Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
Home Command and USAF Units in the UK - May 1953
[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 | USAF Units in the UK]
HQ - RAF White Waltham
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
Home Command Communication Sqn | RAF White Waltham | Various |
Home Command Examining Unit | RAF White Waltham | Anson/Chipmunk/Buckmaster |
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
RAF Record Office | RAF Gloucester | |
RAF Station Innsworth | Satellite, Gloucester | |
No 1 Personnel Holding Unit | RAF Innsworth | Functionally controlled by AM (DGM) |
Base Accounts Office | RAF Innsworth | Functionally controlled by AM (P7) |
Educational Book Depot | RAF Innsworth | Functionally controlled by AM (DES) |
Medical Survey Office | RAF Innsworth | Functionally controlled by HQ Home Command (PMO) |
HQ, No 33 Wing, RAF Regiment | RAF Innsworth | |
No 15 (LAA) Sqn, RAF Regiment | RAF Innsworth | |
No 16 (LAA) Sqn, RAF Regiment | RAF Innsworth | |
RAF Station Staverton |
HQ - RAF Kenley
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
No 2600 (City of London) (LAA) Sqn (RAuxAF) | RAF Biggin Hill | Station in Fighter Command |
No 58 Recruiting Centre | Blackheath | |
University of London Air Sqn | RAF Booker | Chipmunk, station in No 62 Group |
No 55 Recruiting Centre | Brighton | |
RAF Station Bushey Park | Functionally controlled by the USAF | |
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 53 Recruiting Centre | Chatham | |
RAF Medical Rehabilitation Unit | RAF Chessington | |
RAF Movement Unit (Road & Rail), Western Command HQ | Chester | Functionally controlled by Air Ministry (D Mov) |
No 52 Recruiting Centre | Croydon | |
RAF Station Detling | ||
Home Command Gliding Instructors' School | RAF Detling | |
No 57 Recruiting Centre | Ealing | |
RAF Movement Unit (Road & Rail), Scottish Command HQ | Edinburgh | Functionally controlled by Air Ministry (D Mov) |
RAF Hospital | Ely | |
No 18 Reserve Flying School | Fairoaks | Chipmunk/Anson |
RAF Unit (M of S) Farnborough | Farnborough (MoS) | |
Institute of Aviation Medicine | Farnborough (MoS) | Functionally controlled by AM (DGMS) |
Meteorological Research Flight | Farnborough (MoS) | Hastings/Mosquito |
RAF Medical Rehabilitation Unit | RAF Headley Court | |
No 1958 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF | RAF Hendon | Auster, station in Transport Command |
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 17 Reserve Flying School | RAF Hornchurch | Tiger Moth/Anson, station in FTC |
No 1 Civilian Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit | RAF Hornchurch | |
RAF Movement Unit (Road & Rail), Eastern Command HQ | Hounslow | Functionally controlled by Air Ministry (D Mov) |
No 50 Recruiting Centre | Ilford | |
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) |
No 60 Recruiting Centre | Kingston-on-Thames | |
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 | |
RAF Movement Unit (Road & Rail), London District HQ | London | Functionally controlled by Air Ministry (D Mov) |
HQ, UK Provost and Security Services | London (Acton) | Functionally controlled by DPM (UK) |
No 49 Recruiting Centre | Norwich | |
RAF Station Panshanger | ||
No 15 Reserve Flying School | Redhill | Chipmunk/Anson |
RAF Station Rochester | ||
Air Ministry Unit | RAF Ruislip | |
HQ, No 5 RAF Police District (UK) | RAF Ruislip | Functionally controlled by DPM (UK) |
No 1 Aeronautical Information Documents Unit | RAF Ruislip | Functionally controlled by Air Ministry (DNC) |
RAF Movement Unit (Road & Rail), Southern Command HQ | Salisbury | Functionally controlled by Air Ministry (D Mov) |
RAF Hospital | RAF Uxbridge | Station in TTC |
'RAF Station West Drayton | ||
'D' Unit (RAF) | RAF West Drayton | Administered by USAF |
RAF Movement Unit (Road & Rail), Northern Command HQ | York | Functionally controlled by Air Ministry (D Mov) |
HQ - RAF Pucklechurch
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
No 622 Sqn RAuxAF | Blackbushe (MCA) | Valetta |
No 1 Basic Flying Training School | RAF Booker | Chipmunk |
RAF Staff College | Bracknell | Functional control by AM (DST) |
No 36 Recruiting Centre | Bristol | |
No 662 (AOP) RAuxAF Sqn HQ | RAF Colerne | Station in Fighter 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 | |
RAF Station Exeter | ||
No 37 Recruiting Centre | Exeter | |
No 10 Reserve Flying School | Exeter | Tiger Moth/Anson |
No 3 Civilian Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit | Exeter | |
Bristol UAS | RAF Filton | Chipmunk, station in Fighter Command |
No 2501 (County of Gloucestershire) (LAA) Sqn, RAuxAF | RAF Filton | |
Princess Mary's RAF Hospital | RAF Halton | Station in TTC |
RAF Institute of Pathology and Tropical Medicine | RAF Halton | |
Dental Training Establishment | RAF Halton | Functionally controlled by M (DGMS through DDS) |
No 14 Reserve Flying School | Hamble | Chipmunk/Anson |
No 1 Basic Air Navigation School | Hamble | Anson |
Oxford UAS | RAF Kidlington | Chipmunk, station in Maintenance Command |
No 1962 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF | RAF Middle Wallop | Auster, station in Fighter Command |
RAF Police Depot | RAF Netheravon | |
Joint Concealment Centre | RAF Netheravon | Functionally controlled by Air Ministry (D of Ops) |
No 39 Recruiting Centre | Oxford | |
Oxford University Fighter Control Flight | Oxford | |
No 40 Recruiting Centre | Plymouth | |
RAF Station Pucklechurch | ||
No 62 Group Combined Reserve Centre | RAF Pucklechurch | |
No 42 Recruiting Centre | Reading | |
Southampton UAS | Southampton | Chipmunk |
No 44 Recruiting Centre | Southampton | |
No 2 Movements Unit (Embarkation) | Southampton | Functionally controlled by AM (D Mov) |
Southampton University Technical Flight | Southampton | |
MEAF Base Accounts Office | RAF Titchfield | Functionally controlled by AM (DPS (B)) |
C & M Party | RAF Weston-on-the-Green | |
RAF Station Woodley | ||
RAF Hospital | Wroughton | |
Satellite of RAF Hospital, Wroughton | Burderop Park | Allocated to USAF |
HQ - RAF Hawarden
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
RAF Station Ansty | ||
RAF Station Church Lawford | Satellite, Ansty | |
RAF Station Barton | ||
No 21 Recruiting Centre | Birmingham | |
University of Birmingham Airfield Construction Flight | Birmingham | |
HQ, No 2 RAF Police District (UK) | Bowlee | |
RAF Station 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 | |
RAF Station Castle Bromwich | ||
No 5 Reserve Flying School | RAF Castle Bromwich | Chipmunk/Anson |
No 1954 (AOP) Flight RAuxAF | RAF Castle Bromwich | Auster |
University of Birmingham Air Sqn | RAF Castle Bromwich | Chipmunk |
HQ, No 7 RAF Police District (UK) | RAF Castle Bromwich | Functionally controlled by DPM (UK) |
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) |
RAF Station Fazakerley | ||
RAF Station Hawarden | ||
No 63 Group Communication Flight | RAF Hawarden | |
No 63 Group Combined Reserve Centre | RAF Hawarden | |
HQ, No 51 Wing, RAF Regiment | RAF Hawarden | |
No 168 (LAA) Sqn, RAF Regiment | RAF Hawarden | |
No 199 (LAA) Sqn, RAF Regiment | RAF Hawarden | |
No 2605 (County of Warwick) (LAA) Sqn RAuxAF Regiment | RAF Honiley | Station in Fighter Command |
No 663 (AOP) RAuxAF Sqn HQ | RAF Hooton Park | Station in Fighter Command |
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 |
Command Major Servicing Unit | RAF Lichfield | Station in FTC |
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 |
No 4 Civilian Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit | RAF Llandow | Station in Maintenance Command |
RAF Station Lytham | ||
No 5 Personnel Despatch Centre | RAF Lytham | Functional control by AM (DGM) |
No 21 Personnel Transit Centre | RAF Lytham | Functional control by AM (DPS) |
Medical Training Establishment | |RAF Lytham | Functionally controlled by AM (DGMS) |
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 |
RAF Hospital | 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 |
RAF Hospital | RAF Wilmslow | Station in TTC |
No 34 Recruiting Centre | Wolverhampton | |
RAF Station Woodvale | ||
No 19 Reserve Flying School | RAF Woodvale | Anson/Chipmunk |
University of Liverpool Air Sqn | RAF Woodvale | Chipmunk |
Manchester UAS | RAF Woodvale | Chipmunk |
No 2611 (West Lancashire) (LAA) Sqn RAuxAF Regiment | RAF Woodvale | |
No 35 Recruiting Centre | Worcester | |
No 30 Recruiting Centre | Wrexham |
HQ - RAF Rufforth, York
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
Air Crew Allocation Unit | Alvaston, Derby | Functionally controlled by Air Ministry (DD Sel) |
No 8 Recruiting Centre | Bradford | |
No 23 Recruiting Centre | Carlisle | |
No 16 Reserve Flying School | Derby | Prentice/Anson |
No 3 Basic Flying Training School | Derby | Chipmunk |
No 9 Recruiting Centre | Derby | |
No 7 Reserve Flying School | Desford | Tiger Moth/Anson |
No 5 Basic Flying Training School | Desford | Chipmunk |
No 1969 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF | Desford | Auster |
No 9 Reserve Flying School | Doncaster | Tiger Moth/Anson |
No 2616 (South Yorkshire) (LAA) Sqn RAuxAF Regiment | Doncaster | |
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 2504 (County of Nottingham) (LAA) Sqn RAuxAF Regiment | Hucknall | |
No 11 Recruiting Centre | Hull | |
Hull UAS | Hull | Chipmunk |
No 14 Recruiting Centre | Leeds | |
Leeds University Airfield Construction Flight | Leeds | |
No 12 Recruiting Centre | Leicester | |
No 13 Recruiting Centre | Lincoln | |
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 17 Recruiting Centre | Nottingham | |
Nottingham University Technical Flight | Nottingham | |
No 1965 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF | RAF Ouston | Auster, station in Fighter Command |
No 64 Group Combined Reserve Centre | RAF Rufforth | Station in Maintenance Command |
No 1964 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF | RAF Rufforth | Auster |
No 64 Group Communication Flight | RAF Rufforth | Station in Maintenance Command |
No 19 Recruiting Centre | Sheffield | |
Leeds UAS | Sherburn-in-Elmet | Chipmunk |
No 4 Basic Flying Training School | Sywell | Chipmunk |
No 2608 (North Riding) (LAA) Sqn RAuxAF Regiment | RAF Thornaby | |
No 23 Reserve Flying School | RAF Usworth | Chipmunk/Anson |
Durham UAS | RAF Usworth | Chipmunk |
RAF Station Yeadon | ||
No 2609 (West Riding) (LAA) Sqn RAuxAF Regiment | RAF Yeadon |
HQ - RAF Turnhouse
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
No 1967 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF | Abbotsinch (RNAS) | Auster |
No 1 Recruiting Centre | Aberdeen | |
RAF Station Bishopbriggs | ||
No 2602 (City of Glasgow) (LAA) Sqn RAuxAF Regiment | RAF Bishopbriggs | |
No 3 Recruiting Centre | Dundee | |
No 2612 (County of Aberdeen) (LAA) Sqn RAuxAF Regiment | RAF Dyce | Station in Fighter Command |
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 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 |
Edinburgh UAS | RAF Turnhouse | Chipmunk, station in Fighter Command |
No 1968 (AOP) Flight Type 'A' RAuxAF | RAF Turnhouse | Auster |
No 2603 (City of Edinburgh) (LAA) Sqn RAuxAF Regiment | RAF Turnhouse |
No 67 (Northern Ireland) Group
HQ - Whiteabbey
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
No 67 Group Communication Flight | RAF Aldergrove | Station in Coastal Command |
No 2502 (Ulster) (LAA) Sqn RAuxAF Regiment | RAF Aldergrove | |
No 59 Recruiting Centre | Belfast | |
Northern Ireland Signals Centre | Dundonald | |
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 |
Capenhurst (M/F D/F) | Hawarden | R |
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 |
Greian Head (Radar) | HQ No 66 Group | R |
Kilchiaran (Radar) | HQ No 66 Group | R |
Noss Hill (Radar) | HQ No 66 Group | R |
Poulton | Hawarden | - |
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 |
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
Location | Unit | Notes |
RAF Bassingbourn | Strategic Reconnaissance Sqn (Detachment) Air Base Group (Detachment) |
Station in Bomber Command |
RAF Bentwaters | HQ Defence Fighter Wing Air Service Group 1 x Defence Fighter Sqns 1 x Fighter Bomber Sqn |
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 Air Rescue Flight |
Station in Maintenance Command |
RAF Bushey Park | HQ, Air Rescue Sqn Airways Communication Service Sqn |
|
RAF Chelveston | Engineer Battalion | Station in No 90 Group |
RAF Chicksands | Radio Sqn (Mobile) | Station in No 90 Group |
RAF Croughton | Airways Communication Service Sqn (Detachment) |
|
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 Kirknewton | Mobile Radio Sqn | Station in Fighter Command |
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 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 | HQ 49th Air Division Air Base Group Bomber Group 3 x Bomber Sqns Air Rescue Flight |
Station in Bomber Command |
RAF Sealand | Air Depot Wing | Station in Maintenance Command |
Shaftesbury | Personnel Processing Group | |
RAF Shepherds Grove | 2 x Defence Fighter Sqns Air Service Group (Detachment) |
Station in Fighter Command |
RAF Sturgate | Air Base Group (Detachment) | Station in Fighter Command |
RAF Upper Heyford | Medium Bomber Sqn Battalion of Engineer Aviation Group Air Base Wing (Detachment) |
Station in Bomber Command |
RAF Waddington | Air Base Group (Detachment) | Station in Bomber Command |
RAF West Drayton | Reconnaissance Technical Sqn Air Base Sqn |
Station in Home Command |
RAF Wethersfield | Fighter Bomber Group 2 x Fighter Bomber Sqns |
Station in Fighter Command |
Wimpole Park | Hospital Group | Station in Bomber Command |
Wordwell | Air Base Group (Detachment) | Station in Bomber Command |
Source - SD161 (152nd Edition) - May 1953
[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 | USAF Units in the UK]
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