of Air Traffic Control and the Navigation Element was transferred to the College of Air Warfare, RAF Manby.

Central Navigation School

This was formed on 14 August 1942 at Cranage by redesignating No 2 School of Air Navigation within No 25 Group.  On 11 February 1944 it moved to Shawbury, where it provided the following courses: -

From 6 May 1944 the Refresher 'N' Course was replaced by 1 Staff Navigator Course of 13 weeks duration for 18 pupils, raising the total capacity from 216 to 220.

It was redesignated the Empire Air Navigation School in September 1944. 

It  reformed on 31 July 1949 by renaming the Empire Air Navigation School at RAF Shawbury.  On 10 February 1950 it absorbed the School of Air Traffic Control and was redesignated Central Navigation and Control School.

Officers Commanding: -

14 Aug 1942                           Wg Cdr O A Morris

22 Sep 1942                           Gp Capt N C Ogilvie-Forbes

25 May 1944                          Gp Capt G I L Saye

20 Sep 1944                           A/Cdre P H Mackworth

31 Jul 1949                            ?

Empire Air Navigation School

This was supposedly formed on 28 October 1944 in No 25 Group at Shawbury, however, the unit ORB refers to it as ECNS from September.  Its role was to provide advanced navigation instruction and the development of new techniques.  It was transferred to No 21 Group in 1946 and was redesignated the Central Navigation School on 31 July 1949

Commandants: -

xx Sep 1944                           Gp Capt G I L Saye

28 Oct 1944                           A/Cdre P H Mackworth

13 Jun 1945                             A/Cdre N H D'Aeth

Middle East Staff Navigators School

This was formed in April 1945 at Ein Shemer and disbanded in December 1945.

Navigators 'W' Holding Course

This had been formed by September 1944 at Haverfordwest in No 17 Group, moving to Great Orton on 1 October 1944.  It commenced a move to Killadeas on 12 April 1945 but completed the move at Turnberry on 16 April, after which its fate is unknown.

Pathfinder Navigation Training Unit

This was formed on 18 March 1943 at Oakington in No 3 Group before moving on 10 April 1943 to Gransden Lodge.  Its function was to train Air Crews in PFF techniques and the use the special equipment employed by PFF.  Each crew received approximately 25 hours comprising: -

1. 10 hours conversion training and elementary introduction special equipment.

2. 15 hours training in the use of the equipment and bringing crews up to the necessary standard.

On 17 June 1943 the ground training moved to Upwood with the aircraft and maintenance section being located at Warboys.  From 5 September 1943 it re-organised from three flights (1 x Halifax and 2 x Lancaster) to just two flights (1 x Halifax and 1 x Lancaster) of 9 aircraft each.  The training programme was also amended as follows

1. 12½ hours flying training for replacement crews.

2. 25 hours flying training for reserved navigators.

 The whole school moved to Warboys on 5 March 1944 disbanded on 18 June 1945.

No 1 Radar Navigation Conversion Unit

This was formed by May 1952 at Chivenor but its fate is unknown.

Staff Navigators School (Middle East)

This was formed on 15 July 1944 at Gianaclis in No 203 Group, moving to Ein Shemer in April 1945 and disbanded on 30 November 1945.

Signals training units

AI Conversion Flight

This was formed as part of No 51 OTU on 20 October 1943 at Cranfield, where it remained until at least January 1944 but by January 1946 it had moved to Twinwood Farm, after which its fate is unknown.

Mk VIII AI Conversion Flight (MAAF)

This was formed on 28 May 1943 in the UK, for service in North Africa to convert night fighter crews to AI Mk VIII.  It arrived at Maison Blanche on 12 June, moving to Bone on 29 July, where it operated as part of No 219 Squadron.  On 18 August it moved to Reghaia, becoming an independent unit on 31 October but on 11 February 1944 it was in transit to India.  Its aircraft arrived at Baigachi on 29 February, being absorbed into No 1671 CU, followed by the ground echelon on 12 March and it officially disbanded on 28 May 1944.

Mk X AI Conversion Flight

This was formed on 29 August 1944 in Melton Mowbrey, for service in the Mediterranean to convert night fighter crews to AI Mk X.  Its aircraft  departed St Mawgan on 8 September, arriving at Pomigliano on 16 September, where it became part of No 335 Wing and on 30 September the 'AI' was dropped from its title.  On 31 March 1945 it moved to Baigachi in India, joining No 228 Group, finally closing down on 30 November 1945.

AI Training Flight

This was formed on 20 April 1944 in Marcianise, under the control of the Desert Air Force to convert the crews of No 600 Squadron and the 415th Night Fighter Squadron, USAAF to AI Mk VIII and disbanded on 28 May 1944.

AI/ASV School

This was formed on 24 October 1940 at Prestwick under the control of No 26 Group, to train AI/ASV radar operators and was redesignated No 3 Radio School on 27 December 1940.

Coastal Command Anti-U-Boat Devices School

This was formed from the Loran Training Unit on 20 April 1945 and disbanded on 25 August 1945.

ASV Training Flight/Unit

This had been formed by January 1944 at Chivenor under the control of No 19 Group and disbanded on 20 June 1945.

Empire Radio School

This was formed from the No 12 and 14 Radio Schools on 7 March 1946 at Debden and was redesignated the Signals Division of the RAF Technical College on 20 October 1949.

Fighter Command Navigation Radio Conversion Flight

This was formed on 17 February 1943 at Coltishall, attached to No 68 Squadron to train units in the use of AI Mk VIII but its fate is unknown.

Fighter Command Radar School

This was formed on 25 November 1944 at Northolt in No 11 Group, moving to North Weald in April 1945 where it disbanded on 7 September 1945.

No 93 Group Screened Wireless Operators' School

This was formed on 17 June 1943 at Lichfield but its fate is unknown.

Loran Training Unit

This was formed from  on 5 October 1944 at Mullaghmore, moving to Limavady on 3 April 1945 and was redesignated Coastal Command Anti-U-Boat Devices School on 20 April 1945.

Radar Conversion School

This was formed on 9 November 1943 at Maison Blanche under the administrative control of No 1 RAF Base Area and technical control of the Chief Radar Officer, NWAAF.  It function was to train radar personnel in the use of modern equipment.  It disbanded on 21 August 1945.

Radar Training Flight

This was formed on 7 December 1943 at Newmarket in No 3 Group but its fate is unknown.

Radar Training Flight (later No 1 RTF)

This was formed in about May 1944 at Chivenor and disbanded on 20 June 1945.

SCR 584 Training Unit

This was formed on 25 January 1945 at Drem in No 13 Group, moving to Manston in No 11 Group, where it disbanded on 19 December 1945 into the Fighter Command School of Control and Reporting.

Armament training units

Air Gun Laying (Turret) Training Unit

This was formed on 22 March 1945 at Fulbeck and but no further details have been found.

No 1 Armament Practice Camp

This was formed on 5 November 1941 at Aldergrove under the control of No 15 Group and disbanded on 1 September 1945.

No 2 Armament Practice Camp

This was formed on 5 November 1941 at Thorney island under the control of No 16 Group.  It moved to Bircham Newton on 16 June 1943 and by July 1945 was at Bradwell Bay, where it and disbanded on 1 September 1945 into APS Spilsby.

No 3 Armament Practice Camp

This was formed on 5 November 1941 at Leuchars under the control of No 17 Group and disbanded on 1 September 1945.

No 4 Armament Practice Camp

This was formed on in December 1942 at Talbenny under the control of No 19 Group.  It was transferred to No 44 Group on 11 October 1943 but reverted to No 19 Group on 31 October 1944 and disbanded on 1 September 1945.

No 11 Armament Practice Camp

This was formed from Nos 1487 and 1488 Flights on 18 October 1943 at Fairwood Common under the control of No 10 Group.  On 1 October 1944 it was allocated to the squadrons of No 84 Group and merged with No 18 APC to form No 1 APS on 30 June 1945.

No 12 Armament Practice Camp

This was formed from No 1486 Flight on 18 October 1943 at Llanbedr in No 9 Group and disbanded on 21 February 1945.

No 13 Armament Practice Camp

This was formed from No 1492 Flight on 18 October 1943 at Llanbedr under the control of No 9 Group.  On 17 June 1944 it temporarily closed and was later transferred to No 12 Group, disbanding on 21 February 1945.

No 14 Armament Practice Camp

This was formed from No 1490 Flight on 18 October 1943 at Ayr in No 13 Group.  On 27 August 1944 it moved to No 11 Group, where it was taken over by No 11 Group and from 12 November it was allocated to No 84 Group.  It later transferred to No 10 Group and disbanded on 4 October 1945.

No 15 Armament Practice Camp

This was formed from No 1491 Flight on 18 October 1943 at Peterhead in No 13 Group and disbanded on 21 February 1945 in No 13 Group.

No 16 Armament Practice Camp

This was formed from No 1489 Flight on 18 October 1943 at Hutton Cranswick in No 12 Group and disbanded on 21 February 1945 in No 12 Group.

Officers Commanding: -

18 Oct 1943                                Sqn Ldr H H A Ironside

No 17 Armament Practice Camp

This was formed from No 1488 Flight on 18 October 1943 at Southend under the control of No 11 Group.  On 8 February 1944 a Speci9al Gunnery Training Flight was formed and between 7-9 August 1944 the APC moved to North Weald and then to Warmwell on 27 August, transferring to No 10 Group.  On 1 October it was allocated to No 84 Group and disbanded on 4 October 1945.

No 18 Armament Practice Camp

This was formed from No 1493 Flight on 18 October 1943 at Gravesend under the control of No 11 Group.  It moved to Eastchurch on 26 December 1943 and the n to Fairwood Common in No 10 Group on 8 August 1944, where it was allocated to No 84 Group on 1 October and merged with No 11 APC to form No 1 APS on 30 June 1945.

No 20 Armament Practice Camp

This was formed from No 1571 Flight on 30 January 1944 at Ratmalana under the control of No 222 Group.  It moved to Sigiriya on 19 April 1944 and disbanded on 26 September 1945.

No 21 Armament Practice Camp

This was formed from No 1572 Flight on 30 January 1944 at St Thomas Mount under the control of No 172 Wing.  It moved to Yelahanka on 31 March, joining No 225 Group and then to Cholavarum on 23 September, where it disbanded on 18 June 1945.

No 22 Armament Practice Camp

This was formed from No 1573 Flight on 30 January 1944 at Amarda Road under the control of No 231 Group.  It was transferred to No 228 Group in April 1945, moving to Ranchi on 6 October, where it disbanded on 14 November 1946.

Officers Commanding; -

xx Jan 1946                Sqn Ldr J F D Elkington

No 23 Armament Practice Camp

This was formed on 10 March 1944 at Salbani in No 231 Group.  It moved to Dhubalia in No 175 Wing on 3 September, being transferred to No 224 Group on 14 January 1945 disbanded on 31 May 1945.

No 24 Armament Practice Camp

This was formed on 15 July 1945 at B170 Westerland, later renamed RAF Sylt and disbanded on 17 July 1946 into Training Squadron, RAF Sylt.

No 25 Armament Practice Camp

This was formed on 15 July 1945 at B170 Westerland, later renamed RAF Sylt and disbanded on 17 July 1946 into Training Squadron, RAF Sylt.

No 26 Armament Practice Camp

This was formed on 15 April 1948 at Nicosia under the control of No 205 Group, to provide armament training facilities for all Fighter and Light Bomber squadrons in the Command for periods of five weeks and was reduced to 'number-plate' basis on 19 February 1951.

No 27 Armament Practice Camp

This was formed on 1 January 1949 at Butterworth and disbanded on 20 September 1954.

Armament Practice Camp (BC Air)

This was formed on an unknown date in Japan and disbanded on 28 February 1948.

Armament Practice Camp, Butterworth

This was formed on 31 March 1955 at Butterworth and disbanded on 30 April 1956.

Armament Practice Camp (Middle East)

This was formed on 31 January 1956 at Nicosia, moving to Ta Kali on 1 February and then to Habbaniya on 5 April, where it disbanded on 10 January 1957.

Tineh Bay Practice Ranges/Air Weapons Range

This was formed on an unknown date in the Middle East and was transferred from the control of HQ MEAF to No 205 Group on 14 July 1949, no further details at present.

Armament Practice Station, Acklington

This was formed from No 2 APS, Spilsby on 1 May 1946 at Acklington under the control of No 12 Group,being transferred to No 81 Group on 25 February 1952 and disbanded  27 July 1956.

Armament Practice Station, Lubeck

This was formed on 1 May 1946 at Lubeck and disbanded on 30 September 1948.

Armament Practice Station, Spilsby

This was formed on 1 December 1945 at Spilsby and disbanded on 1 August 1946.

Armament Practice Station, Sylt

This was formed on 17 July 1946 at Sylt and disbanded on 29 February 1948.

Armament Practice Station, Sylt

It reopened on 1 June 1949 at Sylt and disbanded on 16 October 1961, when the station was handed over to the Luftwaffe.

No 1 Armament Practice Station

This was formed from Nos 11 and 18 APCs on 1 July 1945 at Fairwood Common under the control of No 11 Group and disbanded on 1 May 1946 into APS, Acklington.

No 2 Armament Practice Station

This was formed on 1 July 1945 at Bradwell Bay, moving to Spilsby on 8 January 1946 and was redesignated APS, Acklington on 1 May 1946.

 1 Dec 1945                         Wg Cdr G D Stephenson

23 Jan 1946                         Wg Cdr V R Snell

No 3 Armament Practice Station

This was formed on 10 August 1945 at Hawkinge, moving to Charterhall on 1 November 1945, where it disbanded on 17 March 1946.

Armament School

This was formed as the RFC Armament School on 12 July 1917 at University College Athletic Ground, Perivale, Ealing, London. It moved to Hillingdon House, Uxbridge on 18 December 1917, dropping 'RFC' from its title on 1 April 1918 disbanded on 13 September 1919.

Armament Training Camp, Kuantan

This was formed on 16 October 1941 at Kuantan and was overrun during the Japanese invasion.

Temporary Armament Training Camp, Aldergrove

This was formed from on 2 March 1936 at Aldergrove under the control of Western Area to provide accommodation and training facilities it provided was sufficient for one squadron of any type, and was redesignated No 2 ATC on 6 October 1936.

Temporary Armament Training Camp, Leuchars

This was formed in March 1935 at Leuchars and in 1936 the accommodation and training facilities it provided was sufficient for one squadron of any type or one FTS output, and was redesignated Temporary ATS Leuchars  1 April 1938.

Temporary Armament Training Station, Leuchars

This was formed from the Temporary ATC, Leuchars on 1 April 1938 at Leuchars under the control of No 25 Group and disbanded on 3 September 1939 into No 8 ATS at Evanton.

Temporary Armament Training Camp, North Coates Fitties

This was formed on 6 October 1936 at North Coates Fitties and was redesignated Temporary ATS North Coates Fitties on 1 April 1938.

Temporary Armament Training Station, North Coates Fitties

This was formed from the Temporary ATC, Leuchars on 1 April 1938 at North Coates Fitties under the control of No 25 Group and disbanded on 15 August 1938.

AMO A49/1932 - 3 March 1932 is reproduced here to give more details regarding the organisation and function of: -

A49 - Armament Training Camps.
 

1. The armament training camps and ranges are established in order to provide air firing and bombing training facilities for units in home commands as follows: -

   Camp	Range
   No 1 Armament, Training Camp, Catfoss.	Skipsea
   No 2 Armament Training Camp, North Coates Fitties.	Donna Nook,
   No 3 Armament Training Camp, Sutton Bridge.	Holbeach

The camps will normally open in March and close in October.

ALLOCATION OF UNITS TO CAMPS

2. Units will proceed to the camps in rotation to carry out the annual air firing and bombing course, under arrangements made by the AOC Inland Area, in close collaboration with the AOC-in-C, Air Defence of Great Britain, and the AOC, Coastal Area

ACCOMODATION
 

3. Accommodation and training facilities are provided at armament, training camps as under: -

   No 1 Armament, Training Camp	2 SEB, TEB, TB or AC squadrons
   No 2 Armament Training Camp	2 SEB, TEB, TB or AC squadrons
   No 3 Armament Training Camp	2 Fighter squadrons or 1 SEB or AC squadron

ESTABLISHMENTS

4. The following establishments have been issued: -

   No 1 & 2 Armament, Training Camps	IA/37
   No 3 Armament Training Camp	IA/38

   
   COMMAND

5. The armament training camps are placed directly under the Commandant, Air Armament School, for all purposes

No 1 Armament Training Camp

This was formed on 1 January 1932 at Catfoss, initially to only operate from the Spring to Autumn each year but in October 1935 it was informed that it would remain open all year and eventually become a self-accounting station.  A programme of construction began with the Sergeants' Mess, Station Sick Quarters and an Engine Test Trench being opened in January 1937.  At the same time a Watch Office andTower was opened at Bridlington, where a marine craft detachment was located to service the range at Skipsea.

In 1936 the accommodation and training facilities it provided was sufficient for two squadrons of any type or for one FTS output.

On 1 April 1938 it was redesignated No 1 Armament Training Station.

Officers Commanding: -

 1 Mar 1932 - 8 Oct 1932        Wg Cdr G H Bowman

28 Feb 1933 - 21 Oct 1933     Wg Cdr P C Sherren

27 Feb 1934 - xx Oct 1934     Wg Cdr P C Sherren

25 Feb 1935                            Wg Cdr E B Rice

16 Feb 1936                            Wg Cdr E C Emmett

31 Jan 1938                             Wg Cdr T C Anderson

No 2 Armament Training Camp

This was formed on 1 January 1932 at North Coates Fitties and was redesignated Temporary ATC North Coates Fitties on 6 October 1936.  Initially it was only open from the Spring to Autumn.

In 1936 the accommodation and training facilities it provided was sufficient for two light bomber squadrons or for one FTS output.

It reformed on 6 October 1936 at Aldergrove, using ranges at Lough Neagh and was taken over by No 25 Group on 1 December 1937.  It was redesignated No 2 Armament Training Station on 1 April 1938.

20 Mar - Oct 1929                            Sqn Ldr C F Gordon

 8 Mar - Oct 1930                             Wg Cdr E Osmond

12 Mar - Oct 1931                            Wg Cdr R S Maxwell

 1 Mar - 8 Oct 1932                          Wg Cdr S R Watkins

28 Feb - 28 Oct 1933                        Wg Cdr J W Woodhouse

26 Feb - Oct 1934                            Wg Cdr F W Trott

16 Feb - Oct 1935                            Wg Cdr L M Bailey

No 3 Armament Training Camp

This was formed on 1 January 1932 at Sutton Bridge, being taken over by No 25 Group on 1 December 1937 and was redesignated No 3 Armament Training Station on 1 April 1938.

In 1936 the accommodation and training facilities it provided was sufficient for two fighter squadrons or one fighter and one light bomber or army co-operation squadron or one FTS output.

It reformed from No 18 Group APC on in November 1941 at Leuchars and disbanded on 1 September 1945.

 1 Mar - 15 Oct 1932         Wg Cdr W Sowrey

xx Mar - Oct 1933

 9 Nov 1933                       Fg Off F R S Freestone

 3 Dec 1933                       Wg Cdr W Sowrey?

19 Mar 1934                      Wg Cdr F Sowrey

No 4 Armament Training Camp

This was formed on 1 January 1937 at West Freugh, being taken over by No 25 Group on 1 December 1937 and was redesignated No 4 Armament Training Station on 1 April 1938.

No 4 Armament Training Camp

It reformed from No 19 Group APC on 5 November 1941 at Carew Cheriton and disbanded on 24 July 1942.

No 5 Armament Training Camp

This was formed on 1 February 1937 at Penrhos, in Armament Group, being taken over by No 25 Group on 1 December 1937 and was redesignated No 5 Armament Training Station on 1 April 1938.

No 6 Armament Training Camp

This was formed on 1 May 1937 at Woodsford/Warmwell, in Armament Group, being taken over by No 25 Group on 1 December 1937.  It utilised ranges at Chesil Bank, which opened on 1 August 1937, and was redesignated No 6 Armament Training Station on 1 April 1938.

No 7 Armament Training Camp

This was formed on 1 April 1938 at Acklington, under the control of No 25 Group and was redesignated No 7 Armament Training Station on 1 April 1938.

No 8 Armament Training Camp

This was formed on 1 September 1937 at Evanton, in Armament Group, being taken over by No 25 Group on 1 December 1937 and was redesignated No 8 Armament Training Station on 1 April 1938.

No 1 Armament Training Camp (France)

This was formed on 16 January 1940 at Perpignan la Salanque and disbanded at Pembrey on 24 June 1940..

AMO A366/1938 - 2 September 1938 is reproduced here to give more details regarding the organisation and function of: -

Armament Training Stations.

GENERAL

1. Armament Training Stations and ranges are established in order to provide, air firing and bombing facilities to enable units to carry out the requirements of the training syllabus.

2. Units will proceed to the stations in accordance with a programme drawn up by the Air Ministry in collaboration with the commands concerned.

3. Stations and Ranges -

   Station	Range
   No 1 Armament Training Station, Catfoss	Skipsea
   No 2 Armament Training Station, Aldergrove	Lough Neagh
   No 3 Armament Training Station, Sutton Bridge	Holbeach
   No 4 Armament Training Station, West Freugh	Luce Bay
   No 5 Armament Training Station, Penrhos	Hell's Mouth
   No 6 Armament Training Station, Warmwell	Chesil Bank
   No 7 Armament Training Station, Acklington	Druridge Bay
   No 8 Armament Training Station, Evanton	Tain
   No 1 Temporary Armament Training Station, Leuchars	Tentsmuir

    

4. Accommodation - Accommodation and training facilities are provided at armament training stations to meet the following maximum requirements during winter months -

   Station	To accommodate
   No 1 Armament Training Station, Catfoss	One flying training school output
   No 2 Armament Training Station, Aldergrove	Two heavy bomber squadrons
   No 3 Armament Training Station, Sutton Bridge	Two fighter squadrons
   No 4 Armament Training Station, West Freugh	Two heavy bomber squadrons
   No 5 Armament Training Station, Penrhos	One flying training school output
   No 6 Armament Training Station, Warmwell	One flying training school output
   No 7 Armament Training Station, Acklington	Three fighter squadrons
   No 8 Armament Training Station, Evanton	Two heavy bomber squadrons
   No 1 Temporary Armament Training Station, Leuchars	One squdron of any type

    

5. Duties of station commandant -

   1. (i) The station commandant will have the responsibilities and functions of a station commander as laid down in regulations, with the modification indicated in paras 7 and 9 below.

   2. (ii) The duties of the station commandant will include the following -

      1. Command and administration of the station staff in all matters.  The authority of the station commandant in this respect will in no way be affected if the CO of a visiting unit is senior to him.  The CO of the visiting unit will be considered as coming under the terms of KR & ACI, para. 111, clause 5.

      2. Issue and enforcement of station standing orders, including flying regulations and standing orders and safety precautions for handling and storage of ammunition, and explosives.

      3. Enforcement of "Regulations and Safety Precautions for Air Firing and Bombing Ranges" and the display of notices and signals required by the bye-laws.

      4. Allotment of accommodation to visiting units.

      5. Maintenance and administration of the officers' and sergeants' messes.

      6. The station commandant will exercise the powers of a CO for disciplinary purposes under KR & ACI, para. 1075 except as limited under para 7 (i) below.

   3. The station commandant will be responsible for: -

      1. Station equipment including the accommodation provided for units.
         Hangars.
         MT vehicles.
         Signals.
         Medical services.
         Sanitation.
         Works services.

      2. Rations, and offices, NCOs' and airmen's messing.
         NAAFI

         Fuel.

         Equipment for officers' and sergeants' messes.
         Pay of airmen of station staff,

      3. Petrol and lubricants.
         Bombs and ammunition.
         Pyrotechnics.

      4. Ground equipment required but not included in the authorised scales of flying equipment.
         Targets and range equipment.

6. Duties of senior station armament officer - The senior station armament officer will be responsible under the station commandant for the following :-

   1. Allotment of ranges to units in occupation.

   2. Marking and recording the results of air firing and bombing practices and tests.

   3. Discipline, at the ranges, and the observance of standing orders and safety precautions by all personnel employed at or using the ranges, irrespective of whether they belong to the station staff or visiting units.

   4. Assisting visiting units with his technical knowledge and experience.

7. Responsibilities of commanders of units visiting the stations - Unit or detachment commanders will be responsible for: -

   1. The discipline of their own units. (Where the unit commander is of the rank of wing commander or above, he will exercise the powers of a CO over his own unit in disciplinary matters. Action on disciplinary matters requiring reference to higher authority will be taken up by the unit commander, with the headquarters of the Group to which the unit concerned belongs, and the station commandant will be kept informed of the action taken until the unit leaves the station.)

   2. The compliance, by their personnel, with all station and range standing orders.

   3. The maintenance of their aircraft, and unit technical matters.

   4. The conduct, of air firing and bombing practices by their units in accordance with Air Ministry instructions and local standing orders.

8. Messes -  Officers and sergeants, which will be used by both station and units in occupation will be provided by the station commandant who will be president of the officers' mess committee.  The units in occupation will each have one representative on the mess committee.

9. General -

   1. Commanders of incoming units will be furnished in advance by the station commandant with schedules of the material which he is in a position to place at their disposal during the stay of their units. All other material required by the unit, will be provided under arrangements to be made by the unit commander.

   2. Correspondence regarding details of moves to and from the station may be carried out direct between units and the station commandant, copies of letters being sent to the superior formations concerned for information. All other correspondence is to be conducted though the usual channels.

   3. Complaints from outside sources relating to station or range organisation or discipline will be referred in the first instance, to the station commandant, who is authorised to call for any information he may require from the COs of visiting units or detachments. The station commandant will either deal with the matter himself, if it concerns personnel of his unit, or pass it to the CO of the appropriate unit (see para. 7).

   4. The organisation detailed above will apply to all units, notwithstanding that any of them are temporarily located at the station for any other purpose than air firing or bombing practice.

   EQUIPMENT

    

10. i) The equipment to be held at armament training stations is detailed in AP 830, Vol. III, and in the scales of equipment compiled by Training Command, copies of which have been circulated to units concerned.  Armament training stations are to hold stocks of petrol, oil and general stores (e.g. cleaning materals, AGS, fabric dopes) for the use of visiting squadrons,  Establishments are to be calculated from the records of consumption shown upon the tally cards, in accordance with AP 830, Vol. 1, chapter 2, section 8.
    (ii) Visiting squadrons are to obtain any aircraft and engine spares required while at the stations from their parent station or direct from maintenance units.  These spares will be accounted for by the parent station.

ACCOUNTING

11. Armament training stations with the exceptions of No 2 Armament Training Station, Aldergrove, and the Temporary Armament Training Station, Leuchars, will in future be self-accounting for cash and stores.  An accountant officer and accounting personnel: will be added to the establishment of each station: the accountant officer is to follow the procedure in AP 830, chapter 12, paras 11 to 13, in taking over the equipment accounts from the equipment officer.  No 2 Armament Training Station will remain affiliated to the RAF Station, Aldergrove, and the Temporary Armament Training Station to the RAF Station, Leuchars, respectively, for all accounting purposes.  The date on which each of the other armament training stations becomes self-accounting will be published in Air Ministry Orders.

12. (i) As early as possible after an accountant officer is posted for duty at an armament training station, the station commandant will close the sub-imprest held by him, and will hand over to the accountant officer the armament training station the balances of public cash in his possession.  He will obtain a receipt for these balance from the accountant officer and will render an account , up to the time of handing over the cash, direct to the Accountant Officer, Air Armament School Eastchurch, or in the case of No 8 Armament Training Station to the Accountant Officer, No 8 Flying Training School, Montrose.  All supporting vouchers, including the receipt for cash balances, will accompany that account.
    (ii) Transfer lists in respect of personnel borne on the strength of the armament raining stations will he prepared by Eastchurch or Montrose as the case may beo, and forwarded to the accountant officer of the appropriate armament. training station.  Transfer lists in respect of personnel subsequently posted to armament training stations will be forwarded direct to the accountant officer of the appropriate station and not to Eastchurch or Montrose.
    (iii) Personnel of units sent to armament training stations for training will remain the direct responsibility of the accountant officers of parent units and will not be regarded as attached for pay purposes.  The detachment pay roll procedure detailed in para 2833 of KR & ACI will be followed in view of the special conditions at armament training stations.
    (iv) The accountant officer of an armament training station will be responsible for the payment of allowances due to Royal Navy and Royal Marine personnel serving at an armament training station.
    AMO  A284/33 is accordingly amended as follows: -

Para 2. Delete this paragraph and substitute:-

"Allowances mentioned in paras 11, 15, 16,  17 and 18 of this order will, be paid by the accountant officer of the RAF unit at which an officer is actually serving, irrespective of his posting or appointment.  These are payable monthly in arrears, subject to settlement on change of station."

(v). The responsibility for the accountant officer's portion of the Airmen's Messing Account (Form 848 or 193 as appropriate) will also be taken over as soon as possible after an accountant officer is posted for duty at an armament training station and the accounts submitted for audit to the Air Ministry in accordance with AP 112, chapter VII, para 22 (as amended by AMO A132/37).

REPORT BY AOC No 25 (ARMAMENT) GROUP

13. Reports on the armament efficiency of units attending armament training stations are to be recorded by the AOC No 25 (Armament) Group in three parts as follows .-

    1. Part 1 - Bombing - Part I  is to contain reports upon points which arise in connection with the bombing training of a unit, and equipment in so far as it affects training during the period of attachment.  Photographic reproductions of Form 3056 showing the bombing results are to be attached to this part of the report.

    2. Part II - Air Firing - Part II is to contain a report upon all points, which arise in connection with the gunnery training of a unit, and equipment in so for as it affects gunnery training during the period of attachment.  Photographic reproductions of Form 3056 showing the air firing results are to be attached to this part of the report.

    3. Part III - Armament Equipment - Part III is to commence with a general report upon the standard of maintenance of the unit's armament equipment.  Each of the items of armament equipment is to be reported upon in detail in the appendices to this part of the report as follows:

       Appendix BI - Report on all bombing equipment and bombing instruments.

       Appendix G1 - Report on fixed guns and their auxiliary equipment

       Appendix G1 (a) - A classified summary of stoppages of fixed guns, in tabular form.

       Appendix GII - Report on free guns and their auxiliary equipment.

       Appendix GIII - A classified summary of stoppages of gun control, gear.

       Notes on Appendices: -

       A separate form is to be made out for each mark of gun, except the Lewis gun.

    CIRCULATION OF REPORTS

     

14. The circulation of the armament reports on a unit by No 25 (Armament) Group is to be as follows: -

    1. Bomber, Fighter and Coastal Commands -

       1. Parts I and II - Six copies to the CO of the unit concerned.  The unit commander to forward five copies to his station commander with his remarks.  The station commander is to forward four copies with his remarks to group headquarters.  The AOC group is to forward three copies with his remarks to command headquarters.  In the case of No 22 (Army Co-operation) Group the AOC is to forward one copy with his remarks to the Air Ministry and one copy to the AOC No 25 (Armament) Group.  The AOC-in-C is to forward one copy to the Air Ministry and one copy to the AOC No 25 (Armament) Group together with his remarks.

       2. Part III - One copy of this part is to be sent direct to each of the following - Air Ministry, the command, group and unit, for such, action as may be considered necessary.

    2. Training Command -

       1. Parts I and II - Five copies to the CO of the unit concerned.  The unit commander to forward four copies to group headquarters.  The AOC group is to forward one copy with his remarks to command headquarters.  The AOC group is to forward one copy with his remarks to the Air Ministry and one copy to the AOC No 25 (Armament) Group together with his remarks.

       2. Part III - One copy of this part is to be sent direct to each of the following - Air Ministry, the command, group and unit, for such, action as may be considered necessary.

       3. Appendix G,r. Appendix QL (a}
          Appendix G1I. Appendix GAT. (a) Appendix GAIL Notes on Appendices - A separate form is to he made out tac.h mark of gun, except
          the Lewis gun.

    3. (Fleet Air Arm Squadrons - Parts I, II and III - Seven copies to the CO of the unit concerned (a copy of Part III is to be sent direct to the Air Ministry).  The CO of the unit is to forward six copies to the Vice-Admiral - Aircraft Carriers. This will allow Vice-Admiral - Aircraft Carriers, to forward three copies to the AOC-in-C Coastal Command, and two copies to the C-in-C concerned with his remarks for onward transmission to the Admiralty.  The AOC-in-C, Coastal Command is to forward one copy to No. 25 (Armament) Group with his remarks, and one copy to the Air Ministry.

REPORTS ON ARMAMENT TRAINING BY TYPES OF SQUADRONS

15. Consolidated reports on squadrons or units by types are to be submitted by the AOC, No 25 (Armament) Group, on the armament training of various types of squadrons and units.  Distribution of copies of these reports is to be as fo1lows: -

    1. Bomber, Fighter and Coastal Commands - Four copies to the AOC-in-C, concerned.  The AOC-in-C is to forward one copy with his remarks to the Air Ministry and one copy to the AOC, No 25 (Armament) Group.  In the case of No 22 (Army Co-operation) Group the copies are to be forwarded direct to the AOC, Group.  The AOC Group is to forward one copy with his remarks to the Air Ministry and one copy to the AOC, No 25 (Armament) Group.

    2. Training Command - Four copies to the AOC group concerned, who will forward one copy with his remarks to the Air Ministry, one copy to the AOC-in-C, Training Command and one copy to the AOC, No 25 (Armament) Group.

    3. Fleet Air Arm Units - In the case of Fleet Air Arm squadrons, six copies of the consolidated report are to be sent to the Vice-Admiral - Aircraft Carriers. This will permit of two copies being forwarded to the C-in-C, Home Fleet, for onward transmission to the Admiralty, and three copies to the AOC-in-C,. Coastal Command, who is to send one copy to the AOC, No 25 (Armament) Group, and a copy to the Air Ministry.

Naval Forms

16. Naval forms 8.421 (B) and 8.421 (D) are to be, forwarded through the usual naval channels by CO of FAA squadrons.
     

No 1 Armament Training Station

This was formed from No 1 ATC on 1 April 1938 at Catfoss under the control of No 25 Group.  It finally became a self-accounting unit on 1 October 1938 and disbanded on 3 September 1939 by being absorbed into No 3 AOS at Aldergrove.

Officers Commanding: -

 1 Apr 1938                             Wg Cdr T C Anderson

No 2 Armament Training Station

This was formed from No 2 ATC on 1 April 1938 at Aldergrove under the control of No 25 Group and was redesignated No 3 AOS on 17 April 1939.

No 3 Armament Training Station

This was formed from No 3 ATC on 1 April 1938 at Sutton Bridge under the control of No 25 Group and disbanded on 3 September 1939 into No 4 AOS.

No 4 Armament Training Station                                                                 

This was formed from No 4 ATC on 1 April 1938 at West Freugh under the control of No 25 Group and was redesignated No 4 AOS on 17 April 1939.

No 5 Armament Training Station

This was formed from No 5 ATC on 1 April 1938 at Penrhos under the control of No 25 Group and was redesignated No 5 AOS on 18 September 1939.

No 6 Armament Training Station

This was formed from No 6 ATC on 1 April 1938 at Woodsford/Warmwell under the control of No 25 Group and became part of No 10 AOS on 3 September 1939.

No 7 Armament Training Station

This was formed from No 7 ATC on 1 April 1938 at Acklington under the control of No 25 Group and was redesignated No 2 AOS on 15 November 1938.

No 8 Armament Training Station

This was formed from No 8 ATC on 1 April 1938 at Evanton under the control of No 25 Group and was absorbed into No 4 AOS at West Freugh on 3 September 1939.

No 9 Armament Training Station

This was formed on 1 June 1939 at Stormy Down under the control of No 25 Group and was redesignated No 7 AOS on 3 September 1939.

Armament Training Station, Acklington

This was formed in September 1939 at Acklington on the transfer of No 2 AOS to Pembrey.

Armament Training Station, Jurby

This was formed in September 1939 at Jurby.

No 1 Bomber Defence Training Flight

This was formed within No 1668 HCU on in June 1945 at Bottesford on loan from No 12 Group.  It moved to Cottesmore on 17 September 1945 but when it disbanded is unknown.

No 1 Bombing and Gunnery Range

This was formed in No 221 Group on 16 November 1943 at Damodar River, disbanded into RAF Salbani on 15 January 1946.

Tria Gala Bombing and Air Firing Range

This facility in Ceylon was taken over by the RAF on 15 March 1947 and was parented by RAF Katukurunda.  It was transferred to the control of RAF Negombo on 1 December 1948, no further details at present.

No 2 Bombing and Gunnery Range

This was formed as a Category 'A' range in No 225 Group on 31 August 1943 at Trinchinopoly, and was absorbed into the establishment of SHQ RAF Kolar on 22 December 1944.

No 3 Bombing and Gunnery Range

This was formed as a Category 'B' range in No 225 Group on 31 August 1943 at Vizagapatam, and was absorbed into the establishment of SHQ RAF Yelahanka on 8 January 1945.

No 4 Bombing and Gunnery Range

This was formed as a Category 'C' range in No 225 Group on 31 August 1943 at Tiruvettiryur, and was absorbed into the establishment of SHQ RAF St Thomas' Mount on 1 February 1945.

No 5 Bombing and Gunnery Range

This was formed in No 222 Group on 1 August 1943 in Ceylon and disbanded on 25 May 1944, its personnel being utilised to form an Armament Section at RAF Ratmalana.

No 6 Bombing and Gunnery Range

This was formed in No 222 Group on 1 August 1943 in Ceylon and disbanded on 31 May 1944, its personnel being utilised to form an Armament Section at RAF Minneriya.

No 7 Bombing and Gunnery Range

This was formed in No 222 Group on 1 August 1943 in Ceylon, and disbanded on 23 December 1943.

No 8 Bombing and Gunnery Range

This was formed in No 221 Group on 16 November 1943 at Ramnagar, its fate is unknown.

No 9 Bombing and Gunnery Range

This was formed in No 221 Group on 16 November 1943 at Biramput and disbanded on 29 May 1944.

No 10 Bombing and Gunnery Range

This was formed in No 222 Group on 23 December 1943 at Poriyakarachchi and disbanded on 29 May 1944, its personnel being utilised to form an Armament Section at RAF China Bay.

No 11 Bombing Range

This was formed in No 225 Group on 17 January 1944 at Cuttack, its fate is unknown.

Berners Heath Bombing Range

This was formed on an unknown date and was reduced to inactive (surplus) status on 20 October 1954, parented by HQ (Unit), No 3 Group.

Cannock Chase Bombing Range

This was formed on an unknown date and was transferred from Technical Training Command to Maintenance Command on 21 April 1947, no further details at present.

Nordhorn Bombing Range

This was formed on an unknown date.  On 15 December 1954 local administered by RAF Gutersloh, no further details at present.

Rushford Practice Bombing Range

This was formed on an unknown date and was reduced to inactive status on 14 June 1954, parented by HQ (Unit), No 3 Group.

Central Gunnery School

This was formed on 6 November 1939 at Warmwell under the control of No 25 Group in order to improve the standard of air gunnery in the RAF.  It moved to Castle Kennedy on 23 June 1941 and then to Chelveston on 5 December.  Up until 5 March 1942 the unit had primarily run the Gunnery Leaders' Course, with most of the trainees provided by Bomber Command units but on that date the Pilots' Gunnery Initial Training Wing (PGITW) was set up at RAF Wittering, formation of which had commenced on 27 February,  under the command of Wg Cdr A G 'Sailor' Malan.  At the same time the existing element of the school was renamed Bomber Wing and on 31 March 1942 both Wings moved to Sutton Bridge from Chelveston and Wittering respectively, in order to operate from a single location, with new single HQ coming into existence on 4 April.  On 5 September 1942 the Bomber Wing was renamed Gunnery Leader Wing.

It moved again on 24 February 1944, this time to Catfoss with its capacity remaining unchanged as follows: -

From March 1945 the Pilot Gunnery Instructors' Wing was renamed the Pilot Attack Instructors' Wing.

It finally to Leconfield on 12 November 1945, although aircraft were operating and servicing was being carried out there prior to the official move.  On 21 February 1947 its pupil capacity was reduced from 86 to 54 and on 5 April 1948 came under the control of HQ, RAF Manby (together with the Empire Air Armament School).  On 1 June 1948 its courses were reorganised as follows: -

On 1 June 1950 its training programme was revised as follows: -

It was transferred to No 81 Group, Fighter Command on 1 November 1954 but disbanded on 31 December 1954 to form the Fighter Weapons School and the Coastal Command Gunnery School.

Officers Commanding: -                   

Empire Central Armament School/Empire Air Armament School

This was formed as the Empire Central Armament School from No 1 Air Armament School on 18 September 1944 at Manby within No 25 Group.  In November 1944 the unit records start to use the title Empire Air Armament School, although no specific reference to this change is included in them.  On 1 January 1945 the capacity of the school was reduced from 385 to 367, as follows: -

Further reductions in the capacity took place at some point, reducing the total capacity to 156, which was further reduced on 14 December 1946 as follows: -

It was transferred to No 21 Group in 1946 and on 5 April 1948 came under the control of HQ, RAF Manby (together with the Central Gunnery School).  On 1 June 1948 its courses were reorganised as follows: -

From the 1 January 1949 the following course changes took place: -

It amalgamated with the Empire Flying School on 31 July 1949 to form the RAF Flying College.

18 Sep 1944                A/Cdre C W Busk

A/Cdre Busk  (2nd from left) with what appear to be a party of visiting Russian Officers, Sqn Ldr Foster is at far right

Left to Right: - AVM G Combe, Wg Cdr C M Clementi, AM Sir Roderic Hill, Gp Capt E D M Nelson, A/Cdre C W Busk

Lancaster III, PB873 'Thor' at Manby 25 October 1945

Naming ceremony of Lancaster III, PB873 'Thor' at Manby 15 October 1945 by Mrs Busk (wife of Commandant)

Bomber Command Bombing Range

This was formed on an unknown date in No 3 Group, probably at RAF Jurby, moving to RAF Ramsey on 1 March 1964, no further details at present.

Chesil Bank Range Unit

This was formed at Radipole Lane, Weymouth on 1 July 1953 under the control of No 3 Group, parented by RAF Merryfield and operated a landing ground at Chickerell.  It was transferred to No 1 Group on 1 September 1955.  It was transferred to No 3 Group on 1 October 1956, and then to HQ Bomber Command on 1 May 1958.  It disbanded on 15 September 1959.

Donna Nook Bombing Range

This was formed on an unknown date and was transferred from RAF Manby, Flying Training Command to No 1 Group, Bomber Command on 21 September 1953, administered by RAF Binbrook, no further details at present.

Theddlethorpe Bombing Range

This was formed on an unknown date and was transferred from RAF Manby, Flying Training Command to No 1 Group, Bomber Command on 21 September 1953, administered by RAF Binbrook, no further details at present.

Wainfleet Bombing Range

This was formed on an unknown date and was transferred from No 1 Group, Bomber Command to No 3 Group, Bomber Command on 21 September 1953, administered by RAF Coningsby, no further details at present.

Fighter Command Missile Practice Camp

This was formed from No 1 GWTS on 1 June 1962 at Valley and was redesignated Strike Command Air-to-Air Missile Establishment on 30 April 1968.

Fighter Pilots Practice Camp, Setif

This was formed on 1 February 1943 at Setif and was redesignated Advanced Flying Unit, Setif on 30 June 1943.

Fighter Pilots Practice Flight, Blida

This was formed in May 1943 at Blida and was absorbed into the Advanced Flying Unit, Setif on 30 June 1943.

Fighter Weapons School

Guided Weapons Range Unit

This was formed at Aberporth on 1 July 1958 in No 12 Group, being transferred to No 13 Group on 1 December 1960, and disbanded on 19 March 1965.

RAF (Middle East) Central Gunnery School

This was formed from No 1 METS at El Ballah in Middle East Command as RAF (ME) CGS on 25 April 1943.   Id function being: -

1. To provide advanced gunnery and technical training to fighter pilots and air gunners of operational squadrons and OTUs to the standard of qualified instructors for air firing.

2. To provide advanced training in bombing for air observers and air bombers to a standard required to fill vacancies as squadron bombing leaders.

It was transferred to No 203 Group on 10 May 1943 and disbanded in December 1945.

RAF Practice Camp

This was formed from Houton Bay Experimental Establishment on 16 March 1920 at Houton Bay and closed in September 1921.

RAF Practice Camp

This was formed from Smoogroo Experimental Establishment on 16 March 1920 at Smoogroo and closed in 1921.

RAF Practice Camp

This was formed on 8 May 1929 at Catfoss, although units were generally only hosted from around March to October each year, it was redesignated No 1 Armament Training Camp on 1 January 1932.

RAF Practice Camp

This was formed in about July 1926 at North Coates Fitties, although units were generally only hosted from around March to October each year, it was redesignated No 2 Armament Training Camp on 1 January 1932.

RAF Practice Camp

This was formed in about July 1926 at Sutton Bridge, although units were generally only hosted from around March to October each year, it was redesignated No 3 Armament Training Camp on 1 January 1932.

RAF Practice Camp

This was formed in about July 1926 at Weston Zoyland,  and its fate is unknown, although it seems to have continued hosting units into WW2.

Other flying training units

Aden Command

This was formed on 11 September 1940 at Sheikh Othman and disbanded on 1 October 1942.

Air Ambulance School

This was formed under the control of Technical Training Command, attached to No 107 OTU in 1944 at Leicester East.  No 107 OTUU became No 1333 TSCU on 12 March 1945 and the school disbanded on 27 April 1946.

Air Crew Synthetic Training Refresher School

This was formed from  on 24 August 1944 at Calcutta , to provide a range of synthetic training facilities to all aircrew categories. A night vision section was added on 1 December, which disbanded on 10 March 1945.  The school finally disbanded on 1 September 1945.

Air Crew Testing and Grading Unit

This was formed in January 1945 at Melbourne, under the control of No 4 Group and was redesignated the Transport Command Air Crew Examining Unit on 1 November 1945.

Air Support Command Examining Unit

This was formed from Transport Command Examining Unit on 1 August 1967 at Benson and was redesignated No 38 Group Air Transport Examining Unit on 1 September 1972.

All Weather Fighter Combat School

This was formed from All-Weather Fighter Leaders School on 15 March 1958 at West Raynham and was redesignated the Javelin OCS on 1 July 1962.

All Weather Fighter Leaders School

This was formed from Night Fighter Leaders School in July 1950 at West Raynham and was redesignated the All-Weather Fighter Leaders School on 15 March 1958.

All Weather Jet Refresher School.

This was formed on 29 July 1949 at Strubby as part of the RAF Flying College and disbanded on 1 July 1962.

All Weather Jet Refresher Squadron

This was formed in June 1955 at Weston Zoyland from part of No 12 FTS but its fate is unknown.

Bomber Command Bombing School

This was formed from the Central Bomber Establishment on 15 October 1952 at Scampton under the control of No 1 Group.  It moved to Lindholme on 15 November 1952 and was redesignated the Strike Command Bombing School on 30 April 1968.

Bomber Command Central Night Vision School

This was formed on 31 December 1945 at Worksop and disbanded on 1 March 1946.

The Bomber Command Instructors' School

This was formed from the Night Bomber Tactical School, Bombing Analysis School and other units on 5 December 1944 at Finningley under the control of No 93 Group.  Its task was to ensure that the Command's instructors received training in instructional techniques.  The pupil population was 245 and the training organisation being: -

On 14 February 1945 it was transferred to No 91 Group, then to No 7 Group in March.  The Bombing Analysis element moved to Workshop on 22 February and it absorbed the Engine Control Development Unit the following month.  On 21 December it reverted to No 91 Group control, with the Bombing Analysis element disbanding on 25  January 1946.  It finally moved to Scampton on 22 January 1947, where it was redesignated the Bomber Command Instrument Rating and Examination Flight on 15 June 1947.

Bomber Command Instrument Rating and Examining Flight

This was formed from The Bomber Command Instructors' School on 15 June 1947 at Scampton under the control of No 1 Group and disbanded on 10 March 1952.

Bomber Command Jet Conversion Flight

This was formed on 15 December 1950 at Binbrook, equipped with Meteors to provide familiarisation training to personnel in the operation of jet aircraft in preparation of the introduction of the Canberra.  It moved to Hemswell on 7 July 1952, to Coningsby in No 3 Group on 7 April 1953, before finally going to Marham on 16 November 1953, where it disbanded on 30 September 1954, its task being taken over by No 12 FTS.

Bomber Command Radar School

This was formed from the Gee-H Training Flight on 29 December 1944 at High Wycombe, moving to Feltwell in No 100 Group on 15 February 1946 and disbanded on 21 March 1946.

Bomber Command Signals School

This was formed from  on 9 June 1947 at Lakenheath but its fate is unknown.

Bomber Command Tactical School

This was formed on 17 October 1943 at Hemswell under the control of Bomber Command, until at least March 1944 and then to Worksop, where it disbanded on 18 May 1945.

BAFO Instrument Training Flight

This was formed from  on 10 May 1950 at Gutersloh and was redesignated 2nd TAF ITF on 1 September 1951.

Central Night Vision Training School

This was formed on 25 April 1943 at Upper Heyford,  moving to Worksop in No 91 Group on 13 February 1945, where it was transferred to Transport Command and was redesignated the Central Vision training School on 30 November 1946.

Coastal Command Anti U-Boat Devices School

This was formed from the Loran Training Unit on 20 April 1945 at Limavady under the control of No 17 Group and disbanded on 25 August 1945.

Coastal Command Fighter Affiliation Training Unit

This was formed from  on 1 September 1945 at Langham under the control of No 16 Group.  It moved to Chivenor in No 19 Group on 6 January 1946 and disbanded on 21 February 1946.

Coastal Command Flying Instructors School

This was formed from No 12 FIS on 23 February 1945 at St Angelo under the control of No 17 Group.  It moved to Turnberry on 9 June, being transferred to No 18 Group on 1 September and then moved to Tain on 13 November, where it disbanded on 20 October 1945 into the Coastal Command Instructors' School.

Coastal Command Gunnery School

This was formed from the Free Gunnery Section and the Lincoln and Vampire Squadron of the CGS on 1 January 1955 at Leconfield under the functional and administrative control of HQ Coastal Command, through No 18 Group and disbanded on 31 December 1955.

Coastal Command Instructors' School

This was formed from the Coastal Command Flying Instructors' School and Coastal Command Ground Instructors' School on 29 October 1945 at Turnberry under the control of No 18 Group.  It moved to Tain on 12 November and disbanded on 1 April 1946.

No 1 Coast Defence Training Flight

This was formed from the Coast Defence Co-operation Flight on 23 May 1933 at Gosport, as the Coast Defence Training Flight, being redesignated No 1 CDTF on 1 August and disbanded on 1 April 1935 into the Coast Defence Development Unit.

Officers Commanding: -

23 May 1933                                Sqn Ldr J G Walser

No 2 Coast Defence Training Flight

This was formed from the Coast Defence Co-operation Flight on 21 August 1933 at Gosport and disbanded on 1 April 1935.

No 3 Coast Defence Training Flight

This was formed from the Coast Defence Co-operation Flight on 21 August 1933 at Gosport and disbanded on 1 April 1935.

Combined Anti-Submarine Tactical School

This was formed on 16 June 1943 at Maydown with five aircraft at a time being attached for a period of 7 - 10 days, its fate is unknown.

Day Fighter Leaders School

This was formed from Fighter Leaders School at Milfield on 27 December 1944 at Wittering, as part of the Central Fighter Establishment.  It moved with the CFE to Tangmere on 14 January 1945 and then to West Raynham on 1 October, where it remained until being and redesignated the Day Fighter Combat Squadron on 15 March 1958.

Desert Air Force Training Flight

This was formed on an unknown date at an unknown location, moving to Palata on 1 March 1944, Madna on 23 March, Canne on 5 May and finally to Sinello on 15 June, where it and was redesignated No 5 Refresher Flying Unit on 15 July 1944.

Engine Control Instructional Flight

This was formed from No 1 (Coastal) Engine Control Demonstration Unit on 17 June 1944 at Angle in No 19 Group.  It moved to Thorney Island in No 16 Group on 14 January 1945 and was then transferred to Transport Command on 30 July, moving to Harwell on 20 August, where it and was redesignated the School of Flight Efficiency on 31 December 1945 and moved to Brize Norton.

Far East Air Force Examining Squadron

This was formed within the Administration Wing on 13 March 1950 at Seletar from the All-Weather Flight (Far East Communication Squadron) and The Receipt, Test an Despatch Flight (Technical Wing, Seletar), and disbanded on 1 June 1951 into the FEAF Training Squadron.

Fighter Leaders School

This was formed on 15 January 1943 at Chedworth, as part of No 52 OTU, moving to Charmy Down in No 10 Group on 9 February.  It moved to Aston Down and No 9 Group on 16 August but when No 52 OTU was disbanded on 22 January 1944, the FLS moved to Milfield, and reformed as an independent unit on 26 January 1944, absorbing No 1 Specialist Low Attack Instructors' School at te same time.

It was absorbed into the CFE on 16 October 1944.

School of Flight Efficiency

This was formed on 31 December 1945 at Brize Norton and disbanded on 31 July 1946.

No 38 Group Air Transport Examining Unit

This was formed by redesignating No 46 Group ATEU  on 10 November 1975 at Upavon.  It was amalgamated with No 38 Group Standardisation Unit to form No 38 Group Examining Unit on 7 June 1976.

No 46 Group Air Transport Examining Unit

This was formed by redesignating the Air Support Command Examining Unit  on 1 September 1972 at Abingdon.  It moved to Upavon on 31 October 1973 where it was redesignated No 38 Group Air Transport Examining Unit on 10 November 1975.

No 1 Group Examining Unit

This was possibly formed on 17 November 1983 by redesignating No 38 Group Examining Unit at Odiham and disbanded on 1 July 1986.

No 38 Group Examining Unit

This was formed on 7 Jun 1976 by amalgamating No 38 Group Air Transport Examining Unit and No 38 Group Standardisation Unit at Upavon and was probably redesignated No 1 Group Examining Unit on 17 November 1983.

No 92 Group Instructors Course/School/Flight

This was formed from  on 28 December 1942 at Upper Heyford, moving to Silverstone on 15 March 1944 and probably disbanded on 15 July 1945.

No 91 Group Navigation Instructors School

This was formed on 24 July 1945 at Little Horwood following the closure of the OTU at Honeybourne, where it joined No 92 Group Screened Instructors School and disbanded on 31 October 1945.

No 3 (Training) Group Navigation School

This was formed on 1 July 1919 at Mousehold Heath, moving to Spittlegate on 10 November 1919 but its fate is unknown.

No 231 Group Navigation School

This was formed on 3 May 1944 at Alipore but its fate is unknown.

No 92 Group Screened Instructors' School

This was formed on 17 April 1944 at Little Horwood, in order to provide a more consistent level of instruction in Navigation and Signals subjects at OTUs and disbanded on 24 July 1945.

No 1 Group Standardisation Unit

This was formed at Finningley on 28 August 1968 until at least September 1969 after which its fate is unknown.

No 38 Group Standardisation Unit

This was formed  at Benson on 1 August 1972, moving to Upavon on 10 November 1975, where it amalgamated with No 38 Group Air Transport Examining Unit to form No 38 Group Examining Unit on 7 June 1976.

Home Command Examining Unit

This was formed from the Home Command Training Flight on 8 August 1950 at White Waltham and disbanded on 15 January 1959.

Home Command Training Flight

This was formed from the Reserve Command Training Flight on 1 August 1950 at White Waltham and was redesignated Home Command Examining Unit on 8 August 1950.

Joint Anti-Submarine School

This was formed on 19 November 1945 at Ballykelly in RAF in Northern Ireland.  It was transferred to No 18 Group on 31 March 1950, but was transferred to the functional and administrative control of HQ Coastal Command on 1 December 1955.

It disbanded on 30 June 1971.

No 1 Middle East Training School

This was formed on 5 April 1942 at El Ballah in No 233 Wing under the administrative control of AHQ Egypt, its functions being: -

1. To provide Refresher and/or Conversion courses of 10-hours' duration for all OTU Fighter Pilots from the UK, prior to their posting to an operational unit.

2. To provide a series of courses of approximately 7-days' duration for Fighter Pilots in air fighting and air firing.

It was composed of: -

1. HQ and maintenance echelon

2. Air Fighting Squadron

3. Conversion and Refresher Squadron

4. Instructors' Training School.

It was redesignated No 1 (ME) CGS on 25 April 1942.

No 2 Middle East Training School

This was formed from No 205 Group Training Unit on 15 April 1942 at Shallufa in No 236 Wing to provide Refresher and/or Conversion courses for air crews operating Medium and Heavy Bombers under the administrative and operational control of No 205 Group.  Its functions being: -

1. To provide Refresher and/or Conversion courses on Liberator aircraft

2. To undertake air and ground training for Wellington pilots and air crews as may be specified by HQ RAF Middle East.

3. To provide any additional training in Medium and Heavy Bomber types as may from time to time be decided upon by HQ RAF Middle East.

It moved to Kabrit on 27 May, Aqir on 26 August but was absorbed into No 4 METS on 31 October.  It moved to LG237 between 11-17 December, being reduced to cadre on 20 January 1943 and disbanded on 16 June 1943.

No 5 Middle East Training School

This was formed from the Torpedo Bombing School on 15 August 1942 at Shallufa in No 205 Group, to provide course in torpedo bombing lasting six weeks.  The course was divided into two parts each with an intake of 10 crews every 3 weeks.

It was transferred to No 203 Group on 10 May 1943 and in November the Wellington element was disbanded following a decision taken in July the Wellington GR aircraft in MAC would no longer be fitted with torpedo equipment.  It disbanded on 1 December 1944.

Night Bomber Tactical School/Unit

This was formed on 17 August 1943 at High Wycombe, under the direct control of HQ Bomber Command, its functions being to provide instruction to: -

1. members of HCU Instructional Staff

2. experienced operational squadron personnel

3. Officers appointed as Group Tactical Officer in Bomber Command

4. OTU Flight Commanders and Fighter Wing Commanders at OTUs.

Each course was of a week's duration for 8-10 students.  It moved to Ingham in No 1 Group on 10 March 1944, Hemswell in May and finally to Finningley on 5 December, operating from Finningley's satellite at Worksop, where it and disbanded on 25 May 1945.

Night Vision Training School

This was formed on 27 June 1943 at Binbrook in No 1 Group but its fate is unknown.

Night Vision Training School

This was formed on 5 August 1943 at Newmarket in No 3 Group but its fate is unknown.

RAF Central Night Vision Training School

This had been formed by June 1945 at Finningley and was redesignated RAF Central Vision Training School on 1 March 1946.

RAF  Central School of Aircraft Recognition

This had been formed by 6 November 1942 at Douglas, Isle of Man, moving to Eastbourne in December  (No 27 Group), then to Southport in June 1943.  In January 1945 it moved to Sutton-on-Hull, where it closed from 5 February 1945 to 19 January 1946 before moving to Kirton-in-Lindsey on 7 June 1948, after which its fate is unknown.

RAF Central Vision Training School

This was formed from the RAF Central Night Vision Training School on 1 March 1946 at Finningley in No 91 Group, but soon moved to Worksop.  On 30 November 1946 it was transferred to Flying Training Command and disbanded in June 1948.

RAF College of Air Warfare

This was formed on 1 July 1962 by renaming the RAF Flying College and was absorbed into the RAF College on 1 April 1974.

RAF Flying College

This was formed on 1 June 1949 at RAF Manby, absorbing the Empire Flying School and Empire Air Armament School on 31 July 1949, its role being to provide advanced courses to aircrew in all aspects of air combat and battle management.  In September the All-weather Jet Refresher Squadron moved to its satellite, RAF Strubby, to be followed by the Jet Training Squadron on 24 May 1950.  The organisation had stabilised by November 1950 into No 1 Squadron (Bombers), No 2 Squadron (Fighters), No 3 Squadron (Handling) and No 4 Squadron (Development). 

In August 1952 the college took over the Specialist Navigation Course from the Central Navigation and Control School and by the mid 1950s the structure composed No 1 (Heavy) Squadron with Hastings, Valettas and Lincolns, No 2 Squadron with Canberras, Meteors and Vampires at Strubby, No 3 (Handling) Squadron and No 4 (Research and Development) Squadron.

On 12 April 1954 the Handling Squadron was transferred to the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment at Boscombe Down and on 1 July 1962 it was renamed the College of Air Warfare.

RAF (Malaya) Training Squadron

This was formed on 9 February 1953 at Seletar in Far East Air Force and disbanded on 31 March 1968.

RAF Post Operational Conversion Unit

This was formed from No 767 Sqn FAA on 1 September 1972 at Leuchars in No 18 Group, to provide naval pilots with training on the Phantom and was redesignated Phantom Training Flight on 24 September 1974.

Radar Flight

This was formed in 1945 at Leicester East, moving to Snaith on 30 October and disbanded on an unknown date.

No 2 School of Ship Recognition

This had been a part of the GR and Air Navigation School. Koggala but was retained as a separate unit on the disbandment of the latter on 5 August 1944 at Colombo.  Its course were of 3 weeks duration with 12 students per course and it disbanded on 15 June 1945.

Squadron and Flight Commanders School

This was formed on 16 July 1945 at Ossington in No 4 Group, moving to Doncaster on 16 July, then to Bramcote on 29 November, where it disbanded on 1 April 1946.

Strike Command Bombing School

This was formed from the Bomber Command Bombing School on 30 April 1968 at Lindholme in No 1 Group, moving to Scampton on 1 September 1972, where it merged into No 230 OCU on 1 July 1974.

Survival and Rescue Training Unit

This was formed from the School of ASR on 23 July 1945 at Calshot, moving to Thorney Island on 5 August 1946 disbanded on 11 April 1949.

No 1 Tactical Exercise Unit

This was formed from No 56 OTU on 1 January 1944 at Tealing.  It was tasked with providing operational training whilst acting as a holding unit for surplus fighter and fighter-bomber pilots and disbanded on 31 July 1944.

No 2 Tactical Exercise Unit

This was formed from No 58 OTU on 15 October 1943 at Grangemouth in No 9 Group.  It was tasked with providing operational training whilst acting as a holding unit for surplus fighter and fighter-bomber pilots and disbanded on 25 June 1944.

No 3 Tactical Exercise Unit

This was formed on 14 March 1944 at Poulton, to provide a pool for surplus FR pilots on leaving No 41 OTU and was absorbed into No 41 OTU on 21 March 1944.

It reformed from No 4 TEU on 21 March 1944 at Annan in .  It was tasked with providing operational training whilst acting as a holding unit for surplus fighter and fighter-bomber pilots, moving to Aston Down on 17 July 1944 and disbanded on 18 December 1944 with aircraft and personnel going to No 55 OTU.

No 4 Tactical Exercise Unit

This was formed from No 55 OTU on 26 January 1944 at Annan in , It was tasked with providing operational training whilst acting as a holding unit for surplus fighter and fighter-bomber pilots and was redesignated No 3 TEU on 21 March 1944.

No 1 Torpedo Refresher School

This was formed from the Coastal Command Development Unit on 1 January 1943 at Tain in No 18 Group, opening on 21 January and disbanded on 28 January 1944.

No 2 Torpedo Refresher School

This was to have formed on 1 January 1943 at Leuchars but this was cancelled on 9 April 1943.

Transport Command Air Crew Examining Unit

This was formed on 1 November 1945 at Melbourne, moving to Bramcote in December and was redesignated Transport Command Examining Unit on 7 August 1946.

Transport Command Briefing School

This was formed on 15 August 1945 at Portreath, and disbanded at Pershore on 1 July 1947.

Transport Command Central Vision Training School

This was formed from the Night Vision School, Bomber Command on 30 November 1946 at Worksop and disbanded on 31 May 1958.

Transport Command Examining Unit/Staff

This was formed from the Transport Command Air Crew Examining Unit 7 August 1946 at Bramcote in No 4 Group, moving to Manston on 10 August 1946, joining No 46 Group.  It then moved to Brize Norton on 15 November 1947 and then to Honington on 2 July 1949, where it was transferred to No 47 Group.  It moved again on 15 May 1950 to Dishforth and finally Benson on 1 September 1958, where it was redesignated Transport Command Examining Staff on 23 June 1964.

It was renamed Air Support Command Examining Unit on 1 August 1967.

Transport Command Night Vision Instructors Training School

This was formed from Transport Command Night Vision Training School on 21 February 1945 at Llandow, moving to No 4 Group on 1 June and disbanded on 1 January 1946.

Transport Command Night Vision Training School

This was formed in April 1944 at Llandow and was redesignated the Transport Command Night Vision Instructors Training School on 21 February 1945.

Transport Command Signals Training Unit

This was formed on 1 April 1946 at Honington and disbanded in October 1947.

Western Union Examining Squadron

This was formed on 1 June 1950 at Little Rissington, to examine instructors from France, Belgium, the Netherlands and the RAF but disbanded on 31 October 1951.

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 This entry was last updated on 25/04/25^©

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