Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation


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RAF Volunteer Reserve Units


Most RAFVR personnel were absorbed into normal RAF units but a few dedicated RAFVR units have been formed, although these have now been absorbed into the RAuxAF.

RAF Police Flights (RAFVR)

Six of these were formed on 1 June 1949 in Reserve Command, one for each RAF Police District and each administered by Reserve Centres as follows: -

Police Flight (RAFVR) RAF Police District HQ Reserve Centre Reserve Group
No 261 No 4 Eastern (Duxford) No 5, Cambridge No 61
No 262 No 6 South Western (Filton) No 22, Pucklechurch No 62
No 263 No 3 Midland (Syerston) No 65, Alveston No 64
No 264 No 2 Northern (Ouston) No 64, Long Benton No 64
No 265 No 5 London (Kensington) No 83, Stanmore Park No 65
No 266 No 1 Scotland and Northern Ireland (Turnhouse) No 101 Bishopbriggs No 66

From 1 May 1950, the following changes in location and nomenclature occurred: -

  1. No 264 (RAFVR) Police Flight moved from No 64 Reserve Centre to No 42 Reserve Centre, RAF Fazakerley in No 63 Group.

  2. No 264 (RAFVR) Police Flight at No 42 Reserve Centre, RAF Fazakerley was re-numbered No 263 (RAFVR) Police Flight.

  3. No 263 (RAFVR) Police Flight at No 65 Reserve Centre, Alveston was re-numbered No 264 (RAFVR) Police Flight.

No 265 (RAFVR) Police Flight was transferred to No 61 Group on 1 February 1951.


No 1 Air Intelligence Unit (RAFVR)

This was formed in No 65 Group at 4 Devonshire Street, London in Home Command on 13 November1950, parented by No 81 Reserve Centre.  It was transferred to No 61 Group on 1 February 1951, no further details at present.


No 7006 (VR) Squadron

Intelligence Support Squadron based at RAF Waddington


No 7010 (VR) Squadron

Photographic Interpretation Support Squadron based at RAF Waddington


No 7630 (VR) Squadron

Intelligence Support Squadron based at DISC Chicksands


No 7644 (VR) Squadron

Corporate Communications Support Squadron based at RAF High Wycombe

There have also been a number of units formed to provide air experience and gliding training to Air Cadets and I have included these here.

The Air Experience Flights are commanded by Regular RAF officers staffed by a combination of regular volunteer and RAFVR(T) pilots, whilst the Volunteer Gliding School/Squadrons are completely manned by RAFVR(T) and ATC personnel.  All AEF were equipped with Chipmunk T Mk 10s until they were parented by the UASs, when they operated the Bulldog T Mk 1 and later Tutor T Mk 1.

RAF Training Aircraft and Markings


No 1 Air Experience Flight

Formed  8 September 1958 at Biggin Hill with Chipmunks.  Further moves followed to  White Waltham, West Malling and Manston.  From 1 April 1995 it has been parented by University of Wales Air Squadron and is located at St Athan, being equipped with Grob Tutor T Mk 1s.


No 2 Air Experience Flight

Formed  8 September 1958 at Hamble, moving to Hurn on 11 December 1978.  From 1 April 1996 it has been parented by Southampton University Air Squadron and is located at Boscombe Down, being equipped with Grob Tutor T Mk 1s.


No 3 Air Experience Flight

Formed  8 September 1958 at Filton, moving to Hullavington in June 1989 and Colerne in 1993.  From 1 April 1996 it has been parented by Bristol University Air Squadron and is still located at Colerne, being equipped with Grob Tutor T Mk 1s.


No 4 Air Experience Flight

Formed  8 September 1958 at Exeter and operated from there until disbanding on 27 December 1997.  It reformed in January 1997 parented by Glasgow and Strathclyde University Air Squadron and is now based at Glasgow Airport, equipped with Grob Tutor T Mk 1s


No 5 Air Experience Flight

Formed July 1958 at Cambridge, but in September 1966 it moved to Swanton Morley, however, a year later it was back at Cambridge.  It was the only AEF to operate a beagle Husky, which had been presented to the ATC by the TV presenter Hughie Green.  From January 1996 it has been parented by Cambridge University Air Squadron, remaining at Cambridge until about 2000.  It is now located at RAF Wyton, being equipped with Grob Tutor T Mk 1s.


No 6 Air Experience Flight

Formed  8 September 1958 at White Waltham, moving to Abingdon in 1973 and Benson in 1992.  From 26 November 1995 it was parented by London University Air Squadron but when London UAS moved to Wyton, 6 AEF remained at Benson with parenting being taken over by Oxford UAS, both units being equipped with Grob Tutor T Mk 1s.


No 7 Air Experience Flight

Formed  8 September 1958 at Newton and remained there until the closure of the station.  From 1 January 1996 it has been parented by East Midlands University Air Squadron and is now located at Cranwell, being equipped with Grob Tutor T Mk 1s.


No 8 Air Experience Flight

Formed  in October 1958 at Cosford, moving to Shawbury in 1960, back to Cosford in 1978, Shawbury in 1979 and finally to Cosford, where it remains in 1996.  From 1 April 1996 it has been parented by Birmingham University Air Squadron, also located at Cosford and equipped with Grob Tutor T Mk 1s.


No 9 Air Experience Flight

Formed  8 September 1958 at Yeadon, moving to Church Fenton on 2 November 1959, Dishforth (1962), back to Church Fenton (1966) and Finningley in 1975.  From 1 April 1996 it has been parented by Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron at Church Fenton but with flying being carried out at Linton-on-Ouse.  It is now equipped with Grob Tutor T Mk 1s.


No 10 Air Experience Flight

Formed  8 September 1958 at Woodvale and from 1 April 1996 it has been parented by Manchester and Salford University Air Squadron and is still located at Woodvale, being equipped with Grob Tutor T Mk 1s.


No 11 Air Experience Flight

Formed  8 September 1958 at Ouston, moving to Leeming in 1974, Tees-side Airport in 1985 and back to Leeming in 1988.  From September 1995 it has been parented by Northumbrian University Air Squadron, remaining at Leeming equipped with Grob Tutor T Mk 1s.


No 12 Air Experience Flight

Formed  8 September 1958 at Turnhouse and remained there until 1 April 1996 when it moved to Leuchars, where it became parented by East Lowlands University Air Squadron, equipped with Grob Tutor T Mk 1s.


No 13 Air Experience Flight

Formed  8 September 1958 at Sydenham, moving to Aldergrove in 1973.  It always operated alongside Belfast UAS and used its aircraft, so for years it was the only AEF operating Bulldogs.  It disbanded on 31 July 1996.  Under new proposals announced in Parliament in March 2016, this unit will be reformed but no location has been stated as yet.


No 14 Air Experience Flight

Under new proposals announced in Parliament in March 2016, this unit will be formed, probably in Northern Ireland but a date as not yet been stated.


Central Gliding School/Squadron

Currently located at RAF Syerston, equipped with Grob Viking T M 1s.  It became the Central Gliding school in ?  However, the unit is not a RAFVR unit, being commanded by a regular Wing Commander with a regular Squadron Leader as CFI and the instructors being members of the RAFRO.  Under new proposals announced in Parliament in March 2016, this unit will be retained and remain at its present location.


Volunteer Gliding Schools/Squadrons

In late 2005, the Volunteer Gliding Schools were renamed Volunteer Gliding Squadrons.

No 611 Volunteer Gliding School/Squadron

Currently located at RAF Honington, equipped with Grob Viking T Mk 1s but it will disband as part of the planned rationalisation programme announced in Parliament in March 2016.


No 612 Volunteer Gliding School/Squadron

Currently located at Dalton Barracks, Abingdon (Army), equipped with Grob Vigilant T Mk 1s but it will disband as part of the planned rationalisation programme announced in Parliament in March 2016.


No 613 Volunteer Gliding School/Squadron

Currently located at RAF Halton, equipped with Grob Vigilant T Mk 1s but it will disband as part of the planned rationalisation programme announced in Parliament in March 2016.


No 614 Volunteer Gliding School/Squadron

Currently located at MDP Wethersfield (MoD), equipped with Grob Viking T Mk 1s.  Under new proposals announced in Parliament in March 2016, this unit will be retained and remain at its present location.


No 615 Volunteer Gliding School/Squadron

Currently located at RAF Kenley, equipped with Grob Viking T Mk 1s.  Under new proposals announced in Parliament in March 2016, this unit will be retained and remain at its present location.


No 616 Volunteer Gliding School/Squadron

Currently located at RAF Henlow, equipped with Grob Vigilant T Mk 1s but it will disband as part of the planned rationalisation programme announced in Parliament in March 2016.


No 618 Volunteer Gliding School/Squadron

Currently located at RAF Odiham, equipped with Grob Vigilant T Mk 1s but it will disband as part of the planned rationalisation programme announced in Parliament in March 2016.


No 621 Volunteer Gliding School/Squadron

Currently located at Hullavington (Army), equipped with Grob Viking T Mk 1s.  Under new proposals announced in Parliament in March 2016, this unit will be retained but will move to RNAS Merryfield.


No 622 Volunteer Gliding School/Squadron

Currently located at Trenchard Lines, Upavon, equipped with Grob Viking T Mk 1s.  Under new proposals announced in Parliament in March 2016, this unit will be retained and remain at its present location.


No 624 Volunteer Gliding School/Squadron

Currently located at RMB Chivenor, equipped with Grob Vigilant T Mk 1s but it will disband as part of the planned rationalisation programme announced in Parliament in March 2016.


No 625 Volunteer Gliding School/Squadron

Formed at RAF South Cerney from No 83 Gliding School, it later moved to RAF Hullavington (later Buckley Barracks), eventually being equipped with Grob Viking T Mk 1s until it was disbanded by being amalgamated with No 621 VGS on 1 August 2013.


No 626 Volunteer Gliding School/Squadron

Currently located at RNAS Predannack, equipped with Grob Viking T Mk 1s.  Under new proposals announced in Parliament in March 2016, this unit will be retained and remain at its present location.


No 631 Volunteer Gliding School/Squadron

Currently located at RAF Woodvale, equipped with Grob Viking T Mk 1s.  Under new proposals announced in Parliament in March 2016, this unit will be retained and remain at its present location.


No 632 Volunteer Gliding School/Squadron

Currently located at RAF Ternhill, equipped with Grob Vigilant T Mk 1s.  Under new proposals announced in Parliament in March 2016, this unit will be retained and remain at its present location.


No 633 Volunteer Gliding School/Squadron

Currently located at RAF Cosford, equipped with Grob Vigilant T Mk 1s but it will disband as part of the planned rationalisation programme announced in Parliament in March 2016.


No 634 Volunteer Gliding School/Squadron

Currently located at MOD St Athan, equipped with Grob Viking T Mk 1s but it will disband as part of the planned rationalisation programme announced in Parliament in March 2016.


No 635 Volunteer Gliding School/Squadron

Currently located at RAF Topcliffe.  It is equipped with Grob Vigilant T Mk 1s but it will disband as part of the planned rationalisation programme announced in Parliament in March 2016.


No 636 Volunteer Gliding School/Squadron

Currently located at Swansea Airport, equipped with Grob Viking T Mk 1s but it will disband as part of the planned rationalisation programme announced in Parliament in March 2016.


No 637 Volunteer Gliding School/Squadron

Currently located at Little Rissington (Army), equipped with Grob Vigilant T Mk 1s.  Under new proposals announced in Parliament in March 2016, this unit will be retained and remain at its present location.


No 642 Volunteer Gliding School/Squadron

Currently located at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, equipped with Grob Vigilant T Mk 1s but it will disband as part of the planned rationalisation programme announced in Parliament in March 2016.


No 643 Volunteer Gliding School/Squadron

This was located at RAF Syerston, equipped with Grob Vigilant T Mk 1s taken from the CGS Pool until 31 August 2013 when it was disbanded by being amalgamated with No 644 VGS.


No 644 Volunteer Gliding School/Squadron

Currently located at RAF Syerston, equipped with Grob Vigilant T Mk 1s taken from the CGS Pool.  Under new proposals announced in Parliament in March 2016, this unit will be retained and remain at its present location.


No 645 Volunteer Gliding School/Squadron

Currently located at Topcliffe and equipped with Grob Vigilant T Mk 1s, prior to which they had been at Catterick (latterly Army), equipped with Grob Viking T Mk 1s.  Under new proposals announced in Parliament in March 2016, this unit will be retained and remain at its present location.


No 661 Volunteer Gliding School/Squadron

Currently located at Kirknewton (Army), equipped with Grob Viking T Mk 1s.  Under new proposals announced in Parliament in March 2016, this unit will be retained and remain at its present location.


No 662 Volunteer Gliding School/Squadron

Currently located at RMB Arbroath, equipped with Grob Viking T Mk 1s but it will disband as part of the planned rationalisation programme announced in Parliament in March 2016.


No 663 Volunteer Gliding School/Squadron

Currently located at Kinloss Barracks, equipped with Grob Vigilant T Mk 1s but it will disband as part of the planned rationalisation programme announced in Parliament in March 2016.


No 664 Volunteer Gliding School/Squadron

Currently located at Newtownards, equipped with Grob Vigilant T Mk 1s but it will disband as part of the planned rationalisation programme announced in Parliament in March 2016.


This page was last updated on 10/11/243©

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