Groups 50-67

This was formed at RAF Hendon on 1 February 1939 by renaming No 26 (Training) Group and transferring it to Reserve Command to control all E & RFTS (later redesignated EFTS). It then undertook a number of moves, firstly to 11 Tavistock Place, London WC1 on 3 April 1939, to 'Sambourne', The Avenue, Sneyd Park, Bristol 9 on 27 August and finally to 'Sylvesters'. Berkeley Avenue, Reading on 1 May 1940. When Training Command was split into Flying Training and Technical Training Command on 27 May 1940, Reserve Command was disbanded and No 50 Group was transferred to Flying Training Command. Following a reorganisation on 7 Jul 1940 it became responsible for Nos 1, 2, 3, 8, 13, 18 and & 22 EFTS as well as Nos 2, 5, 6 and 11 AONS. It finally disbanded on 31 May 1947.

This was formed at Hendon on 11 May 1939 in Reserve Command, having originally been planned to form as No 27 Group in Edinburgh. Its formation permitted the control of the E&RFTSs (later EFTSs) to be shared with No 50 Group and on 8 August 1939 it moved to Moorfield House, Alma Road, Otley Road, Leeds 6, by which time the HQ had been brought up to full strength. When Training Command was split into Flying Training and Technical Training Command on 27 May 1940, Reserve Command was disbanded and No 50 Group was transferred to Flying Training Command.. Following a reorganisation on 7 Jul 1940 it became responsible for Nos.4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 24 EFTS as well as Nos 1 and 4 AONS. It finally disbanded into No.50 Group on 14 July 1945.

This was due to form in Bristol by March 1939 in Reserve Command, but formation was delayed until December. Formation was cancelled by SD155 No 33/39 dated 14 September 1939.

This was due to form in Nottingham by March 1939 in Reserve Command, but formation was delayed until December. It had been planned for it to take over Nos 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 14, 26, 31 and 33 E&RFTSs from No.50 Group. Formation was cancelled by SD155 No 33/39 dated 14 September 1939.

This was formed at 'Sylvesters', Berkeley Avenue, Reading on 30 August 1939 in Reserve Command to control the Initial Training Wings, assuming executive control on 9 January 1940. On 26 March.1940 it moved to Barbados, East Parade, Bexhill-on-Sea. When Training Command was split into Flying Training and Technical Training Command on 27 May 1940, Reserve Command was disbanded and No 54 Group was transferred to Flying Training Command. It moved to 'Alta Vista', Higher Warberry Road, Torquay on 1 July 1940 and from January 1941 controlled the new UASs from until 1 January 1942 when they were transferred to the direct control of the Air Ministry. Its final move took place on 1 September 1941 to Dormy House (and Tile House), Sunningdale, Berkshire, where it disbanded on 17 June 1946.

It reformed at Benson on 1 April 1951 as No.54 (Training) Group in Flying Training Command to control the Initial Training Wings and Grading Schools. Its units were transferred to No 21 Group on 24 June 1953 and disbanded on 10 July.

This was formed at "Oxenden", Plantation Road, Leighton Buzzard on 23 Feebruary 1940 in Fighter Command to control the following operational and training units: -

Unit	Location
Bawdsey Training Centre	RAF Bawdsey
Base Maintenance HQ	RAF Leighton Buzzard
No 2 Installation Unit	RAF Kidbrooke
Special Calibration Unit
Special Flight	RAF Martlesham Heath

Station	Location	Parent Unit
Netherbutton	Orkneys	Wick
Thrumster	Wick	Wick
Hillhead	Kinnairds Head	Dyce
School Hill	Aberdeen	Dyce
Douglas Wood	Angus	Montrose
Doonie Hill	Aberdeen	Drem
Ottercops	Northumberland	Usworth
Danby Beacon	Seaholm. North Yorkshire	Thornaby
Staxton Wold	Scarborough, North Yorkshire	Driffield
Stenigot	Louth, Lincolnshire	Manby
West Beckham	Holt, Norfolk	Bircham Newton
High Street, Darsham	Yoxford, Suffolk	Honington
Stoke Holy Cross	Norwich, Norfolk	Marham
Bawdsey	Woodbridge, Suffolk	Martlesham Heath
Great Bromley	Colchester, Essex	North Weald
Canewdon	Rochford, Essex	Hornchurch
Dunkirk	Faversham, Kent	Manston
Dover	Kent	Hawkinge
Rye	Sussex	Hawkinge
Pevensey	Sussex	Kenley
Poling	Arundel, Sussex	Tangmere
Ventnor	Isle of Wight	Gosport
Rosehearty	Aberdeenshire	Dyce
St Cyrus	Montrose	Dyce
Cockburnspath	Berwickshire	Drem
Bamburgh	Northumberland	Usworth
Cresswell	Morpeth, Northumberland	Usworth
Flamborough Head	Bridlington	Driffield
Easington	Spurn Head	Catfoss
Anstruther	Fife	Leuchars
Ingoldmells	Skegness	Manby
Happisburgh	Norwich, Norfolk	Marham
Dunwich	Saxmundham, Suffolk	Honington
Walton	The Naze, Essex	North Weald
Foreness	Cliftonville	Manston
Shotton	Castle Eden, County Durham	Usworth

The function of the Group was to assume responsibility for technical and administrative control of the RDF Home Chain in accordance with operational and tactical requirements. These responsibilities was defined as follows

Technical policy was under te control of the Air Ministry, whilst operational control was vested in HQ Fighter Command.

This was formed at RAF Aldergrove on 6 July 1940 in Northern Ireland, moving to Dunlambert Hotel, Fort William Park, Belfast on 6 July but was redesignated RAF in Northern Ireland on 1 August 1940.

It reformed at "Charlbury", Chorley Wood Road, Rickmansworth as No 61 (Eastern Reserve) Group on 2 May 1946 within Reserve Command. On 1 August 1946 it moved to Kenley, being renamed No 61 (Eastern) Group on 1 August 1950 on transfer to Home Command and absorbed No 65 Group on 1 February 1951. It was renamed No 61 (Southern Reserve) Group on 1 January 1957 and disbanded on 31 May 1959.

This was formed at 17 Sylvan Road, Pennsylvania, Exeter on 15 May 1946 as No 62 (Southern Reserve) Group within Reserve Command. It moved to RAF Middle Wallop on 2 July and then to Rudloe Manor, Box on 30 January 1948, where it was renamed No 62 (Southern) Group on 1 August 1950 on transfer to Home Command. On 16 June 1952 it moved to Pucklechurch, where its responsibilities were taken over by No 61 Group on 14 January 1957 and disbanded on 1 February 1957.

This was formed at 162 Manchester Road, Wilmslow on 2 May 1946 as No 63 (Western & Welsh Reserve) Group within Reserve Command. Moving to Hawarden on 23 July, it was renamed No 63 (Western & Welsh) Group on 1 August 1950 on transfer to Home Command. Its responsibilities were taken over by No 64 Group on 14 January 1957 and disbanded on 1 February 1957.

This was formed at 4 Melbourne Avenue, Norton, Sheffield 10 on 2 May 1946 as No 64 (Northern Reserve) Group within Reserve Command. On 1 May 1947 it moved to Heslington Hall, near York, where it was renamed No 64 (Northern) Group on 1 August 1950 on transfer to Home Command. It moved to Rufforth on 15 January 1953, taking over the responsibilities of Nos 63, 66 and 67 Groups on 14 January 1957, and disbanded on 31 March 1959.

This was formed at St.Regis Hotel, Cork Street, London W1 on 2 May 1946 as No 65 (London Reserve) Group within Reserve Command, moving to The Hyde, Hendon, London W9 on 22 August. On 1 August 1950 it was renamed No 65 (London) Group on transfer to Home Command and disbanded into No.61 Group on 1 February 1951.

This was formed at 4 Regents Terrace, Edinburgh on 2 May 1946 as No 66 (Scottish Reserve) Group within Reserve Command, moving to RAF Turnhouse on 9 August 1946. On 1 August 1950 it was renamed No 66 (Scottish) Group on transfer to Home Command and moved to HMS Lochinvar, Butlaw Camp, RN Station Port Edgar on 22 November 1954. Its responsibilities were taken over by No 64 Group on 14 January 1957 and disbanded on 1 February 1957.

This was formed at RAF Aldergrove on 31 March 1950 as No 67 (Northern Ireland Reserve) Group from RAF in Northern Ireland, moving to Edenmoor (Hotel), Whiteabbey. Belfast (renamed Edenmore on 15 April 1956) on 16 June 1950. It was renamed No 67 (Northern Ireland) Group on 1 August 1950 on transfer to Home Command. Its responsibilities were taken over by No 64 Group on 14 January 1957 and disbanded on 28 February 1957.