Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

RAF Home Commands formed between 1936 - 1938

[Balloon | Bomber | Coastal | Fighter |  Maintenance  | Training]

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Training Command

With the expansion of the RAF in the 1930’s the existing Command system of Air Defence of Great Britain controlling all bomber and fighter units in the UK, Inland Area controlling all training and Army Co-operation units in the UK and Coastal Area  controlling Maritime units was becoming unwieldy and a new functional Command system was devised. The first of these new functional commands was Training Command, formed at Bentley Priory near Stanmore in Middlesex on 1 May 1936.  It moved to Buntingsdale Hall, Market Drayton, Shropshire on 13 July 1936 and finally Shinfield Park, Reading between 12 - 15 January 1940.

However, the continued growth of the RAF required further expansion and on 27 May 1940 Training Command was split into Flying Training and Technical Training Commands a situation that continued until 1 June 1968 when the two separate commands were amalgamated back into Training Command.  Training Command was finally absorbed into RAF Support Command on 13 June 1977.

Motto:    Terra Caeloque Docemus

Listings of units and personnel controlled by this Command available in the Member Areas

With the expansion of the RAF in the 1930’s the existing Command system of Air Defence of Great Britain controlling all bomber and fighter units in the UK, Inland Area controlling all training and Army Co-operation units in the UK and Coastal Area  controlling Maritime units was becoming unwieldy and a new functional Command system was devised.

Bomber Command was formed from the bomber element of ADGB on 14 July 1936 at Hillingdon House, Uxbridge in Middlesex but on 13 March 1940 moved into new purpose built accommodation at High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.  During world War Two, Bomber Command was one of the few ways in which the RAF and Allied forces could take offensive action against the Third Reich, but its personnel paid a heavy price for undertaking this task with over 55,000 of them being lost.

Post-war the Command became the world’s first major user of jet powered bombers when the English Electric Canberra was brought into service to replace the piston engined Lincolns and Washingtons.  The Command adopted the Nuclear Deterrent role in the mid 1950’s with the introduction of the V-Force consisting of Valiants, Vulcans and Victors.  However, the shrinking size of the RAF in 1960’s saw a further revision of the RAF Command system and Bomber Command was disbanded on 30 April 1968 on being absorbed into Strike Command as No 1 (Strike) Group.

Motto:    Strike Hard Strike Sure

Bomber Command losses in WW2

*Acting AOC in C whilst AOC No 3 Group

Listings of units and personnel controlled by this Command available in the Member Areas

Fighter Command

With the expansion of the RAF in the 1930’s the existing Command system of Air Defence of Great Britain controlling all bomber and fighter units in the UK, Inland Area controlling all training and Army Co-operation units in the UK and Coastal Area  controlling Maritime units was becoming unwieldy and a new functional Command system was devised.

This was formed on 14 July 1936 at Bentley Priory, Stanmore, Middlesex to control the UK's air defence system. 

Between 15 November 1943 and 15 October 1944 it was temporarily renamed Air Defence of Great Britain. 

It moved to Stanmore Park on 14 March 1950 and disbanded 30 Apr 1968 on being absorbed into Strike Command as No 11 (Air Defence) Group.

Motto:    Offence Defence

Listings of units and personnel controlled by this Command available in the Member Areas

With the expansion of the RAF in the 1930’s the existing Command system of Air Defence of Great Britain controlling all bomber and fighter units in the UK, Inland Area controlling all training and Army Co-operation units in the UK and Coastal Area  controlling Maritime units was becoming unwieldy and a new functional Command system was devised.

Coastal Command was formed from Coastal Area on 1 May 1936 at RAF Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire before moving to Eastbury Park, Northwood, Middlesex on 8 August 1939. 

On 3 December 1953, HQ (Unit) Coastal Command assumed the administrative responsibility for the RAF Element of Air Command Eastern Atlantic Area, Allied Command Atlantic (AIREASTLANT).

It disbanded 28 November 1969 on being absorbed into Strike Command as No 18 (Maritime) Group.

Motto:    Constant Endeavour

Coastal Command and Maritime Air Association

Listings of units and personnel controlled by this Command available in the Member Areas

With the expansion of the RAF in the 1930’s the existing Command system of Air Defence of Great Britain controlling all bomber and fighter units in the UK, Inland Area controlling all training and Army Co-operation units in the UK and Coastal Area  controlling Maritime units was becoming unwieldy and a new functional Command system was devised.

It was formed on 1 April 1938 to control UK based maintenance units at the Air Ministry, London;. 

Formation was notified in Air Ministry Order A159/38 "Formation of a Maintenance Command", dated 22 April 1938: -

1. It has been decided to place all maintenance units in the United Kingdom in a separate organisation known as the Maintenance command.

2. This command began to form, in the Directorate of Equipment, with effect from 1st April, 1938, and is temporarily located in the Air Ministry.   It will take will take over executive command of the various maintenance units on dates which will be notified from time to time in Air Ministry Orders.

3. The Maintenance Command will be responsible for meeting the maintenance requirements of the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom and for the despatch of equipment required by the oversea commands. Its responsibility involves the reception, storage and distribution of all classes of equipment and supplies, together with the collection and repair of unserviceable equipment in the United 1ingdom.

4. The fundamental principle to be observed in the relations between the Maintenance Command and the other commands is that the consumer unit deals directly with the supplier unit.  Headquarters of commands will only intervene if supplies become interrupted or should diversion or special measures become necessary.

5. The revised executive arrangements for those changes of procedure which will be required will be published from time to time in Air Ministry Orders.

It moved to RAF Andover, Hampshire on 7 August 1938, and then to Amport House, Amport St Mary’s, Andover on 15 September 1939.  On 18 July 1961 it returned to RAF Andover and was renamed Support Command on 31 August 1973.

Motto:    Service

*Title changed from Senior Maintenance Staff Officer to Senior Air Staff Officer sometime in 1946

For more details on the rationale behind the formation of this Command and listings of units and personnel controlled by this Command go to the Member Areas

Balloon Command

Kelvin House, Cleveland Street, London W1, Manor House, Station Road, Stanmore, Middlesex. (from ?); Old Church Lane, Stanmore (from 1 Sep 1939?)

Formed 1 Nov 1938 to control all UK based Barrage Balloon units.

Motto:    Vi Et Ictu