Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Other Establishments - Officer and Staff Colleges

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This section lists those establishments which have existed in roughly the same form throughout their history and have had Commandants of Air Rank  It includes pure RAF units and Joint Service units, having established posts for RAF Air Officers  For continuity periods when the Commandant's post was lower than Air Commodore, the post holder was non GD or a Naval/Army officer held the post, have also been included  Naval, Army and non-GD RAF officers or officers who did not ultimately attain Air Rank are shown in italics

RAF College

This was formed on 1 November 1919 as The Cadet College at Cranwell.  Its task was to train Flight Cadets who, if graduating successfully, would be appointed to Permanent Commissions in the RAF.   On 23 December 1919 it was redesignated the RAF (Cadet) College and on 5 February 1920 was raised to Command status    The title (Cadet) was dropped on 1 February 1929 and was reduced to Group status within Training Command on 9 July 1936.  Control was transferred to No 28 Group on 1 December 1938 and in September 1939 the flying element was redesignated RAF College SFTS.  When Training Command was split into Flying Training and Technical Training Commands on 27 May 1940 it was transferred to the former and on 20 March 1944 it was designated No 17 Service Flying Training School.

It reopened as the RAF College on 16 October 1946 and resumed the training of Flight Cadets as it had done before WW2, but over the subsequent years the syllabus was constantly revised.  On 5 July 1948 its training programme was as follows -

On 1 January 1949 its training programme was amended as follows -

On 1 January 1966 the RAF Technical College from Henlow was absorbed bring the training of Engineering and General Duties officers to the same location.  With the disbandment of Flying Training and Technical Training Commands the College reverted to the control of Training Command on 1 June 1968 and then RAF Support Command on 13 June 1973 on the disbandment of Training Command.  However, the training of Flight Cadets ended in 1970 after which all students passing through the College had first to graduate from a civilian university and from 1978 all officer training moved to the College.  On 3 August 1979 the RAF College Support Unit was formed and on 1 February 1989 the flying element was redesignated No 3 Flying Training School.  It was transferred to the control of Personnel and Training Command on 1 April 1994 and then to Air Command on 1 April 2007.  It remains the RAF's only officer training establishment to the present time (2017).

http//cranwell-college.life/ and http//www.oldcranwellians.info/.
 

 Listings of officers serving in this establishment (1920-1939) are available in the Members' Area

Re-numbering of Courses at RAF Collage, Cranwell

1. Prior to the outbreak of war in 1939, forty-four courses passed through the RAF College at Cranwell.  Although they were numbered from No 1 RAF College Entry to No 44 RAF College Entry, they were seldom referred to as entries, and the course identity was established by reference to "terms".  There were four terms running concurrently until May 1938, when the number of entries per annum was increased from two to three, making six terms in all.

2. In the post-war period there will be three entries per annum.  The course is to consist of eight terms and the duration is to be two years, seven months, and it is desired that reference to the entries shall be made numerically in continuation of the previous sequence.

3. Future entries will, therefore, be numbered as follows -

   1. The fourteen cadets who form the senior term at the College in April 1947, will be referred to as No 45 Entry.

   2. The October, 1946 entry of fifteen cadets (together with the balance of 25 cadets who joined the College in January 1947) will be referred to as No 46 Entry,

   3. The January 1947 entry of forty cadets will be referred to as No 47 Entry. Further entries will continue in sequence.

Source - Air Ministry Order A58/46 dated 23 January 1947.

This was formed on 1 April 1922 at Weyhill, near Andover within Inland Area, to provide staff training to selected officers, usually of Flight Lieutenant or Squadron Leader rank to enable them to undertake staff officer duties at the Air ministry or Command/Group HQs.   It was closed the day that war was declared, 3 September 1939 but in November, shortened courses were started again, however the College was placed under Care and Maintenance on 28 May 1940.  

See AMO N1005/46 dated 28 November 1946

On 23 July 1945 the Staff College relocated to Bracknell but a smaller Staff College was retained at Bulstrode Park for the training of allied and foreign staff officers, this unit became a separate unit on 7 February 1946 and returned to Andover on 3 February 1948, transferred from Technical Training to Maintenance Command at the same time.  

On 5 July 1948 its training programme was as follows -

On 13 June 1949 its training programme was amended as follows -

It was transferred to No 62 Group on 8 February 1950 and then raised to Group status within Training Command on 1 June 1968, eventually being absorbed into the RAF Staff College, Bracknell in 1970  

Listings of officers serving in this establishment (1920-1939) are available in the Members' Area

1 Apr 1922             AVM H R M Brooke-Popham

28 Mar 1926           A/Cdre E R Ludlow Hewitt

7 Sep 1930              A/Cdre P B Joubert de la Ferte

12 Dec 1933            AVM W R Freeman

1 Jan 1936               AM Sir Arthur Barratt

28 May 1940            Placed on Care and Maintenance

26 Jul 1948               A/Cdre L W Cannon

xx xxx 1949              A/Cdre J N T Stephenson

31 Mar 1952            A/Cdre W G Cheshire

25 Apr 1953             A/Cdre G P Chamberlain

 1 May 1954             A/Cdre D W Lane

21 Apr 1958             A/Cdre E D McK Nelson

 3 Oct 1960              A/Cdre N C Hyde

24 Sep 1962             A/Cdre C V D Willis

 3 Mar 1965              A/Cdre W D Hodgkinson

 7 Mar 1966              A/Cdre P O V Green

 7 Oct 1968               A/Cdre J A G Jackson

RAF Staff College Courses

1. The objects of the above-mentioned courses, which are of six months' duration are to assist officers to think clearly, to express themselves concisely and logically and to read wisely.  The syllabus is designed to provide a sound basic knowledge of the organisation and operations of the Royal Air Force and a background to the work of the other Services which will enable officers to perform staff duties appropriate to their rank.

2. Lectures are given and exercises are set on the treatment of files, including prétis writing and the preparation of tabulated statements, graphs and appendices, on the taking of minutes and on the writing of letters, appreciations, memoranda, reports messages.

3. Additional lectures are given on the organisation of the departments of the Air Ministry and the Ministry of Supply, on the organisation and work of the various commands and on matters of general service and national interest.

4. Officers of the rank of group captain and below, of the General Duties, Technical, Equipment, Medical and Secretarial branches and of the RAF Regiment, are eligible for these courses provided they are holding permanent commissions.

5. Selections will normally be restricted to officers who are within the age range 28 to 35.  In exceptional circumstances however, recommendations in respect of officers who are above the age of 35 will be considered.

6. Officers who successfully complete a course will he awarded the symbol "psa".

(AMOs A802/46 and A982/46 cancelled)

Source - Air Ministry Order A819/47 dated 16 October 1947

The Staff College re-opened at Bulstrode Park, Gerrards Cross under the control of No 27 Group in 12 December 1941.  The course was of 12 weeks duration with and initial student intake of 45 and a directing staff of 7, the student intake size was expected to increase to 100.  The first course commenced on 6 January 1942.

On 23 July 1945 the Staff College relocated to Bracknell but a smaller Staff College was retained at Bulstrode Park for the training of Allied and foreign staff officers, and became a separate unit on 7 February 1946.  On 1 January 1947 it was transferred from Technical Training to Maintenance Command, and moved to Andover on 3 February 1948.

12 Dec 1941              AVM B E Sutton

xx Sep 1942               AVM R M Hill

xx Mar 1943               AVM C E H Medhurst

xx Dec 1944               AVM R Graham

xx Jul 1945                 A/Cdre F J W Mellersh 

2 Jan 1947                  A/Cdre D A Boyle

xx xxx 1947                A/Cdre A W B McDonald

AMO N1005/46 dated 28 November 1946 refers -

Renumbering of RAF Staff College Courses

1. From the time of the formation of the RAF Staff College at Andover in 1923 [sic], until the outbreak of war in 1939, seventeen courses were held.  These were numbered No 1 Staff College Course to No 17 Staff College Course.

2. With the outbreak of war in 1939, these courses were discontinued.  However, in 1940, a series of War Courses was inaugurated of which, up to and including 11th October 1946, a total of seventeen had been held.  These were numbered No 1 War Course to No 17 War Course.

3. Since the standard attained on the War Courses has been comparable to that attained on pre-war Staff College Courses, it has been decided to renumber and re-name Nos 1-17 War Courses as Nos 18-34 Staff College Courses.  Graduates of these courses who were awarded the symbol "ws" will now be awarded the symbol "psa".

4. The course commencing at the RAF Staff College on 2nd December 1946, is to be referred to as No 35 Staff College Course.

RAF Staff College, Bracknell

The major part of the Staff College at Bulstrode Park was re-located to Bracknell in July 1945 to continue the training of staff officers for the RAF.  

On 5 July 1948 its training programme was as follows -

On 21 March 1949 its training programme was amended as follows -

It was transferred from No 28 Group Technical Training Command to No 62 Group, Reserve Command (Home Command from 1 August 1950) on 8 February 1950 and on 14 March 1955 administrative control was transferred from No 62 Group to HQ Home Command.  Prior to the disbandment of Home Command, administrative control was transferred to HQ Flying Training Command on 15 December 1958.

Training Command took control of the College on 1 June 1968 and RAF Support Command on 13 June 1973, then finally on 1 April 1994 control was transferred to Personnel and Training Command but it was disbanded by being absorbed into the Joint Services Command and Staff College on 1 January 1997.

*Also held post of AOC, Command and Staff Training  

**Continued as AOC, Command and Staff Training  

RAF Wing, Middle East Staff School

The Middle East Staff School was formed by the British Army at Haifa on 15 February 1940.   By January 1942 there had been 5 courses held and three of these each included a single RAF officer.  For Course No 6 a separate Wing was established for RAF students, although they and the Army colleagues still carried out joint lectures and syndicates at times.   The school changed its name to Middle East Staff College between April and June 1943.

31 Jan 1942                           Wg Cdr B C Yarde

13 Jun 1942                           Gp Capt E R E Black

28 Dec 1942                          Gp Capt S B Harris

RAF Wing, Middle East Staff College

This was formed between April and June 1943 by renaming the Middle East Staff School, the RAF Wing remaining under Army control,  The RAF Wing was redesignated RAF Staff College (Overseas) on 1 September 1944.

xx xxx 1943                          Gp Capt S B Harris

26 Jun 1943                           Gp Capt S H C Gray

RAF Staff College (Overseas)

This was formed at Haifa on 1 September 1944 from the RAF Wing of the Middle East Staff College, administered by AHQ Levant and under the operational control of HQ Middle East Command.   Each course was of 14½ weeks duration and comprised 36 students.

The College closed on 5 October 1946 at the end of Course No 16

 1 Sep 1944                           A/Cdre S H C Gray

 9 Aug 1945                           A/Cdre A G Adnams

The three entries above have been prepared using materials supplied by Gp Capt D J Read MA AMIBM RAF (Rtd)

Joint Services Staff College

 This was formed on 15 January 1947 at Latimer House, Chesham, its role being to train officers already qualified as staff officers in their own service for staff work in joint or combined HQs.   Its students would usually be of Commander, Lieutenant Colonel and Wing Commander rank and it was renamed National Defence College on 7 August 1971  

15 Jan 1947                R-Adm C E Douglas-Pennant

xx xxx xxxx                 Maj-Gen W H Stratton

26 Oct 1951                AVM L Darvall

xx Nov 1953               Rear -Adm W K Edden RN

 1 Mar 1956                Maj-Gen P N White

xx xxx 1958                 AVM Sir Laurence Sinclair

xx xxx 1960                 A/Cdre W Carter

 1 Oct 1962                 Maj-Gen C M F Deakin               

 5 Jul 1965                   AVM S W B Menaul

2 Sep 1970                  Maj-Gen T D H McMeekin

Joint Services Staff College Courses

1. The Joint Services Staff College is located at Latimer House, Chesham, Buckinghamshire.

2. The object of the Joint Services Staff College Courses is to train officers, who are already qualified in the staff work of their own Service, for staff appointments on joint staffs and for higher staff appointments in their own Services; and, in so doing, to develop mutual understanding and a common doctrine between the Services and to evolve a standardised system of staff work.

3. The duration of the course is six months.

4. Lectures are given and exercises set on -

   1. the organisation and capabilities of the three Services, their relationships with. each other and with other government departments;

   2. the planning and execution of all types of joint operations;

   3. the broad administrative aspects of joint operations of all types;

   4. imperial strategy, including the governmental machinery for the central direction of war and the system of higher command;

   5. the broad problems of war production, modern production methods, economics and allocation of manpower and their relation to the fighting Services;

   6. the influence of scientific and technical progress upon strategy and tactics.

5. Officers of the rank of squadron leader and wing commander of the General Duties, Technical, Equipment, and Secretarial Branches, and of the RAF Regiment, are eligible for this course, provided they are within the age range 32 to 40, are holding permanent commissions, and are already in possession of the symbol "psa" or "qs".
   Officers of the rank of group captain within the above-mentioned age range will also be eligible for the earlier courses whether or not they hold the symbol "psa" or "qs".

6. Recommendations will be called for, as required, by the Air Ministry (DP 5) who will also inform commands of the names of officers selected.

7. Successful graduates will be awarded the Staff symbol "JSSC".

Source - Air Ministry Order A262/47 dated 3 April 1947.

National Defence College

This was formed on 7 August 1971 by renaming the Joint Services Staff College and was renamed Joint Services Defence College in 1983

 6 Aug 1971                Maj-Gen T D H McMeekin

 3 Nov 1972                AVM F B Sowrey

21 Jul 1975                  R-Adm D A Loram

21 Jul 1977                  Maj-Gen A C Bate

31 Dec 1979                AVM F D G Clark

xx Sep 1981                 R-Adm D C Jenkin

Joint Services Defence College

This was formed in 1983 by renaming the National Defence College, being absorbed into the Joint Services Command and Staff College on 1 January 1997.

xx xxx xxxx

 4 Apr 1986                AVM B H Newton

14 Apr 1988

21 Apr 1992                AVM R P O'Brien

31 Mar 1994                Rear-Adm N J Wilkinson  

Joint Services Command and Staff College  

This was formed on 1 January 1997 at Latimer House, Chesham to replace individual Staff Colleges for each service.

1 Jan 1997                Rear-Adm N J Wilkinson RN?

1 Sep 1997               Maj-Gen T J Granville-Chapman

4 Jan 2000                AVM B K Burridge

28 Jan 2002              Rear-Adm R Lippett

3 Mar 2003               Maj-Gen John McColl

 1 Mar 2004              Maj-Gen N R Parker

xx Jul 2005                AVM N D A Maddox

xx Jul 2007                Rear-Adm N Morisetti

xx xxx xxxx                Maj-Gen G J Binns

xx Jul 2010                AVM R Lock

 Assistant Commandants (Air)

 1 Apr 1997                A/Cdre M G F White

12 Jan 1999                A/Cdre A D Sweetman

 3 Sep 2001                A/Cdre A P N Lambert

12 May 2003              A/Cdre I A Milne

31 May 2005              A/Cdre M J Harwood

Directors

xx xxx xxxx                Brig M J A Jackson DSO, RM

xx Aug 2024             A/Cdre I J Sharrocks