Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Overseas Commands - Middle East & Mediterranean

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HQ RFC Middle East 

Formed 14 Dec 1917 by raising existing HQ to Divisional status, renamed RAF Middle East on 1 Apr 1918.

14 Dec 1917:            Maj-Gen W S Brancker

 3 Jan 1918               Maj-Gen W G H Salmond

Formed 1 Apr 1918 from HQ RFC Middle East. Renamed Middle East Area, 18 Mar 1920.

 1 Apr 1918             Maj-Gen/AVM W G H Salmond

Formed 18 Mar 1920 by renaming RAF Middle East. Renamed RAF Middle East, 1 Apr 1922

18 Mar 1920              AVM Sir Geoffrey Salmond

23 Feb 1922               AVM E L Ellington

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

Reformed 1 Apr 1922 by renaming Middle East Area. Renamed Middle East Command, 11 Jan 1943.

1 Apr 1922             AVM E L Ellington

27 Nov 1923          AVM O Swann

5 Nov 1926            AVM T I Webb-Bowen

12 Oct 1929           AVM F R Scarlett

26 Sep 1931           AVM C L N Newall

21 Sep 1934           AVM C T MacLean

10 Mar 1938           AVM H R Nicholl

In 1939 the appointment of the commander of RAF Middle East was raised to that of a Commander-in-Chief

1 Apr 1939             AM-ACM Sir William Mitchell

13 May 1940          ACM Sir Arthur Longmore

1 Jun 1941              AM - ACM Sir Arthur Tedder

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

Formed 29 Dec 1941 by renaming HQ RAF Middle East. Became RAF element of Mediterranean Air Command, 15 Feb 1943 .  Responsible for RAF operations in the Eastern part of the Middle East.  Absorbed into RAF Mediterranean and Middle East, 1 Aug 1945.

29 Dec 1941           ACM Sir Arthur Tedder

11 Jan 1943             ACM Sir Sholto Douglas

14 Jun 1944             AM Sir Keith Park

8 Feb 1945              AM Sir Charles Medhurst

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

This was formed on 10 December 1943 to control RAF elements in the Western Mediterranean under the command of Mediterranean Allied Air Forces.  On 31 July 1945 it absorbed Middle East Command on the disbandment of Mediterranean Allied Air Forces on 1 August 1945. 

On 14 September 1945 the Rear HQ MedME, Algiers was moved to Cairo and renamed Rear HQ MedME, Cairo, MEF.  The HQ (Unit) RAF Med ME (Caserta) was disbanded on 31 October 1945, but reformed the following day as HQ (Unit) RAF Med ME (Cairo).

It was renamed Middle East Air Force on 1 June 1949.

14 Jan 1944              AM Sir John Slessor*

16 Mar 1945             AM Sir Guy Garrod*

1 Aug 1945               AM Sir Charles Medhurst

1 Mar 1948               AM Sir William Dickson

 *Deputy Air Commander in Chief, Mediterranean Allied Air Forces/Commander-in-Chief, RAF Mediterranean and Middle East

Middle East Air Force

Formed on 1 June 1949 by renaming Med & ME Command

On 1 December 1954 HQ MEAF (Main) moved from RAF Ismailia to RAF Nicosia, and HQ MEAF (Rear) at RAF Abu Sueir, moved to Ismailia, whilst HQ (Unit), MEAF moved from RAF Abu Sueir to RAF Nicosia.

On 1 March 1961 Northern Group MEAF took over the name on transfer to Middle East Command (Aden).

  23 Jan 1950               AM Sir John Baker

 7 Feb 1952                 AM Sir Victor Groom

19 May 1952               AM Sir Arthur Sanders

15 Oct 1953                AM Sir Claude Pelly

24 Sep 1956                AM Sir Hubert Patch

26 Nov 1958               AM Sir William MacDonald

Near East Command

Formed 1 Mar 1961 as a unified command from the Southern Group of MEAF.  Originally named  Near East Command (Cyprus).  The RAF element being named Air Forces Near East.  Disbanded, xx xxx 1962.   

Near East Air Force

Formed 1 Mar 1961, Southern Group MEAF took name on transfer to Near East Command (Cyprus).  Disbanded 31 Mar 1976 by renaming as AHQ Cyprus.

16 Aug 1960                            AM Sir William MacDonald

16 Jul 1962                              AM Sir Denis Barnett

25 Sep  1964                           AM Sir Thomas Prickett*

21 Nov 1966                           AM Sir Edward Gordon-Jones*

6 May 1969                             AM Sir Denis Smallwood*

 2 Feb 1970                             AM Sir Derek Hodgkinson*

25 Jun 1973                             AM Sir John Aiken*

*Also Commander, British Forces Near East/Cyprus

Middle East Command

Formed 1 Mar 1961 as a unified command from HQ British Forces Arabian Peninsula.  Originally named Middle East Command (Aden).  The RAF element being named Air Forces Middle East.  With the British  withdrawal from Aden, it was renamed HQ British Forces Gulf, 1 Sep 1967?.   

 1 Mar 1961                AM Sir Charles Elworthy

  1 Jun 1963   

Air Forces Middle East

Formed 1 Mar 1961 as  the RAF element of  Middle East Command.  Absorbed into Air Forces Gulf, 1 Sep 1967. 

10 Aug 1959                AVM D J P Lee

 2 Aug 1961                 AVM F E Rosier

 7 Oct 1963                  AVM J E Johnson

15 Dec 1965                AVM A H Humphrey

Malta Command

Formed 1 Apr 1918?, reduced to No 17 (Malta) Wing, 27 Sep 1918.

xx xxx 1918:                ?

Formed 12 Dec 1918 with Command status under the control of Middle East Area, renamed Mediterranean Group, 18 Mar 1920 .

2 Apr 1919               A/Cdre O Swann

Formed 18 Mar 1920 with Command status, renamed RAF Mediterranean, 1 Apr 1922 .

1 Apr 1920               A/Cdre O Swann

2 Jun 1920                Gp Capt E L Gerrard

18 Aug 1921             A/Cdre C R Samson

Formed 1 Apr 1922 by renaming Mediterranean Group. Renamed AHQ Malta, 26 Dec 1941

1 Apr 1922             A/Cdre C R Samson

2 Mar 1923             Gp Capt A W Bigsworth

8 Apr 1925             Wg Cdr W L Welsh (Temporary)

9 Nov 1925             A/Cdre R H Clark-Hall

1 Feb 1929              A/Cdre J L Forbes

22 Jan 1932             A/Cdre C E H Rathborne

7 Jun 1935               A/Cdre P C Maltby

21 Dec 1938            A/Cdre R Leckie

20 Jan 1940              A/Cdre - AVM F H M Maynard

1 Jun 1941                AVM H P Lloyd

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

This was formed 26 December 1941 by renaming RAF Mediterranean being administratively controlled by HQ, RAF Middle East.  On 1 June 1942, HQ, RAF Middle East also assumed operational control.  It was transferred to HQ, Mediterranean Air Command on 18 February 1943; to HQ North-West African Air Forces on 22 September 1943, to HQ Mediterranean Allied Coastal Air Forces on 10 January 1944 and then to RAF Mediterranean and Middle East on 1 August 1945.  It was granted independent Command status on 1 December 1953 and disbanded on 30 June 1968.

26 Dec 1941            AVM H P Lloyd

15 Jul 1942              AVM K R Park

 6 Jan 1944              A/Cdre J R Scarlett-Streatfield

26 Mar 1944            AVM R M Foster

19 Oct 1944            AVM K B Lloyd

6 Jun 1947               AVM C R Steele

 8 Nov 1949            AVM N H D'Aeth

 8 Sep 1952             AVM-AM B V Reynolds

26 Jan 1956             AM Sir Gilbert Nicholetts

28 Oct 1957            AM Sir Edward Chilton

19 May 1959           AM Sir Walter Cheshire

 3 Dec 1961             AVM J G Davis

 1 Mar 1963             AVM D C McKinley

 1 Nov 1965             AVM E G Jones

19 Nov 1966            AVM R D Elliott

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

Air Commander Malta

AHQ Malta disbanded 30 Jun 1968 with control being transferred to HQ NEAF.  Air Commander Malta assumed direct command of RAF units assigned to Malta.    Post ceased to exist with British withdrawal from Malta, 31 Mar 1979.

30 Jun 1968                 A/Cdr e C V Winn

27 Mar 1971                A/Cdre W E Colahan

29 Sep 1973                A/Cdre A H Mawer

 2 Jun 1975                  A/Cdre A G Steele

12 Mar 1977                A/Cdre H D Hall

This was formed on 1 February 1922 to control all British forces in the mandated territories. From 1 April 1924 this Command was transferred to RAF control with an AOC, instead of a GOC and at the same time it became administratively independent from HQ RAF Middle East.  It was renamed HQ Transjordan & Palestine on 1 October 1926

16 Jun 1922             Maj-Gen (Temp AVM) Sir Henry Tudor (Temporary Commission as an AVM relinquished 26 Apr 1924)

29 Feb 1924             A/Cdre E L Gerrard

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

HQ Transjordan & Palestine

Formed 1 Oct 1926 by renaming HQ Palestine Command. Reduced to Group status, 21 Feb 1928

1 Oct 1926             A/Cdre E L Gerrard

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

Formed by raising HQ RAF in Palestine & Transjordan to Command status on 15 September 1935

xx xxx 1935              AVM R E C Peirse

15 Sep 1936              Lt-Gen J G Dill

 9 Apr 1938               Lt-Gen R H Haining

Responsibility for the defence of the region was temporarily transferred to the War Office on 15 September 1936 when a GOC was appointed.  The AOC is directly responsible to the GOC for the general conduct of operations by all units in the command.  For the administration and training of the RAF units in his command he comes under the AOC, RAF Middle East.

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

This was formed at the Old Fast Hotel Building, Jerusalem on 15 September 1936 from HQ RAF Palestine & Transjordan as the RAF element of British Forces in Palestine & Transjordan.  On 14 June 1941 an Advanced HQ was formed at Jerusalem to control operations in Syria and on 1 December 1941 the Command was redesignated AHQ Levant.

15 Sep 1936:              A/Cdre R M Hill

 1 Jul 1938                  A/Cdre A T Harris

10 Aug 1939               A/Cdre J H D'Albiac

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

Constantinople Wing

Formed 28 Sep 1922 with Command status to control all units operating in Turkey.  Disbanded on 1 Oct 1923

22 Sep 1922             Gp Capt P F M Fellowes

This was formed on 1 December 1941 by renaming RAF Palestine & Transjordan and was subordinate to HQ, RAF Middle East and its successors.  On 9 November 1943 an Advanced HQ was formed, resulting in AHQ Levant, Jerusalem being redesignated Rear AHQ Levant.  On 31 March 1944, Advanced AHQ Levant was disbanded, with Rear AHQ in Jerusalem becoming AHQ Levant.  On 24 April 1948, Advanced AHQ (operational staff) was formed in Jerusalem with Rear AHQ (administrative staff) forming at Nicosia.  Advanced AHQ moved to Haifa on 15 May 1948, when AHQ (Unit) Levant disbanded and on 26 May the Rear AHQ was absorbed into Advanced AHQ at Haifa.  The AHQ in toto moved to Nicosia on 3 July 1948, where it disbanded on 26 July 1948.

21 May 1941               A/Cdre L O Brown

27 May 1942:              Gp Capt H W Mermagen

24 Jun 1943                 A/Cdre B McEntegart

21 Feb 1944                A/Cdre J P Coleman

25 Nov 1944               A/Cdre H D McGregor

15 Sep 1946                A/Cdre W L Dawson

Reformed 1 May 1955 by renaming AHQ Iraq.  Moved to Cyprus, 15 Jan 1956.  Disbanded, 1 Apr 1958.

 1 May 1955                A/Cdre/AVM C D C Boyce

15 Jan 1956                A/Cdre W J Crisham  

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

AOC Cyprus

xx xxx 1952               A/Cdre V S Bowling

xx xxx 1954 

AHQ Cyprus

Formed within MEAF 9 Jan 1954, absorbed into AHQ Levant 15 Jan 1956.  Reformed 1 Apr 1976 as the RAF element of British Forces Cyprus.

 9 Jan 1954                      A/Cdre C D C Boyce

15 Jan 1956 - 31 Mar 1976    Disbanded

 1 Apr 1976                        AVM R D Austen-Smith*#

24 Mar 1979                       A/Cdre M R Williams**

 4 Oct 1980                         AVM R L Davis*

24 Mar 1983                       A/Cdre R J Offord**

24 Oct 1985                        AVM K W Hayr*

25 Oct 1990                        AVM A F C Hunter #

xx xxx 1993                           

17 Feb 1995                        AVM P Millar #

16 Jan 1998                        

 4 Sep 2000                         AVM T W Rimmer #

 5 Sep 2003                        

*Also Commander, British Forces Near East/Cyprus

**Also Deputy Commander, British Forces Near East/Cyprus

#Also Administrator Sovereign Base Areas

British Forces Near East/Cyprus

British Forces Near East formed 21 Nov 1966, renamed British Forces Cyprus, 31 Mar 1976.

21 Nov 1966                          AM Sir Edward Gordon-Jones

6 May 1969                            AM Sir Denis Smallwood

 2 Feb 1970                            AM Sir Derek Hodgkinson

25 Jun 1973                            AM Sir John Aiken

xx Nov 1975                          

 1 Apr 1976                            AVM R D Austen-Smith #

 4 Oct 1980                            AVM R L Davis #

xx Mar 1983

24 Oct 1985                           AVM K W Hayr

25 Oct 1990                           AVM A F C Hunter #

xx xxx 1993                           

17 Feb 1995                           AVM P Millar #

16 Jan 1998                            Maj-Gen A I Ramsey #

 4 Sep 2000                            AVM T W Rimmer #

 5 Sep 2003                            Maj-Gen P T C Pearson #

xx xxx xxxx                              Maj-Gen R J Cripwell#

20 Jan 2015                            AVM M Wigston

#Also Administrator Sovereign Base Areas

This was formed on xx February 1928 to control all British forces operating in the Protectorate and was renamed HQ British Forces in Aden on 14 October 1937.

8 Mar 1928            Gp Capt W G S Mitchell

5 Sep 1929            Gp Capt - A/Cdre C T Maclean

7 Aug 1931            Gp Capt O T Boyd

20 Jan 1934           Gp Capt - A/Cdre C F A Portal

2 Dec 1935            AVM E L Gossage

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

This was formed on 14 October 1937 by redesignating Aden Command under the operational control of HQ, RAF Middle East.  On 1 April 1942 HQ, RAF Middle East also assumed administrative control and it was renamed HQ British Forces in Aden on 14 April 1942.

14 Oct 1937           AVM E L Gossage

1 Jul 1936               A/Cdre W A McClaughry

28 Sep 1938           AVM G R M Reid

10 Sep 1941:          AVM F G D Hards

This was formed 14 April 1942 by renaming Aden Command.  On 1 September 1951, its policy was revised as follows: -

1. Control of the following units: -
   1. RAF Khormaksar
   2. RAF Steamer Point
   3. RAF Riyan
   4. RAF Salalah
   5. RAF Misirah
   6. RAF Khartoum
   7. No 8 (Light Bomber) Squadron
   8. HQ No 20 Wing, RAF Regiment
   9. HQ Aden Protectorate Levies
   10. HQ 51st Coast Regiment
   11. HQ 65 Troop Wing Royal Signals
   12. RAF Hospital Aden
   13. HQ Somaliland Scouts
   14. RAF Eastleigh (wef 15 September 1951)
2. Functional control of the following units: -
   1. No 114 Maintenance Unit (Administrative control by RAF Steamer Point)
   2. No 1152 Marines Craft Unit (Administrative control by RAF Khormaksar)
   3. No 50 Movements Unit (Administrative control by RAF Steamer Point)
   4. Aden Supply Depot (Administrative control by RAF Steamer Point)

It was renamed HQ British Forces, Arabian Peninsula on 6 October 1956.

14 Apr 1941:          AVM F G D Hards

12 Jan 1943           AVM F H MacNamara VC (RAAF)

12 Mar 1945          AVM H T Lydford

 8 Mar 1948            AVM A C Stevens

 1 Mar 1950            AVM F J Fressanges

11 Mar 1952           AVM D Macfadyen

12 Oct 1953            AVM S O Bufton

17 Sep 1955            AVM L F Sinclair

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

Formed 6 Oct 1956 by renaming HQ British Forces, Aden.  Disbanded, 1 Mar 1961 by being renamed HQ Air Forces, Middle East (Aden).

Air Officers Commanding

 6 Oct 1956                   AVM L F Sinclair

30 Sep 1957                  AVM M L Heath

Air Officers Commanding in Chief

19 Sep 1959                  ACM Sir Hubert Patch

  3 Aug 1960                  AM Sir Charles Elworthy

RAF Persian Gulf/Air Forces Gulf

 Formed  4 Jul 1959 as  HQ RAF Persian Gulf subordinate to British  Forces Arabian Peninsula.  Renamed Air Forces Gulf,  1 Sep 1967.  Disbanded, 15 Dec 1971.

30 Nov 1961              G/C E W Tacon

13 Jan 1964                A/Cdre E G L Millington

27 Jun 1966                A/Cdre J G Topham

24 May 1968              A/Cdre J L W Ellacombe

HQ British Forces Gulf

Formed  1 Sep 1967 by renaming HQ Middle East Command following the British withdrawal from Aden.   Disbanded, 15 Dec 1971.

 1 Sep 1967                R-Adm J E L Martin RN

Formed 14 January 1943 by raising No 333 Group to Command status. It was absorbed into North-West African Coastal Air Force on 18 February 1943.

14 Jan 1943             AM Sir William Welsh

This command was formed on 15 February 1943, with the HQ officially opening on 17 February, to co-ordinate all Allied air operations in the Mediterranean area following the North African Landing. Subordinate formations being, Middle East Command, RAF Malta and North-West African Air Forces. The following Commanders were directly responsible to the Air Commander-in-Chief

• Commanding General, North West African Air Forces
• Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, RAF Middle East
• Air Officer Commanding, Malta

It amalgamated with North-West African Air Forces to form Mediterranean Allied Air Forces on 10 December 1943.

Air Commander-in-Chief: -

15 Feb 1943             ACM Sir Arthur Tedder

This was formed on 17 February 1943 to control Allied air operations in the western part of the theatre, absorbing the 12th US Air Force and Eastern Air Command the following day. 

Subordinate elements were

• North-West African Tactical Air Force, (ex No 242 Group and XII US Air Support Command)
• North-West African Strategic Air Force (ex XII US Bomber Command and RAF Medium Bomber squadrons)
• North-West African Coastal Air Force (ex US and RAF Fighter and GR Wings and RAF Gibraltar)
• North-West African Training Command (ex Air Forces in Morocco)

Command was invested in a USAAF Officer. It wa amalgamated with Mediterranean Air Command to form Mediterranean Allied Air Forces on 10 December 1943.

1 Mar 1942                 AVM J M Robb

Formed 17 Feb1943 subordinate to Northwest African Air Forces. Renamed Mediterranean Tactical Air Force, 10 Dec 1943.

1 Mar 1943             AM Sir Arthur Coningham

Formed 17 Feb 1943 subordinate to Northwest African Air Forces. Renamed Mediterranean Strategic Air Force, 10 Dec 1943. 

1 Mar 1943            Maj-Gen G E Stratemeyer (USAAF)

Formed 17 Feb 1943 subordinate to Northwest African Air Forces. Renamed Mediterranean Coastal Air Force, 10 Dec 1943.

1 Mar 1943             AVM H P Lloyd

Formed 10 Dec 1943 by amalgamating Mediterranean Air Command and Northwest African Air Forces. Disbanded 1 Aug 1945.

14 Jan 1944              AM Sir John Slessor

16 Mar 1945             AM Sir Guy Garrod

Formed 10 Dec 1943 by renaming Northwest African Tactical Air Force. Title 'Allied' added 1 Feb 1944. Disbanded 6 Jul 1945

10 Dec 1943             AM Sir Arthur Coningham

xx xxx xxxx                Lt-Gen J K Cannon (USAAF)

Formed 10 Dec 1943 by renaming Northwest African Strategic Air Force. Title 'Allied' added 1 Feb 1944. Disbanded  1 Aug 1945.

10 Dec 1943             Maj-Gen J Doolittle (USAAF)

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

Formed 10 Dec 1943 by renaming Northwest African Coastal Air Force. Title 'Allied' added 1 Feb 1944. Renamed Mediterranean Coastal Air Forces, 1 Aug 1945

10 Dec 1943             AVM H P Lloyd

1 Nov 1944              AVM J Whitford

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

Formed 1 Aug 1945 by renaming RAF elements of Mediterranean Allied Coastal Air Forces. Renamed AHQ Italy, 1 Oct 1945.

1 Aug 1945              AVM J Whitford

Formed 12 Dec 1941 within Coastal Command by raising No 200 Group to Command status.  Reduced to Group status as AHQ Gibraltar, 1 Sep 1953.

16 Dec 1941         AVM S P Simpson

22 Feb 1944         AVM W Elliott

 8 Jun 1944           AVM A C Stevens

29 Aug 1945         A/Cdre A D Rogers

 1 Mar 1948          A/Cdre R B Jordan

 7 Jan 1949            A/Cdre G R C Spencer

 9 Jan 1950            A/Cdre W G Cheshire

 8 Feb 1952            A/Cdre C E Chilton

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

Formed 1 Sep 1953 within Coastal Command by reducing RAF Gibraltar to Group status.  Disbanded, 30 Nov 1966.

21 Sep 1953                A/Cdre G G Barrett

12 Jan 1956                 A/Cdre J D Miller

20 May 1958               A/Cdre R B Thomson

Air Commander Gibraltar/Commander, Maritime Air Gibraltar

The post of Air Commander Gibraltar was introduced,  xx Aug 1971.  The joint RAF/NATO Command was established , xx xxx 1988.  Disestablished, xx xxx xxxx

Air Commanders

28 Aug 1971                A/Cdre C E Ness

15 Dec 1973                A/Cdre D H Sutton

 1 Oct 1975                  A/Cdre C Fountain

30 Aug 1977                A/Cdre J Langston

24 Jul 1979                   A/Cdre K A C Wirdnam

 1 Jul 1981                    A/Cdre J C Atkinson

 4 Jul 1983                    A/Cdre J M Pack

 25 Apr 1986                A/Cdre B J Lemon                                           

Air Commander & Commander, Maritime Air Gibraltar

 7 Oct 1988                  A/Cdre K J Lovett       

AHQ RAF Italy

This was formed at Caserta on 1 October 1945 by renaming Mediterranean Coastal Air Force.  AHQ Italy (Unit) was formed on 13 December1945 to provide administrative facilities for AHQ Italy and on the same date took over the commitments of  No 214 Group, which disbanded.  An Advanced AHQ was formed on Udine on 15 June 1946, but ceased to function on 7 August 1946 following the transfer of the Main HQ to Udine, at which point a Rear HQ was formed at Caserta.  The Rear HQ was disbanded on 5 December 1946.

It disbanded on 6 October 1947

1 Oct 1945              AVM J Whitford

3 Nov 1945             AVM F J Fogarty

 9 May 1946            AVM R M Foster

12 Jun 1946             AVM L Darvell

20 Feb 1947            A/Cdre A J Rankin

Formed 6 Jun 1940. Reduced to No 203 Group, 17 Aug 1940.

6 Jun 1940             Gp Capt C E V Porter

This was formed on 25 February 1941 at Barce and was renamed No 204 Group on 12 April 1941.

25 Feb 1941             Gp Capt L O Brown

This was formed on 21 October 1941 by raising No 204 Group to Command status. It was renamed AHQ Libya on 20 January 1942 but reverted to AHQ Western Desert on 3 February, becoming a subordinate element of North-West African Tactical Air Forces on 17 February.  It was renamed AHQ Western Desert Air Force on 10 July 1943

 21 Oct 1941                 AVM A Coningham

20 Jan 1942 - 3 Feb 1942 Renamed AHQ Libya.

 3 Feb 1942                 AVM A Coningham

31 Jan 1943                 AVM H Broadhurst

This was formed on 20 January 1942 by renaming AHQ Western Desert but reverted to AHQ Western Desert on 3 February 1942.

 3 Feb 1942                 AVM A Coningham

This was formed on 10 July 1943 by renaming AHQ Western Desert and was transferred to North-West African Air Forces on 1 October 1943.  It disbanded by being renamed Advanced AHQ Italy on 30 June 1946.

10 Jul 1943                AVM H Broadhurst

6 Apr 1944                 AVM W F Dickson

3 Dec 1944                 AVM R M Foster

30 Aug 1945?             A/Cdre C L Falconer

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

AHQ East Africa

This was formed on 19 October 1940 by expanding SHQ RAF Nairobi and was reduced to Group status as No 207 Group on 15 December 1941.

It reformed on 16 November 1942 by raising No 207 Group to Command status, and was responsible for the operational, administrative (through SAOA, in the case of SAAF personnel) and technical control of all Air Forces, including those of the SAAF in the following areas: -

1. Kenya

2. Tanganyika

3. Uganda and Zanzibar

4. Somalia and Abyssinia

5. Madagascar

6. Mauritius

7. Seychelles

8. Rodriquez and Mayotte Island

9. Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland (except with regard training, civil aviation and central reinforcing route, which remained the responsibility of AOC, RATG)

It moved from Nairobi to RAF Eastleigh on 7 September 1949 and disbanded on 15 September 1951. 

It reformed on 1 February 1961 but disbanded on 11 December 1964.

19 Oct 1940               A/Cdre W Sowrey

16 Nov 1942             A/Cdre M L Taylor

 5 Mar 1943               AVM H S Kerby

xx Dec 1944               Gp Capt R H Carter (SASO)

xx Jan 1945                AVM B E Baker

xx Jun 1945:               Brig H G Willmott SAAF

29 Sep 1945               A/Cdre S H C Gray

17 Dec 1946              A/Cdre N A P Pritchett

17 Nov 1947              A/Cdre A G Bishop

xx xxx 1948                AVM A C Stevens

xx xxx 1949                A/Cdre E D H Davies

19 Apr 1950               A/Cdre L T Pankhurst

Commander

12 Dec 1960               A/Cdre J C MacDonald

This was formed on 21 September 1941 on board the SS Manela, pending acquisition of suitable premises ashore in Freetown, which took place on 4 August 1942.  It was subordinate to Middle East Command/Mediterranean Allied Air Forces/RAF Mediterranean and Middle East, and moved to Accra on 11 August 1945.

It disbanded by being reduced to No 500 Wing, 1 August 1946

21 Sep 1941         A/Cdre E A B Rice

25 Oct 1942         AVM J B Cole-Hamilton

23 Jan 1944          AVM R Graham

14 Dec 1944         AVM G R M Reid

 4 Mar 1946          Gp Capt R K Hamblin

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

This was formed on 1 December 1941 by raising No 202 Group to Command status. It was renamed AHQ Air Defences Eastern Mediterranean on 4 March 1943. 

xx May 1942               AVM W A McClaughry

5 Jan 1943                   AVM R E Saul

It was reformed on 31 August 1944 in Cairo to relieve No 206 Group of the administrative control of units with no active maintenance function.  It was disbanded by being absorbed into No 219 Group on 28 February 1946.

26 Mar 1945                 A/Cdre A J Rankin

 7 Jul 1945                     A/Cdre S O Bufton

This was formed on 4 March 1943 by renaming AHQ Egypt. It was renamed AHQ Eastern Mediterranean on 1 February 1944.

4 Mar 1943                 AVM R E Saul

This was formed on 1 February 1944 by amalgamating AHQ Air Defences Eastern Mediterranean and HQ No 201 Group.  On 1 March 1945, with the disbandment of No 203 Group, its functions were re-organised to exercise operational and administrative control over: -

1. All fighter and GR squadrons in Egypt and Libya.
2. All operational training units in Egypt, Libya and the Levant.
3. All other units in Egypt, Libya and the Levant that may be assigned to it.
4. Certain units in Cypus.

It was absorbed into No 219 Group on 28 February 1946.

1 Feb 1944                 AVM T A Langsford-Sainsbury

5 May 1945                AVM S E Toomer

This was formed on 1 Jun 1944 as AHQ 'G' Force, to carry out the following functions: -

1. Operational and administrative control of all RAF formations operating over the Balkans.
2. Co-ordination of operations undertaken by USAAF and Italian Air Force over the Balkans.
3. All Special Duties operation.

It was redesignated Balkan Air Force on 7 June 1944, being subordinate element of Mediterranean Allied Air Forces and disbanded on 15 July 1945.

1 Jun 1944                    AVM W Elliott

13 Feb 1945                 AVM G H Mills

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

This was formed as HQ British Air Forces in Greece on 15 November 1940 to control units operating in Greece. On 21 December 1940 it was renamed HQ British Forces Greece and it ceased to exist following fall of Greece, Apr 1941

15 Nov 1940                 AVM J H D'Albiac

This was formed on 15 October 1944 to control No 377 Wing, and disbanded on 11 January 1947 into RAF Delegation Greece.

12 Oct 1944                 A/Cdre G W Tuttle

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

This was formed as RAF Austria on 6 September 1945 to control RAF units of occupation in Austria and was split into an Advanced HQ in Vienna and a Rear HQ at Klagenfurt.  On 20 November 1945 the Advance HQ was redesignated 'Air Division, Allied Commission, Austria (British Element)', whilst the Rear HQ became 'HQ RAF Austria'.  Control of Austrian based units was transferred to RAF Italy on 15 June 1946.

 6 Sep 1945                 AVM R M Foster

Formed 15 Jun 1946.  Renamed RAF Austria Commission, 15 Aug 1946

15 Jun 1946                    A/Cdre R H S Spaight

HQ RAF Cyprus

Reformed 8 Jun 1941,  Disbanded into No 259 Wing, 29 Jul 1941.

AHQ Cyprus

Formed 9 Jan 1954,  Absorbed into AHQ Levant, 15 Dec 1956.  Reformed 1 Apr 1976 from HQ Near East Air Force, currently controls the RAF elements of HQ British Forces Cyprus. AOC is also Deputy Commander, British Forces Cyprus.

 9 Jan 1954                A/Cdre C D C Boyce  

28 Apr 1978              A/Cdre D A Arnott

HQ British Forces Cyprus

Formed 1 Apr 1976.  The Commander of British Forces Cyprus, also holds the post of The Administrator, British Sovereign Base Areas, Cyprus, 

 1 Apr 1976                AVM R D Austen-Smith

28 Apr 1978:              Maj-Gen W R Taylor

31 Mar 1983              Maj-Gen Sir Desmond Langley

29 Oct 1985               AVM K W Hayr

21 Apr 1988               Maj-Gen J P W Friedberger

xx xxx 1990                AVM A F C Hunter

25 Mar 1993              Maj-Gen A G H Harley

17 Feb 1995               AVM P Miller

16 Jan 1998                Maj-Gen A I Ramsay

 5 Feb 2000                AVM T W Rimmer

 5 Sep 2003                Maj-Gen P T C Pearson

26 Apr 2006               AVM R H Lacey

16 Oct 2008               Maj-Gen J H Gordon

4 Nov 2010                AVM G E Stacey

 3 Jan 2012                Maj-Gen R Cripwell

20 Jan 2015               AVM M Wigston

xx Feb 2017               Maj-Gen J T E Illingworth

25 Sep 2019              Maj-Gen J R Thompson

xx Aug 2022              AVM P J M Squires

HQ British Forces Arabian Peninsula/British Forces Middle East

Formed  9 Aug 1990 as HQ British Forces Arabian Peninsula  to control British units assigned to the Coalition Forces as part of Operation 'Desert Shield/Storm'.  Renamed HQ British Forces Middle East,  29 Aug 1990.  Disbanded, xx xxx xxxx.

Commander

29 Aug 1990                AVM R A F Wilson

 1 Oct 1990                 Lt-Gen Sir Peter De la Billiere

Air Commander

  9 Aug 1990                AVM R A F Wilson

This page was last updated on 13/02/25^© 

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