Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Named Groups and Other Formations with Group status

This was formed at West Africa House, Kingsway, London WC2 on 16 August 1918 to control RAF experimental establishments, disbanding on 1 January 1919.

Air Officers Commanding

xx Aug 1918 ?

This was formed at Turnhouse under the C-in-C, Grand Fleet on 1 November 1918  to control the RAF units at Turnhouse, Rosyth and Donibristle, disbanding in December 1918.

Air Officers Commanding

xx Nov 1918 ?

This was formed at the Covent Garden Hotel, London WC2 in November 1918 to control Nos 2, 7, 8 & 10 Aircraft Acceptance Parks.  It had moved to 14 Southampton Street, London by April 1919, when it re-located to 4 Thurloe Place, London SW7 on 14 April, where it disbanded on 1 May 1919.

Air Officers Commanding

xx Nov 1918 ?

This was formed at 145 Sloane Street, London SW1 on 18 July 1927 from HQ Special Reserve and Auxiliary Air Force but was redesignated No 1 Air Defence Group on 25 August 1927.

Air Officers Commanding

1 Dec 1925         A/Cdre J G Hearson

9 Aug 1927         A/Cdre E L Gerrard

This was formed at Eastchurch on 1 February 1934, being placed directly under the Air Ministry for all matters affecting training, and under the Air Officer Commanding, Inland Area, for administration.

Functions of the Armament Group - The functions of the Air Officer Commanding, Armament Group, are as follows:. -

1. To advise the Air Council on matters affecting armament training, and to develop methods of training.

2. To consider the tactical application of air armament, and to propose appropriate methods of training.

3. To maintain close liaison with the Air Ministry and experimental establishments in connection with the technical development of air armament efficiency and to make such recommendations as he may deem advisable.

4. To be represented at important exercises and/or conferences concerning armament training or development arranged by AOCs, home commands, who will advise the Air Officer Commanding, Armament Group, direct, in advance, of the dates of such exercises and/or conferences. In this connection, two copies of reports from all commands on any armament exercises or trials carried out by them, and two copies of reports on all forms of special armament training, will be forwarded to the Air Officer Commanding, Armament Group, at the same time as the originals are forwarded to the Air Ministry.

5. To control the work carried out by the Air Armament School in accordance with the policy laid down by the Air Ministry..

6. To control the training organisation at the armament training camps, and to render such reports in connection with the work at the camps, as may be called for by the Air Ministry.

It was transferred to Training Command on 1 May 1936 and redesignated No 25 Group on 1 December 1937.

Air Officers Commanding

1 Feb 1934         A/Cdre L A Pattinson

18 Feb 1937        A/Cdre A G R Garrod

This was formed at Alexandria on 8 September 1939 but was redesignated No 201 Group on 18 September.

This was formed at Bushey Park, Teddington in July 1945, largely from No 5 Group, Bomber Command to control the VLR Bomber Force planned for deployment in the Pacific.  However, following the end of hostilities as a result of the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it was disbanded on 15 September 1945.  A nucleus HQ was formed the same day to complete all actions in connection with the disbandment process.  Advance HQ, 'Tiger Force', which had already been despatched was combined with the Advanced Echelon HQ, No 302 Wing to form AHQ Hong Kong.

This was formed on 1 April 1948 as a Sub-Group under the control of Flying Training Command as the controlling formation for: -

• Empire Flying School - Hullavington

• Central Flying School - Little Rissington

It was commanded by an AOC, responsible directly to HQ Flying Training Command with the powers of a Group Commander.  The CFS and Little Rissington were transferred to No 23 Group on 15 June 1949, whilst Hullavington was transferred toNo 21 Group on 1 July 1949.

This was formed on 5 April 1948 as a Sub-Group under the control of Flying Training Command as the controlling formation for: -

• Empire Air Armament School - Manby

• Central Gunnery School - Leconfield

It was commanded by an AOC, responsible directly to HQ Flying Training Command with the powers of a Group Commander, however, it was absorbed into the newly formed RAF Flying College on 15 June 1949.

This was formed on 5 April 1948 as a Sub-Group under the control of Flying Training Command as the controlling formation for: -

• Empire Air Navigation School - Shawbury

• School of Air Traffic Control - Watchfield

It was commanded by an AOC, responsible directly to HQ Flying Training Command with the powers of a Group Commander.  It was disbanded on being absorbed into No 21 Group on 16 May 1949.

AOC Training Units

Post established xx xxx 1977? in RAF Support Command, to take over the duties previously carried out by the AOCs of numbered Groups within  Training Command.  Transferred to HQ Personnel and Training Command, 1 Apr 1994.  Post became AOC Training Group at the same time.  It has been included here because the post  replaced that of Group commander and was itself replaced by a unit of Group status.

 Air Officers Commanding

 2 May 1977                AVM P E Bairsto

10 Nov 1979                AVM J Rogers

 4 Jul 1981                    AVM F D G Clark

29 Jan 1983                  AVM M K Adams

 7 Jan 1984                   AVM R I Stuart-Paul

11 Nov 1985                AVM J D Spottiswood

 3 Mar 1989                 AVM M J Pilkington

30 Jul 1992                  AVM C C C Coville