On 1 April 1918, the RNAS's Central Training Establishment at Cranwell was redesigned No 12 Group as part of No 3 Area, which became Midland Area on 8 May 1918. The title (Training) was added on 8 August 1918 and with the disbandment of Midland Area it was transferred to Northern Area on 18 October 1919. It was absorbed into the RAF (Cadet) College on 1 November 1919.

It reformed at Uxbridge on 1 April 1937 as No 12 (Fighter) Group in Fighter Command to provide air defence cover of the Midlands and North of England, moving to Hucknall on 19 May.  It initially assumed control of the stations at Catterick, Church Fenton and Duxford with Nos 19, 41, 66, 607 and 608 Squadrons.  With the formation of No 13 Group in March 1939, it handed over responsibility for the defence of northern England, leaving it to concentrate on the Midlands.  On 6 July 1940, it moved to Watnall. Whilst not being directly responsible for the defence of London during the Battle of Britain, it was tasked with the defence of No 11 Group's airfields, which led to the Group becoming involved in the battle further south.  It was during the battle that a clash of opinions over the tactics being employed between the AOC of 12 Group, AVM Trafford Leigh-Mallory and AOC, 11 Group, AVM Keith Park, occurred.  This clash centred around the 'Big Wing' concept, proposed by Sqn Ldr Douglas Bader and whilst its employment eventually proved successful for 12 Group, it would have been unworkable for 11 Group, who would not have had the time to assemble such large forces.  After the battle, its units began to carry out offensive sorties over occupied Europe, often using stations in other Groups to refuel, as well as continuing to defence the industrial centres of the Midlands.  On 15 November 1943, Fighter Command was renamed Air Defences of Great Britain, with No 12 Group remaining under its control but on 15  October 1944 ADGB reverted to the title Fighter Command.  During this period the Group remained responsible for air defence of the Midland as well carrying out offensive sorties in support the forthcoming invasion of Normandy, Operation 'Overlord'.  Once the V-1 flying bomb sites on the continent were over-run, the Germans began launching the missiles from bombers flying over the North Sea, thereby moving the main responsibility for their interception to No 12 Group.

On 17 September 1944 the Group absorbed No 9 Group and on 20 December 1946 moved to RAF Newton , were it remained until 14 August 1959 when it moved to RAF Horsham St Faith.  It was disbanded by being redesignated No 12 (East Anglia) Sector on 31 March 1963.

Air Officers Commanding

1 Apr 1918             Brig-Gen H D Briggs

 1 May 1919:          Brig-Gen F R Scarlett

 1 Nov1919 - 1 Apr 1937    Disbanded

1 Apr 1937             A/Cdre J H S Tyssen (Temporary)

20 Oct 1937           Gp Capt H M Probyn (Temporary)

19 Nov 1937          A/Cdre T E B Howe (Temporary)

14 Dec 1937           A/Cdre-AVM T L Leigh-Mallory (AVM from 1 Nov 1938)

xx Dec 1940           AVM R E Saul

29 Nov 1942          AVM J O Andrews

1 Jun 1943              AVM R M Hill

22 Nov 1943          AVM M Henderson

1 Jan 1945              AVM J W Baker

xx Jun 1946            AVM T C Traill

17 Nov 1948          AVM G Harcourt-Smith

1 Jun 1951              AVM R L R Atcherley

13 Nov 1953          AVM W J Crisham

25 Jun 1956            AVM H P Fraser

 1 Aug 1958 - xx xxx xxxx            A/Cdre C H Hartley (CoS)

 1 Jan 1959            AVM J R A Embling

20 Jul 1959             AVM C H Hartley

1 Jun 1961              AVM R N Bateson

xx xxx 1963            No appointment

The is formed as No 12 (East Anglia) at RAF Horsham St Faith on 1 April 1963 by renaming No 12 (Fighter) Group.  It moved to RAF Neatishead on 29 May 1963.  With the formation of Strike Command, and No 11 (Fighter) Group on 1 April 1968, No 12 Sector became Sector North within the Group and finally amalgamated with Sector South on 9 January 1992.

Air Officers Commanding

1 Apr 63               A/Cdre F D S Scott-Malden

25 Mar 1964         A/Cdre A C Deere

Originally formed at Birmingham on 1 April 1918 in No 3 Area., which became Midland Area on 8 May 1918, the title (Training) was added on 8 August 1918. By November 1918 it had moved to 'Dorincourt', Upton, Cheshire but on 6 August 1919 it moved to Shotwick, where it disbanded into No 3 Group on 18 October 1919.

It reformed under the control of No 12 Group at Hucknall on 15 March 1939 as No 13 (Fighter) Group in Fighter Command to cover the north of England and Scotland, becoming operational on 25 May.  On 24 July 1939 it moved to Kenton Bar, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and then on 5 September to Blakelaw Estate, Ponteland Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where it was brought up to full strength.  Although not directly involved in the operations taking place over southern England during the Battle of Britain, the Group was called upon to fend off a major Luftwaffe attack on 15 August, when German aircraft operating from Norway attacked airfields in the north.  The Group began to see more action in its area once the 'Blitz' began as the Luftwaffe carried out attacks against the industrial centres, such as Sheffield and the ports of Hull and those along the East Coast.  On 16 July 1943 the Group absorbed No 14 Group and moved its HQ to Drummossie Hotel, near Inverness, which was renamed RAF Drummossie on 1 December 1944.  With the war over the Group relocated to RAF Dalcross, where it disbanded on 20 May 1946.

It reformed, once again on 4 April 1955 at Watnall, before moving to Ouston on 1 July but disbanded on 31 December 1961 by being renamed No 11 Group.

Air Officers Commanding

1 Apr 1918             ?

18 Oct 1919 - 15 Mar 1939    Disbanded

24 Jul 1939             AVM R E Saul

14 Dec 1940:          A/Cdre C H Nicholas (Temp)

 4 Feb 1941            AVM J O Andrews

27 Nov 1942          AVM M Henderson

15 Nov 1943          AVM S F Vincent

26 Jan 1944            A/Cdre J A Boret

 3 May 1945           A/Cdre T B Prickman

7 Jul 1945               ?

20 May 1946 - 16 May 1955    Disbanded

16 May 1955           AVM W G Cheshire

1 Jul 1957                AVM A Earle

9 Nov 1959             AVM H J Maguire

This was formed on 1 April 1963 at RAF Boulmer but was amalgamated with No 11 Sector on 17 March 1965.

Air Officers Commanding

1 Apr 1963             AVM R J P Prichard

This was formed at St Mary's Street, Haverfordwest by renaming Milford Haven Anti-Submarine Group on 1 April 1918 in 3 Area, which was redesignated Midland Area on 8 May 1918.  The title (Operations) was  added on 8 August 1918.  It moved to Pembroke on 1 April 1919, where it disbanded on 19 May 1919.

It reformed at Achicourt, in France on 16 January 1940 as No 14 (Fighter) Group by renaming No 60 Wing within Air Component, BEF. It assumed control of Nos 60 and 61 Wings but following the collapse of France it returned to Uxbridge, where it disbanded on 31 May 1940, leaving a closing down party at Ariel House, Strand, WC2, which disbanded on 22 June 1940.

It reformed again, on 15 August 1940, this time at Drummossie House, near Inverness, to provide air defence cover to Scotland, assuming administrative control on 29 August and operational control on 1 September of the following: -

• RAF Castletown

• RAF Skeabrae

It assumed operation control of Dyce Secotor and the Wick Sector on 13 October 1940.  On 1 March 1943 it moved to Craigmore but was was disbanded on 15 July 1943, being absorbed into No 13 Group.

Air Officers Commanding

1 Apr 1918             Lt Col R C Hayes

19 May 1919 - 16 Jan 1940    Disbanded

19 Jan 1940             Gp Capt P F Fullard

 1 Aug 1940             AVM M Henderson

10 Feb 1942            AVM J H D'Albiac

21 Mar 1942            AVM R Collishaw

Listings of units and personnel controlled by this Group available in the Members' Area

No 15 Group

It was formed at the Children's Hospital, Broad Street, Birmingham on 1 April 1918 as No 15 (Equipment) Group in No 3 Area, which became Midland Area on 8 May 1918. It controlled a number of Aircraft Acceptance Parks in the No 3/Midland Area but disbanded in June 1918.

It reformed at Mudros on 27 September 1918 as No 15 (Aegean) Group to control 62 and 63 Wings at Mudros as well as HMS Ark Royal.  In June 1919 it moved to Constantinople, where it disbanded on 1 September 1919.

It reformed once again, this time at Lee-on-Solent on 15 March 1939 as No 15 (Reconnaissance) Group in Coastal Command to control maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarines assets in the South West, Western Approaches and Irish Sea. It moved a number of times, the first being to Mount Wise in Plymouth on 7 June 1939, where it became operational on 14 June, then to Egg Buckland Keep, Plymouth on 16 August 1940 and finally to Derby House, Exchange Buildings, Liverpool on 28 February 1941.  This last move was to place it nearer to the recently formed Western Naval Command ands on 9 April 1941 it assumed control of RAF units in Iceland.  It continued to operate from here for the rest of the war until it was disbanded on 1 August 1945 by being absorbed into RAF Northern Ireland. 

For details of its areas of operation, see the maps in the Members' Area

Air Officers Commanding

1 Apr 1918

? 1918 - 27 Sep 1918    Disbanded

1 Apr 1918             Col R Gordon?

1 Sep 1919 - 15 Mar 1939    Disbanded

15 Mar 1939          Gp Capt G H Boyce

1 Jun 1939             A/Cdre R G Parry

1941 - 42              AVM J M Robb

 4 Apr 1942           AVM D Colyer

16 Nov 1942         AVM T A Langsford-Sainsbury

21 Feb 1943          AVM L H Slatter

20 Jun 1945           A/Cdre N A P Pritchett

This was formed at Fossgate, York on 1 April 1918 by renaming Northern Training Brigade in No 4 Area, which was redesignated North-Eastern Area on 8 May 1918.  The title (Training) was added on 8 August 1918 and when North-Eastern Area was disbanded it was transferred to Northern Area on 12 June 1919.  By 18 October 1919 it had moved to Tadcaster but on that date moved to Acomb Hall, York at the same taking over No 7, 8 and 9 Wings from the disbanded Northern Area, finally disbanding on 7 February 1920.

It reformed at Wykeham Hall, Lee-on-Solent on 1 December 1936 as No 16 (Reconnaissance) Group in Coastal Command to control maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarines assets in the South East, Channel and North Sea.  On 1 December 1937, it moved to RAF Lee-on-Solent, then to Chatham on 27 September 1938, back to Lee-on-Solent on on 8 October before settling at Black Lion Fields, Gillingham, Kent on 8 November 1938.   It operated in conjunction with RN Chatham throughout the war and was disbanded by being reduced to No 16 Wing on 8 March 1946. 

For details of its areas of operation, see the maps in the Members' Area

Air Officers Commanding

 4 Apr 1918             Brig-Gen J H W Becke

11 Mar 1919

7 Feb 1920 - 1 Dec 1936    Disbanded

 1 Jan 1937              Gp Capt I T Lloyd (Temporary)

15 Feb 1937            Gp Capt R M Field (Temporary)

27 Apr 1937            AVM H M Cave-Browne-Cave

17 Aug 1938            Gp Capt I T Lloyd (Temporary)

29 Aug 1938            Gp Capt J C Russell (Temporary)

20 Sep 1938           AVM C L Courtney (detached on special duty from 21 Sep 1938)

 8 Jan 1940              AVM J H S Tyssen

 1 Feb - 12 Mar 1940             Act AVM R L G Marix (Temporary)

12 Mar 1940           AVM J H S Tyssen

xx Feb 1942            AVM I T Lloyd

1942 - 43                AVM B E Baker

28 Jul 1943              AVM F L Hopps

23 Jun 1945             A/Cdre F L Pearce

This was formed at 16 Windsor Crescent, Newcastle-upon-Tyne on 1 April 1918 in No 4 Area, which was redesignated North-Eastern Area on 8 May 1918.  The title (Training) was added on 8 August 1918 but this was changed (Newcastle) on 1 July 1919.  On 1 October 1919, it moved to Marske, absorbing No 20 Group at the same time, finally disbanding on 18 October 1919.

It reformed at Wykeham Hall, Lee-on-Solent on 1 December 1936 as No 17 (Training) Group in Coastal Command, responsible for all the training units within the command.   On 1 December 1937, it moved to RAF Lee-on-Solent, then to Fort Grange, Gosport on 24 February 1939 before settling at the Mackenzie Hotel, 58 Melville Street, Edinburgh 3 on 5 February 1942.  It finally disbanded on 1 September 1945, with its units being transferred to No 18 Group.

Air Officers Commanding

1 Apr 1918            ?

18 Oct 1919 - 5 Mar 1937    Disbanded

 1 Jan 1937              Gp Capt W C Hicks

5 Mar 1937             A/Cdre C D Breese

13 Nov 1938           A/Cdre T E B Howe

xx xxx xxxx              A/Cdre A W Mylne

17 Nov 1941           AVM H G Smart

It was originally formed in Immingham on 1 April 1918 in No 4 Area, from RNAS units located in North-East England.  It initially controlled the seaplane stations at Hornsea Mere, Seaton Carew and Killingholme, the airship station at Howden, Kite Balloon station at Immingham and a Repair and Stores Depot at South Shields. No 4 Area was renamed North-Eastern Area on 8 May 1918 and in June control of its units was decentralised when No 68 Wing was formed at Seaton Carew to take control of the units there and at South Shields, by which time a refuelling station had been set up at Flamborough as well as airship mooring out stations at Chathill, Lowthorpe and Kirkleatham.  In July, Killingholme was transferred to the US Navy and the Group HQ moved to Habrough, with the title (Operations) being added on 8 August 1918. It was retitled (Naval) on 26 June 1919, and with the disbandment of North-Eastern Area on 1 January 1919 was transferred to the control of North-Western Area until being transferred to the newly formed Coastal Area on 15 September 1919 but disbanded on 18 October 1919.

It reformed at RAF Lee-on-Solent on 1 September 1938 as No 18 (Reconnaissance) Group in Coastal Command, moving to Donibristle on 27 September 1938.  A brief return to Lee-on-Solent took place on 11 October, then back to Donibristle on ten days later, before settling at Pitreavie Castle, Rosyth on 20 May 1939.  Responsible for Coastal Command's operational assets from Flamborough Head around the coast to the Mull of Kintyre.  When No 15 Group relocated to Liverpool, No 18's area was reduced ending at the north-west tip of the Scottish mainland (See maps in the Members' Area).  By 1943 it had been redesignated No 18 (General Reconnaissance) Group and continued to control maritime reconnaissance units into the post-war period until it was disbanded on 28 November 1969 by being redesignated HQ Northern Maritime Air Region.

The same day it was reformed within Strike Command as No 18 (Maritime) Group at Northwood, Middlesex, to take over the role of Coastal Command on its disbandment.  On 1 September 1972 the (Maritime) title was dropped but by January 1986 it had become No 18 (Maritime & Patrol) Group.  Following the collapse of the Soviet Union the RAF began to contract and as a result it was disbanded by merging it with No 11 Group on 1 April 1996 to form No 11/18 Group.

Air Officers Commanding

1 Apr 1918             Col H A Williamson

25 Apr 1919           Lt Col/Wg Cdr C E H Rathborne

18 Oct 1919 - 1 Sep 1938    Disbanded

27 Sep 1938             A/Cdre C D Breese

24 Mar 1941            AVM R L G Marix

10 Feb 1942            AVM A Durston

25 Jan 1943             AVM A B Ellwood

22 Feb 1944            AVM S P Simpson

13 Jan 1947             AVM E J Kingston-McClaughry

17 Jun 1948             AVM D V Carnegie

1 Nov 1950             AVM H T Lydford

29 Sep 1952            AVM R L Ragg

1 Apr 1955              AVM P D Cracroft

29 Sep 1958            AVM A D Selway

7 Jul 1961                AVM R B Thomson

15 Feb 1963            AVM K V Garside

25 Sep 1965            AVM A V R Johnstone

1 Oct 1968              AVM F D Hughes

28 Nov 1969           AM Sir Robert Craven

19 Nov 1972           AM Sir Anthony Heward

 3 Mar 1973            AM Sir Douglas Lowe

18 Sep 1975            AM Sir Robert Freer

30 Sep 1978            AM Sir Philip Lageson

10 May 1980           AM Sir John Curtiss

31 Mar 1983            AM Sir John Fitzpatrick

21 Mar 1986            AM Sir Barry Duxbury

25 Oct 1989             AM Sir Michael Stear

 1 May 1992             AM Sir John Harris

Originally formed on 1 April 1918 in No 4 Area as No 19 (Equipment) Group at the Racecourse Building on the Knavesmire in York, it was transferred to North-Eastern Area on 8 May 1918 when No 4 Area was renamed, however, the it was disbanded the following month.

It was reformed on 5 February 1941 as No 19 (General Reconnaissance) Group within Coastal Command at Mount Wise in Plymouth.  It worked alongside the Royal Navy’s Plymouth Command throughout World War Two but on 28 July 1947 relocated to RAF Mount Batten.  It continued to operate from there until disbanded by being renaming HQ Southern Maritime Air Region on 28 November 1969.

Air Officers Commanding

1 Apr 1918            ?

? - 5 Feb 1941    Disbanded

16 Feb 1941          A/Cdre G H Boyce

12 Sep 1941          AVM G R Bromet

28 Jul 1943           AVM B E Baker

 1 Dec 1944          AVM F H M Maynard

1945 - 47              AVM C B S Spackman

19 Aug 1947          AVM F L Hopps

8 Feb 1950            AVM G R C Spencer

18 Feb 1952          AVM T C Traill

24 Aug 1954          AVM G W Tuttle

10 Jul 1956            AVM G I L Saye

1 May 1959           AVM L W C Bower

27 Jan 1962           AVM S W R Hughes

1 Jul 1964              AVM J Barraclough

9 Feb 1967            AVM J H Lapsley

1 Aug 1968            AVM C M Clementi

This page was last updated on 18/04/24 

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