Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Unit and Establishment Nomenclature

Nomenclature of Service Squadrons

It has been decided to standardize the names of service squadrons.  In future squadrons will not be referred to by the nomenclature of the machines with which the squadron is equipped but by the titles indicated hererunder, e.g. a squadron equipped  with Handley Page machines will not be referred to as a Handley Page squadron but as a "Bombing Squadron (Twin Engine), Class 'C'".

The types of machines normally figuring in each category are shown below: -

Source - Air Ministry Weekly Order 53/1920 dated 15 January 1920

Official Permanent Nomenclature of Post-War Units

1. Peace establishments applicable to RAF units have now been issued, and since their it has been decided to rename certain. units. The following list gives:-

   1. Establishment number

   2. Nomenclature under which establishments have been issued.

   3. Nomenclature to be adopted in future

2. All RAF establishments, under the new nomenclature will ultimately be issued in book form.

3. In future the new nomenclature of RAF units will be used in all orders, communications, etc.

4. The practice of referring to RAF units by the locality in which such units are situatedwill cease forthwith.

   a	b	c
   IA/12	RAF Depot, Uxbridge	RAF Depot
   IA/19	Balloon Training School (Larkhill)	School of Balloon Training (Home)
   IA/21	Aircraft Repair Depot (Henlow)	Inland Area Aircraft Depot
   IA/23	Cadet College, Cranwell	RAF (Cadet) College
   IA/24	Balloon Stores Depot (Kingsnorth)	Balloon Stores Depot (Home)
   IA/25	School of Technical Training (Boys)	No 1 School of Technical Training (Boys) Home
   IA/28	Instrument Design Establishment, Biggin Hill	Instrument Design Establishment (Home)
   IA/29	Boys Training Wing, Cranwell	No 2 School of Technical Training (Boys) Home
   IA/30	School of Technical Training (Men), Eastchurch	School of Technical Training (Men) Home
   IA/32	Aeroplane Experimental Station, Martlesham	Aeroplane Experimental Establishment (Home)
   CA/7	School of RAF and Navy Co-operation and Navigation, Calshot and Lee-on-Solent	School of Naval Co-operation and Aerial Navigation
   CA/8	Houton Bay Station Establishment	RAF Practice Base (Houton Bay)
   CA/9	Smoogroo Station Establishment	RAF Practice Base (Smoogroo)
   CA/12	Marine and Armament Experimental Station, Isle of Grain	Marine and Armament Experimental Establishment (Home)
   CA/13	Air Ministry Wireless Station	Air Ministry Wireless Section
   CA/14	Torpedo Training Squadron  (Gosport)	No 210 Squadron
   CA/15	Seaplane Station, Felixstowe	No 230 Squadron
   CA/16	RAF Station (Leuchars)	RAF Base (Leuchars)
   CA/18	Aircraft Repair Depot (Donibristle)	Coastal Area Aircraft Depot
   CA/20	Flying Boat Flight (cadre)	No 238 Squadron (cadre)
   CA/21	Airship Station (Howden)	RAF Airship Base (Howden)
   EA/1	Egyptian Area Headquarters	Middle East Area Headquarters
   EA/2	Group Headquarters (Egypt)	Egyptian Group Headquarters
   EA/3	Group Headquarters (Palestine)	Palestine Group Headquarters
   MW/6	Central Air Communication Station, Mesopotamia	Central Air Communication Section (Mesopotamia)
   MG/4	Seaplane Station (Malta)	No 267 Squadron (1 flight)
   MG/5	Seaplane Station (Alexandria)	No 202 Squadron (1 flight)

Source - Air Ministry Weekly Order 53/1920 dated 1 March 1920

Designations of Squadrons and Flights

1. From the operational and administrative points of view it is considered desirable that the functional character of the unit should be embodied in its title for convenience of identication.

2. The following table shows in columns (2) and (3) the respective titles of squadrons, and of flights detailed for duty with the Navy, which are invariably to be used in future official correspondence and orders in the field

Source - Air Ministry Weekly Order 218/1924 dated 27 March 1924

No 6 (Army Co-operation) Squadron - Change of designation

The designation of this unit is altered to No 6 (Bombing) Squadron as from 1st April 1931.

Source - Air Ministry Order A54/1931 dated 2 April 1931.

Bomber Transport Squadrons

1. Squadrons equipped with troop-carrying aircraft will in future be known as "Bomber Transport Squadrons."

2. The change in nomenclature will take effect as from the date of this order.

Source - Air Ministry Order A61/1931 dated 2 April 1931.

Nomenclature of Aircraft and Engines

It has been brought to notice that the names of aircraft and engines in service use are frequently referred to in official papers with the manufacturer's name added to the official name. This practice is to be discontinued, and all references to service aircraft and engines in correspondence, publications, reports, memoranda, drawings, etc., should be by name only, in strict accordance with the official designations published from time to time in Air Ministry Orders.

Source - Air Ministry Order A313/1932 dated 17 November 1932.

Designations of Squadrons and Flights

1. From the operational and administrative point of view, it is considered desirable that the functional character of the unit should, where possible, be embodied in its title for convenience of identification.  The only exceptions to this rule will be the units previously designated Coastal Reconnaissance Units, the full title of which will now he as in the following example: -

No, 201 (Flying Boat) Squadron; and the abbreviated title, 201 (FB) Sqn.

2. The following table shows, n the second and third column, examples of the respective titles of the remaining squadrons and of Fleet Air Arm Rights that are invariably to be used in official correspondence and in orders in the field
    

3. Flights in carriers will be called Fleet Fighter Flights, whether they are armed with 2-seater fighter reconnaissance aircraft, single-seater fighters, or a mixture of both types of aircraft.  Two-seater fighter flights embarked in cruisers will be known as Fighter Reconnaissance Flights.

4. (i ) In special cases where, for administrative reasons, it is particularly necessary to describe the function of a squadron more fully, the following abbreviations may be used

   Single engined bomber	SEB
   Twin-engined bomber	TEB
   General purpose	GP

The addition of "(D)" or "(N)" after the first two of the above abbreviations will signify "Day" or "Night" respectively.

Twin-engined day bomber

TEB (D)

(ii) The use of these more descriptive abbreviations must be strictly limited to the occasions referred to at (i) above.

(AMWO 221/29 cancelled.)

Source - Air Ministry Order A336/1932 dated 1 December 1932.

AMO A336/32 is further amended as follows

Para. 4. Delete this paragraph and substitute

4. (i.) In special cases where, for administrative reasons, it is particularly necessary to describe the function of a bomber squadron more fully, the following abbreviations may be used

(ii) The use of these more descriptive abbreviations is to be limited to the occasions referred to at (I) above."

Source - Air Ministry Order A307/1934 dated 13 December 1934.

Designation of Fleet Air Arm Squadrons

1. Further to AMO N155/33, the following table shows the respective titles of Fleet Air Arm squadrons and flights that are to be used in all official correspondence and orders in the field: -

Source - Air Ministry Order A52/1934 dated 22 February 1934.

Titles of Squadrons

SQUADRON NUMBER PLATES

1. Due to the contraction of the Royal Air Force at the end of the 1939-1945 War, many units and formations were disbanded, including many famous squadrons holding distinguished records from two world wars. In view of the tradition and
   history associated with these squadrons, it was agreed to reduce them to "number only" basis, thus preserving their number plates for future use.

2. It has now been decided to resuscitate certain of these squadron number plates by linking them with certain existing front-line squadrons of similar roles and histories. Thus, No 76 Bomber Squadron is linked with No 7 Bomber Squadron.

3. In the new titles of "linked." squadrons the number of the present front-line squadron will appear first, followed by the number of the inactive squadron, identity, No 7/76 Bomber Squadron. For most of the squadrons affected, the links will be
   transitory, as the second numbers in the links will be withdrawn to form new squadrons as expansion takes place.

4. The introduction of this "linked " number plate system into commands will take place on a date to be published in SD155. (see entry below)

Source - Air Ministry Order A82/49 dated 27 January 1949

Introduction of Linked Squadron Number Plates and the Re-Numbering of AAC Squadrons in Fighter Command

Authority is given for the introduction of "linked" squadron number plates (in accordance with AMO A76/49) and for the re-numbering of AAC Squadrons in Fighter Command as indicated below, with effect from the 11 February, 1949: -

Linked Squadron Number Plates

No 19/152 Squadron
No 23/151 Squadron
No 29/22 Squadron
No 41/253 Squadron
No 66/111 Squadron
No 85/145 Squadron
No 141/42 Squadron
No 264/79 Squadron
No 56/87 Squadron
No 245/266 Squadron

Re-Numbering of AAC Squadrons

No 595 (AAC) Squadron to be re-numbered No 5 (AAC) Squadron

No 631 (AAC) Squadron to be re-numbered No 20 (AAC) Squadron

No 691 (AAC) Squadron to be re-numbered No 17 (AAC) Squadron

No 695 (AAC) Squadron to be re-numbered No 34 (AAC) Squadron

Source - SD155/109/49 dated 23 February 1949

CHANGE OF TERMINOLOGY - RECONNAISSANCE

The term "maritime reconnaissance" is to replace the term "general reconnaissance" in its application to squadrons of Coastal Command. The official abbreviation will be "(M)".

Source - Air Ministry Order A883/49 dated 15 December 1949

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Source - Air Ministry Order A883/49 dated 15 December 1949

This entry was last updated on 21/10/26^©

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