Central Fighter Establishment

Last updated

Central Fighter Establishment
Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg
Active16 October 1944 - 1 February 1966
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Part of No. 12 Group RAF
No. 11 Group RAF
Last base RAF Binbrook

The Central Fighter Establishment was a Royal Air Force formation that dealt with the development of fighter aircraft tactics which was formed on 4 September 1944 as a nucleus at RAF Tangmere. It also tested new fighter aircraft and equipment, and with the training of squadron and flight commanders. [1] It was officially formed on 16 October 1944 at RAF Wittering as part of No. 12 Group RAF, and was disbanded on 1 February 1966 while at RAF Binbrook. [2]

Contents

Airfields used

Meteor WK654, operated by the All-Weather Development Squadron as part of the CFE, now in museum hands Gloster Meteor F.8 'WK654' (49659372031).jpg
Meteor WK654, operated by the All-Weather Development Squadron as part of the CFE, now in museum hands
[3]
DatePlaceNotes
4 September 1944 RAF Tangmere Nucleus formed
16 October 1944 RAF Wittering Officially formed
27 February 1945Tangmere
1 October 1945 RAF West Raynham
12 October 1962 RAF Binbrook
1 February 1966BinbrookDisbanded

Units

All except where noted: [4] [5]

Commandant

Commanding Officers and the years they held this appointment [2]
Year(s)Name
1945 Air Commodore Richard Atcherley
1945–1948Unknown
1948–1950Air Commodore David Atcherley
1950–1953Air Commodore W J Crisham
1953–1954Air Commodore Geoffrey D Stephenson
1954–1957Air Commodore John Grandy
1957–1958Air Commodore E L Colbeck-Welch
1958–1962Air Commodore Hughie Edwards
1962–1964Air Commodore Geoffrey Millington
1964–1966Air Commodore E W Tacon

References

Citations

  1. "ESTABLISHMENTS AND INSTITUTES". Flight magazine. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
  2. 1 2 "Other Establishments – Experimental and Administrative". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. 3 April 2010. Archived from the original on 1 February 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 84.
  4. 1 2 Lake 1999, p. 43.
  5. Lake 1999, p. 44.
  6. Lake 1999, p. 72.

Bibliography