Fighter Command - May 1940

Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Fighter Command - May 1940

No 11 (Fighter) Group (HQ - Uxbridge)

Unit Location

RAF Station Biggin Hill Biggin Hill, Kent

No 32 (Fighter) Sqn (Hurricanes) RAF Biggin Hill

No 79 (Fighter) Sqn (Hurricanes) RAF Biggin Hill

RAF Station Kenley Kenley, Surrey

No 3 (Fighter) Sqn (Hurricanes) RAF Kenley

No 253 (Fighter) Sqn (Hurricanes) RAF Kenley

No 7 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF Castle Bromwich

RAF Station Manston Manston, Kent

No 600 (City of London) (Fighter) Sqn AAF (Blenheims) RAF Manston

RAF Station Filton Filton, Bristol

No 253 (Fighter) Sqn (Hurricanes) Filton

No 8 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit Filton

RAF Station Tangmere Tangmere, Sussex

No 601 (Country of London) (Fighter) Sqn AAF (Hurricanes) RAF Tangmere

No 501 (County of Gloucester) (Fighter) Sqn AAF (Hurricanes) RAF Tangmere

Fighter Interception Unit (Blenheims) RAF Tangmere

RAF Station Hornchurch Hornchurch, Essex

No 74 (Fighter) Sqn (Spitfires) RAF Hornchurch

No 65 (Fighter) Sqn (Spitfires) RAF Hornchurch

RAF Station North Weald North Weald, Essex

No 56 (Fighter) Sqn (Hurricanes) less 1 Flight RAF North Weald

No 151 (Fighter) Sqn (Hurricanes) RAF North Weald

No 25 (Fighter) Sqn (Blenheims) RAF North Weald

RAF Station Northolt Northolt, Middlesex

Air Fighting Development Unit RAF Northolt

No 604 (County of Middlesex) (Fighter) Sqn AAF (Blenheims) RAF Northolt

No 92 (Fighter) Sqn (Spitfires) RAF Northolt

No 54 (Fighter) Sqn (Spitfires) RAF Hendon

No 24 Sqn (Various) Southend

*Non-operational

No 12 (Fighter) Group (HQ - Hucknall)

Unit Location/Administered by

RAF Station Debden Debden, Essex

No 504 (County of Nottingham) (Fighter) Sqn AAF (Hurricanes) RAF Debden

RAF Station Duxford Duxford, Cambridgeshire

No 19 (Fighter) Sqn (Spitfires) RAF Duxford

No 66 (Fighter) Sqn (Spitfires) RAF Duxford

No 222 (Fighter) Sqn (Spitfires) (1 Flight operational) RAF Duxford

RAF Station Digby Digby, Lincolnshire

No 46 (Fighter) Sqn (Hurricanes) RAF Digby

No 611 (West Lancashire) (Fighter) Sqn AAF (Spitfires) RAF Digby

No 229 (Fighter) Sqn (Hurricanes) RAF Digby

RAF Station Wittering Wittering, Leicestershire

No 23 (Fighter) Sqn (Blenheims) RAF Wittering

No 213 (Fighter) Sqn (Hurricanes) RAF Wittering

No 266 (Fighter) Sqn* (Spitfires) RAF Martlesham Heath

RAF Station Martlesham Heath Martlesham Heath, Suffolk

No 17 (Fighter) Sqn (Hurricanes) RAF Martlesham Heath

No 264 (Fighter) Sqn (Defiants) (1 Flight operational) RAF Martlesham Heath

1 Flight, No 56 (Fighter) Sqn RAF Martlesham Heath

No 5 OTU (Spitfires/Blenheims) RAF Aston Down

No 6 OTU (Hurricanes) RAF St Athan

Care & Maintenance Party RAF Speke

*Non-operational

No 13 (Fighter) Group (HQ - Newcastle)

Unit Location

RAF Station Acklington Acklington, Alnwick, Northumberland

No 152 (Fighter) Sqn (Spitfires) RAF Acklington

No 72 (Fighter) Sqn (Spitfires) RAF Acklington

RAF Station Catterick Catterick, North Riding of Yorkshire

No 41 (Fighter) Sqn (Spitfires) RAF Catterick

No 219 (Fighter) Sqn* (Blenheims) RAF Catterick

RAF Station Church Fenton Church Fenton, West Riding of Yorkshire

No 64 (Fighter) Sqn (Blenheims/Spitfires) RAF Church Fenton

No 242 (Fighter) Sqn* (Hurricanes) RAF Church Fenton

No 610 (County of Chester) (Fighter) Sqn AAF (Spitfires) RAF Prestwick

No 263 (Fighter) Sqn (Gladiators) RAF Turnhouse

No 603 (City of Edinburgh) (Fighter) Sqn AAF (Spitfires) RAF Turnhouse

Sector HQ only RAF Usworth

No 141 (Fighter) Sqn* (Blenheims) RAF Grangemouth

RAF Station Drem Drem, East Lothian

No 609 (West Riding) (Fighter) Sqn AAF (Spitfires) RAF Drem

No 29 (Fighter) Sqn (Blenheims) RAF Drem

No 605 (County of Warwick) (Fighter) Sqn AAF (Hurricanes) RAF Wick - Station in Coastal Command

No 43 (Fighter) Sqn (Hurricanes) RAF Wick - Station in Coastal Command

No 111 (Fighter) Sqn (Hurricanes) RAF Wick - Station in Coastal Command

RAF Station Leconfield Leconfield, Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire

No 616 (South Yorkshire) (Fighter) Sqn AAF (Spitfires) RAF Leconfield

No 234 (Fighter) Sqn* (Spitfires) RAF Leconfield

No 245 (Fighter) Sqn* (Blenheims) RAF Leconfield

*Non-operational

No 22 (Army Co-operation) Group (HQ - Farnborough)

Unit Location

RAF Station Farnborough Farnborough, Hampshire

Royal Aircraft Establishment RAF Farnborough

School of Photography RAF Farnborough

HQ, No 1 AACU RAF Farnborough

RAF Station Odiham Odiham, Hampshire

No 613 (City of Manchester) (Army Co-operation) Sqn AAF* (Hector) RAF Odiham

No 614 (County of Glamorgan) (Army Co-operation) Sqn AAF* (Lysander) RAF Odiham

No 225 (Army Co-operation) Sqn* (Lysander) RAF Odiham

Auto-Giro Training Flight (Auto-Giro) RAF Odiham

Care & Maintenance Party RAF Cardiff

No 4 Ferry Pilots Pool RAF Cardiff

FAA Sqn (Swordfish) RAF Cardiff

RAF Station Old Sarum Old Sarum, Wiltshire

No 1 School of Army Co-operation (Hectors/Lysanders) RAF Old Sarum.

No 110 Sqn RCAF* (Lysander) RAF Old Sarum.

RAF Station Andover Andover, Hampshire

RAF Staff College RAF Andover

No 2 School of Army Co-operation (Ansons) RAF Andover

Army Co-operation Reservoir (Blenheims) RAF Andover

RAF Station Squires Gate Squires Gate, Blackpool, Lancashire

'F' Flight, No 1 AACU (Henleys) RAF Squires Gate

No 9 Air Observers Navigation School (Various) RAF Squires Gate

RAF Station Ringway Ringway, Manchester, Lancashire

No 110 AACU Wing RAF Ringway

No 6 AACU RAF Ringway

*Non-operational

Miscellaneous Units

Unit Location

Photographic Development Unit (Various) Heston

Air Ministry Unit London

Voice Production Unit Cambridge

No 22 Group was also responsible for the flights No 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit, located as follows: -

Flight(s) Location To work with the range at

HQ RAF Farnborough

A RAF Weston Zoyland Watchet

B RAF Carew Cheriton - Station in Coastal Command Manorbier

C
J
RAF Penrhos - Station in Training Command 'Towyn
Ty-Croes

D
G

V
RAF Cleave Penhale Sands
Cleave

Cleave

E RAF West Freugh - Station in Training Command Burrow Head

F RAF Squires Gate Cark

L RAF Carew Cheriton - Station in Coastal Command

W RAF Kidsdale Burrow Head

X & Z RAF Watchet Watchet

Y RAF Manorbier Manorbier

Note - Flights 'A' - 'J' - Towing Flights, Flights 'V' - 'Z' - Pilotless Aircraft Flights

Source - SD161 (3rd Issue), May 1940

County names used are those in use at the time

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Unit	Location
RAF Station Biggin Hill	Biggin Hill, Kent
No 32 (Fighter) Sqn (Hurricanes)	RAF Biggin Hill
No 79 (Fighter) Sqn (Hurricanes)	RAF Biggin Hill
RAF Station Kenley	Kenley, Surrey
No 3 (Fighter) Sqn (Hurricanes)	RAF Kenley
No 253 (Fighter) Sqn (Hurricanes)	RAF Kenley
No 7 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit	RAF Castle Bromwich
RAF Station Manston	Manston, Kent
No 600 (City of London) (Fighter) Sqn AAF (Blenheims)	RAF Manston
RAF Station Filton	Filton, Bristol
No 253 (Fighter) Sqn (Hurricanes)	Filton
No 8 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit	Filton
RAF Station Tangmere	Tangmere, Sussex
No 601 (Country of London) (Fighter) Sqn AAF (Hurricanes)	RAF Tangmere
No 501 (County of Gloucester) (Fighter) Sqn AAF (Hurricanes)	RAF Tangmere
Fighter Interception Unit (Blenheims)	RAF Tangmere
RAF Station Hornchurch	Hornchurch, Essex
No 74 (Fighter) Sqn (Spitfires)	RAF Hornchurch
No 65 (Fighter) Sqn (Spitfires)	RAF Hornchurch
RAF Station North Weald	North Weald, Essex
No 56 (Fighter) Sqn (Hurricanes) less 1 Flight	RAF North Weald
No 151 (Fighter) Sqn (Hurricanes)	RAF North Weald
No 25 (Fighter) Sqn (Blenheims)	RAF North Weald
RAF Station Northolt	Northolt, Middlesex
Air Fighting Development Unit	RAF Northolt
No 604 (County of Middlesex) (Fighter) Sqn AAF (Blenheims)	RAF Northolt
No 92 (Fighter) Sqn (Spitfires)	RAF Northolt
No 54 (Fighter) Sqn (Spitfires)	RAF Hendon
No 24 Sqn (Various)	Southend

Unit	Location/Administered by
RAF Station Debden	Debden, Essex
No 504 (County of Nottingham) (Fighter) Sqn AAF (Hurricanes)	RAF Debden
RAF Station Duxford	Duxford, Cambridgeshire
No 19 (Fighter) Sqn (Spitfires)	RAF Duxford
No 66 (Fighter) Sqn (Spitfires)	RAF Duxford
No 222 (Fighter) Sqn (Spitfires) (1 Flight operational)	RAF Duxford
RAF Station Digby	Digby, Lincolnshire
No 46 (Fighter) Sqn (Hurricanes)	RAF Digby
No 611 (West Lancashire) (Fighter) Sqn AAF (Spitfires)	RAF Digby
No 229 (Fighter) Sqn (Hurricanes)	RAF Digby
RAF Station Wittering	Wittering, Leicestershire
No 23 (Fighter) Sqn (Blenheims)	RAF Wittering
No 213 (Fighter) Sqn (Hurricanes)	RAF Wittering
No 266 (Fighter) Sqn* (Spitfires)	RAF Martlesham Heath
RAF Station Martlesham Heath	Martlesham Heath, Suffolk
No 17 (Fighter) Sqn (Hurricanes)	RAF Martlesham Heath
No 264 (Fighter) Sqn (Defiants) (1 Flight operational)	RAF Martlesham Heath
1 Flight, No 56 (Fighter) Sqn	RAF Martlesham Heath
No 5 OTU (Spitfires/Blenheims)	RAF Aston Down
No 6 OTU (Hurricanes)	RAF St Athan
Care & Maintenance Party	RAF Speke

Unit	Location
RAF Station Acklington	Acklington, Alnwick, Northumberland
No 152 (Fighter) Sqn (Spitfires)	RAF Acklington
No 72 (Fighter) Sqn (Spitfires)	RAF Acklington
RAF Station Catterick	Catterick, North Riding of Yorkshire
No 41 (Fighter) Sqn (Spitfires)	RAF Catterick
No 219 (Fighter) Sqn* (Blenheims)	RAF Catterick
RAF Station Church Fenton	Church Fenton, West Riding of Yorkshire
No 64 (Fighter) Sqn (Blenheims/Spitfires)	RAF Church Fenton
No 242 (Fighter) Sqn* (Hurricanes)	RAF Church Fenton
No 610 (County of Chester) (Fighter) Sqn AAF (Spitfires)	RAF Prestwick
No 263 (Fighter) Sqn (Gladiators)	RAF Turnhouse
No 603 (City of Edinburgh) (Fighter) Sqn AAF (Spitfires)	RAF Turnhouse
Sector HQ only	RAF Usworth
No 141 (Fighter) Sqn* (Blenheims)	RAF Grangemouth
RAF Station Drem	Drem, East Lothian
No 609 (West Riding) (Fighter) Sqn AAF (Spitfires)	RAF Drem
No 29 (Fighter) Sqn (Blenheims)	RAF Drem
No 605 (County of Warwick) (Fighter) Sqn AAF (Hurricanes)	RAF Wick - Station in Coastal Command
No 43 (Fighter) Sqn (Hurricanes)	RAF Wick - Station in Coastal Command
No 111 (Fighter) Sqn (Hurricanes)	RAF Wick - Station in Coastal Command
RAF Station Leconfield	Leconfield, Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire
No 616 (South Yorkshire) (Fighter) Sqn AAF (Spitfires)	RAF Leconfield
No 234 (Fighter) Sqn* (Spitfires)	RAF Leconfield
No 245 (Fighter) Sqn* (Blenheims)	RAF Leconfield

Unit	Location
RAF Station Farnborough	Farnborough, Hampshire
Royal Aircraft Establishment	RAF Farnborough
School of Photography	RAF Farnborough
HQ, No 1 AACU	RAF Farnborough
RAF Station Odiham	Odiham, Hampshire
No 613 (City of Manchester) (Army Co-operation) Sqn AAF* (Hector)	RAF Odiham
No 614 (County of Glamorgan) (Army Co-operation) Sqn AAF* (Lysander)	RAF Odiham
No 225 (Army Co-operation) Sqn* (Lysander)	RAF Odiham
Auto-Giro Training Flight (Auto-Giro)	RAF Odiham
Care & Maintenance Party	RAF Cardiff
No 4 Ferry Pilots Pool	RAF Cardiff
FAA Sqn (Swordfish)	RAF Cardiff
RAF Station Old Sarum	Old Sarum, Wiltshire
No 1 School of Army Co-operation (Hectors/Lysanders)	RAF Old Sarum.
No 110 Sqn RCAF* (Lysander)	RAF Old Sarum.
RAF Station Andover	Andover, Hampshire
RAF Staff College	RAF Andover
No 2 School of Army Co-operation (Ansons)	RAF Andover
Army Co-operation Reservoir (Blenheims)	RAF Andover
RAF Station Squires Gate	Squires Gate, Blackpool, Lancashire
'F' Flight, No 1 AACU (Henleys)	RAF Squires Gate
No 9 Air Observers Navigation School (Various)	RAF Squires Gate
RAF Station Ringway	Ringway, Manchester, Lancashire
No 110 AACU Wing	RAF Ringway
No 6 AACU	RAF Ringway

Unit	Location
Photographic Development Unit (Various)	Heston
Air Ministry Unit	London
Voice Production Unit	Cambridge

Flight(s)	Location	To work with the range at
HQ	RAF Farnborough
A	RAF Weston Zoyland	Watchet
B	RAF Carew Cheriton - Station in Coastal Command	Manorbier
C J	RAF Penrhos - Station in Training Command	'Towyn Ty-Croes
D G V	RAF Cleave	Penhale Sands Cleave Cleave
E	RAF West Freugh - Station in Training Command	Burrow Head
F	RAF Squires Gate	Cark
L	RAF Carew Cheriton - Station in Coastal Command
W	RAF Kidsdale	Burrow Head
X & Z	RAF Watchet	Watchet
Y	RAF Manorbier	Manorbier