Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
[Command HQ | No 11 Group | No 12 Group | No 81 Group | Inactive Stations]
Command HQ - RAF Stanmore, Middlesex
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
Air Traffic Control Centre | Barton Hall (MCA) | |
Fighter Command Communication Sqn | Bovingdon (MCA) | |
Air Traffic Control Centre | RAF Gloucester | Station in Home Command |
Air Traffic Control Centre | Prestwick (MCA) | |
HQ, Royal Observer Corps | RAF Stanmore | |
RAF Central School of Aircraft Recognition | RAF Stanmore | |
HQ (Unit) | RAF Stanmore Park | |
No 681 Signals Unit | RAF Stanmore Park | |
Film Production Unit Library | RAF Stanmore Park | Functionally controlled by Air Ministry (CIO) |
Air Traffic Control Centre | RAF Uxbridge | Station in TTC |
RAF Station Watnall | ||
Air Traffic Control Centre | RAF Watnall | |
No 8 Signals Unit | RAF Watnall |
HQ - Hillingdon
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
RAF Station Beaulieu (C & M) | ||
RAF Station Bentwaters | Administered by USAF | |
RAF Station Felixstowe | ||
Fighter Command Control Unit | Heathrow (MCA) | |
RAF School of Land/Air Warfare | RAF Old Sarum | Anson/Spitfire/Proctor, functionally controlled by AM (ACAS (Ops)) |
RAF Component, Joint School of Chemical Warfare | Salisbury | Satellite of Old Sarum, functionally controlled by AM (DGD) |
RAF Station Shepherds Grove | Administered by USAF | |
RAF Station Wethersfield | Administered by USAF | |
Southern Sector | ||
No 3617 (County of Hampshire) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Bournemouth | |
Sector Operations Centre | RAF Box | |
HQ Southern Sector | RAF Box | |
No 909 Signals Unit | RAF Comberton | GCI |
No 185 Signals Unit | Drytree | CH (C & M) |
No 3512 (County of Devon (Exeter)) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Exeter | |
No 690 Signals Unit | Exminster | GCI |
RAF Station Filton | ||
No 501 (County of Gloucester) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF Filton | Vampire |
HQ, No 6 RAF Police District (UK) | RAF Filton | Functionally controlled by DPM (UK) |
No 508 Signals Unit | Folly | CH (C & M) |
No 392 Signals Unit | Haycastle Cross | CH (C & M) |
No 926 Signals Unit | Hope Cove | GCI (C & M) |
No 3614 (County of Glamorgan) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Cardiff (Llandaff) | Station in Home Command |
No 614 (County of Glamorgan) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF Llandow | Vampire, station in Maintenance Command |
RAF Station Odiham | ||
No 54 Sqn | RAF Odiham | Vampire |
No 247 Sqn | RAF Odiham | Meteor |
No 3513 (County of Devon (Plymouth)) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Plymouth | |
No 87 Signals Unit | Poling | CH |
No 815 Signals Unit | Portland (The Verne) | CEW |
No 703 Signals Unit | Ringstead | CH |
No 3507 (County of Somerset) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | RAF Rudloe Manor | Station in No 81 Group |
No 383 Signals Unit | Sennen | CH (C & M) |
No 227 Signals Unit | RAF Sopley | GCI |
RAF Station Tangmere | ||
No 1 Sqn | RAF Tangmere | Meteor |
No 29/22 Sqn | RAF Tangmere | Meteor |
No 708 Signals Unit | Trelanvean | CH (C & M) |
No 943 Signals Unit | Trerew | CH (C & M) |
No 607 Signals Unit | Truleigh Hill | CHEL |
No 23 Signals Unit | Ventnor | CH, CHL (+CMH), CHEL |
No 620 Signals Unit | West Prawle | CH (C & M) |
Metropolitan Sector | ||
No 144 Signals Unit | RAF Bawdsey | CH, CHL, CHEL |
No 880 Signals Unit | Beachy Head | CEW |
RAF Station Biggin Hill | ||
No 41/253 Sqn | RAF Biggin Hill | Meteor |
No 600 (City of London) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF Biggin Hill | Meteor |
No 615 (Country of Surrey) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF Biggin Hill | Meteor |
No 3701 Radar Reporting Unit RAuxAF | Brighton | |
No 749 Signals Unit | Dunkirk | CH |
RAF Station Duxford | ||
No 64 Sqn | RAF Duxford | Meteor |
No 65 Sqn | RAF Duxford | Meteor |
HQ, No 4 RAF Police District (UK) | RAF Duxford | Functionally controlled by DPM (UK) |
No 3618 (County of Sussex) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Eastbourne | |
RAF Station Fairlight | ||
No 229 Signals Unit | RAF Fairlight | CHEL |
No 993 Signals Unit | Foreness | CHEL |
No 3619 (County of Suffolk) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Ipswich (Airfield) | |
Sector Operations Centre | Kelvedon Hatch | |
HQ Metropolitan Sector | Kelvedon Hatch | |
No 3604 (County of Middlesex) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | London (Queen's Square) | |
No 3700 Radar Reporting Unit RAuxAF | London (Devonshire Street) | |
RAF Station Manston | ||
No 3500 (County of Kent) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Margate | |
RAF Station North Weald | ||
No 601 (City of London) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF North Weald | Meteor |
No 604 (County of Middlesex) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF North Weald | Meteor |
No 860 Signals Unit | Rye | CH |
No 1 Signals Unit | St Margaret's Bay | CEW |
No 491 Signals Unit | RAF Sandwich | GCI |
No 783 Signals Units | RAF Trimley Heath | |
No 919 Signals Unit | RAF Wartling | GCI |
RAF Station Waterbeach | ||
No 56 Sqn | RAF Waterbeach | Meteor |
No 63 Sqn | RAF Waterbeach | Meteor |
Fighter Command Centralised Holding Unit | RAF Waterbeach | |
RAF Station Wattisham | ||
No 257 Sqn | RAF Wattisham | Meteor |
No 263 Sqn | RAF Wattisham | Meteor |
No 289 (Rifle) Sqn, RAF Regiment | RAF Wattisham | |
RAF Station West Malling | Maidstone, Kent | |
No 85 Sqn | RAF West Malling | Meteor |
No 141 Sqn | RAF West Malling | Meteor |
No 500 (County of Kent) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF West Malling | Meteor |
HQ - RAF Newton, Nottinghamshire
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
RAF Station Blyton (C & M) | ||
RAF Station East Kirkby (C & M) | ||
RAF Station Holme-on-Spalding Moor (C & M) | ||
RAF Station Kirknewton | Administered by the USAF | |
RAF Station Newton | ||
No 12 Group Communication Flight | RAF Newton | |
RAF Station Sandtoft (C & M) | ||
RAF Station Sturgate | Administered by the USAF | |
Central Fighter Establishment | RAF West Raynham | Various |
Northern Sector |
||
No 146 Signals Unit | Bempton | CHL, CHEL |
RAF Station Church Fenton | ||
No 19/152 Sqn | RAF Church Fenton | Meteor |
No 72 Sqn | RAF Church Fenton | Meteor |
No 609 (West Yorkshire) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF Church Fenton | Meteor |
No 573 Signals Unit | Danby Beacon | CH (C & M) |
No 545 Signals Unit | Easington | CHEL |
No 39 Signals Unit | Goldsborough | |
No 854 Signals Unit | Humberstone | CHL |
RAF Station Linton-on-Ouse | ||
No 66 Sqn | RAF Linton-on-Ouse | Meteor |
No 92 Sqn | RAF Linton-on-Ouse | Meteor |
No 264 Sqn | RAF Linton-on-Ouse | Meteor |
No 275 Sqn | RAF Linton-on-Ouse | Sycamore |
RAF Station Long Benton | ||
No 3508 (County of Northumberland) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | RAF Long Benton | |
RAF Station Ouston | ||
No 607 (County of Durham) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF Ouston | Vampire, station in Home Command |
HQ, No 21 Wing, RAF Regiment | RAF Ouston | |
No 63 (Rifle) Sqn, RAF Regiment | RAF Ouston | |
No 194 (Rifle) Sqn, RAF Regiment | RAF Ouston | |
No 336 Signals Unit | RAF Patrington | GCI |
No 59 Signals Unit | Seaton Snook | GCI |
Sector Operations Centre | RAF Shipton | |
HQ Northern Sector | RAF Shipton | |
No 191 Signals Unit | Staxton Wold | CH |
No 3505 (East Riding) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | RAF Sutton-on-Hull | Station in TTC |
RAF Station Thornaby | ||
No 608 (North Riding) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF Thornaby | Vampire |
No 3608 (North Riding) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | RAF Thornaby | |
No 533 (Rifle) Sqn, RAF Regiment | RAF Thornaby | |
No 3609 (West Yorkshire) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | RAF Yeadon | Station in Home Command |
Eastern Sector |
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No 344 Signals Unit | Bard Hill | CHL (+ CMH) Station |
Sector Operations Centre | RAF Bawburgh | |
HQ Eastern Sector | RAF Bawburgh | |
RAF Station Coltishall | ||
No 23 Sqn | RAF Coltishall | Vampire |
No 25 Sqn | RAF Coltishall | Vampire |
No 616 (South Yorkshire) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF Finningley | Meteor, station in FTC |
No 745 Signals Unit | Happisburgh | CHL |
No 430 Signals Unit | High Street, Darsham | CH (Rebuilding) |
No 250 Signals Unit | Hopton | CHL (+ CMH), CHEL |
RAF Station Horsham St Faith | ||
No 74/34 Sqn | RAF Horsham St Faith | Meteor |
No 245 Sqn | RAF Horsham St Faith | Meteor |
No 966 Signals Unit | RAF Langtoft | GCI |
No 271 Signals Unit | RAF Neatishead | GCI |
RAF Station North Luffenham | Administered by RCAF | |
HQ, No 1 Fighter Wing, RCAF | RAF North Luffenham | |
No 410 (RCAF) Sqn | RAF North Luffenham | |
No 439 (RCAF) Sqn | RAF North Luffenham | |
No 441 (RCAF) Sqn | RAF North Luffenham | |
No 3504 (County of Nottingham) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Nottingham | |
No 3620 (County of Norfolk) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Old Catton, Norwich | |
No 696 Signals Unit | Orby | GCI |
No 3506 (County of Northampton) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Peterborough | |
No 950 Signals Unit | Skendleby | CHEL |
No 178 Signals Unit | Stenigot | CH |
No 353 Signals Unit | Stoke Holy Cross | CH |
No 432 Signals Unit | Trimmingham | CHEL |
No 820 Signals Unit | West Beckham | CH (+ CMH), CHEL |
RAF Station Wymeswold | ||
No 504 (County of Nottingham) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF Wymeswold | Meteor |
Western Sector |
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No 502 (Ulster) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF Aldergrove | Vampire, station in Coastal Command |
No 197 Signals Unit | Ballywooden | GCI |
No 3613 (City of Manchester) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Bowlee | Station in Home Command |
No 3605 (County of Warwick) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Castle Bromwich | Station in Home Command |
No 3611 (West Lancashire) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Fazakerley | Station in Home Command |
No 17 Signals Unit | Hack Green | GCI |
RAF Station Honiley | ||
No 605 (County of Warwick) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF Honiley | Vampire |
RAF Station Hooton Park | ||
No 610 (County of Chester) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF Hooton Park | Meteor |
No 611 (West Lancashire) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF Hooton Park | Meteor |
Sector Operations Centre | Longley Lane | |
HQ Western Sector | Longley Lane | |
No 613 (City of Manchester) Sqn RAuxAF | Ringway | Vampire, station in Home Command |
No 3509 (County of Stafford) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Stoke-on-Trent | |
No 3502 (Ulster) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Whiteabbey | |
Caledonian Sector |
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No 602 (City of Glasgow) Sqn RAuxAF | RNAS Abbotsinch | Vampire |
No 351 Signals Unit | Anstruther | |
Sector Operations Centre | Barnton Quarry | |
HQ Caledonian Sector | Barnton Quarry | |
No 500 Signals Unit | Boulmer | |
No 409 Signals Unit | Buchan | |
No 617 Signals Unit | Crosslaw | |
No 51 Signals Unit | Douglas Wood | CH |
No 633 Signals Unit | Drone Hill | CH |
No 3511 (City of Dundee) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Dundee | |
RAF Station Dyce | ||
No 612 (County of Aberdeen) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF Dyce | Vampire |
No 3612 (County of Aberdeen) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | RAF Dyce | |
No 3603 (City of Edinburgh) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Edinburgh | |
No 3602 (City of Glasgow) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Glasgow | |
No 170 Signals Unit | Hill Head | CH (C & M) |
No 3510 (County of Inverness) Fighter Control Unit RAuxAF | Inverness | |
RAF Station Leuchars | ||
No 43/17 Sqn | RAF Leuchars | Meteor |
No 151 Sqn | RAF Leuchars | Vampire |
No 222 Sqn | RAF Leuchars | Meteor |
No 980 Signals Unit | Macmerry | GCI |
No 625 Signals Unit | School Hill | CH (C & M) |
No 1453 Flight | RAF Topcliffe | Neptune, station in Coastal Command |
RAF Station Turnhouse | ||
RAF Turnhouse Communication Sqn | RAF Turnhouse | |
No 603 (City of Edinburgh) Sqn RAuxAF | RAF Turnhouse | Vampire |
HQ, No 1 RAF Police District (UK) | RAF Turnhouse | Functionally controlled by DPM (UK) |
Unit | Location/Address | Notes |
Armament Practice Station | RAF Acklington | |
No 229 Operational Conversion Unit | RAF Chivenor | Vampire |
No 48 (Rifle) Sqn, RAF Regiment | RAF Chivenor | |
No 238 Operational Conversion Unit | RAF Colerne | |
RAF Colerne Communication Sqn | RAF Colerne | |
No 228 Operational Conversion Unit | RAF Leeming | Meteor |
RAF Station Middle Wallop | ||
Light Aircraft School | RAF Middle Wallop | |
No 657 Sqn | RAF Middle Wallop | |
No 1906 (AOP) Flight | RAF Middle Wallop | Sycamore |
No 288 Sqn | RAF Middle Wallop | |
School of Control and Reporting | RAF Middle Wallop | Balliol |
No 233 Operational Conversion Unit | RAF Pembrey | Vampire |
HQ, No 81 Group | RAF Rudloe Manor | |
No 226 Operational Conversion Unit | RAF Stradishall | Meteor |
Fighter Command, Inactive Stations
Inactive Station | Parent Station | Status |
Beccles | Horsham St Faith | R |
Benacre (Radar) | Horsham St Faith | S |
Birch | Wattisham | S |
Boxted | Wattisham | R |
Bradwell Bay | Wattisham | S |
Branscombe (Radar) | Chivenor | S |
Burn | Church Fenton | S |
Castle Camps | Stradishall | S |
Chipping Onger | North Weald | S |
Cockburnspath (Radar) | R | |
Cocklaw (Radar) | R | |
Creswell (Radar) | Acklington | R |
Debach | Bentwaters | S |
Drem | Turnhouse | R |
Dunsfold | Odiham | R |
Dymchurch (Radar) | West Malling | S |
Earls Colne | Wattisham | S |
East Fortune | Turnhouse | R |
East Moor | Linton-on-Ouse | R |
Eshott | Acklington | S |
Foreness (Radar) | Sandwich | R |
Framlingham | Bentwaters | S |
Fullarton (Radar) | R | |
Great Bromley (Radar) | Felixstowe | S |
Great Massingham | West Raynham | R |
Halesworth | Bentwaters | S |
Hardwick | Horsham St Faith | R |
Hartland Point (Radar) | Chivenor | R |
Hawkshill Down | West Malling | S |
Hitcham | Wattisham | R |
Kingsgarth (Radar) | R | |
Lasham | Odiham | R |
Lavenham | Stradishall | R |
Leicester East | Wymeswold | S |
Leiston | Bentwaters | S |
Little Walden | Duxford | S |
Ludham | Coltishall | S |
Northan (Radar) | Chivenor | S |
Rattlesden | Wattisham | S |
St Lawrence (Radar) | Ventnor | S |
Scorton | Leeming | S |
Souhtborne (Radar) | Sopley | S |
Sudbury | Wattisham | S |
Thorpeness (Radar) | Wattisham | S |
Walton-on-Naze (Radar) | Felixstowe | S |
Winterton | Coltishall | S |
Wrafton (Radar) | Chivenor | R |
S = Surplus to long-term requirements
R = Retention is currently required
Source - SD161 (154th Edition) - July 1953
County names used are those in use at the time
[Command HQ | No 11 Group | No 12 Group | No 81 Group | Inactive Stations]
This page was last updated on 17/08/23©