Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Home Command and Other Home Units - December 1951

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Home Command

HQ - RAF White Waltham

 

Unit	Location/Address	Notes
Home Command Communication Sqn	RAF White Waltham	Various
Home Command Examining Unit	RAF White Waltham

HQ, RAF Record Office

No 61 (Eastern) Group

HQ - RAF Kenley

 

Unit	Location/Address	Notes
No 58 Recruiting Centre	Blackheath
University of London Air Sqn	RAF Booker	Chipmunk, station in No 62 Group
No 55 Recruiting Centre	Brighton
AM Survey Production Centre	Bushey Park	Functionally controlled by AM (DD (Nav))
No 5 RAF Reserve Centre	Cambridge
No 22 Reserve Flying School	Cambridge	Tiger Moth/Anson/Chipmunk
Cambridge UAS	Cambridge	Chipmunk
Cambridge University Fighter Control Flight	Cambridge
No 45 Recruiting Centre	Cambridge
No 261 Police Flight RAFVR	Cambridge
No 53 Recruiting Centre	Chatham
RAF Medical Rehabilitation Unit	RAF Chessington
No 46 Recruiting Centre	Colchester
No 52 Recruiting Centre	Croydon
Home Command Gliding Instructors' School	RAF Detling
No 57 Recruiting Centre	Ealing
RAF Hospital	Ely
No 18 Reserve Flying School	Fairoaks	Chipmunk/Anson
RAF Medical Rehabilitation Unit	RAF Headley Court
RAF Station Mongewell Park		Satellite, Headley Court
No 1958 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF	RAF Hendon	Auster
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 86 Reserve Centre	RAF Hornchurch	Station in TTC
No 17 Reserve Flying School	RAF Hornchurch	Tiger Moth/Anson, station in TTC
No 1 Civilian Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit	RAF Hornchurch
No 47 Recruiting Centre	Ipswich (Town)
RAF Station Kenley
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 Mov)
Air Publication and Forms Store	RAF Kidbrooke	Functionally controlled by Air Ministry (DST)
No 2 Civilian Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit	RAF Little Snoring
AMMRU (O & M)	London	Functionally controlled by AM (D of O)
Central Medical Establishment	London	Functionally controlled by AM (DGMS)
No 1 Movements Unit (Embarkation)	London	Functionally controlled by AM (D Mov)
No 81 Reserve Centre	London
No 1 Air Intelligence Unit RAFVR	London
Central Recruiting Office	London	Kingsway, WC2
University of London Fighter Control Flight	London
No 54 Recruiting Centre	Maidstone
No 49 Recruiting Centre	Norwich
No 1 Reserve Flying School	Panshanger	Chipmunk/Anson
No 15 Reserve Flying School	Redhill	ChipmunkAnson
No 4 Reserve Centre	Rochester
No 24 Reserve Flying School	Rochester	Chipmunk/Anson
RAF Station Ruislip
Medical Survey Unit	RAF Ruislip	Functionally controlled by HQ Home Command (PMO)
No 51 Recruiting Centre	St Albans
No 83 Reserve Centre	RAF Stanmore Park	Station in Fighter Command
No 265 Police Flight RAFVR	RAF Stanmore Park	Station in Fighter Command
RAF Hospital	RAF Uxbridge	Station in TTC
No 50 Recruiting Centre	Wanstead
Air Ministry Unit	RAF West Drayton
'D' Unit	RAF West Drayton

No 62 (Southern) Group

HQ - RAF Rudloe Manor

 

Unit	Location/Address	Notes
No 622 Sqn RAuxAF	Blackbushe (MCA)	Valetta
RAF Station Booker
No 1 Basic Flying Training School	RAF Booker	Chipmunk
Joint Services Staff College Flight	RAF Booker
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
RAF Medical Rehabilitation Unit	RAF Collaton Cross
No 27 Reserve Centre	Exeter
No 37 Recruiting Centre	Exeter
No 10 Reserve Flying School	Exeter	Tiger Moth/Anson
No 3 Civilian Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit	Exeter
Institute of Aviation Medicine	Farnborough	Functionally controlled by AM (DGMS)
RAF Station Filton
Bristol UAS	RAF Filton	Chipmunk
No 12 Reserve Flying School	RAF Filton	Chipmunk/Anson
No 38 Recruiting Centre	Gloucester
Princess Mary's RAF Hospital	RAF Halton	Station in TTC
Institute of Pathology and Tropical Medicine	RAF Halton
Dental Training Establishment	RAF Halton
No 14 Reserve Flying School	Hamble	Chipmunk/Anson
No 1 Basic Air Navigation School	Hamble	Anson
Oxford UAS	Kidlington	Chipmunk, station in Maintenance Command
No 1962 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF	RAF Middle Wallop	Auster, station in Fighter Command
RAF Station Netheravon
RAF Police Dog Training Centre	RAF Netheravon
RAF Component, VISTRE	RAF Netheravon	Functionally controlled by Air Ministry (D of Ops)
No 39 Recruiting Centre	Oxford
Oxford University Fighter Control Flight	Oxford
No 1 RAF Police Wing	RAF Pershore
No 21 Reserve Centre	Plymouth
No 40 Recruiting Centre	Plymouth
No 41 Recruiting Centre	Portsmouth
No 22 Reserve Centre	RAF Pucklechurch
No 262 Police Flight RAFVR	RAF Pucklechurch
No 24 Reserve Centre	Reading
No 42 Recruiting Centre	Reading
No 43 Recruiting Centre	Salisbury
Southampton UAS	Southampton	Chipmunk
No 2 Movements Unit (Embarkation)	Southampton	Functionally controlled by AM (D Mov)
No 44 Recruiting Centre	Southampton
C & M Party	RAF Staverton
No 23 Reserve Centre	RAF Titchfield
C & M Party	RAF Weston-on-the-Green
No 8 Reserve Flying School	Woodley	Tiger Moth/Anson
RAF Hospital	Wroughton
Satellite of RAF Hospital, Wroughton	Burderop Park	Allocated to USAF

No 63 (Western & Welsh) Group

HQ - RAF Hawarden

 

Unit	Location/Address	Notes
No 2 Basic Flying Training School	Ansty	Chipmunk
No 20 Recruiting Centre	Barrow
No 2 Reserve Flying School	Barton, Manchester	Chipmunk/Anson
No 21 Recruiting Centre	Birmingham
No 23 Personnel Transit Centre	Blackpool	Functional control by AM (DPS (P8))
No 43 Reserve Centre	Bowlee
No 41 Reserve Centre	Cardiff (Llandaff)
No 3 Reserve Flying School	Cardiff Airport	Chipmunk/Anson
No 1952 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF	Cardiff Airport	Auster
No 22 Recruiting Centre	Cardiff
No 44 Reserve Centre	Castle Bromwich
No 5 Reserve Flying School	Castle Bromwich	Chipmunk/Anson
University of Birmingham UAS	Castle Bromwich	Chipmunk
No 24 Recruiting Centre	Chester
RAF Hospital	RAF Cosford	Station in TTC
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 Reserve Centre	Fazakerley
No 263 Police Flight RAFVR	Fazakerley
No 31 Recruiting Centre	Hanley, Stoke on Trent
RAF Station Hawarden
No 63 Group Communication Flight	RAF Hawarden
RAF Station Honiley
Command Major Servicing Unit	RAF Honiley
Command Instrument Training Flight	RAF Honiley	Chipmunk
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 3 Movements Unit (Embarkation)	Liverpool	Functionally controlled by AM (D Mov)
No 5 Civilian Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit	Llanbedr	Vampire/Spitfire/Beaufighter, station in FTC
No 5 Personnel Despatch Centre	Lytham	Functional control by AM (DGM)
No 21 Personnel Transit Centre	Lytham	Functional control by AM (DPS)
Medical Training Establishment	Lytham	Functionally controlled by AM (DGMS)
Manchester UAS	Manchester	Chipmunk
No 27 Recruiting Centre	Manchester
RAF Hospital	RAF Padgate	Station in TTC
No 29 Recruiting Centre	Preston
RAF Station Ringway
No 1951 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF	Ringway	Auster
No 30 Recruiting Centre	Shrewsbury
RAF Hospital RAuxAF	RAF St Athan	Station in TTC
No 32 Recruiting Centre	Swansea
RAF Hospital	RAF Weeton	Station in TTC
RAF Hospital	RAF West Kirby	Station in TTC
No 33 Recruiting Centre	Wigan	Detachment at Bolton
RAF Hospital	RAF Wilmslow	Station in TTC
No 45 Reserve Centre	Wolverhampton
No 25 Reserve Flying School	Wolverhampton	Tiger Moth/Anson
No 1954 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF	Wolverhampton	Auster
No 34 Recruiting Centre	Wolverhampton
RAF Station Woodvale
No 19 Reserve Flying School	RAF Woodvale	Anson/Chipmunk
Liverpool UAS	RAF Woodvale	Chipmunk
No 35 Recruiting Centre	Worcester

No 64 (Northern) Group

HQ - Heslington, York

 

Unit	Location/Address	Notes
No 65 Reserve Centre	Alvaston, Derby
No 264 Police Flight RAFVR	Alvaston, Derby
No 8 Recruiting Centre	Bradford
Hull UAS	Brough	Chipmunk
No 23 Recruiting Centre	Carlisle
Leeds UAS	RAF Church Fenton	Chipmunk, station in Fighter Command
No 16 Reserve Flying School	Derby	Tiger Moth/Anson
No 9 Recruiting Centre	Derby
No 69 Reserve Centre	Desford
No 7 Reserve Flying School	Desford	Tiger Moth/Anson
No 1969 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF	Desford	Auster
No 61 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 Reserve Centre	RAF Long Benton
No 15 Recruiting Centre	Middlesborough
No 16 Recruiting Centre	Newcastle
Nottingham UAS	RAF Newton	Chipmunk, station in Fighter Command
RAF Hospital	RAF Nocton Hall
No 48 Recruiting Centre	Northampton
RAF Station Ouston
No 1965 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF	RAF Ouston	Auster
No 64 Group Communication Flight	RAF Rufforth	Station in Maintenance Command
No 19 Recruiting Centre	Sheffield
No 18 Recruiting Centre	Sunderland
No 2 Reserve Centre	Sywell
No 6 Reserve Flying School	Sywell	Chipmunk/Anson
No 4 Basic Flying Training School	Sywell
C & M Party	RAF Usworth
No 23 Reserve Flying School	RAF Usworth	Chipmunk/Anson
No 2 Basic Air Navigation School	RAF Usworth	Anson
Durham UAS	RAF Usworth	Chipmunk
RAF Station Yeadon
No 1964 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF	RAF Yeadon	Auster

No 66 (Scottish) Group

HQ - RAF Turnhouse

 

Unit	Location/Address	Notes
No 1 Recruiting Centre	Aberdeen
RAF Station Bishopsbriggs
No 101 Reserve Centre	RAF Bishopsbriggs
No 266 Police Flight RAFVR	RAF Bishopsbriggs
No 2 Recruiting Centre	Dumfries
No 3 Recruiting Centre	Dundee
RAF Station Dyce
Aberdeen UAS	RAF Dyce	Chipmunk
No 4 Recruiting Centre	Edinburgh
No 5 Recruiting Centre	Glasgow
No 6 Recruiting Centre	Inverness
St Andrews UAS	RAF Leuchars	Chipmunk, station in Fighter Command
No 4 Civilian Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit	RAF Llandow	Station in Maintenance Command
No 11 Reserve Flying School	Perth	Anson/Chipmunk
Glasgow UAS	Perth	Chipmunk
No 103 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 1967 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF	Perth	Auster
No 7 Recruiting Centre	Perth
RAF Station Turnhouse
No 66 Group Communication Flight	RAF Turnhouse
Edinburgh UAS	RAF Turnhouse	Chipmunk
No 1968 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF	RAF Turnhouse	Auster

No 67 (Northern Ireland) Group

HQ - Whiteabbey

 

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	Chipmunk

Home Command, Inactive Stations

 

Inactive Station	Parent Station	Status
Anstruther (Radar)	HQ No 66 Group	R
Aston Hill (W/T Station)	Hawarden	R
Borve Castle (Radar)	HQ No 66 Group	R
Brenish (Radar)	HQ No 66 Group	R
Burifa Hill (GEE)	HQ No 66 Group	R
Calveley	Hawarden	S
Crustan (Radar)	HQ No 66 Group	R
Deerness (Radar)	HQ No 66 Group	R
Doonies Hill (Radar)	HQ No 66 Group	R
Dunnet Head (Radar)	HQ No 66 Group	R
Eorodale (Radar)	HQ No 66 Group	R
Glenarm (Radar)	HQ No 67 Group	R
Greian Head (Radar)	HQ No 66 Group	R
Kilchiaran (Radar)	HQ No 66 Group	R
Noss Hill (Radar)	HQ No 66 Group	R
Rhuddlan (Radar)	Hawarden	S
Rosehearty (Radar)	Dyce	S
St Cyrus (Radar)	HQ No 66 Group	R
Saligo Bay (Radar)	HQ No 66 Group	R
Saxa Vord (Radar)	HQ No 66 Group	R
Scousborough (GEE)	HQ No 66 Group	R
Skaw (Radar)	HQ No 66 Group	R
Stoke Orchard	Staverton	S
Ulbster (Radar)	HQ No 66 Group	R
Windy Head (GEE)	HQ No 66 Group	R
Wrexham,	Hawarden	S

S = Surplus to long-term requirements

R = Retention is currently required

Bomb Disposal Units

 

Unit	Location/Address	Notes
No 5131 Bomb Disposal Sqn comprising: -	RAF North Coates	Functionally controlled by AM (Arm 1 (BD))
No 6204 Flt	RAF Rufforth
No 6209 Flt	RAF Detling
No 6217 Flt	RAF Waterbeach
No 6219 Flt	RAF Feltwell
No 6221 Flt	RAF Hornchurch
No 6226 Flt	RAF Detling
No 6235 Flt	RAF Driffield

Provost Organisation (Home)

 

Unit	Location/Address
No 1 Wing	RAF Pershore
No 1 District No 121 Flight No 123 Flight No 124 Flight	RAF Turnhouse RAF Turnhouse RAF Bishopbriggs RAF Aldergrove
No 2 District No 125 Flight No 125 Flight (Holyhead Docks Section) No 126 Flight No 128 Flight No 129 Flight No 129 Flight (Newcastle Section) No 130 Flight No 153 (W) Flight	RAF Thornaby Fazakerley Holyhead RAF Yeadon RAF Hooton Park RAF Thornaby RAF Long Benton RAF Bowlee RAF Bowlee
No 3 District No 122 Flight No 132 Flight No 154 (W) Flight No 133 Flight	RAF Hucknall RAF Scampton RAF Hucknall RAF Hucknall RAF Honiley
No 4 District No 134 Flight No 155 (W) Flight No 135 Flight No 136 Flight No 140 Flight	RAF Duxford RAF Duxford RAF Duxford RAF Horsham St Faith RAF Halton RAF Martlesham Heath
No 5 District No 137 Flight No 138 Flight No 139 Flight No 156 (W) Flight No 157 (W) Flight No 145 Flight No 146 Flight	RAF Ruislip RAF Ruislip RAF Ruislip RAF Ruislip RAF Ruislip RAF Ruislip RAF Detling RAF Titchfield
No 6 District No 147 Flight No 148 Flight No 159 (W) Flight No 150 Flight	RAF Filton RAF Innsworth RAF Filton RAF Filton Llandaff

RAF and RAuxAF Regiment Squadrons (Home and Overseas)

RAF Regiment (Malaya)

RAF Levies

 

Location	Unit	Notes
Habbaniya	HQ RAF Levies
	No 1 Wing RAF Levies
	HQ Sqn, RAF Levies
	No 1 Sqn, RAF Levies
	No 2 Sqn, RAF Levies
	No 3 Sqn, RAF Levies
	No 4 Sqn, RAF Levies
	Support Sqn, RAF Levies
Basrah	No 6 Sqn, RAF Levies
Shaibah	No 2 Wing RAF Levies
	No 5 Sqn, RAF Levies
	No 7 Sqn, RAF Levies

Aden Protectorate Levies

 

Location	Unit	Notes
Dhala	No 2 Sqn, Aden Protectorate Levies
Masirah (Muscat)	No 8 Sqn, Aden Protectorate Levies
Singapore Lines	HQ, No 3 Wing, Aden Protectorate Levies
	MT Section, Aden Protectorate Levies
Seedaseer Lines	HQ, No 1 Wing, Aden Protectorate Levies
	No 1 Sqn, Aden Protectorate Levies
	No 3 Sqn, Aden Protectorate Levies
	No 4 Sqn, Aden Protectorate Levies
	Mortar Flight, Aden Protectorate Levies
	Depot Sqn, Aden Protectorate Levies
	Regimental Band, Aden Protectorate Levies
Lake Lines	HQ, No 2 Wing, Aden Protectorate Levies
	No 5 Sqn, Aden Protectorate Levies
	No 7 Sqn, Aden Protectorate Levies
	Armoured Car Section, Aden Protectorate Levies

USAF Units in the UK

 

Location	Unit	Notes
RAF Bassingbourn	Medium Bomber Sqn Strategic Reconnaissance Sqn (Detachment) Air Service Wing (Detachment)	Station in Bomber Command
RAF Bentwaters	HQ Defence Fighter Wing Air Service Group 2 x Defence Fighter Sqns	Station in Fighter Command
Bovingdon	HQ 3rd Air Force Communication Flight	MCA Airfield
RAF Brize Norton	Air Service Wing Battalion of Engineer Aviation Group	Station in Bomber Command
Burderop Park	Hospital Group	Station in Home Command
RAF Burtonwood	Air Depot Wing	Station in Home Command
Bushey Park	HQ, Air Rescue Sqn Airways Communication Service Sqn
RAF Chicksands	Radio Sqn (Mobile)	Station in No 90 Group
RAF Fairford	Air Service Wing (Detachment) Battalion of Engineer Aviation Group	Station in Bomber Command
RAF Greenham Common	Air Service Wing (Detachment) Battalion of Engineer Aviation Group	Station in Bomber Command
Heston	Radar Bombing Scoring Sqn	MCA Airfield
RAF Lakenheath	Medium Bomber Sqn Air Base Group (Detachment)	Station in Bomber Command
London	Special Investigation Unit
RAF Manston	Fighter Escort Group Air Rescue Flight Air Base Wing	Station in Fighter Command
RAF Marham	Air Base Group (Detachment) HQ, Anti-Aircraft Brigade	Station in Bomber Command
RAF Mildenhall	HQ Medium Bomber Wing Medium Bomber Sqn Air Base Group	Station in Bomber Command
RAF Molesworth	Troop Carrier Wing (Detachment)
Northwick Park	HQ, Air Base Group
Norton Barracks	Air Base Group (Detachment)
Prestwick	Air Base Sqn	MCA Airfield
RAF Ruislip	HQ 3rd Air Force HQ, 7th Air Division
RAF Sculthorpe	Air Base Group Medium Bomber Sqn Strategic Reconnaissance (Detachment)	Station in Bomber Command
RAF Sealand	Air Depot Wing	Station in Maintenance Command
Shaftesbury	Personnel Processing Group
RAF Shepherds Grove	Defence Fighter Sqn Air Service Group (Detachment)	Station in Fighter Command
RAF Upper Heyford	Battalion of Engineer Aviation Group Air Base Wing (Detachment)	Station in Bomber Command
RAF West Drayton	Reconnaissance Technical Sqn Air Base Group (Detachment)	Station in Home Command
Wimpole Park	Hospital Group	Station in Bomber Command
Wordwell	Air Base Group (Detachment)	Station in Bomber Command

Source - SD161 (135th Edition) - December 1951

[Home Command | RAF Record Office | No 61 Group | No 62 Group | No 63 Group | No 64 Group | No 65 Group | No 66 Group | Inactive Stations | Bomb Disposal | Provost Organisation | RAF Regiment | RAF Regiment (Malaya) | RAF Levies | Aden Protectorate Levies | USAF Units in the UK]

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