Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
Reserve Command and Other Home Units - July 1950
[Reserve Command | RAF Record Office | No 61 Group | No 62 Group | No 63 Group | No 64 Group | No 65 Group | No 66 Group | RAFNI | Bomb Disposal | Embarkation Units | RAF Regiment | Inactive Stations]
HQ - RAF White Waltham
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
Reserve Command Communication Sqn | RAF White Waltham | Various |
HQ, RAF Record Office, RAF Uxbridge (Station in Technical Training Command)
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
RAF Station Gloucester | ||
RAF Record Office | RAF Gloucester | |
RAF Station Innsworth | Satellite, Gloucester | |
No 1 Personnel Holding Unit | RAF Innsworth | Functionally controlled by AM (DGM) |
Base Accounts Unit | RAF Innsworth | Functionally controlled by AM (SSA) |
Educational Book Depot | RAF Innsworth | Functionally controlled by AM (DES) |
RAF Station Ruislip | ||
RAF Record Office | RAF Ruislip | |
HQ RAF Record Office | RAF Uxbridge | Functionally controlled by AM (DGM) |
HQ - RAF Kenley
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
No 55 Recruiting Centre | Brighton | |
No 5 RAF RAF Reserve Centre | Cambridge | |
No 22 Reserve Flying School | Cambridge | Tiger Moth/Anson/Chipmunk |
Cambridge UAS | Cambridge | |
No 45 Recruiting Centre | Cambridge | |
No 53 Recruiting Centre | Chatham | |
No 46 Recruiting Centre | Colchester | |
No 52 Recruiting Centre | Croydon | |
Reserve Command Gliding Instructors' School | RAF Detling | |
No 1958 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF | RAF Hendon | Auster |
RAF Antarctic Flight | RAF Hendon | Functionally controlled by ACAS (Ops) |
No 1959 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF | RAF Henlow | Auster, station in TTC |
No 1961 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF | RAF Henlow | Auster, station in TTC |
No 3619 (County of Suffolk) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Ipswich | |
No 47 Recruiting Centre | Ipswich | |
No 61 Group Communication Flight | RAF Kenley | |
No 661 (AOP) RAuxAF Sqn HQ | RAF Kenley | |
No 3661 (AOP) Mobile Servicing Section RAuxAF | RAF Kenley | |
No 1957 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF | RAF Kenley | Auster |
No 1960 (AOP) Flight Type 'B' RAuxAF | RAF Kenley | Auster |
No 4 MT Company | RAF Kidbrooke |
Functionally controlled by Air Ministry (D Movements) |
Air Publication and Forms Store | RAF Kidbrooke | Functionally controlled by Air Ministry (ST12) |
British Bombing Survey Unit | London | |
AMMRU (O & M) | London | |
No 54 Recruiting Centre | Maidstone | |
No 49 Recruiting Centre | Norwich | |
No 3620 (County of Norfolk) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Old Catton, Norwich | |
No 4 RAF Reserve Centre | Rochester | |
No 24 Reserve Flying School | Rochester | Tiger Moth/Anson |
No 3500 (County of Kent) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | RAF Sandwich | Station in Fighter Command |
No 50 Recruiting Centre | Wanstead | |
Air Ministry Unit | RAF West Drayton | |
'D' Unit | RAF West Drayton |
No 62 (Southern Reserve) Group
HQ - RAF Rudloe Manor
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
RAF Station Booker | ||
Joint Services Staff College Flight | RAF Booker | |
No 3617 (County of Hampshire) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Bournemouth | |
RAF Staff College | Bracknell | Functional control by AM (DST) |
No 36 Recruiting Centre | Bristol | |
No 662 (AOP) RAuxAF Sqn HQ | RAF Colerne | Station in Maintenance Command |
No 3662 (AOP) Mobile Servicing Section RAuxAF | RAF Colerne | |
No 1956 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF | RAF Colerne | Auster |
No 1963 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF | RAF Colerne | Auster |
No 27 RAF Reserve Centre | Exeter | |
No 3512 (County of Devon (Exeter)) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Exeter | |
No 10 Reserve Flying School | Exeter | Tiger Moth/Anson |
No 37 Recruiting Centre | Exeter | |
GCI Station | Exminster | |
No 12 Reserve Flying School | Filton | Tiger Moth/Anson |
No 38 Recruiting Centre | Gloucester | |
GCI Station | Hack Green | |
No 14 Reserve Flying School | Hamble | Tiger Moth/Anson |
GCI Station | Hope Cove | |
Oxford UAS | Kidlington | Station in Maintenance Command |
No 62 Group Communication Flight | RAF Middle Wallop | Station in Fighter Command |
No 1962 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF | RAF Middle Wallop | Auster |
No 39 Recruiting Centre | Oxford | |
RAF Station Pershore |
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|
No 1 RAF Police Wing | RAF Pershore | |
No 21 RAF Reserve Centre | Plymouth | |
No 3513 (County of Devon (Plymouth)) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Plymouth | |
No 40 Recruiting Centre | Plymouth | |
No 41 Recruiting Centre | Portsmouth | |
No 22 RAF Reserve Centre | RAF Pucklechurch | |
No 24 RAF Reserve Centre | Reading | |
No 42 Recruiting Centre | Reading | |
No 3507 (County of Somerset) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | RAF Rudloe Manor | |
No 43 Recruiting Centre | Salisbury | |
Southampton UAS | Southampton | |
No 44 Recruiting Centre | Southampton | |
RAF Station Staverton |
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|
RAF Police Dog Training Centre | RAF Staverton | |
No 23 RAF Reserve Centre | RAF Titchfield | |
No 3618 (County of Sussex) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF RAuxAF | RAF Wartling | |
No 8 Reserve Flying School | Woodley | Tiger Moth/Anson/Chipmunk |
No 63 (Western & Welsh Reserve) Group
HQ - RAF Hawarden
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
No 20 Recruiting Centre | Barrow | |
No 2 Reserve Flying School | Barton, Manchester | Tiger Moth/Anson |
No 21 Recruiting Centre | Birmingham | |
No 43 RAF Reserve Centre | Bowlee | |
No 3613 (City of Manchester) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Bowlee | |
No 41 RAF Reserve Centre | Cardiff (Llandaff) | |
No 3614 (County of Glamorgan) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Cardiff (Llandaff) | |
No 3 Reserve Flying School | Cardiff Airport | Tiger Moth/Anson |
No 22 Recruiting Centre | Cardiff | |
No 44 RAF Reserve Centre | Castle Bromwich | |
No 5 Reserve Flying School | Castle Bromwich | Tiger Moth/Anson |
No 3605 (County of Warwick) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Castle Bromwich | |
Birmingham UAS | Castle Bromwich | |
No 24 Recruiting Centre | Chester | |
No 25 Recruiting Centre | Coventry | |
No 20 Personnel Transit Centre | RAF Cranage | Functional control by AM (DPS) |
No 22 Personnel Transit Centre | RAF Croft | Functional control by AM (DPS) |
No 42 RAF Reserve Centre | Fazakerley | |
No 3611 (West Lancashire) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Fazakerley | |
No 31 Recruiting Centre | Hanley, Stoke on Trent | |
RAF Station Hawarden | ||
No 63 Group Communication Flight | RAF Hawarden | |
No 5 Personnel Despatch Centre | RAF Hednesford | Functional control by AM (DGM) |
Command Major Servicing Unit | RAF Honiley | |
Instrument Training Flight | RAF Honiley | Chipmunk |
No 19 Reserve Flying School | RAF Hooton Park | Anson/Tiger Moth |
No 663 (AOP) RAuxAF Sqn HQ | RAF Hooton Park | |
No 3663 (AOP) Mobile Servicing Section RAuxAF | RAF Hooton Park | |
No 1953 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF | RAF Hooton Park | Auster |
No 1955 (AOP) Flight Type 'B' RAuxAF | RAF Hooton Park | Auster |
No 26 Recruiting Centre | Liverpool | |
No 1952 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF | RAF Llandow | Auster, station in Maintenance Command |
No 27 Recruiting Centre | Manchester | |
Manchester UAS | Manchester | |
No 28 Recruiting Centre | Newport, Monmouth | |
No 29 Recruiting Centre | Preston | |
No 1951 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF | Ringway | Auster |
RAuxAF Air Traffic Control | Ringway | |
No 30 Recruiting Centre | Shrewsbury | |
No 3509 (County of Stafford) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Stoke-on-Trent | |
No 32 Recruiting Centre | Swansea | |
No 101 Personnel Dispersal Centre | RAF Warton | Station in Maintenance Command Functional control by AM (DGM) |
No 21 Personnel Transit Centre | RAF Warton | Station in Maintenance Command Functional control by AM (DPS) |
No 33 Recruiting Centre | Wigan | Detachment at Bolton |
No 45 RAF Reserve Centre | Wolverhampton | |
No 25 Reserve Flying School | Wolverhampton | Tiger Moth/Anson/Chipmunk |
No 1954 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF | Wolverhampton | Auster |
No 34 Recruiting Centre | Wolverhampton | |
RAF Station Woodvale | ||
No 35 Recruiting Centre | Worcester |
No 64 (Northern Reserve) Group
HQ - Heslington, York
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
No 65 RAF Reserve Centre | Alvaston, Derby | |
No 8 Recruiting Centre | Bradford | |
No 23 Recruiting Centre | Carlisle | |
Leeds UAS | RAF Church Fenton | Station in Fighter Command |
No 16 Reserve Flying School | Derby | Tiger Moth/Anson |
No 9 Recruiting Centre | Derby | |
No 69 RAF Reserve Centre | Desford | |
No 7 Reserve Flying School | Desford | Tiger Moth/Anson |
No 1969 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF | Desford | Auster |
No 61 RAF Reserve Centre | Doncaster | |
No 9 Reserve Flying School | Doncaster | Tiger Moth/Anson |
RAF Unit | RAF Harrogate | |
No 664 (AOP) Sqn RAuxAF HQ | Hucknall | Station in Maintenance Command |
No 3664 (AOP) Mobile Servicing Section RAuxAF | Hucknall | |
No 1970 (AOP) Flight Type 'B' RAuxAF | Hucknall | Auster |
No 10 Recruiting Centre | Huddersfield | |
No 11 Recruiting Centre | Hull | |
No 14 Recruiting Centre | Leeds | |
No 12 Recruiting Centre | Leicester | |
No 13 Recruiting Centre | Lincoln | |
No 64 Group Communication Flight | RAF Linton-on-Ouse | Station in Fighter Command |
No 64 RAF Reserve Centre | RAF Long Benton | |
No 3508 (County of Northumberland) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | RAF Long Benton | |
No 15 Recruiting Centre | Middlesborough | |
No 16 Recruiting Centre | Newcastle | |
Nottingham UAS | RAF Newton | Station in Fighter Command |
No 48 Recruiting Centre | Northampton | |
GCI Station | Northstead | |
No 3504 (County of Nottingham) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Nottingham | |
No 1965 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF | RAF Ouston | Auster |
No 3506 (County of Northampton) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Peterborough | |
GCI Station | Seaton Snook | |
No 19 Recruiting Centre | Sheffield | |
No 18 Recruiting Centre | Sunderland | |
No 3505 (East Riding) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | RAF Sutton-on-Hull | Station in TTC |
No 2 RAF Reserve Centre | Sywell | |
No 6 Reserve Flying School | Sywell | Tiger Moth/Anson |
No 3608 (North Riding) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | RAF Thornaby | |
RAF Station Usworth | ||
No 23 Reserve Flying School | RAF Usworth | Tiger Moth/Anson |
Durham UAS | RAF Usworth | |
No 3609 (West Yorkshire) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Yeadon | |
No 1964 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF | Yeadon | Auster |
HQ - RAF Hendon
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
No 58 Recruiting Centre | Blackheath | |
No 57 Recruiting Centre | Ealing | |
University of London Air Sqn | Fairoaks | |
No 18 Reserve Flying School | Fairoaks | Chipmunk/Anson |
No 86 RAF Reserve Centre | RAF Hornchurch | Station in TTC |
No 17 Reserve Flying School | RAF Hornchurch | Tiger Moth/Anson, station in TTC |
No 3604 (County of Middlesex) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | London | |
No 3700 Radar Reporting Unit RAuxAF | London | |
No 81 RAF Reserve Centre | London | |
No 56 Recruiting Centre | London | Kingsway, WC2 |
No 1 Reserve Flying School | Panshanger | Chipmunk/Anson |
No 15 Reserve Flying School | Redhill | Tiger Moth/Anson |
No 83 RAF Reserve Centre | RAF Stanmore Park | Station in Fighter Command |
No 51 Recruiting Centre | Watford |
No 66 (Scottish Reserve) Group
HQ - RAF Turnhouse
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
Glasgow UAS | RNAS Abbotsinch | |
No 3612 (County of Aberdeen) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Aberdeen | |
No 1 Recruiting Centre | Aberdeen | |
No 101 RAF Reserve Centre | RAF Bishopsbriggs | |
No 3602 (City of Glasgow) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | RAF Bishopsbriggs | |
No 2 Recruiting Centre | Dumfries | |
No 3 Recruiting Centre | Dundee | |
No 3511 (City of Dundee) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Dundee | |
Aberdeen UAS | RAF Dyce | |
No 1967 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF | RAF Dyce | Auster |
No 3603 (City of Edinburgh) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Edinburgh | |
No 4 Recruiting Centre | Edinburgh | |
No 5 Recruiting Centre | Glasgow | |
No 3510 (County of Inverness) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Inverness | |
No 6 Recruiting Centre | Inverness | |
St Andrews UAS | RAF Leuchars | Station in Coastal Command |
No 11 Reserve Flying School | Perth | Tiger Moth/Anson/Chipmunk |
No 103 RAF Reserve Centre | Perth | |
No 666 (AOP) RAuxAF Sqn HQ | Perth | |
No 3666 (AOP) Mobile Servicing Section RAuxAF | Perth | |
No 1966 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF | Perth | Auster |
No 7 Recruiting Centre | Perth | |
No 66 Group Communication Flight | RAF Turnhouse | |
Edinburgh UAS | RAF Turnhouse | |
No 1968 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF | RAF Turnhouse | Auster |
No 67 (Northern Ireland Reserve) Group
HQ - RAF Aldergrove
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
No 67 Group Communication Flight | RAF Aldergrove | Station in Coastal Command |
No 59 Recruiting Centre | Belfast | |
Queen's UAS | RAF Sydenham | |
No 3502 (Ulster) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Whiteabbey |
Reserve Command, Inactive Stations
Inactive Station | Parent Station | Status |
Aston Hill (W/T Station) | Hawarden | R |
Calveley | Hawarden | S |
Drem | Turnhouse | R |
Dumbarton (McAllister's Boat Yard) | Bishopbriggs | S |
East Fortune | Turnhouse | R |
Grangemouth | Turnhouse | S |
Stoke Orchard | Staverton | S |
Wrexham, | Hawarden | S |
S = Surplus to long-term requirements
R = Retention is currently required
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
HQ Bomb Disposal Wing | RAF North Coates | Administered by No 24 Group, Technical Training Command |
No 5131 Bomb Disposal Sqn comprising: - | RAF Rufforth | |
No 6202 Flt | RAF Kirknewton | |
No 6204 Flt | RAF Rufforth | |
No 6235 Flt | RAF Dishforth | |
No 5133 Bomb Disposal Sqn comprising: - | RAF Waterbeach | |
No 6217 Flt | RAF Waterbeach | |
No 6219 Flt | RAF Feltwell | |
No 6221 Flt | RAF Hornchurch | |
No 5134 Bomb Disposal Sqn comprising: - | RAF Biggin Hill | |
No 6209 Flt | RAF Biggin Hill | |
No 6226 Flt | RAF Rye |
Operational control and personnel matters relating to officers manning the Embarkation Units was vested in the Director of Movements at the Air Ministry but the parent stations were responsible for pay, accounting and administration of airmen.
Unit | Location/Address | Parent Unit |
No 86 | Hamburg | No 431 Equipment Depot |
No 110 | Hook of Holland | HQ BAFO |
No 3 | Liverpool | No 63 Group |
No 1 | London | No 61 Group |
No 2 | Southampton | No 62 Group |
RAF and RAuxAF Regiment Squadrons (Home)
Number |
Wing |
Group |
Location |
i) RAF Regiment Wing HQs | |||
1 | - |
HQ BAFO |
RAF Fassberg |
2 | - |
38 |
RAF Upavon |
4 | - | 85 | RAF Luneburg |
6 | - | 2 | RAF Celle |
16 |
- | 2 | RAF Gutersloh |
ii) Anti-Aircraft Squadrons | |||
15 |
- |
38 |
RAF Watchet |
16 |
- |
38 |
RAF Netheravon |
17 |
- |
2 |
RAF Celle |
18 |
- |
2 |
RAF Celle |
19 |
- |
2 |
RAF Gutersloh |
20 |
- |
2 |
RAF Gutersloh |
2501 (County of Gloucestershire) (RAuxAF) |
- |
62 |
Filton |
2502 (Ulster) (RAuxAF) |
- |
67 |
RAF Aldergrove |
2504 (County of Nottingham) (RAuxAF) |
- |
64 |
RAF Hucknall |
2600 (City of London) (RAuxAF) |
- |
65 |
RAF Stanmore |
2602 (City of Glasgow) (RAuxAF) |
- |
66 |
RAF Bishopbriggs |
2603 (City of Edinburgh) (RAuxAF) |
- |
66 |
RAF Turnhouse |
2605 (County of Warwick) (RAuxAF) |
- |
63 |
RAF Honiley |
2608 (North Riding) (RAuxAF) |
- |
64 |
RAF Thornaby |
2609 (West Riding) (RAuxAF) |
- |
64 |
Yeadon |
2611 (West Lancashire) (RAuxAF) |
- |
63 |
RAF Woodvale |
2612 (County of Aberdeen) (RAuxAF) |
- |
66 |
RAF Dyce |
2616 (South Yorkshire) (RAuxAF) |
- |
64 |
Doncaster |
iii) Armoured Squadrons | |||
1 |
4 | 85 | RAF Luneburg |
3 |
4 | 85 | RAF Luneburg |
iii) Rifle Squadrons | |||
51 |
1 |
HQ BAFO |
RAF Fassberg |
54 |
4 | 85 | RAF Luneburg |
56 |
4 | 85 | RAF Luneburg |
57 |
1 |
HQ BAFO |
RAF Fassberg |
60 |
1 |
HQ BAFO |
RAF Fassberg |
63 |
2 | 38 | RAF Upavon |
Source - SD161 (118th Edition) - July 1950
[Reserve Command | RAF Record Office | No 61 Group | No 62 Group | No 63 Group | No 64 Group | No 65 Group | No 66 Group | RAFNI | Bomb Disposal | Embarkation Units | RAF Regiment | Inactive Stations]
This page was last updated on 21/07/23©