72 Group

This was formed at Farnborough Court, Farnborough on 16 September 1942 as No 72 (Army Co-Operation Training) Group within Army Co-operation Command to control the RAF Regiment training units, transferred for No 20 Group, Technical Training Command.

Unit Movements Sep 1942 - Aug 1943

Unit	Date	Notes
HQ No 72 Group	12 Oct 1942	Began to function at Farnborough Court, South Farnborough
RAF Regiment Depot, Londonthorpe Road, Grantham	12 Oct 1942	Control transferred from HQ No 20 Group to HQ No 72 Group
RAF Regiment Wing, Locking	12 Oct 1942	Control transferred from HQ No 20 Group to HQ No 72 Group (Lodger unit)
No 1 RAF Regiment School, RAF Filey Camp	12 Oct 1942	Control transferred from HQ No 20 Group to HQ No 72 Group
No 2 RAF Regiment School, RAF Whitley Bay	12 Oct 1942	Control transferred from HQ No 20 Group to HQ No 72 Group
No 3 RAF Regiment School, RAF Douglas	12 Oct 1942	Control transferred from HQ No 20 Group to HQ No 72 Group
RAF Artillery School, Eastchurch	12 Oct 1942	Control transferred from HQ No 20 Group to HQ No 72 Group
RAF Regiment Officer Cadet Training Unit, Sidmouth	12 Oct 1942	Control transferred from HQ No 20 Group to HQ No 72 Group
Central School of Aircraft Recognition	12 Oct 1942	TTC unit remained at RAF Douglas as a Lodger unit
Medical Training Depot	12 Oct 1942	TTC unit remained at RAF Sidmouth as a Lodger unit
No 2 RAF Regiment School	25 Jan 1943	Closed down and replaced by SHQ RAF Whitley Bay
SHQ RAF Whitley Bay	25 Jan 1943	Transferred to No 54 Group, FTC
No 1 RAF Regiment School	1 Feb 1943	Closed down
No 3 RAF Regiment School	1 Feb 1943	Closed down at Douglas and reformed at Filey
No 1 AA Practice Camp	7 Feb 1943	Opened at Locking
No 2 AA Practice Camp	16 Feb 1943	Opened at Langham
No 3 AA Practice Camp	16 Mar 1943	Opened at Felixstowe
SHQ RAF Sidmouth	1 Apr 1943	Transferred from No 72 Group to HQ No 54 Group, FTC
RAF Artillery School	1 Apr 1943	Departed from Eastchurch and moved to Filey
SHQ RAF Eastchurch	1 May 1943	Transferred from No 72 Group to HQ No 54 Group, FTC
No 9 AA Practice Camp	1 May 1943	Opened at Leysdown
RAF Artillery School	5 May 1943	Reopened at RAF Filey
HQ Army Co-Operation Command	1 Jun 1943	Disbanded
HQ No 72 Group	1 Jun 1943	Control transferred from HQ Army Co-operation Command to HQ Technical Training Command
Target Towing Flights, AA Practice Camps	1 Jun 1943	Redesignated AA Co-operation Flights and transferred to No 70 Group, Fighter Command
All units	31 Jul 1943	Transferred to No 22 Group
HQ No 72 Group	1 Aug 1943	Amalgamated with No 20 Group to form a new No 22 Group

Source - No 72 Group ORB

Rank	Name	Date	Notes
Plt Off	R Viccars	24 Sep 1942	Posted in for duty as Camp Commandant (A & SD Branch)
Sqn Ldr	J G B O'Hagan	25 Sep 1942	Posted in for duty as Senior Equipment Officer (Equipment Branch)
A/Cdre	G B Dacre	28 Sep 1942	Posted in for duty as Air Officer Commanding
Sqn Ldr	J M Hunter	28 Sep 1942	Posted in for duty as Senior Personnel Staff Officer (A & SD Branch)
Wg Cdr	R Wilson	2 Oct 1942	Posted in for duty as Air 1 (A & SD Branch)
Sqn Ldr	E S Holford	2 Oct 1942	Posted in for duty as Air 2 (RAF Regiment)
Wg Cdr	A R C Cooper	5 Oct 1942	Posted in for duty as SOA (GD Branch)
Wg Cdr	J Heffernan	5 Oct 1942	Posted in for duty as Senior Armament Officer (Tech Branch)
Sqn Ldr	W L Brewer	6 Oct 1942	Posted in for duty as Sqn Ldr - Organisation (A & SD Branch)
Plt Off	L G Mitchell	9 Oct 1942	Posted in for duty as Group MT Officer (A & SD Branch)
Wg Cdr	J E Howell	10 Oct 1942	Posted in for duty as Senior Medical Officer (Medical Branch)
Col	J P Kellet	14 Oct 1942	Posted in from the Wiltshire Regiment for duty as SASO
Flt Lt	R C Moody	19 Oct 1942	Posted in for 'P' Staff duties (A & SD Branch)
Flt Lt	D Nicholson	19 Oct 1942	Posted in for duty as Group Physical Training Officer (A & SD Branch)
Flt Off	G A Samuel	4 Nov 1942	Posted in for duty as Senior WAAF Staff Officer (WAAF (G))
Plt Off	A Mitchell	5 Nov 1942	Posted in for duty as Group Signals Officer (Tech Branch)
Flt Lt	J B Mutch	12 Nov 1942	Posted in for duty as Deputy Senior Medical Officer (Medical Branch)
Fg Off	F MacFarlane	16 Nov 1942	Posted in for Air Staff duties (A & SD Branch)
A/Cdre	G B Dacre	2 Dec 1942	Relinquished command of No 72 Group whilst on leave
A/Cdre	T C R Higgins	2 Dec 1942	Assumed temporary command of No 72 Group
A/Cdre	G B Dacre	7 Dec 1942	Resumed command of No 72 Group
A/Cdre	T C R Higgins	7 Dec 1942	Relinquished command of No 72 Group
SO	J Mullin	9 Dec 1942	Posted in for duty as WAAF Admin Officer (WAAF)
Flt Off	J Telling	12 Dec 1942	Posted in for duty as Group Codes and Cypher Officer (WAAF)
Plt Off	L G Mitchell	22 Dec 1942	Posted out on deletion of the post of Group MT Officer
Maj	C N Parkinson	9 Jan 1943	Posted in for Air Staff duties (Queens Regiment)
Wg Cdr	J L Jack	11 Feb 1943	Posted in for Air Staff duties (A & SD Branch)
Wg Cdr	R Wilson	17 Feb 1943	Posted to HQ Army Co-operation Command for duty as Air 3(C)
Flt Off	G A Samuel	10 May 1943	Posted out
Wg Cdr	J E Howell	1 Jun 1943	Posted to No 70 Group

Date	Notes
16 Nov 1942	Air Ministry advised No 72 Group: - Recruit intakes to RAF Regiment to be reduced from 1,000 to 250 per week There would be greater expansion with the Regiment for AA Flights That a Central Weapons Training School would be established for the benefit of the Regiment
30 Nov 1942	Air Ministry decided to close down the OCTU at RAF Sidmouth for training RAF Regiment cadets and was to began training cadets for the A & SD Branch instead. Course to last 8 weeks with cadets being training in weapons and fieldcraft.
2 Dec 1942	First intake of 1,000 aircrew cadets began 3 week course at RAF Whitley Bay in Weapons Training and Fieldcraft. This was brought about due to a bottleneck in training at OTUs.
7 Dec 1942	Station Personnel (Comabtant) Instructors Course transferred from No 20 Group, TTC to No 72 Group, ACC. Courses at Arbroath and RAF Skegness were transferred to No 1 RAF Regiment School, RAF Filey and those at RAF Hereford to RAF Eastchurch.
18-31 Jan 1943	Advanced Gunnery Wing transferred from Ronaldsway to No 1 RAF Regiment School, RAF Filey
20 Jan 1943	No 1 Station Personnel (Comabtant) Instructors Course commenced at RAF Filey
27 Jan 1943	Aircrew (Officers) Course comprising 400 officers commenced at RAF Filey
17 Feb 1943	3" Mortar and 2-Pounder Initial Training Course (No 1) commenced at RAF Eastchurch
22 Feb 1943	Following Policy changes announced: - Reduction in the number of Field Squadrons - certain squadrons to go overseas Remainder to be converted to AA duties, either at home or overseas. Extensive AA training of units at RAF Filey to be planned
24 Feb 1943	Weapon Instructor Training Course (No 1) commenced at RAF Filey (98 trainees for six weeks)
1 Mar 1943	The RAF Regiment OCTU was replaced by the Air Crew Officers' School at RAF Sidmouth and transferred to No 54 Group
2 Mar 1943	Last six RAF Regiment squadrons completed training at RAF Regiment Depot
3 Mar 1943	First course at No 1 AA Practice Camp commenced with Nos 4085, 4108 and 4192 AA Flights
24 Mar 1943	No 3 Station Personnel (Comabtant) Instructors Course closed down at RAF Filey prior to being transferred to RAF Regiment Depot
1 Apr 1943	RAF Regiment Instructors Course (Hispano and Browning) opened at RAF Filey
1 Apr 1943	A four week course commenced at RAF Regiment Depot for 12 A & SD Officers recommended for transfer to the RAF Regiment
12 Apr 1943	Weapon Instructor Training Course re-opened at RAF Regiment Depot on transfer from Filey
14 Apr 1943	Station Personnel (Comabtant) Instructors Course re-opened at RAF Regiment Depot on transfer from RAF Filey and RAF Eastchurch
21 Apr 1943	Support Flight Course re-opened at RAF Filey on transfer fromRAF Eastchurch
21 Apr 1943	Recruit Centre Instructors' Course opened at the RAF Regiment Depot
26 Apr 1943	RAF Regiment AA Flight Basic Course (Bofor) opened at RAF Filey
26 Apr 1943	RAF Regiment AA Flight Instructors' Course (Bofor) opened at RAF Filey
28 Apr 1943	RAF Regiment AA Squadron Course (Hispano and Browning) opened at RAF Filey (4 Squadrons)
21 May 1943	Four AA Squadron formed from 12 existing AA Flights at the RAF Regiment Depot