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Home Command and USAF Units in the UK - July 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]

Home Command

HQ - RAF White Waltham

 
Unit Location/Address Notes
Home Command Communication Sqn RAF White Waltham Anson/Proctor
Home Command Examining Unit RAF White Waltham Anson/Chipmunk/Buckmaster

HQ, RAF Record Office

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    

No 61 (Eastern) Group

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 RAuxAF RAF Hendon Auster, station in Transport Command
No 1959 (AOP) Flight RAuxAF RAF Henlow Auster, station in TTC
No 1961 (AOP) Flight RAuxAF RAF Henlow Auster, station in TTC
No 17 Reserve Flying School RAF Hornchurch Chipmunk/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 Reserve Centre RAF 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 RAuxAF RAF Kenley Auster
No 1960 (AOP) Flight 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 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 AM (PM)
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   Administered by USAF
'D' Unit (RAF) RAF West Drayton  
RAF Movement Unit (Road & Rail), Northern Command HQ York Functionally controlled by Air Ministry (D Mov)

No 62 (Southern) Group

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 RAuxAF RAF Colerne Auster
No 1963 (AOP) Flight 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
Oxford UAS RAF Kidlington Chipmunk, station in Maintenance Command
No 1962 (AOP) Flight RAuxAF RAF Middle Wallop Auster, station in Fighter Command
RAF Police Depot RAF Netheravon Functionally controlled by AM (PM)
RAF Component, 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 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))
RAF Station Woodley    
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
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 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 Reserve Centre RAF Hawarden  
No 63 Group Communication Flight 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 RAuxAF RAF Hooton Park Auster
No 1955 (AOP) Flight 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
No 1952 (AOP) Flight RAuxAF RAF Llandow Auster
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 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  

 

No 64 (Northern) Group

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 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 1969 (AOP) Flight RAuxAF Hucknall Auster
No 1970 (AOP) Flight 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 RAuxAF RAF Ouston Auster, station in Fighter Command
No 64 Group Reserve Centre RAF Rufforth Station in Maintenance Command
No 1964 (AOP) Flight 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  

No 66 (Scottish) Group

HQ - RAF Turnhouse

 
Unit Location/Address Notes
No 1967 (AOP) Flight 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 66 Group Reserve Centre Perth  
No 666 (AOP) RAuxAF Sqn HQ Perth  
No 3666 (AOP) Mobile Servicing Section RAuxAF Perth  
No 1966 (AOP) Flight RAuxAF Perth Auster
Edinburgh UAS RAF Turnhouse Chipmunk, station in Fighter Command
No 1968 (AOP) Flight 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


USAF Units in the UK

 
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 (154th Edition) - July 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]

This page was last updated on 18/08/23©

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