No. 15 Group (15 Gp) 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.
No. 15 Group was first formed on 1 April 1918 as No. 15 (Equipment) Group in the No. 3 Area, which became the Midland Area on 8 May 1918.[2] It was disbanded, and then reformed on 27 September 1918 as No. 15 (Aegean) Group to control 62 and 63 Wings, until finally disbanded on 1 September 1919.[1]
Flight Lieutenant A W Fraser and his crew, stand in front of their Consolidated Liberator Mark I, AM929 'H', of No. 120 Squadron RAF, at Reykjavik, Iceland, after sinking the German type IXD2 submarine U-200 on 24 June 1943
An aircrew sergeant of No. 209 Squadron RAF about to launch a carrier pigeon from the side hatch of a Saro Lerwick flying boat
On 4 April 1942, Air Vice-Marshal Douglas Colyer become the new Air Officer Commanding for No. 15 Group.[1] Around this time the Group Communications Flight continued at RAF Hooton Park. The Coastal Command Development Unit RAF, which was set up to undertook service trials of all radar equipment, was operating under No. 15 Group and the unit was working out of RAF Ballykelly, located in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. RAF Aldergrove was home to four of No. 15 Groups units: No. 206 Squadron, equipped with Lockheed Hudson, No. 143 Squadron, which operated with Bristol Beaufighter, No. 1402 (Meteorological) Flight, which used Supermarine Spitfire, Lockheed Hudson and Gloster Gladiator, and No. 1 Armament Practice Camp,[11] which had formed out of No. 15 Group Armament Practice Camp on 5 November 1941 and was equipped with various aircraft including Westland Lysander, an army co-operation and liaison aircraft.[12]
No. 224 Squadron, which operated with Lockheed Hudson, was based at RAF Limavady. No. 15 Group was now down to two Short Sunderland squadrons, No. 228 Squadron, based at RAF Stornoway, on the Isle of Lewis, in the Western Isles of Scotland, and No. 201 Squadron based in Northern Ireland, at RAF Lough Erne, which was also home to No. 240 Squadron, which was equipped with Consolidated Catalina. Also in Northern Ireland were Nos. 120 and 220 Squadrons, which operated from RAF Nutts Corner, in County Antrim and were equipped with Consolidated Liberator and Boeing Fortress, both types being American four-engined heavy bomber aircraft, respectively.[11]
A Royal Air Force Liberator Mark I (serial AM910) on the ground following conversion as an anti-submarine aircraft by Scottish Aviation Ltd, AM910 joined No. 120 Squadron at Nutts Corner, County Antrim, Northern Ireland (UK), as "OH-M"
Mid and later war
One year later, by April 1943, Air Vice-Marshal Leonard Slatter was in command of the group. The Group Communications Flight had by this time relocated to RAF Speke, located in Liverpool. No. 15 Group now controlled five squadrons of Short Sunderland flying boats. Three squadrons, 201, 228 and 423 operated out of RAF Castle Archdale (previously known as RAF Lough Erne). No. 246 Squadron which was based at RAF Port Ellen, and No. 330 Squadron which was at RAF Oban. Also at Oban was No. 422 Squadron which was controlled by No. 15 Group and equipped with Consolidated Catalina. No. 15 Group had two Boeing Fortress units, both were based at RAF Benbecula, on the island of Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides, in Scotland, with Nos. 206 and 220 Squadrons. RAF Aldergrove was home to three units with No. 1 Armament Practice Camp, No. 1402 (Meteorological) Flight, equipped with Gloster Gladiator, Supermarine Spitfire and Handley Page Hampden, a medium bomber, and No. 120 Squadron, which operated with Consolidated Liberator. At RAF Ballykelly, No. 280 Squadron operated a detachment of Avro Anson.[13]
Castle Archdale (formerly Logh Erne) in Northern Ireland on 20 May 1943, as a seaplane tender passes a Sunderland of No 201 Squadron
Around July 1944, No. 15 Group had reduced down in size and now consisted nine units across five RAF stations, including the Group Communications Flight at RAF Speke. RAF Aldergrove was home to the meteorological flight, and No. 1 Armament Practice Camp. It was now back to just two Short Sunderland units which were based at RAF Castle Archdale, these were the RCAFs Nos 422 and 423 Squadrons. The group had two Consolidated Liberator squadrons, Nos 59 and 120, which were operating out of RAF Ballykelly. In Scotland, RAF Tiree on the island of Tiree in the Inner Hebrides, was home to No. 518 Squadron which was equipped with Handley Page Halifax, a four-engined heavy bomber, and No. 281 Squadron which used Vickers Warwick, a maritime reconnaissance, air-sea rescue and transport aircraft.[14]
A convoy seen from 'X for X-Ray', a No 120 Squadron Liberator based at Aldergrove. The aircraft made contact after a flight of several hours at low-level to avoid icing conditions in the clouds. For a further three hours it patrolled out to the front and rear of the convoy, also keeping an eye on stragglers, but there was no sign of any U-boats
Air Commodore Norman Pritchett had been appointed Air Officer commanding for No. 15 Group, during June 1945[1] and by July it was in control of seven units across seven RAF stations. RAF Speke remained home to the Group Communications Flight. The group controlled No. 518 Squadron, equipped with Handley Page Halifax and based at RAF Tiree.[15] Also at Tiree was a detachment from No. 281 Squadron providing air sea rescue, using both Vickers Warwick, and Supermarine Sea Otter , an amphibious aircraft. The squadron also had a similar detachment at RAF Valley, on the island of Anglesey, Wales.[16] The remainder of the group’s assets were based within Northern Ireland. No. 1 Armament Practice Camp remained at RAF Aldergrove. The group controlled No. 1402 (Meteorological) Flight, which used Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane and operated out of RAF Ballyhalbert, situated in County Down, and No. 201 Squadron, equipped with Short Sunderland, at RAF Castle Archdale. No. 281 Squadron was based at RAF Limavady, providing air sea rescue like its detachments. Also at Limavady, as part of No. 15 Group, was the Coastal Command Anti U-Boat Devices School RAF,[15] which had previously existed under different identities since 1940, and was equipped with Vickers Wellington VIII.[17]
de Havilland Dominie, Communications and transport aircraft, an example of the type used by 15 GCF
No. 15 Group Communications Flight RAF (15 GCF) formed at RAF Roborough located in Devon, on 13 June 1939,[10] it moved to RAF Hooton Park on 1 February 1941 [18] by April 1943, the Flight had relocated to RAF Speke.[19] It operated various types and marks of aircraft:[10]
Miles Mentor I, training and communications aircraft
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.
Royal Naval Air Station Lee-on-Solent,, is a former Royal Naval Air Station located near Lee-on-the-Solent in Hampshire, approximately 4 miles (6.44 km) west of Portsmouth, on the coast of the Solent.
Royal Air Force Detling, or more simply RAF Detling, is a former Royal Air Force station situated 600 feet (180 m) above sea level, located near Detling, a village about 4 miles (6.4 km) miles north-east of Maidstone, Kent.
Royal Naval Air Station Hatston, was a Royal Naval Air Station, one mile to the north west of Kirkwall on the island of Mainland, Orkney, Scotland. It was located near the strategically vital naval base of Scapa Flow, which for most of the twentieth century formed the main base of the ships of the Home Fleet. The airbase was designed to provide accommodation for disembarked Front-Line squadrons and accommodation for disembarked Ship's Flight Aircraft and was home to the Home Fleet Fleet Requirements Unit, 771 Naval Air Squadron.
No. 518 Squadron RAF was a meteorological squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. The weather observations they collected helped inform Group Captain James Martin Stagg's recommendation to General Dwight D. Eisenhower to delay the launching of the D-Day invasion of Normandy from 5 June to 6 June 1944.
701 Naval Air Squadron was a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm squadron, which last disbanded during September 1958 at RNAS Lee-on-Solent where it was a Helicopter Trials, Communications and Fleet Requirements Unit. It initially formed during July 1936 as a Catapult Flight operating out of Malta and routinely embarking in RN ships such as, HMS Barham, HMS Malaya, HMS Valiant and HMS Warspite. By autumn 1939 it was known as 701 Naval Air Squadron but disbanded in January 1940. It was active twice more during the Second World War, between May 1940 and June 1941 on special duties and then between October 1942 and August 1943 performing anti-submarine patrols. Reforming in April 1945 it was designated a Communications Unit, operating out of Heston until disbanding in 1947. It last reformed as a Fleet Requirements Unit at HMS Daedalus, Lee-on-Solent, during October 1957.
Royal Air Force Angle or more commonly RAF Angle, is a former Royal Air Force station located on the Angle Peninsula Coast, 8 miles (13 km) west of Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, Wales. It was operational from 1 June 1941 to 11 July 1946, having been used by both the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy.
Royal Air Force Haverfordwest or more commonly RAF Haverfordwest, is a former Royal Air Force station located 2.1 miles (3.4 km) north of Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire and 11 miles (18 km) south of Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, Wales.
Royal Air Force Carew Cheriton, or more simply RAF Carew Cheriton, is a former Royal Air Force station located near Carew, Pembrokeshire. It was situated 4.7 miles (7.6 km) north west of Tenby.
HM Prison Ford is a Category D men's prison, located at Ford, in West Sussex, England, near Arundel and Littlehampton. The prison is operated by His Majesty's Prison Service.
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.
No. 17 Group RAF was a group of the Royal Air Force which was operational in the last year of the First World War, and throughout the Second World War.
715 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval air squadron of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm created on 15 July 1936 to serve as a catapult flight of the Fleet Air Arm of the RAF. It was elevated to squadron status at the end of 1937, before being disbanded on 21 January 1940. It was re-formed on 17 August 1944 to operate as the Fighter Wing of the School of Air Combat, before being disbanded for good on 31 March 1946, and absorbed into 736 Naval Air Squadron.
775 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm which last disbanded in March 1946. 775 Naval Air Squadron formed at HMS Grebe, RNAS Dekheila, during November 1940, as a Fleet Requirements Unit in support of the Mediterranean Fleet, based at Alexandria, Egypt. Between October 1941 and March 1942 the squadron also included the RN Fighter Flight. It absorbed 728 Naval Air Squadron in July 1943 and moved to R.N.Air Section Gibraltar at the start of February 1944. The squadron returned to HMS Grebe, RNAS Dekheila during August 1945.
781 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm which disbanded at the end of March 1981. Planned as a Reserve Amphibious Bomber Reconnaissance squadron, it formed as a Communications Unit in March 1940 and operated a large variety of aircraft. It provided a Bristol Beaufighter conversion course which eventually became 798 Naval Air Squadron and also had a ‘B’ Flight at Heathrow and then Heston aerodromes before becoming 701 Naval Air Squadron. After the Allied invasion of Normandy the squadron flew to various Royal Navy units on the continent and established an ‘X’ Flight based in France and then Germany. In July 1945 the squadron disbanded into 782 Naval Air Squadron although the ‘X’ Flight was moved to 799 Naval Air Squadron.
787 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm which disbanded in January 1956. It formed in March 1941, at HMS Heron, RNAS Yeovilton, out of 804 Naval Air Squadron as a Fleet Fighter Development Unit. Almost every type of fighter was received by the squadron for testing and evaluation for naval use. A move to RAF Duxford in June 1941 saw it become the Naval Air Fighting Development Unit, attached to the Royal Air Force's Air Fighting Development Unit. The squadron undertook rocket projectile test, continuous development of fighter tactics and even helping Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadrons in evading fighter attack. Post Second World War it continued its trials task and also undertook Rebecca radar trials and ASH, US-built air-to-surface vessel radar trials.
Royal Air Force Pembroke Dock, or more simply RAF Pembroke Dock, was a Royal Air Force Seaplane and Flying boat station located at Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, Wales. The Royal Navy contingent left in 1926 with the Royal Air Force occupying the site from 1 January 1930. During the initial stages of the Second World War, it became the home of two Dutch flying boats and their squadron personnel as well as hosting RAF, Fleet Air Arm, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force and United States naval aircrews.
Royal Naval Air Station Twatt, is a former Royal Navy Air Station located near Twatt, Orkney, Scotland. It was built by the Admiralty and was commissioned on 1 April 1941. On 1 January 1942 it became an independent command as HMS Tern. The airbase was designed to provide accommodation for disembarked Front-Line squadrons and accommodation for disembarked Ship's Flight Aircraft and was home to the Home Fleet Fleet Requirements Unit, 771 Naval Air Squadron.
No. 67 Group RAF is a former Royal Air Force group which was active between 1 April 1950 and 1 February 1957. It was formerly RAF Northern Ireland a former Royal Air Force command based in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
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Ballance, Theo; Howard, Lee; Sturtivant, Ray (2016). The Squadrons and Units of the Fleet Air Arm. Air Britain Historians Limited. ISBN978-0-85130-489-2.
Jefford, C G (2001). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912 – 2nd Edition. Shrewsbury UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN1-84037-141-2.
Sturtivant, Ray; Hamlin, John; Halley, James. J (1997). Royal Air Force Flying Training and Support Units. UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN0-85130-252-1.
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