Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Maintenance Command - December 1953

[Command HQ | No 40 Group | No 41 Group | No 42 Group | No 43 Group | Inactive Stations]

HQ - Andover

No 40 (Maintenance) Group

HQ - RAF Bicester

 

Location	Unit	Function
Bicester	RAF Station
	No 2 MT Company	Functionally controlled by HQ Maintenance Command
	Civilian Supply and Technical Officers' School
Burtonwood	RAF Station	Administered by the USAF
Carlisle	No 14 Maintenance Unit	Aircraft Equipment Depot
Dumfries	Station in TTC	Sub-site of No 14 MU
Chelveston	RAF Station	Administered by the USAF
Chessington (Station in Home Command)	No 248 Maintenance Unit	Medical Equipment Depot Functionally controlled by AM (DGMS)
Upavon		Sub-Site of No 248 MU
Church Lawford	RAF Airfield Construction Depot	Functionally controlled by AM (DGW)
Cuckney	No 66 Maintenance Unit	Ground Equipment Depot
Foulsham	No 99 Maintenance Unit	MT Storage Unit
Grafton Underwood	No 236 Maintenance Unit	MT Storage Unit
Grove	No 431 Equipment Depot	Functionally controlled by HQ, 2nd TAF
Handforth	No 61 Maintenance Unit	Aircraft Equipment Depot
Cranage	Station in Home Command	Sub-Site of No 61 MU
Hartlebury	No 25 Maintenance Unit	Aircraft Equipment Depot
Cardington	Station in TTC	Sub-site of No 25 MU
Halfpenny Green	-	Sub-site of No 25 MU
Madley	-	Sub-site of No 25 MU
Shobden	-	Sub-site of No 25 MU
Heywood	No 35 Maintenance Unit	Aircraft Equipment Depot
Bowlee	Station in Home Command	Sub-site of No 35 MU
Kidbrooke	Air Publication and Forms Store	Station in Home Command Functionally controlled by AM (D of E (C) through ADE 5
Langer	No 30 Air Material Base	Functionally and administratively controlled by RCAF
Lichfield	No 5003 Airfield Construction (Light) Sqn	Functionally and administratively controlled by AM (W(ACB))
Membury	RAF Station	Administered by the USAF
Milton	No 3 Maintenance Unit	Aircraft Equipment Depot
Bicester	-	Sub-Site of No 3 MU
Chipping Norton	-	Sub-Site of No 3 MU
Kidlington	-	Sub-Site of No 3 MU
Kingston Bagpuize	-	Sub-Site of No 3 MU
Ruislip	-	Sub-Site of No 3 MU
Woodcote	-	Sub-Site of No 3 MU
Quedgeley	No 7 Maintenance Unit	Aircraft Equipment Depot
Pucklechurch	Station in Home Command	Sub-Site of No 7 MU
Roade	No 72 Maintenance Unit	Ground Equipment Depot
Sealand	RAF Station	Administered by the USAF
Stafford	No 16 Maintenance Unit	Aircraft Equipment Depot
Hixon	-	Sub-site of No 16 MU
Lichfield	Station in FTC	Sub-site of No 16 MU
Tilstock	-	Sub-site of No 16 MU
Sutton Coldfield	No 216 Maintenance Unit	Ground Equipment Depot
Lichfield	Station in FTC	Sub-site of No 216 MU
Warminster	No 225 Maintenance Unit	Ground Equipment Depot
Warton	No 90 Maintenance Unit	Barrack and Clothing Depot

No 41 (Maintenance) Group

HQ - RAF Andover

 

Location	Unit	Function
Aldergrove (Station in Coastal Command)	No 23 Maintenance Unit	Aircraft Storage Unit
Andover	RAF Station
	RAF Staff College	Functionally controlled by Air Ministry (DST)
	Command Communication Sqn
Aston Down	No 20 Maintenance Unit Command Ground Defence School	Aircraft Storage Unit -
Boscombe Down	Aeroplane & Armament Experimental Establishment	Functionally controlled by Ministry of Supply
Cosford (Station in TTC)	No 9 Maintenance Unit	Aircraft Storage Unit
Defford (M of S)	Telecommunications Flying Unit	Functionally controlled by Ministry of Supply
Edzell	No 44 Maintenance Unit	Aircraft Storage Unit
Felixstowe (Station in Fighter Command)	Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment	Functionally controlled by Ministry of Supply
Gosport (RNAS)	Aircraft Torpedo Development Unit	Functionally controlled by Ministry of Supply
Hawarden (Station in Home Command)	No 47 Maintenance Unit	Packing Depot
	No 48 Maintenance Unit	Aircraft Storage Unit
Henlow (Station in TTC)	Parachute Test Unit	Functionally controlled by Ministry of Supply
High Ercall	No 29 Maintenance Unit	Aircraft Storage Unit
Hullavington (Station in FTC)	No 10 Maintenance Unit	Aircraft Storage Unit
Kemble	No 5 Maintenance Unit	Aircraft Storage Unit
Kinloss (Station in Coastal Command)	No 45 Maintenance Unit	Aircraft Storage Unit
Kirkbride	No 12 Maintenance Unit	Aircraft Storage Unit
Lichfield	RAF Station
Lichfield	No 51 Maintenance Unit	Aircraft Storage Unit
Stoke Heath	-	Sub-site of No 51 MU
Little Rissington (Station in FTC)	No 8 Maintenance Unit	Aircraft Storage Unit
Llandow	No 38 Maintenance Unit	Aircraft Storage Unit
Lyneham (Station in Transport Command)	No 33 Maintenance Unit	Aircraft Storage Unit
Martlesham Heath	Armament & Instrument Experimental Unit	Functionally controlled by Ministry of Supply
St Athan (Station in TTC)	No 19 Maintenance Unit	Aircraft Storage Unit
Shawbury (Station in FTC)	No 27 Maintenance Unit	Aircraft Storage Unit
Silloth	No 22 Maintenance Unit	Aircraft Storage Unit
West Freugh	RAF Station
West Freugh	Bombing Trials Unit	Functionally controlled by Ministry of Supply
Wroughton	No 15 Maintenance Unit	Aircraft Storage Unit

No 42 (Maintenance) Group

HQ - Kidlington, Oxfordshire

The fuel an oil depots are operated by the Petroleum Companies on behalf of the Air Ministry and USAF, administered solely by HQ No 42 Group, and controlled by Air Ministry (E49).

 

Location	Unit	Function
Acaster Malbis	No 91 Maintenance Unit	Air Ammunition Park
Brafferton		Sub-Site of No 91 MU
Cottam		Sub-Site of No 91 MU
Cottingwith		Sub-Site of No 91 MU
Dalton		Sub-Site of No 91 MU
Escrick		Sub-Site of No 91 MU
Marston Moor		Sub-Site of No 91 MU
Melbourne		Sub-Site of No 91 MU
Riccall		Sub-Site of No 91 MU
Southburn		Sub-Site of No 91 MU
Altrincham	No 2 Maintenance Unit	Ammunition Depot
Cardington (Station in TTC)	No 279 Maintenance Unit	Compressed Gas Storage Unit
Wellingborough	No 244 Maintenance Unit	Gas Production Unit, satellite of Cardington
Chilmark	No 11 Maintenance Unit	Ammunition Depot
Dinton		Sub-site of No 11 MU
Ridge Quarry		Sub-site of No 11 MU
Detling (Station in Home Command)	No 6226 Bomb Disposal Flight
Driffield (Station in FTC)	No 6235 Bomb Disposal Flight
Earsham	No 280 Maintenance Unit	Explosives Depot
Fauld	No 21 Maintenance Unit	Ammunition Depot
Baggots Wood		Sub-site of No 21 MU
Tatenhill		Sub-site of No 21 MU
Feltwell (Station in FTC)	No 6219 Bomb Disposal Flight
Finmere	No 282 Maintenance Unit	Ammunition Depot
Wing		Sub-Site of No 282 MU
Harpur Hill	No 28 Maintenance Unit	Ammunition Depot
Ashbourne		Sub-Site of No 28 MU
Cairn Ryan		Sea Dumping Detachment
Darley Moor		Sub-site of No 28 MU
Honington	No 94 Maintenance Unit	Ammunition Depot
Attlebridge		Sub-site of No 94 MU
Barnham		Sub-site of No 94 MU
Great Ashfield		Sub-Site of No 94 MU
Hockering		Sub-Site of No 94 MU
Mendlesham		Sub-site of No 94 MU
Old Buckenham		Sub-site of No 94 MU
Rackhaeth		Sub-site of No 94 MU
Warren Woods		Sub-site of No 94 MU
Hornchurch (Station in FTC)	No 6221 Bomb Disposal Flight
Keith	No 243 Maintenance Unit	Gas Production Unit
	No 9 Mobile Oxygen Unit	Functionally controlled by AM (AD Eng (CG))
Kidlington	RAF Station
Llanberis	No 31 Maintenance Unit	Ammunition Depot
Llanwrog		Sub-site of No 31 MU
Llanwrog	No 277 Maintenance Unit	Explosives Disposal Unit
Longparish	No 202 Maintenance Unit	Ammunition Depot
Chilbolton		Sub-site of No 202 MU
Welford		Sub-site of No 202 MU
Newton (Station in Fighter Command)	No 93 Maintenance Unit	Air Ammunition Park
Balderton		Sub-Site of No 93 MU
Bottesford		Sub-Site of No 93 MU
Fulbeck		Sub-Site of No 93 MU
Kings Cliffe		Sub-Site of No 93 MU
North Witham		Sub-Site of No 93 MU
Norton Disney		Sub-Site of No 93 MU
South Witham		Sub-Site of No 93 MU
Spalford		Sub-Site of No 93 MU
North Coates (Station in TTC)	No 5131 Bomb Disposal Sqn
North Pickenham	No 281 Maintenance Unit	Ammunition Depot
Tuddenham		Sub-site of No 281 MU
Pulham	No 53 Maintenance Unit	Ammunition Depot
Bungay		Sub-site of No 53 MU
Seething		Sub-site of No 53 MU
Ridgewell	No 95 Maintenance Unit
Gosfield		Sub-site of No 95 MU
Lords Bridge		Sub-site of No 95 MU
Nuthampstead		Sub-site of No 95 MU
Riseley		Sub-site of No 95 MU
Rufforth (Station in No 43 Group)	No 6204 Bomb Disposal Flight	Station in No 43 Group
Shaftesbury	RAF Station	Administered by the USAF
South Witham	No 6217 Bomb Disposal Flight
Wickenby	No 92 Maintenance Unit
Faldingworth		Sub-Site of No 92 MU
Goxhill		Sub-Site of No 92 MU
Ludford Magna		Sub-Site of No 92 MU
Skellingthorpe		Sub-Site of No 92 MU
Woodhall Spa		Sub-Site of No 92 MU
Aviation Fuel Depots
Location	Parent Station	Remarks
Alnwick	Acaster Malbis
Backford	Altrincham
Barrow	Acaster Malbis
Beeston Castle	Harpur Hill
Belfast	Harpur Hill
Bilton	Acaster Malbis
Bowling	Acaster Malbis
Brampton Stow Park	Newton
Brixham	Chilmark
Bromborough	Altrincham
Buxton	Harpur Hill
Caernarvon	Llanberis
Carlisle	Acaster Malbis
Chapel	Honington
Chichester	Longparish
Claydon	Pulham
Crawley Crossing	Ridgewell
Dunragit	Acaster Malbis
Ellingham	Pulham
Enniskillen	Harpur Hill
Falmouth	Chilmark
Fareham	Longparish
Fawley	Longparish
Forfar	Harpur Hill
Gloucester	Fauld
Hallen	Longparish
Hethersett	Pulham
Heysham	Acaster Malbis
Hoy	Harpur Hill
Huntingdon	Ridgewell
Inverness	Harpur Hill
Islip	Kidlington
Kelmarsh	Newton
Langford	Wickenby
Llandarcy	Chilmark
Massingham	Honington
Micheldever	Longparish
Milford Haven	Chilmark
Misterton	Wickenby
Mount Nessing	Ridgewell
Much Wenlock	Fauld
Peterborough	Newton
Plymouth	Chilmark
Poole	Chilmark
Preston	Altrincham
Purton	Longparish
Redmile	Newton
Rowfant	Longparish
Saffron Waldon	Ridgewell
Sandy Heath	Ridgewell
Scapa Bay	Harpur Hill
Shustoke	Fauld
South Harefield	Kidlington
Stonesby	Newton
Stourport	Fauld
Thetford	Honington
Thornaby	Acaster Malbis
Tiverton	Chilmark
Turriff	Harpur Hill
Upton	Fauld
Watton	Acaster Malbis
Wervin	Altrincham
Wilton	Chilmark
Wye	Longparish
Avoil Depots
Avonmouth	Longparish
Barton	Altrincham

No 43 (Maintenance) Group

HQ - RAF Hucknall

 

Location	Unit	Function
Aldergrove (Station in Coastal Command)	No 278 Maintenance Unit	Repair and Salvage Unit
Calshot	No 238 Maintenance Unit	Marine Craft Repair and Storage Unit
Colerne (Station in No 81 Group)	No 49 Maintenance Unit	Repair and Salvage Unit
Edzell	No 63 Maintenance Unit	Repair and Salvage Unit
Handforth (Station in No 40 Group)	No 290 Maintenance Unit	Airborne Radio Servicing Unit
Honington (Station in No 42 Group)	No 58 Maintenance Unit	Repair and Salvage Unit
Hucknall	RAF Station
	No 43 Group Communication Flight
	HQ, No 3 RAF Police District (UK)	Functionally controlled by DPM (UK)
North Coates	RAF Station
North Coates	No 54 Maintenance Unit	Repair and Salvage Unit
Rufforth	RAF Station
Rufforth	No 60 Maintenance Unit	Repair and Salvage Unit
Ruislip	No 4 Maintenance Unit	Repair Depot
Stanmore Park (Station in Fighter Command)		Sub-site of No 4 MU
St Athan (Station in TTC)	No 32 Maintenance Unit	Repair Depot
Stoke Heath	No 30 Maintenance Unit	MT Repair Depot
	No 34 Maintenance Unit	Repair and Salvage Unit
Winthorpe	Central Servicing Development Establishment	Functionally controlled by AM (DG Eng)

Maintenance Command, Inactive Stations

 

Inactive Station	Parent Station	Status
Annan	Carlisle
Bruntingthorpe	Church Lawton
Caistor	Wickenby
Castle Kennedy	West Freugh
Chipping Norton	Milton
Church Broughton	Lichfield
Crosby-on-Eden	Carlisle
Dunwich (Radar)	Honington
East Wretham	Honington
Eye	Honington
Eynsham	Kidlington
Fairwood Common	Llandow
Fordoun	Edzell
Great Orton	Carlisle
Harrington	Church Lawford
Horham	Honington
Husbands Bosworth	Grafton Underwood
Kirmington	Wickenby
Knettishall	Honington
Market Harborough	Grafton Underwood
Metfield	Honington
Nevin (Radar)	Llanwrog
North Cairn (AMES)	West Freugh
North Killingholme	Wickenby
Rhiwlas	Llanberis
Silverstone	Bicester
Snitterfield	Church Lawford
Sywell	Church Lawford
Swannington	Hockering
Thruxton	HQ (U) Maintenance Command
Turweston	Bicester
Wig Bay	West Freugh
Wigtown	West Freugh
Woodbridge	Martlesham Heath

Source - SD161 (159th Edition) - December 1953

County names used are those in use at the time

[Command HQ | No 40 Group | No 41 Group | No 42 Group | No 43 Group | Inactive Stations]

This page was last updated on 20/08/23^©

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