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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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[Badges]
It was originally formed in August 1918 in Salonika as No 30 (Operational) Group under the control of HQ RAF Middle East, taking over 16th Wing at the same time, itself being reduced to No 16 (Corps) Wing on 7 April 1919.
It reformed at 33/34 Tavistock Place, London WC 1 on 17 March 1937 as No 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group in Fighter Command. On 8 October 1937 it moved to Kelvin House, Cleveland Street, London and was transferred to Balloon Command when it formed on 1 November 1938. It moved to RAF Hook, Surrey on 21 September 1941 and disbanded on 7 January 1945.
Air Officers Commanding
xx Aug 1918 ?
7 Apr 1919 - 17 Mar 1937 Disbanded
1 May 1937 A/Cdre J G Hearson (Ret’d)
1 Nov 1939 Gp Capt W J Y Guilfoyle
1 Jul 1941 A/Cdre W C C Gell
1 Feb 1944: A/Cdre P L Lincoln
Listings of units and personnel controlled by this Group available in the Members' Area
It formed in August 1918 in Mesopotamia as No 31 (Operational) Group under HQ RAF Middle East, taking over 31st Wing and disbanded in April 1919.
It reformed at Kelvin House, Cleveland Street, London W1 on 1 April 1939 as No 31 (Balloon Barrage) Group in Balloon Command. On 1 May 1939 it moved to 176 Broad Street, Birmingham 15 and on 1 September 1939 to Forhill House, King's Norton, Birmingham, where it ceased to function on 13 November 1941, disbanding on 21 November.
Air Officers Commanding
xx Aug 1918 ?
Apr 1919 - 1 Apr 1939 Disbanded
xx xxx 1939 A/Cdre R F S Morton RAFO
xx Jan 1940 A/Cdre J C Quinnell
Listings of units and personnel controlled by this Group available in the Members' Area
It formed at Kelvin House, Cleveland Street, London, W1 on 1 March 1939 in Balloon Command before moving to Commercial Chambers, Nos1-13 Commercial Road, Portsmouth on 15 May 1939. On 22 June 1940 it moved to Harefield House, Winchester Rd, Romsey, Hampshire and then on 10 November 1941 to Claverton Manor, Claverton, near Bath, Somerset, where it disbanded on 15 November 1944.
Air Officers Commanding
1939 - 40 A/Cdre B C H Drew (Ret’d)
23 Jan 1940 A/Cdre A A Walser
15 Dec 1941 A/Cdre C J R Turner
Listings of units and personnel controlled by this Group available in the Members' Area
It formed at Kelvin House, Cleveland Street, London, W1 on 1 March 1939 in Balloon Command, before moving to No 3 Windsor Terrace, Newcastle-upon-Tyne on 22 May 1939. On 3 April 1940 it moved again, this time to Newlands House, Beverley Rd, Kingston-upon-Hull, assuming executive control on 7 April, but on 4 July moved yet again, to Parkhead House, Parkhead. Sheffield 11, where it disbanded on 4 September 1944. However, on the same day No 33 Group HQ Unit was formed in Sheffield to assist No 30 Group in clearing a matters in the ex No 33 Group Area.
Air Officers Commanding
1939 A/Cdre H R Busteed RAFO (Ret’d)
19 Feb 1940 A/Cdre S W Smith
15 Aug 1941 A/Cdre J G Murray
Listings of units and personnel controlled by this Group available in the Members' Area
Formed on 19 February 1940 in Balloon Command, it was initially attached No 33 Group at No 3 Windsor Terrace, Newcastle-upon-Tyne to control Nos 18 and 19 Balloon Centres and No.950 Sqn. It assumed executive control over these units on 7 April 1940 and on 15 May moved to Tor House, Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh where it remained until it disbanded into No 33 Group on 19 July 1943.
Air Officers Commanding
1 Mar 1940 A/Cdre H R Busteed (Ret'd)
1 Aug 1941 A/Cdre P L Lincoln
Listings of units and personnel controlled by this Group available in the Members' Area
It was formed at Netheravon on 11 October 1943 as No 38 (Airborne Force) Group within Fighter Command, from No 38 Wing but was transferred to HQ AEAF on 15 November 1943 and then to ADGB on 10 January 1944. On 12 October 1944 it moved to Marks Hall, Colchester and on 1 June 1945 was transferred to Transport Command. Retain as part of the post-war RAF it moved to Upavon on 7 May 1946, where it disbanded on 1 February 1951.
It reformed at Upavon on 1 January 1960 as No 38 (Air Support) Group within Transport Command, moving to Odiham on 17 May, where it remained until 15 May 1972 when it moved to Benson. With the disbandment of Transport Command on 1 July 1972, it was transferred to the control of Strike Command. On 10 November 1975 it returned to Upavon and absorbed No 46 Group but disbanded on 17 November 1983, being merged into No 1 Group.
It reformed, once again on 1 November 1992, this time at High Wycombe, taking over the air transport and air-to-air refuelling resources of No 1 Group. On 21 April 1995 the post of AOC was twinned with that of SASO, Strike Command, but it disbanded again on 1 April 2000.
It reformed, again, in July 2014 to control a variety of units in the roles of Communication, Logistics and Combat Support, Air Mobility and Medical Operations.
Air Officers Commanding (No 38 Wing shown for clarity)
15 Jan 1942 A/Cdre Sir Nigel Norman
xx May 1943 A/Cdre W H Primrose
6 Oct 1943 AVM L N Hollinghurst
18 Oct 1944 AVM J R Scarlett-Streatfield
xx May 1945 ?
31 Jul 1945 AVM R Ivelaw-Chapman
5 Nov 1946 AVM A L Fiddment
17 Jan 1948 AVM A C H Sharp
25 Jan 1950 AVM E J Kingston-McClaughry
1 Feb 1951 - 1 Jan 1960 Disbanded
1 Jan 1960 AVM P G Wykeham
27Jul 1962 AVM T W Piper
1 Jan 1965 AVM L D Mavor
1 Mar 1966 AVM P C Fletcher
1 Aug 1967 AVM H B Martin
24 Jun 1970 AVM D Crowley-Milling
21 Feb 1972 AVM F S Hazlewood
2 Nov 1974
AVM P G K Williamson
10 Dec 1977
AVM J A Gilbert
27 Feb 1980
AVM D P Hall
17 Sep 1983
AVM D Parry-Evans
17 Nov 1983 - 1 Nov 1992 Disbanded
1 Nov 1992
No appointment
15 Jan 1993
AVM J A G May
xx xxx 1994
AVM D Cousins
21 Apr 1995
AVM D A Hurrell
30 Jan 1998
AVM P O Sturley
1 Apr 2000 - xx Jul 2014 Disbanded
xx Jul 2014
AVM T L J Bishop
16 Jun 2016 AVM S C Gray
xx Dec 2019: AVM S D Ellard
Listings of units and personnel controlled by this Group available in the Members' Area
It was formed as an Equipment Group at No.81 Weyhill Road, Andover on 3 January 1939 in Maintenance Command, assuming executive control on 15 March, responsible for all equipment except bombs and explosives. On 31 August 1939 it moved to Caldicott House, Caldicott Road, Abingdon, then to RAF Ramridge, Weyhill, Abingdon, on 1 June 1944, with a detachment at Lyneham being formed on 15 August. Retained as part of the post-war RAF organisation it moved to Bicester in February 1947, absorbing No 42 Group on 2 January 1956 and then moving to Newton on 31 March 1957, where it disbanded on 28 July 1961.
Air Officers Commanding
Disbanded 28.7.61
27 Mar 1939 Gp Capt T G Skeats (SOA)
1 May 1939 A/Cdre R W Thomas
9 May 1940 A/Cdre - AVM W B Cushion
25 Aug 1941 AVM E W Havers
1 Dec 1945 AVM W J B Curtis
4 Jul 1947 AVM T G Bowler
18 May 1949 AVM L J V Bates
10 Jun 1952 AVM H D Jackman
17 Aug 1955 AVM G L Worthington
17 Feb 1958 AVM E N Lowe
For a more detailed account of the work of this group in WW2 and for listings of units and personnel controlled by it go to the Members' Area
This was formed as an Aircraft Group at No.81 Weyhill Road, Andover on 1 January 1939 in Maintenance Command, assuming executive control on 3 April. On 1 January 1940 it became responsible for the supply and allocation of aircraft from ASUs to flying units and on 1 February it also took over the allotment of non-effective aircraft, other than as a result of an accident, which were beyond repair. It was transferred to the Ministry of Aircraft Production (later Ministry of Supply) at some point and was retained as part of the post-war RAF organisation it moved to RAF Andover on 21 December 1946.
On 2 July 1947 it reverted to Air Ministry control and absorbed No 43 Group on 2 January 1956, disbanding on 21 July 1961.
Air Officers Commanding
1 Apr 1939 Gp Capt R J Mounsey (SOA)
10 Jul 1939 Gp Capt E J D Townesend (reverted to SOA)
28 Jul 1939 A/Cdre-AVM G Laing
1 Jan 1945: AVM G D Daly
11 Jul 1946 AVM C W Weedon
1 Nov 1948 AVM H J Roach
6 Nov 1950 AVM H G White
5 Feb 1953 AVM G Combe
12 Apr 1955 AVM R G Hart
10 Sep 1956 AVM W A Opie
4 May 1959 AVM J D Baker-Carr
For a more detailed account of the work of this group in WW2 and for listings of units and personnel controlled by it go to the Members' Area
It was formed as an Ammunition and Fuel Group at 81 Weyhill Road. Andover on 1 Jan 1939 in Maintenance Command, assuming executive control on 17 April. On 4 September 1939 it moved to "Highwoods", Burghfield Common, near Reading, from where it controlled the supply of ammunition and fuel to the RAF throughout WW2. Retained as part of the post-war RAF organisation it moved to Kidlington on 18 March 1946, disbanding on 2 Jan 1956 when it was absorbed into No 40 Group.
Air Officers Commanding
20 Apr 1939 Gp Capt T Fawdrey
29 Aug 1939: A/Cdre A W Bigsworth
22 Apr 1940 A/Cdre - AVM J A Stone
15 Jul 1945 AVM W J B Curtis
24 Nov 1945 A/Cdre T G Bowler
8 Jul 1947 A/Cdre E C Farman
7 Mar 1949 A/Cdre C W Gore
1 Jan 1951 A/Cdre J Marson
5 Feb 1953 A/Cdre G L Worthington
1955 A/Cdre R C Storrar
For a more detailed account of the work of this group in WW2 and for listings of units and personnel controlled by it go to the Members' Area
The nucleus of this Group was formed on 1 January 1939 at 81 Weyhill Road, Andover as a Repair and Salvage Group in Maintenance Command, with formation commencing in June, assuming responsibility on 3 Sep 1939 for salvage of aircraft and equipment. In May 1940, control was transferred to the Ministry of Aircraft Production and on 6 October it moved to Morris Motor Works, Cowley, Oxford. On 5 November 1940 a sub-unit, No.43 Group (Salvage) was set up at Merton College Oxford but this sub-unit moved to Magdalen College on 28 January 1941, where it was joined by the main Group HQ on 1 February 1941.
It moved to Old Church Lane, Stanmore on 1 May 1945 being retained as part of the post-war RAF organisation, moving to Hucknall on 28 June 1947, where it disbanded on 2 Jan 1956 when it was absorbed into No 41 Group.
Air Officers Commanding
20 Nov 1940 A/Cdre - AVM K M St C G Leask
1 Feb 1944 AVM E J Cuckney
7 Jun 1945 AVM C B Cooke
18 Feb 1946 AVM T A Wawne-Browne
xx xxx 1947: A/Cdre C E H Allen (SASO - Acting)
1 Oct 1947 AVM H J Roach
1 Nov 1948 AVM H G White
30 Jun 1950 A/Cdre H H Chapman
10 Jan 1952 A/Cdre A F Hutton
1 Dec 1952 A/Cdre F G S Mitchell
17 Feb 1955 A/Cdre L P Moore
For a more detailed account of the work of this group in WW2 and for listings of units and personnel controlled by it go to the Members' Area
It was formed at Eastern Avenue, Barnwood, Gloucester on 15 August 1941 within Ferry Command, absorbing the Overseas Air Movements Control Unit, which disbanded on the same date. It was transferred to Transport Command on its formation on 25 March 1943. By this time it controlled all non-operational aircraft approaching or leaving the UK to the south or west for a distance of approximately 1,000 miles, as well as Nos.24, 271, 510 and 511 Squadrons. It was also responsible for ferrying single-engined aircraft to the Mediterranean, and was responsible for a number of Command Organisational matters, these being: -
However, these responsibilities were transferred to HQ Transport Command on 1 August 1943, it finally disbanded into No 46 Group on 14 August 1946.
Air Officers Commanding
15 Aug 1941 AVM E J Kingston-McClaughry
23 Dec 1944 AVM G R Beamish
15 Jun 1945 A/Cdre L T Pankhurst
8 Feb 1946 A/Cdre H L Patch
Listings of units and personnel controlled by this Group available in the Members' Area
This was formed at Dorval in Canada on 1 April 1943 as No 45 (Atlantic Transport) Group from RAF Ferry Command. It was redesignated No 45 Group by 6 November 1944 and was transferred to Coastal Command on 1 January 1946, finally being reduced to Wing status as No 45 Wing on 15 February 1946.
Air Officers Commanding
1 Apr 1943 AVM R L G Marix
15 Jun 1945 AVM G R Beamish
Listings of units and personnel controlled by this Group available in the Members' Area
It was formed at Uxbridge Road, Stanmore on 1 January 1944 in Transport Command. An Advanced HQ was formed at Netheravon in February and in April the Main HQ moved to Bushey Hall Hotel, Bushey, near Watford, Hertfordshire. On 30 June 1945 an Advance Party moved to St Germain-en-Laye, by which time the Main HQ was located at Dinton House, Vicarage, Hatch End with detachments at 'Walders', Harrow Weald and 'Cedars'. Uxbridge Road, Harrow but on 20 August it reassembled at Bushey Hall Hotel. Remaining in existence post-war it moved to Manston on 30 July 1946, absorbing No 44 Group the following month. Throughout this post-war period an Advanced HQ had remained on the continent, under the control of BAFO but on 1 December 1948, the Advanced HQ at Buckeburg became HQ No 46 Group, leaving a Rear HQ in the UK and on 1 January 1949, the AOC, No 47 Group assumed responsibility for HQ No 46 Group (Rear)'s UK based operational activities as well as those of No 47 Group. It moved to Luneburg on 14 March 1949 and was transferred to BAFO on 1 May 1949, with th e Rear HQ being being absorbed into No 47 Group. The HQ at Luneburg closed on 15 October 1949 and the Group officially disbanded on 31 October 1949.
It reformed at Abingdon on 1 November 1949 with the number-plate being transferred to No 47 (Transport) Group but disbanded again on 31 March 1950.
It reformed again on 1 September 1972 at Upavon as No 46 (Strategic Support) Group within Strike Command to take over the transport role of Air Support Command. It was disbanded into No 38 Group on 1 January 1976.
Air Officers Commanding
1 Feb 1944 A/Cdre - AVM A L Fiddament
16 Sep 1944 A/Cdre L Darvall
25 Jun 1945 A/Cdre W W Straight
1 Nov 1945 A/Cdre W E Staton
1 Oct 1947 AVM J W F Merer
15 Oct 1949 - 1 Nov 1949 Disbanded
1 Nov 1949 ?
31 Mar 1950 - 1 Sep 1972 Disbanded
1 Sep 1972
AM Sir Harry Burton
3 Jan 1973
AM Sir Denis Crowley-Milling
7 Dec 1973
AM Sir Neil Cameron
3 Oct 1974
AVM N E Hoad
Listings of units and personnel controlled by this Group available in the Members' Area
This was formed at The Hall, Milton Ernest, Bedfordshire on 1 January 1945 from No 116 Wing in Transport Command. It moved to Abingdon on 15 April 1948, and on 1 January 1949, the AOC, No 47 Group assumed responsibility for the UK based operational activities of HQ No 46 Group (Rear) as well as those of No 47 Group. On 1 May 1949 the Rear HQ of No 46 Group was absorbed into this group and was redesignated No No 46 Group on 1 November 1949.
Air Officers Commanding
1 Jan 1945 A/Cdre F J Fressanges
xx Aug 1945 AVM A C Stevens
15 May 1946 AVM D F W Atcherley
1 Oct 1946 A/Cdre L G Harvey
15 Jan 1948 A/Cdre A P Revington
Listings of units and personnel controlled by this Group available in the Members' Area
This was formed at The Hall, Milton Ernest, Bedfordshire on 29 October 1945 in Transport Command. A detachment known as 48 Group (Unit) was set up at Little Staughton on 26 January 1946, but the Group disbanded into No 47 Group on 15 May 1946.
Air Officers Commanding
xx Dec 1945 A/Cdre D F W Atcherley
Listings of units and personnel controlled by this Group available in the Members' Area
This page was last updated on 25/10/24©
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