Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
[No 1 Group | No 2 Group | No 3 Group | No 4 Group | No 5 Group | No 6 Group | No 8 Group | No 26 Group | No 91 Group | No 92 Group | No 93 Group | 1 BW Sub Wing]
Command HQ - High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
Satellite airfields are shown in brackets and some units shown at the main station may have been based at the Satellite
HQ - Bawtry Hall, Bawtry, Doncaster, West Yorkshire
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
RAF Station Binbrook (Grimsby & Wickenby) | Binbrook, Lincolnshire | |
No 12 Sqn | RAF Binbrook | Wellington |
No 100 Sqn | RAF Binbrook | Lancaster |
RAF Station Elsham Wold (Kirmington) | Elsham, Brigg, Lincolnshire | |
No 103 Sqn | RAF Elsham Wold | Halifax |
No 166 Sqn | RAF Elsham Wold (Kirmington) | Wellington III |
RAF Station Hemswell (Ingham) | Hemswell, Lincolnshire | |
No 199 Sqn | RAF Hemswell | Wellington III |
No 300 (Polish) Sqn | RAF Hemswell | Wellington |
No 301 (Polish) Sqn | RAF Hemswell | Wellington |
No 305 (Polish) Sqn | RAF Hemswell | Wellington III |
RAF Station Holme (Briegton) | Holme on Spalding Moor, East Yorkshire | |
No 101 Sqn | RAF Holme | Wellington |
No 460 Sqn RAAF | RAF Holme | Wellington/Halifax |
No 1520 (BAT) Flt | RAF Breighton | Oxford |
RAF Station Lindholme (Blyton) | Lindholme, Doncaster, Yorkshire | |
No 1481 (Bomber) Gunnery Flt | RAF Lindholme | Lysander |
No 1503 (BAT) Flt | RAF Lindholme | Oxford |
No 1656 Conversion Unit | RAF Lindholme | Lancaster/Halifax |
No 1662 Conversion Unit | RAF Lindholme | Halifax/Lancaster |
No 1 Servicing Unit | RAF Lindholme |
HQ - Castle Hill House, Huntingdon, Huntingdonshire
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
RAF Bodney | Station awaiting occupation by the USAAF, station satellite of Watton | |
RAF Station Feltwell (Methwold) | Feltwell, Thetford, Norfolk | |
No 192 Sqn | RAF Feltwell | Wellington/Mosquito |
No 487 Sqn RNZAF | RAF Feltwell | Ventura |
No 464 Sqn RAAF | RAF Feltwell | Ventura |
No 1519 (BAT) Flt | RAF Feltwell | Oxford |
RAF Foulsham (Attlebridge) | Attlebridge awaiting occupation by the USAAF | |
No 320 Sqn | RAF Foulsham | Mitchell |
No 98 Sqn | RAF Foulsham | Mitchell |
No 180 Sqn | RAF Foulsham | Mitchell |
Hardwick (C & M) (Bungay) | Hardwick, Norfolk | Stations occupied by and awaiting transfer to USAAF |
Hethel (Tibenham) | Hethel, Norfolk | Hethel occupied by and awaiting transfer to USAAF |
RAF Station Horsham St Faith | Horsham St Faith, Norwich, Norfolk | Station occupied by and awaiting transfer to USAAF |
RAF Station Marham | Marham, King's Lynn, Norfolk | |
No 1483 (Bomber) Gunnery Flt | RAF Marham | Wellington |
No 139 Sqn | RAF Marham | Mosquito |
No 105 Sqn | RAF Marham | Mosquito |
Shipdham (Wendling) | Shipdham, Norfolk | Station occupied by and awaiting transfer to USAAF |
RAF Station Swanton Morley (Oulton) | Swanton Morley, Dereham, Norfolk | |
No 21 Sqn | RAF Swanton Morley | Ventura |
No 88 Sqn | RAF Swanton Morley | Boston III |
No 226 Sqn | RAF Swanton Morley | Boston III |
No 1515 (BAT) Flt | RAF Swanton Morley | Oxford |
Tibenham | Station awaiting occupation by the USAAF | |
RAF Station Wattisham | Wattisham, Bildeston, Ipswich, Suffolk | Station occupied by and awaiting transfer to USAAF |
RAF Station Watton (Bodney) | Watton, Thetford, Norfolk | |
Wendling | Wendling, Norfolk | Station awaiting occupation by the USAAF |
RAF Station West Raynham (Great Massingham & Sculthorpe) | West Raynham, Fakenham, Norfolk | |
No 107 Sqn | RAF West Raynham | Boston III |
No 342 Sqn | RAF West Raynham | Boston III |
No 1482 (Bomber) Gunnery Flt | RAF West Raynham | Lysander/Blenheim |
HQ - Exning, nr Newmarket, Cambridgeshire
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
No 1504 (BAT) Flt | Detachments at various station in No 3 Group | Oxford |
RAF Station Downham Market (Great Ashfield) | Downham Market, Norfolk | Great Ashfield awaiting occupation by the USAAF |
No 218 Sqn | RAF Downham Market | Stirling |
Earls Colne | Earls Colne, Essex | Station awaiting occupation by the USAAF |
Care & Maintenance Party | RAF Earls Colne | |
RAF Station Honington (Knettishall) | Honington, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk | Station occupied by and awaiting transfer to USAAF |
Horham (Thorpe Abbots) | Horham, Essex | Stations awaiting occupation by the USAAF |
Care & Maintenance Party | Horham | |
Knettishall | Station awaiting occupation by the USAAF | |
Care & Maintenance Party | Knettishall | |
RAF Station Mildenhall (Lakenheath, East Wretham & Newmarket) | Mildenhall, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk | Base Station |
No 15 Sqn | RAF Mildenhall | Stirling |
No 149 Sqn | RAF Mildenhall | Wellington/Stirling |
No 75 Sqn | RAF Mildenhall | Wellington |
No 115 Sqn | RAF Mildenhall | Lancaster II |
Snetterton Heath | Snetterton Heath Norfolk | Station awaiting occupation by the USAAF |
Care & Maintenance Party | Snetterton Heath | |
RAF Station Stradishall (Chedburgh & Ridgewell) | Stradishall, Newmarket, Suffolk | |
No 90 Sqn | RAF Stradishall | Stirling |
No 214 Sqn | RAF Stradishall | Stirling |
No 1657 Conversion Unit | RAF Stradishall | Stirling |
RAF Station Tempsford (Gransden Lodge) | Tempsford, Sandy, Bedfordshire | |
No 138 Sqn | RAF Tempsford | Various |
No 161 Sqn | RAF Tempsford | Whitley/Lysander |
Thorpe Abbots | Station awaiting occupation by the USAAF | |
Care & Maintenance Party | Thorpe Abbots | |
RAF Station Waterbeach (Mepal) | Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire | |
No 1651 Conversion Unit | RAF Waterbeach | Stirling |
HQ - RAF York
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
RAF Acaster Malbis | Acaster Malbis, York | |
RAF Station Driffield (Leconfield & Lissett) | Driffield, East Yorkshire | |
No 158 Sqn | RAF Driffield (Lissett) | Halifax |
No 196 Sqn | RAF Driffield | Wellington |
No 466 Sqn RAAF | RAF Driffield (Leconfield) | Wellington III |
No 1484 (Bomber) Gunnery Flt | RAF Driffield | Whitley/Lysander |
No 1502 (BAT) Flt | RAF Driffield | Oxford |
No 1613 (Target Towing) Flt | RAF Driffield | Henley |
RAF Station Linton-on-Ouse (Tholthorpe) | Linton-on-Ouse, York, North Yorkshire | |
No 76 Sqn | RAF Linton-on-Ouse | Halifax |
No 78 Sqn | RAF Linton-on-Ouse | Halifax |
RAF Station Marston Moor (Rufforth & Riccall) | Marston Moor, Marston, York, West Yorkshire | Base Station |
No 1652 Conversion Unit | RAF Marston Moor | Halifax |
No 1663 Conversion Unit | RAF Marston Moor | Halifax |
No 1658 Conversion Unit | RAF Riccall | Halifax |
RAF Station Pocklington (Melbourne & Elvington) | Pocklington, East Yorkshire | Base Station |
No 102 Sqn | RAF Pocklington | Whitley/Halifax |
No 10 Sqn | RAF Pocklington (Melbourne) | Halifax |
No 77 Sqn | RAF Pocklington (Elvington) | Halifax |
RAF Station Snaith (Burn) | Snaith, East Yorkshire | |
No 51 Sqn | RAF Snaith | Whitley/Halifax |
No 431 Sqn RCAF | RAF Snaith | Wellington |
HQ - St Vincents, Grantham, Lincolnshire
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
RAF Station Bottesford (Langer) | Bottesford, nr Nottingham, Leicestershire | |
No 467 Sqn RAAF | RAF Bottesford | Lancaster |
No 207 Sqn | RAF Bottesford | Lancaster |
RAF Station Coningsby (Woodhall Spa & Spilsby) | Coningsby, Lincolnshire | |
No 619 Sqn | RAF Coningsby | Lancaster |
No 1514 (BAT) Flt | RAF Coningsby | Oxford |
RAF Station Scampton (Dunholme Lodge & Fiskerton) | Scampton, Lincolnshire | |
No 57 Sqn | RAF Scampton | Wellington |
No 49 Sqn | RAF Scampton | Hampden/Manchester |
No 617 Sqn | RAF Scampton | Lancaster |
No 1518 (BAT) Flt | RAF Scampton | Oxford |
RAF Station Swinderby (Barkston Heath, Wigsley & Winthorpe) | Swinderby, Lincolnshire | Base Station |
No 1654 Conversion Unit | RAF Swinderby | Manchester/Lancaster/Halifax |
No 1660 Conversion Unit | RAF Swinderby | Manchester/Lancaster |
No 1661 Conversion Unit | RAF Swinderby | Manchester/Lancaster |
RAF Station Syerston (Balderton & Fulbeck) | Syerston, Newark, Nottinghamshire | |
No 61 Sqn | RAF Syerston | Lancaster |
No 106 Sqn | RAF Syerston | Lancaster |
No 1485 (Bomber) Gunnery Flt | RAF Syerston | Lysander |
No 1506 (BAT) Flt | RAF Syerston | Oxford |
RAF Station Waddington (Skellingthorpe & Bardney) | Waddington, nr Lincoln, Lincolnshire | |
No 9 Sqn | RAF Waddington | Lancaster |
No 44 Sqn | RAF Waddington | Lancaster |
No 50 Sqn | RAF Waddington | Lancaster |
HQ - Allerthorpe Hall, Knaresborough, Yorkshire
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
RAF Station East Moor | ||
No 429 Sqn RCAF | RAF East Moor | Wellington |
RAF Station Leeming (Skipton-on-Swale) | Leeming, Leeming Bar, Northallerton, North Yorkshire | |
No 408 Sqn RCAF | RAF Leeming | Halifax |
RAF Station Middleton St George (Croft) | Yarm, Co. Durham | |
No 419 Sqn RCAF | RAF Middleton St George | Wellington |
No 420 Sqn RCAF | RAF Middleton St George | Wellington |
No 427 Sqn RCAF | RAF Middleton St George | Wellington |
No 1535 (RCAF) (BAT) Flt | RAF Middleton St George | Oxford |
RAF Station Topcliffe (Dalton & Dishforth) | Thirsk, North Yorkshire | Base Station |
No 6 Group Communication Flight | RAF Topcliffe | Waco/BA Eagle |
No 1659 Conversion Unit | RAF Topcliffe | Halifax |
No 424 Sqn RCAF | RAF Topcliffe | Wellington |
No 425 Sqn RCAF | RAF Topcliffe | Wellington |
No 426 Sqn RCAF | RAF Topcliffe | Wellington |
No 428 Sqn RCAF | RAF Topcliffe | Wellington |
No 1512 (BAT) Flt | RAF Topcliffe | Oxford |
HQ - RAF Wyton, Huntingdonshire
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
RAF Station Oakington (Bourn & Gransden Lodge) | Oakington, Cambridgeshire | |
No 7 Sqn | RAF Oakington | Stirling |
No 97 Sqn | RAF Oakington | Lancaster |
No 405 Sqn RCAF | RAF Oakington | Halifax |
No 1409 Meteorological Flight | RAF Oakington | Mosquito |
No 8 (PFF) Navigation Training Unit | RAF Oakington | Stirling/Halifax/Lancaster |
RAF Station Wyton (Graveley & Warboys) | St Ives, Huntingdonshire | |
No 35 Sqn | RAF Wyton | Halifax |
No 83 Sqn | RAF Wyton | Lancaster |
No 109 Sqn | RAF Wyton | Mosquito IX |
No 156 Sqn | RAF Wyton | Wellington |
No 1507 (BAT) Flt | RAF Wyton | Oxford |
No 1499 (Bomber) Gunnery Flt | RAF Wyton | Martinet |
HQ - Langley Hall, Slough, Buckinghamshire
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
North West Signals Centre: controlling the following: -
|
Blackbrook
|
|
No 61 Wireless Unit: controlling the following: -
|
Cheadle
|
|
No 362 Wireless Unit: controlling the following: -
|
Chicksands
|
|
No 2 Signals Depot: controlling the following: -
|
Cowglen, Thornliebank, Glasgow
|
|
RAF Station Great Witcombe | Great Witcombe | |
RAF Despatch Rider Letter Service | Hendon Hall | |
RAF Hinton-in-the-Hedges | ||
RAF Station Leighton Buzzard: controlling the following: -
|
Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire
|
including RAF Central Teleprinter Exchange
|
No 350 Signals Depot | Newbold Revel | |
No 80 Signals Wing: controlling the following: -
|
Aldenham Lodge Hotel, Radlett, Hertfordshire
|
|
No 1 Signals Depot: controlling the following: -
|
West Drayton, Middlesex
|
|
No 363 Wireless Unit: controlling the following: -
|
West Kingsdown
|
|
RAF Station White Waltham: controlling the following: -
|
White Waltham
|
|
No 81 Signals Wing: controlling the following: -
|
Municipal Homes, Worcester, Worcestershire
|
HQ - Abingdon, Berkshire
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
RAF Station Abingdon (Stanton Harcourt) | Abingdon, Berkshire | |
No 10 OTU | RAF Abingdon | Whitley |
No 1501 (BAT) Flt | RAF Abingdon | Oxford |
RAF Station Harwell (Hampstead Norris) | Harwell, Didcot, Berkshire | |
No 15 OTU | RAF Harwell | Wellington |
No 1443 Ferry Training and Despatch Flt | RAF Harwell | Wellington II |
No 1516 (BAT) Flt | RAF Harwell | Oxford |
RAF Station Honeybourne (Long Marston) | Honeybourne, Worcestershire | |
No 24 OTU | RAF Honeybourne | Whitley |
RAF Station Kinloss (Forres) | Kinloss, Forres, Morayshire | |
No 19 OTU | RAF Kinloss | Whitley |
RAF Station Lossiemouth (Elgin) | Lossiemouth, Morayshire | |
No 20 OTU | RAF Lossiemouth | Wellington |
RAF Station Medmenham | Danesfield Court, Medmenham, Buckinghamshire | |
Central Interpretation Unit (a) | RAF Medmenham | |
RAF Station Moreton in Marsh (Enstone) | London Road, Moreton in Marsh, Gloucestershire | |
No 21 OTU | RAF Moreton in Marsh, | Wellington |
No 1446 Ferry Training Flt | RAF Moreton in Marsh, | Wellington/Anson |
RAF Station Pershore (Stratford) | Pershore, Worcestershire | |
No 23 OTU | RAF Pershore | Wellington |
RAF Station Wellesbourne Mountford (Gaydon) | Wellesbourne Mountford, Warwickshire | |
No 22 OTU | RAF Wellesbourne Mountford | Wellington III |
(a) Operationally controlled by the Air Ministry
All OTUs also had Ansons as well as their principal training type
HQ - Winslow
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
RAF Station Aldermaston | Aldermaston, Berkshire | |
RAF Station Bicester (Hinton-in-the-Hedges) | Bicester, Oxfordshire | |
No 13 OTU | RAF Bicester | Blenheim |
No 307 Ferry Training Unit | RAF Bicester | Boston/Havoc |
No 1473 (RCM) Flt | RAF Bicester | Wellington |
No 1551 (BAC) Flt | RAF Bicester | Anson/Master |
No 1655 Mosquito Training Unit | RAF Bicester | Mosquito |
RAF Station Bruntingthorpe (Bitteswell) | ||
RAF Station Chipping Warden (Edgehill, Silverstone & Turweston) | Chipping Warden, nr Banbury, Oxfordshire | |
No 12 OTU | RAF Chipping Warden | Wellington |
No 1517 (BAT) Flt | RAF Chipping Warden | Oxford |
RAF Station Cottesmore (Saltby) | Cottesmore, Oakham, Rutland | |
No 14 OTU | RAF Cottesmore | Hampden/Wellington |
RAF Station North Luffenham (Woolfox Lodge) | North Luffenham, Rutland | |
No 29 OTU | RAF North Luffenham | Wellington |
RAF Station Upper Heyford (Barford St John) | Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire | |
No 16 OTU | RAF Upper Heyford | Wellington |
RAF Station Upwood | Upwood, Ramsey, Huntingdonshire | |
No 17 OTU | RAF Upper Heyford | Blenheim, detachment(s) at other station(s) |
No 1511 (BAT) Flt | RAF Upwood | Oxford |
RAF Station Wing (Little Horwood) | Wing, Leighton Buzzard, Buckinghamshire | |
No 26 OTU | RAF Wing | Wellington |
No 92 Group Communication Flight | RAF Wing | Various |
RAF Station Westcott (Oakley) | Wing, Leighton Buzzard, Buckinghamshire | |
No 11 OTU | RAF Westcott | Wellington |
Engine Control Demonstration Unit | RAF Westcott | Wellington III |
HQ - Egginton Hall, Egginton, Derby
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
RAF Station Finningley (Bircotes) | Finningley, Doncaster, West Yorkshire | |
No 18 (Polish) OTU | RAF Finningley | Wellington |
RAF Station Hixon (Seighford) | Hixon, Staffordshire | |
No 30 OTU | RAF Hixon | Wellington |
RAF Station Lichfield (Church Broughton) | Lichfield, Staffordshire | |
No 27 OTU | RAF Lichfield | Wellington |
No 93 Group Communication Flight | RAF Lichfield | Various |
RAF Station Whitchurch Heath (Sleap) | Whitchurch, Shropshire | later renamed Tilstock |
No 81 OTU | RAF Whitchurch Heath | Whitley |
RAF Station Wymeswold (Castle Donington) | Wymeswold, Leicestershire | |
No 28 OTU | RAF Wymeswold | Wellington |
No 1521 (BAT) Flt | RAF Wymeswold | Oxford |
All OTUs also had Ansons as well as their principal training type
1st Bombardment Wing, RAF Substitution Unit
HQ - Brampton Grange, Huntingdon
This unit is administered by HQ Bomber Command cut for discipline is affiliated to HQ No 2 Group.
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
RAF Steeple Morden | Steeple Morden, Royston, Cambridgeshire | Satellite, Station awaiting occupation by the USAAF |
No 17 OTU - Detachment | RAF Steeple Morden | Blenheim |
RAF Grafton Underwood | Grafton Underwood, Northamptonshire | Satellite, Station occupied by and awaiting transfer to USAAF |
RAF Alconbury | Alconbury, Huntingdonshire | Satellite, Station occupied by and awaiting transfer to USAAF |
RAF Kimbolton | Kimbolton, Huntingdonshire | Satellite, Station awaiting occupation by the USAAF |
RAF Station Polebrook | Polebrook, Peterborough, Northamptonshire | Station occupied by and awaiting transfer to USAAF |
RAF Station Little Staughton | Little Staughton, Huntingdonshire | C & M Party, Station occupied by and awaiting transfer to USAAF |
RAF Station Podington | Podington, Bedfordshire | Station occupied by and awaiting transfer to USAAF |
Squadrons on a 'number only' basis: -
No 301 Sqn No 25 OTU
Source - May 1943 SD161
County names used are those in use at the time
[No 1 Group | No 2 Group | No 3 Group | No 4 Group | No 5 Group | No 6 Group | No 8 Group | No 26 Group | No 91 Group | No 92 Group | No 93 Group | 1 BW Sub Wing]
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