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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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To view further details of each main Command development click on the Command title on the right of the timeline
For a summary click here
| January 1981 | 29 - Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment opened at Cottesmore | |
| May 1981 | Boeing Vertol Chinook entered service | |
| June 1981 | Tornado Weapons Conversion Unit formed at Honington. | |
| November 1981 | 30 - Last RAF Whirlwind SAR sortie | |
| January 1982 | 6 - TWCU opened | |
| April 1982 | 2 - Argentina invades the Falkland Islands.
21 - First air drop by RAF to ships of the Task Force. |
|
| May 1982 | 1 - RAF Vulcan bombs Port Stanley.
20 - RAF Harriers attack Port Stanley for the first time. 27 - 'Atlantic Conveyor' sunk together with three RAF Chinooks. |
|
| June 1982 | 1 - First Tornado (No 9) formed.
14 - Argentina surrenders, Falklands War ends. |
|
| Jan 1983 | ||
| June 1983 | BAe 146 used for trials | |
| July 1983 | BAe VC10 K Mk 2 entered service.
Lockheed Tristar entered service. |
|
| September 1983 | RAF Buccaneers operate over Lebonon | |
| November 1983 | 29 - First Fighter Controller brevets awarded | |
| February 1984 | Chinooks attached to BritLebFor evacuate British personnel from Beirut to Cyprus. First all RAF crewed Tristar flight carried out. | |
| March 1984 | Avro Vulcan retired from service. | |
| June 1984 | De Havilland Devon retired from service | |
| July 1984 | BAe VC10 K Mk 3 entered service | |
| September 1984 | CFS moves from Leeming to Scampton | |
| October 1984 | McDonnell Phantom F4J (UK) entered service. | |
| November 1984 | RAF Hercules aircraft fly out to Ethiopia to
carry out Operation 'Bushell'.
No 216 Sqn re-formed to operate the Tristar. |
|
| January 1985 | RAF Hercules aircraft carry out first air drop during Operation 'Bushell' | |
| May 1985 | Panavia Tornado F Mk 2 entered service. | |
| December 1985 | Operation 'Bushell' comes to an end | |
| January 1986 | 8 - RAF Marine Branch disbanded | |
| March 1986 | Lockheed Tristar K Mk 1 entered service. | |
| April 1986 | BAe 146 CC Mk 2 entered service. | |
| April 1987 | VC-10 of No 101 Sqn set a new record for a non-stop flight from UK to Australia, 16 hours 90 seconds | |
| June 1987 | Operation 'Maralinga' started in Australia, Wessex helicopter surveyed atomic test sites. | |
| July 1987 | Two Phantom F4J (UK)s of No 74 Sqn set a new record from London to Edinburgh, 27 minutes 3.75 seconds. | |
| September 1987 | 24 - A Tornado of the A & AEE made the first
non-stop unrefueled crossing of the Atlantic by a British jet fighter. Operation 'Maralinga' ended |
|
| April 1988 | English Electric Lightning retired from service | |
| May 1988 | Royal Aircraft Establishment renamed Royal Aerospace Establishment | |
| September 1988 | Shorts Tucano and BAe Harrier GR Mk 5 entered service. | |
| February 1989 | No 3 FTS re-formed at Cranwell | |
| August 1989 | Announcement that women will be recruited for non-combat flying duties. | |
| September 1989 | The first RAF female navigators begin training at RAF Finningley. | |
| December 1989 | First course on Tucano starts at No 7 FTS. | |
| March 1990 | Grob 109B Vigilant entered service with Air Cadet VGS | |
| May 1990 | First Airborne Technician brevets awarded. | |
| July 1990 | Secretary of state announces 'Options for
Change'.
Boeing Sentry AEW Mk 1 entered service (still on trials controlled by Boeing) |
|
| August 1990 | 2 - Iraq invades Kuwait.
11 - RAF begin Operation 'Granby' |
|
| January 1991 |
17 - Air Operations against Iraq begin (Operation 'Desert Storm') |
|
| February 1991 | 28 - Operation 'Desert Storm' ended | |
| March 1991 | First female navigator qualified at RAF Finningley | |
| April 1991 | 8 - RAF Defence Support Agency formed | |
| May 1991 | RAF helicopters carry out supply missions to Kurdish refugees in Turkey | |
| June 1991 | First female pilot received her 'Wings' | |
| July 1991 | Avro Shackleton AEW Mk 2 and Bristol Bloodhound Mk 2 retired from service. | |
| August 1991 | Royal Observer Corps stood down.
RAF Tristars carry relief supplies to Chile. |
|
| December 1991 | Announcement that female aircrew will be able to undertake combat duties. | |
| September 1992 | OASC moves to Cranwell | |
| Jan 93 | ||
| April 1993 | 1 - RAF Germany disbanded 1 - The Queen presents a new colour to the RAF Operation 'Deny Flight' begun to enforce a No-Fly zone over Bosnia |
|
| January 1994 | Airmens' Command School moved to RAF Halton.
First passing out parade held at RAF Halton after Recruit Training
School had moved from RAF Swinderby.
Final Phantom retired by A & AEE at Boscombe Down. |
|
| February 1994 | Tornado GR Mk 1B entered service. | |
| March 1994 | Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer retired from service. | |
| April 1994 | 1 - Womens' Royal Air Force disbanded when all
female personnel absorbed into the RAF.
1 - Personnel and Training Command and Logistics Command formed from RAF Support Command. |
|
| June 1994 | RAF Regiment Depot moved to RAF Honington from RAF Catterick | |
| July 1994 | 1 - HQ Allied Forces North Western Europe formed. | |
| September 1994 | 7 - RAF Gatow handed over to the Luftwaffe.
No 7 FTS (No 2 TWU) closed with the role being taken over by No 4 FTS at RAF Valley. |
|
| January 1995 | ||
| March 1995 | Queen's Flight disbanded.
No 3 FTS closed at RAF Cranwell. Hawker Siddeley Andover retired from service. |
|
| April 1995 | JEFTS moved from Topcliffe to Barkston Heath. | |
| August 1993 | 30 - Operation 'Deliberate Force' begun over Bosnia | |
| September 1995 | 14 - Operation 'Deliberate Force' ended Air Warfare Centre opened at RAF Waddington |
|
| October 1995 | Completion of non pilot training transferred from No 6 FTS at Finningley to No 3 FTS at Cranwell. | |
| January 1996 | Implementation Force (IFOR) set up in Bosnia. Operation 'Decisive Edge' begun to enforce a No-Fly zone over Bosnia |
|
| March 1996 | De Havilland Chipmunk retired from service. 31 - Nos 11 and 18 Groups merged into 11/18 Group. 31 - Hercules tanker force disbanded |
|
| April 1996 | Last RAF HQ on mainland Europe (No 2 Group) closed | |
| August 1996 | Permanent Joint HQ took over control of Operations Jural and Warden | |
| December 1996 | Operation 'Decisive Edge' renamed 'Deliberate Guard' | |
| Jan 1997 | ||
| April 1997 | Defence Helicopter School formed at RAF Shawbury. | |
| Jan 1998 | ||
| March 1998 | 31 - Phasing out of the RAF's last nuclear weapons announced | |
| April 1998 | Operation 'Deliberate Guard' ended | |
| December 1998 | 16-19 - RAF Tornadoes took part in Operation 'Desert Fox' against targets in Iraq. | |
| January 1999 | ||
| March 1999 | 24 - Last graduation ceremony
at No 1 Radio School, Locking.
31 - RAF Manston closed. 31 - TTTE, RAF Cottesmore disbanded |
|
| April 1999 | No 17 Sqn disbanded.
Formation of the Defence Logistics Organisation announced.
Operation 'Allied Force' begun |
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| May 1999 | 24-27 - Operation 'Engadine' carried out in Kosovo. | |
| June 1999 | 17 - Operation 'Allied Force' ended | |
| October 1999 | 5 - Joint Helicopter Command formed | |
| November 1999 | Logistics Command disbanded | |
| December 1999 | 7 - First C-130J arrived at Lyneham | |
| January 2000 | ||
| March 2000 | 3 - Joint Forces Air Command HQ reached initial operating capability | |
| April 2000 | 1 - RAF/RN Joint Harrier Force established | |
| May 2000 | Joint Force Harrier operated over Sierra Leone | |
| August 2000 | Announced that specialisations of Navigator, AEO and Air Signaller to be replaced by Weapons Systems Officers/Operators. | |
| 10 - Operation ''Barras' conduct d to free hostages in Sierra Leone | ||
| October 2000 | No 74 Sqn disbanded at RAF Valley | |
| January 2001 | ||
| March 2001 | 7 - First four EH101 Merlin HC Mk 3s entered service | |
| June 2001 | No 99 Sqn reformed to operate C-17 RAF Nordhorn (bombing range) in Germany closed |
|
| July 2001 | 17 - No 28 Sqn reformed at RAF Benson to operate the Merlin | |
| August 2001 | 21 - Last RAF station in Germany, RAF Bruggen, closed | |
| September 2001 | 11 - Terrorists fly hijacked airliners into the World Trade Centre in New York. | |
| October 2001 | Operation 'Veritas' begun against the Taliban in Afghanistan. | |
| January 2002 | ||
| March 2002 | 14 - No 57 (R) Squadron disbanded
RAF Inspectorate of Flight Safety disbanded and a new Defence Aviation Safety Centre formed at Bentley Priory |
|
| July 2002 | No 1 FTS Squadrons are redesignated Nos 72 (R) and 207 (R) Squadrons | |
| September 2002 | No 5 (AC) Squadron disbanded at RAF Coningsby | |
| December 2002 | Sea Kings of No 203 (R) Squadron deploy to Cyprus to take over the SAR duties of No 84 Squadron, whist the latter re-equips in the UK. | |
| January 2003 | ||
| March 2003 | 20 - Operation 'Telic', begun against Iraq | |
| April 2003 | 1 - First deployment by Merlins of No 28
Squadron.
No 56 (R) Squadron relocates from Coningsby to Leuchars |
|
| June 2003 | First Eurofighter Typhoon, handed over to No 17 (R) Squadron | |
| Juy 2003 | Joint Elementary Flying Training School, renamed No 1 Elementary Flying Training School | |
| August 2003 | 1 - ACM Sir Jock Stirrup, becomes CAS | |
| December 2003 | 16 - First two Beech King Air B200s arrive at RAF Cranwell for No 45 Squadron | |
| January 2004 |
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| February 2004 | 9 - First solo flight by a RAF pilot in the
Eurofighter Typhoon (Wg Cdr David Chan - No 17 (R) Squadron
No 1563 Flight reformed in Iraq as part of the Joint Helicopter Force |
|
| March 2004 | 19 - Last flight by RAF
Jetstreams
Air Guided Weapons Operational Evaluation Unit at RAF Valley closed. |
|
| April 2004 | 1 - No 5 (AC) Squadron reformed at RAF
Waddington. 1 - No 1115 Flight formed in the USA to operate the Predator UAV Saxa Vord is re-instated as a RAF station |
|
| May 2004 | Volunteer Ex-Regular Reservist scheme introduced (VRR) | |
| November 2004 | RAF aircraft provide QRA fighter cover to
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia for the first time.
RAF Buchan closed |
|
| January 2005 | ||
| February 2005 | Merlins of No 28 Sqn deployed to Iraq | |
| March 2005 | No 206 Sqn disbanded at RAF Kinloss | |
| April 2005 | 7 - Brimstone accepted into RAF service at RAF Marham | |
| November 2005 | Volunteer Gliding Schools renamed Volunteer Gliding Sqns. | |
| January 2006 | ||
| March 2006 | RAF Saxa Vord closed | |
| April 2006 | 1 - No 3 Sqn reformed at RAF Coningsby to become
the first operational Typhoon unit. 1 - Falkland Islands Air Wing renamed No 905 Expeditionary Air Wing. 13 - ACM Sir Glenn Torpy became CAS 13 - ACM Sir Jock Stirrup became CDS RAF Air Weapon Ranges transferred to the control of the Army RAF training on the Rapier surface to air missile ceased |
|
| June 2006 | 23 - Canberra retired from service after 56 years | |
| July 2006 | 1 - No 602 (City of Glasgow) Sqn reformed to
support maritime and ISTAR forces at Kinloss and Waddington 28 - No 39 Sqn (Canberras) disbanded |
|
| October 2006 | RAF's new HQ at High Wycombe opened | |
| January 2007 | 1 - Air Command by merging Personnel and Training Command with Strike Command | |
| January 2008 | 3 - No 1115 Flight absorbed into a new No 39 Sqn | |
| March 2008 | RAF Innsworth closed and handed over to the Army. | |
| May 2008 | RAF Bentley Priory closed | |
| January 2009 |
1 - No 903 Expeditionary Air Wing stood down in Iraq The rank of Lance Corporal introduced to the RAF Regiment |
|
| April 2009 | ACM Sir Stephen Dalton becomes CAS | |
| May 2009 | First female pilot, Flt Lt Kirsty Moore, was selected for the Red Arrows | |
| June 2009 | Tornado GR4s replace Harriers at Kandahar in Afghanistan | |
| July 2009 | 13 - No 43 Sqn disbanded at RAF Leuchars No 206 Sqn reformed from the Heavy Aircraft and Test Sqn and Air Trainsport & Air-to-Air Refueling OEU. |
|
| August 2009 | 11 - No 1419 Flight returned from Iraq bring an to operations in the country. | |
| September 2009 | 16 - Typhoon FGR Mk 4s replace Tornado F Mk 3s in the Falkland Islands | |
| October 2009 | 17 - No 230 Sqn left RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland bringing an end to 91 years RAF service in the province | |
| November 2009 | 28 - The bombing range at Wainfleet closed | |
| January 2010 | 14 - Chinook HC Mk 3 entered service 15 - No 101 Sqn ceased routine passenger flights in its VC10s |
|
| March 2010 | 30 - No IV Sqn became No IV (Reserve) Sqn and
assumed the role of the Harrier OCU 30 - No 20 (R) Sqn disbanded RAF Uxbridge closed |
|
| April 2010 | The Fast Jet Test Sqn was disbanded | |
| May 2010 | 19 - Harrier T Mk 12A entered service with No IV (R) Sqn | |
| June 2010 | Flt Lt Kirsty Moore became the first female to
wear the red flying suit with the Red Arrows 7 - No 58 Sqn RAF Regiment formed at RAF Leuchars 7 - No 8 Force Protection Wing HQ formed at RAF Waddington RAF Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Operations Sqn redesignated No 26 Sqn RAF Regiment |
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| September 2010 | 6 - No 6 Sqn reformed at RAF Leuchars equipped
with the Typhoon FGR Mk 4 8 - No 70 Sqn disbanded |
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| December 2010 | 15 - Final flypast by Harriers of Joint Force Harrier | |
| January 2011 | ||
This page was last updated on 17/03/25©
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