List of Royal Air Force units & establishments

Last updated

There have been many units with various tasks in the Royal Air Force (RAF), and they are listed here. A unit is an administrative term for a body, which can be larger or smaller than a flight or squadron, is given a specific mission, but does not warrant the status of being formed as a formal flight or squadron.

Contents

A

Aircraft training units

Aircraft units

Airfields

airfield HQformed onformed atdisbanded ondisbanded atbecamenotes
121 No. 121 Wing RAF [10]
122 No. 122 Wing RAF [10]
123 No. 123 Wing RAF [10]
124 No. 124 Wing RAF [10]
125 No. 125 Wing RAF [11]
126 No. 126 Wing RAF [11]
127 No. 127 Wing RAF [11]
128 No. 128 Wing RAF [11]
129 No. 129 Wing RAF [11]
130 No. 130 Wing RAF [11]
131 No. 131 Wing RAF [11]
132 No. 132 Wing RAF [11]
133 No. 133 Wing RAF [11]
134 No. 134 Wing RAF [11]
135 No. 135 Wing RAF [11]
136 No. 136 Wing RAF [11]
137 No. 137 Wing RAF [11]
138 No. 138 Wing RAF [11]
139 No. 139 Wing RAF [11]
140 No. 140 Wing RAF [11]
141 No. 141 Wing RAF [11]
142 No. 142 Wing RAF [11]
143 No. 143 Wing RAF [11]
144 No. 144 Wing RAF [11]
145 No. 145 Wing RAF [11]
146 No. 146 Wing RAF [11]
147 No. 147 Wing RAF [12]
148 No. 148 Wing RAF [12]
149 No. 149 Wing RAF [12]
150 No. 150 Wing RAF [12]

Advanced flying units

Anti-aircraft units

Armament practice and training units

To hone aircrew weapons skills armament practice camps and stations have been used and these are listed here.

Armament practice camp

unitprevious nameformed atformedaircraftdisbandeddisbanded athistory
No. 1 Armament
Practice Camp		No. 15 Group Armament
Practice Camp		 RAF Aldergrove 5 November 1941 Westland Lysander II/III/IIIA
Fairey Battle
Miles Master
Miles Martinet
de Havilland Dominie I		1 September 1945RAF Aldergrove
No. 2 Armament
Practice Camp		No. 16 Group Armament
Practice Camp		 RAF Thorney Island 5 November 1941 Westland Lysander III/IIIA
Miles Martinet 		1 September 1945 RAF Bradwell Bay Absorbed by the Armament Practice Station, Spilsby.
No. 3 Armament
Practice Camp		No. 18 Group Armament
Practice Camp		 RAF Leuchars 5 November 1941 Westland Lysander II/III/IIIA
Fairey Battle
Miles Martinet 		1 September 1945 RAF Leuchars
No. 4 Armament
Practice Camp		No. 19 Group Armament
Practice Camp		 RAF Carew Cheriton 5 November 1941 Westland Lysander IIIA
Fairey Battle
Miles Master II
Miles Martinet I		1 September 1945 RAF Talbenny
  • No. 11 Armament Practice Camp
  • No. 12 Armament Practice Camp
  • No. 13 Armament Practice Camp
  • No. 14 Armament Practice Camp
  • No. 15 Armament Practice Camp
  • No. 16 Armament Practice Camp
  • No. 17 Armament Practice Camp
  • No. 18 Armament Practice Camp
  • No. 20 Armament Practice Camp
  • No. 21 Armament Practice Camp
  • No. 22 Armament Practice Camp
  • No. 23 Armament Practice Camp
  • No. 24 Armament Practice Camp
  • No. 25 Armament Practice Camp
  • No. 26 Armament Practice Camp
  • No. 27 Armament Practice Camp
  • Armament Practice Camp, Butterworth
  • Armament Practice Camp (Middle East Air Force)
  • Armament Practice Camp, Sylt
  • Fighter Command Missile Armament Practice Camp
  • No. 15 Group Armament Practice Camp
  • No. 16 Group Armament Practice Camp
  • No. 18 Group Armament Practice Camp
  • No. 19 Group Armament Practice Camp
  • Middle East Air Force Armament Practice Camp

Armament practice station

Armament training camp

Armament training station

B

Bases

BaseFormed OnFormed AtDisbanded OnDisbanded AtBecameNotes
11 71 Base [17]
12 Disbanded [17]
13 Disbanded [17]
14 Disbanded [17]
15 Disbanded [17]
31 73 Base [17]
32 Disbanded [17]
33 Disbanded [18]
41 74 Base [18]
42 Disbanded [18]
43 Disbanded [18]
44 Disbanded [18]
51 75 Base [18]
52 15 Base [18]
53 Disbanded [18]
54 Disbanded [18]
55 Disbanded [18]
56 Disbanded [18]
61 (RCAF)76 Base [18]
62 (RCAF) (Beaver)RCAF Control [18]
63 (RCAF)Disbanded [18]
64 (RCAF)RCAF Control [18]
71 Disbanded [18]
72 Disbanded [18]
73 Disbanded [18]
74 Disbanded [18]
75 Disbanded [18]
76 (RCAF)Disbanded [18]

Beach units

Beam approach beacon system

C

Command level units

Communications

Conversion units

The RAF have now granted all OCUs Reserve squadron status. [26]

Operational conversion units (OCU)

Numbered operational conversion units (OCU)

Numbered conversion units
Other conversion units

E

Establishments

F

Ferry units

Foreign air arms

In Rhodesia, the Rhodesian Air Unit of the Territorial Forces, active 1935-39, became the Rhodesian Air Unit, [52] and then the Southern Rhodesian Air Force (1939-40). [52] The SRAF was absorbed into the RAF proper in April 1940 and re-designated No. 237 (Rhodesia) Squadron RAF. Later the Rhodesian Air Training Group RAF [52] was created.

Maintenance units

Operational Training Units (OTU)

OTUs were created during World War II to take the pressure off operational squadrons, which previously would have had training Flights. Post war, they became OCUs.

Coastal

Normal

Other

Other units

Numbered other units

Other units

P

Pools

Photographic reconnaissance

Refresher flying units

S

Sectors

sectorformed onformed atdisbanded ondisbanded atbecamenotes
11 (Northern)April 1963RAF LeconfieldApril 1968RAF BoulmerSector South [107]
12 (East Anglia)April 1963RAF Horsham St FaithApril 1968NeatisheadSector North [107]
13 (Scotland)April 1963RAF BoulmerMarch 1965RAF BoulmerDisbanded into 11 Sector [107]
15 May 1944RAF FordJuly 1944MartragnyDisbanded [107]
17 (Fighter) May 1944RAF KenleyJuly 1944CreponDisbanded [107]
18 (Fighter) May 1944RAF ChaileyJuly 1944RAF ChaileyDisbanded [108]
19 (Fighter) May 1944RAF AppledramJuly 1944RAF AppledramDisbanded [108]
20 (Fighter) May 1944RAF Thorney IslandJuly 1944RAF Thorney IslandDisbanded [108]
21 (Base Defence)May 1944RAF Sopley ParkJuly 1944RAF IbsleyDisbanded [108]
22 (Fighter) May 1944RAF HurnJuly 1944Le FresnoyDisbanded [108]
24 (Base Defence)May 1944RAF WartlingMarch 1945St Denis WestremDisbanded into 85 Group Unit [108]
25 (Base Defence)May 1944RAF HornchurchMarch 1945EverburgDisbanded into 85 Group Operations Room [108]
NorthApril 1968RAF NeatisheadJanuary 1992RAF NeatisheadDisbanded [107]
SouthApril 1968RAF BoulmerJanuary 1992RAF BoulmerDisbanded [107]
Caledonian Sector HQ RAFOctober 1951RAF Barnton QuarryNovember 1957RAF Barnton QuarryDisbanded [109]
Eastern Sector HQ RAFJuly 1946RAF Horsham St FaithJuly 1958RAF ColtishallDisbanded [110]
Essex Sector HQ RAFOctober 1945RAF North WealdJune 1946RAF North WealdMetropolitan Sector HQ [111]
Fighter Sector Z RAFSeptember 1943AmriyaOctober 1943AmriyaNo. 335 Wing [112]
Fighter Sector HQ Digby RAFJuly 1945RAF BlankneyNovember 1945RAF BlankneyLincolnshire Sector HQ [113]
Fighter Sector HQ Exeter RAFJanuary 1945RAF ExeterNovember 1945RAF ExeterWestern Sector HQ [114]
Lincolnshire Sector HQ RAFNovember 1945RAF BlankneyJuly 1946RAF BlankneyEastern Sector HQ [113]
Metropolitan Sector HQ RAFMay 1946RAF North WealdNovember 1957RAF North WealdDisbanded [115]
Norfolk Sector HQ RAFAugust 1945RAF Horsham St FaithJuly 1946RAF Horsham St FaithEastern Sector HQ [116]
Northern Sector HQ RAFDecember 1950RAF Linton-On-OuseNovember 1957RAF Church FentonDisbanded [116]
Scottish Sector HQ RAFNovember 1949RAF TurnhouseOctober 1951RAF LeucharsStation Flight, Caledonian Sector [107]
Southern Sector HQ RAFJanuary 1946RAF Nether WallopNovember 1957RAF Rudloe ManorDisbanded [117]
South Eastern Sector HQ RAFNovember 1945RAF Biggin HillJune 1946RAF North WealdMetropolitan Sector [117]
Western Sector HQ RAFNovember 1945RAF ExeterJuly 1946RAF ExeterSouthern Sector HQ [114]
Yorkshire Sector HQ RAFNovember 1945RAF Church FentonDecember 1950 RAF Patrington Northern Sector HQ [118]

Signals units

Training wings

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Cottesmore</span> Former Royal Air Force station in Rutland, England

Royal Air Force Cottesmore or more simply RAF Cottesmore is a former Royal Air Force station in Rutland, England, situated between Cottesmore and Market Overton. On 15 December 2009, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth announced that the station would close in 2013 as part of defence spending cuts, along with the retirement of the Harrier GR9 and the disbandment of Joint Force Harrier. The formal closing ceremony took place on 31 March 2011, and the airfield became a satellite of RAF Wittering until March 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">JHC FS Aldergrove</span> Ministry of Defence Joint Helicopter Command Flying Station

Joint Helicopter Command Flying Station Aldergrove, also known as simply JHC FS Aldergrove, is a British military base located 4.4 miles (7.1 km) south of Antrim, Northern Ireland and 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Belfast, and adjoins Belfast International Airport. It is sometimes referred to simply as Aldergrove which is the name of a nearby hamlet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Abingdon</span> Former Royal Air Force station in Oxfordshire, England

Royal Air Force Abingdon, or more simply RAF Abingdon, is a former Royal Air Force station near Abingdon, Oxfordshire. It is now known as Dalton Barracks and is used by the Royal Logistic Corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Andover</span> Former Royal Air Force flying base in Hampshire, England

RAF Andover is a former Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force station in England, 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Andover, Hampshire. As well as RFC and RAF units, units of the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps, Royal Canadian Air Force, United States Army Air Forces, and the Air Transport Auxiliary were also stationed at the airfield.

Royal Air Force Blackbushe or more simply RAF Blackbushe is a former Royal Air Force station in Hampshire, England, during the Second World War. It is now Blackbushe Airport.

Royal Air Force Bircham Newton or more simply RAF Bircham Newton is a former Royal Air Force station located 2.1 miles (3.4 km) south east of Docking, Norfolk and 13.4 miles (21.6 km) north east of King's Lynn, Norfolk, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Colerne</span> Former airfield in Wiltshire, England

Royal Air Force Colerne or more simply RAF Colerne is a former Royal Air Force station which was on the outskirts of the village of Colerne in Wiltshire, England, and was in use from 1939 to 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Beaulieu</span> Former Royal Air Force station in Hampshire, England

Royal Air Force Beaulieu or more simply RAF Beaulieu is a former Royal Air Force station in the New Forest, Hampshire, England. It was also known as Beaulieu airfield, Beaulieu aerodrome and USAAF Station AAF 408. It is located on Hatchet Moor 1 mile (2 km) west of the village of East Boldre, about 2 miles (3 km) west-southwest of the village of Beaulieu and 4 miles (6 km) north-east of Lymington.

HMS Fieldfare also known as R.A.F. Landing Ground Novar, then RNAS Evanton and later as RAF Evanton, is a disused airfield in Ross and Cromarty, Scotland. It lies on the shore of the Cromarty Firth near the village of Evanton. In the 1934 edition of the loose-leaf publication 'The Air Pilot' published by The Air Ministry the field is designated as 'R.A.F. Landing Ground (Seasonal) Novar'. The name Novar was later changed to Evanton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF West Freugh</span> Military airfield in Scotland

RAF West Freugh is a former Royal Air Force station located in Wigtownshire, 5 miles (8 km) south east of Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Acklington</span> Former Royal Air Force station in Northumberland, England

Royal Air Force Acklington, simply known as RAF Acklington, is a former Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force station located 3.2 miles (5.1 km) south west of Amble, Northumberland and 8.8 miles (14.2 km) north east of Morpeth, Northumberland.

Royal Air Force Bramcote, or more simply RAF Bramcote, is a former Royal Air Force station located 3.5 miles (5.6 km) south-east of Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England used during the Second World War. It was later transferred to the Admiralty and was known as Royal Naval Air Station Bramcote,, and when commissioned became HMS Gamecock. When it subsequently transferred to the British Army from the Admiralty, it was called Gamecock Barracks.

No. 240 Operational Conversion Unit RAF is a former Royal Air Force Operational conversion unit which was formed by a series of mergers, it then became No. 27 Squadron RAF in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Driffield</span> Royal Air Force base in Yorkshire, England

Royal Air Force Driffield or RAF Driffield is a former Royal Air Force station in the East Riding of Yorkshire, in England. It lies about 2 miles (3 km) south-west of Driffield and 11 miles (18 km) north-west of Beverley. It is now operated by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, as the Driffield Training Area.

Royal Air Force Eastchurch or more simply RAF Eastchurch is a former Royal Air Force station near Eastchurch village, on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, England. The history of aviation at Eastchurch stretches back to the first decade of the 20th century when it was used as an airfield by members of the Royal Aero Club. The area saw the first flight by a British pilot in Britain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 15 Group RAF</span> Former Royal Air Force operations group

No. 15 Group was a group of the Royal Air Force, which disbanded in 1945. It was operational in the last year of, and just after, the First World War, a reformation saw it active throughout the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 16 Group RAF</span> Former Royal Air Force operations group

No. 16 Group RAF was a group of the Royal Air Force. It existed over two periods in two different roles. No. 16 Group was initially a training group, from 1918 to 1920, that had been transferred from the Royal Flying Corps. It reformed as a reconnaissance group under RAF Coastal Command, in 1936.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 7 Flying Training School RAF</span> Former Royal Air Force flying training school

No. 7 Flying Training School is a former Royal Air Force flying training school that operated between 1935 and 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Alconbury</span> Royal Air Force station near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom

Royal Air Force Alconbury, or more simply RAF Alconbury, is an active Royal Air Force station near Huntingdon, England. The airfield is in the civil parish of The Stukeleys, close to the villages of Great Stukeley, Little Stukeley, and Alconbury. Flying operations are no longer based at the site, with most of the land, including the runway, having been sold in 2009 to become the new settlement of Alconbury Weald.

References

Citations

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Bibliography

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