List of Royal Air Force units & establishments

There have been many Units with various tasks in the Royal Air Force and they are listed here. A unit is an administrative 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.

A

Aircraft training units

Aircraft units

Airfields

Airfield HQFormed OnFormed AtDisbanded OnDisbanded AtBecameNotes
121No. 121 Wing RAF[10]
122No. 122 Wing RAF[10]
123No. 123 Wing RAF[10]
124No. 124 Wing RAF[10]
125No. 125 Wing RAF[11]
126No. 126 Wing RAF[11]
127No. 127 Wing RAF[11]
128No. 128 Wing RAF[11]
129No. 129 Wing RAF[11]
130No. 130 Wing RAF[11]
131No. 131 Wing RAF[11]
132No. 132 Wing RAF[11]
133No. 133 Wing RAF[11]
134No. 134 Wing RAF[11]
135No. 135 Wing RAF[11]
136No. 136 Wing RAF[11]
137No. 137 Wing RAF[11]
138No. 138 Wing RAF[11]
139No. 139 Wing RAF[11]
140No. 140 Wing RAF[11]
141No. 141 Wing RAF[11]
142No. 142 Wing RAF[11]
143No. 143 Wing RAF[11]
144No. 144 Wing RAF[11]
145No. 145 Wing RAF[11]
146No. 146 Wing RAF[11]
147No. 147 Wing RAF[12]
148No. 148 Wing RAF[12]
149No. 149 Wing RAF[12]
150No. 150 Wing RAF[12]

Advanced Flying Units

Anti-aircraft units

  • No. 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit, IAFVR
  • No. 2 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit, IAFVR
  • No. 3 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit, IAFVR
  • No. 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit, Indian Air Force
  • No. 2 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit, Indian Air Force
  • No. 3 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit, Indian Air Force

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 Aldergrove5 November 1941Westland 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 Island5 November 1941Westland Lysander III/IIIA
Miles Martinet
1 September 1945RAF Bradwell BayAbsorbed by the Armament Practice Station, Spilsby.
No. 3 Armament
Practice Camp
No. 18 Group Armament
Practice Camp
RAF Leuchars5 November 1941Westland Lysander II/III/IIIA
Fairey Battle
Miles Martinet
1 September 1945RAF Leuchars
No. 4 Armament
Practice Camp
No. 19 Group Armament
Practice Camp
RAF Carew Cheriton5 November 1941Westland Lysander IIIA
Fairey Battle
Miles Master II
Miles Martinet I
1 September 1945RAF 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 Practice Station RAF, Lübeck
  • Armament Practice Station RAF, Spilsby
  • Armament Practice Station RAF, Sylt
  • No. 1 Armament Practice Station RAF
  • No. 2 Armament Practice Station RAF
  • No. 3 Armament Practice Station RAF

Armament Training Camp

  • No. 1 Armament Training Camp RAF, Kuantan
  • No. 1 Armament Training Camp RAF
  • No. 2 Armament Training Camp RAF
  • No. 3 Armament Training Camp RAF
  • No. 4 Armament Training Camp RAF
  • No. 5 Armament Training Camp RAF
  • No. 6 Armament Training Camp RAF
  • No. 7 Armament Training Camp RAF
  • No. 8 Armament Training Camp RAF
  • Temporary Armament Training Camp RAF, Aldergrove
  • Temporary Armament Training Camp RAF, Flimstone
  • Temporary Armament Training Camp RAF, Leuchars
  • Temporary Armament Training Camp RAF, North Coates Fitties

Armament Training Station

  • No. 1 Armament Training Station RAF
  • No. 1 Armament Training Station (France) RAF
  • No. 2 Armament Training Station RAF
  • No. 3 Armament Training Station RAF
  • No. 4 Armament Training Station RAF
  • No. 5 Armament Training Station RAF
  • No. 6 Armament Training Station RAF
  • No. 7 Armament Training Station RAF
  • No. 8 Armament Training Station RAF
  • No. 9 Armament Training Station RAF
  • Temporary Armament Training Station RAF, Leuchars
  • Temporary Armament Training Station RAF, North Coates Fitties
  • No. 1 Armament Training Unit RAF

B

Bases

BaseFormed OnFormed AtDisbanded OnDisbanded AtBecameNotes
1171 Base[17]
12Disbanded[17]
13Disbanded[17]
14Disbanded[17]
15Disbanded[17]
3173 Base[17]
32Disbanded[17]
33Disbanded[18]
4174 Base[18]
42Disbanded[18]
43Disbanded[18]
44Disbanded[18]
5175 Base[18]
5215 Base[18]
53Disbanded[18]
54Disbanded[18]
55Disbanded[18]
56Disbanded[18]
61 (RCAF)76 Base[18]
62 (RCAF) (Beaver)RCAF Control[18]
63 (RCAF)Disbanded[18]
64 (RCAF)RCAF Control[18]
71Disbanded[18]
72Disbanded[18]
73Disbanded[18]
74Disbanded[18]
75Disbanded[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 redesignated 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

  • 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 36, 41, 42, 43, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85 & 86.

Other

  • 70 (Middle East)
  • 80 (French)
  • 101 (Glider)
  • 102 (Glider)
  • 104 (Transport)
  • 105 (Transport)
  • 107 (Transport)
  • 108 (Transport)
  • 109 (Transport)
  • 151 (Fighter)
  • 152 (Fighter)
  • No. 1 Operational Training Unit, India

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[106]
12 (East Anglia)April 1963RAF Horsham St FaithApril 1968NeatisheadSector North[106]
13 (Scotland)April 1963RAF BoulmerMarch 1965RAF BoulmerDisbanded into 11 Sector[106]
15May 1944RAF FordJuly 1944MartragnyDisbanded[106]
17 (Fighter)May 1944RAF KenleyJuly 1944CreponDisbanded[106]
18 (Fighter)May 1944RAF ChaileyJuly 1944RAF ChaileyDisbanded[107]
19 (Fighter)May 1944RAF AppledramJuly 1944RAF AppledramDisbanded[107]
20 (Fighter)May 1944RAF Thorney IslandJuly 1944RAF Thorney IslandDisbanded[107]
21 (Base Defence)May 1944RAF Sopley ParkJuly 1944RAF IbsleyDisbanded[107]
22 (Fighter)May 1944RAF HurnJuly 1944Le FresnoyDisbanded[107]
24 (Base Defence)May 1944RAF WartlingMarch 1945St Denis WestremDisbanded into 85 Group Unit[107]
25 (Base Defence)May 1944RAF HornchurchMarch 1945EverburgDisbanded into 85 Group Operations Room[107]
NorthApril 1968RAF NeatisheadJanuary 1992RAF NeatisheadDisbanded[106]
SouthApril 1968RAF BoulmerJanuary 1992RAF BoulmerDisbanded[106]
Caledonian Sector HQ RAFOctober 1951RAF Barnton QuarryNovember 1957RAF Barnton QuarryDisbanded[108]
Eastern Sector HQ RAFJuly 1946RAF Horsham St FaithJuly 1958RAF ColtishallDisbanded[109]
Essex Sector HQ RAFOctober 1945RAF North WealdJune 1946RAF North WealdMetropolitan Sector HQ[110]
Fighter Sector Z RAFSeptember 1943AmriyaOctober 1943AmriyaNo. 335 Wing[111]
Fighter Sector HQ Digby RAFJuly 1945RAF BlankneyNovember 1945RAF BlankneyLincolnshire Sector HQ[112]
Fighter Sector HQ Exeter RAFJanuary 1945RAF ExeterNovember 1945RAF ExeterWestern Sector HQ[113]
Lincolnshire Sector HQ RAFNovember 1945RAF BlankneyJuly 1946RAF BlankneyEastern Sector HQ[112]
Metropolitan Sector HQ RAFMay 1946RAF North WealdNovember 1957RAF North WealdDisbanded[114]
Norfolk Sector HQ RAFAugust 1945RAF Horsham St FaithJuly 1946RAF Horsham St FaithEastern Sector HQ[115]
Northern Sector HQ RAFDecember 1950RAF Linton-On-OuseNovember 1957RAF Church FentonDisbanded[115]
Scottish Sector HQ RAFNovember 1949RAF TurnhouseOctober 1951RAF LeucharsStation Flight, Caledonian Sector[106]
Southern Sector HQ RAFJanuary 1946RAF Nether WallopNovember 1957RAF Rudloe ManorDisbanded[116]
South Eastern Sector HQ RAFNovember 1945RAF Biggin HillJune 1946RAF North WealdMetropolitan Sector[116]
Western Sector HQ RAFNovember 1945RAF ExeterJuly 1946RAF ExeterSouthern Sector HQ[113]
Yorkshire Sector HQ RAFNovember 1945RAF Church FentonDecember 1950RAF PatringtonNorthern Sector HQ[117]

Signals Units

Training Wings

See also

References

Citations

  1. Lake 1999, p. 31.
  2. Lake 1999, p. 36.
  3. Lake 1999, p. 42.
  4. Lake 1999, p. 53.
  5. Lake 1999, p. 128.
  6. Lake 1999, p. 133.
  7. Lake 1999, p. 282.
  8. Lake 1999, p. 289.
  9. Lake 1999, p. 290.
  10. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 53.
  11. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 54.
  12. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 55.
  13. Lake 1999, p. 141.
  14. Lake 1999, p. 142.
  15. Lake 1999, p. 156.
  16. Lake 1999, p. 157.
  17. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 78.
  18. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 79.
  19. Lake 1999, p. 39.
  20. Lake 1999, p. 40.
  21. Lake 1999, p. 49.
  22. Lake 1999, p. 50.
  23. Lake 1999, p. 71.
  24. Lake 1999, p. 130.
  25. Lake 1999, p. 288.
  26. "RAF - Operational Conversion Units". Archived from the original on 22 February 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  27. Lake 1999, p. 13.
  28. Lake 1999, p. 26.
  29. Lake 1999, p. 15.
  30. Lake 1999, p. 25.
  31. Lake 1999, p. 44.
  32. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 90.
  33. Lake 1999, p. 47.
  34. "Ministry of Defence | About Defence | What we do | Health and Safety | Porton Down Volunteers | Porton Down - A Brief History". Archived from the original on 8 December 2010. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
  35. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 192.
  36. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 194.
  37. Lake 1999, p. 132.
  38. Lake 1999, p. 182.
  39. Lake 1999, p. 135.
  40. Lake 1999, p. 136.
  41. Lake 1999, p. 161.
  42. Lake 1999, p. 174.
  43. Lake 1999, p. 175.
  44. Lake 1999, p. 176.
  45. Lake 1999, p. 181.
  46. Lake 1999, p. 177.
  47. Lake 1999, p. 278.
  48. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 308.
  49. Lake 1999, p. 291.
  50. Lake 1999, p. 292.
  51. Lake 1999, p. 41.
  52. Lake 1999, p. 173.
  53. Lake 1999, p. 131.
  54. Lake 1999, p. 134.
  55. Lake 1999, p. 158.
  56. Lake 1999, p. 136, 278.
  57. Lake 1999, p. 293.
  58. Lake 1999, p. 23.
  59. Lake 1999, p. 48.
  60. Lake 1999, p. 65.
  61. Lake 1999, p. 72.
  62. Lake 1999, p. 109.
  63. Lake 1999, p. 118.
  64. Lake 1999, p. 280.
  65. Lake 1999, p. 283.
  66. Lake 1999, p. 119.
  67. Lake 1999, p. 124.
  68. Lake 1999, p. 125.
  69. Lake 1999, p. 102.
  70. Lake 1999, p. 56.
  71. Lake 1999, p. 279.
  72. Lake 1999, p. 11.
  73. Lake 1999, p. 14.
  74. Lake 1999, p. 16.
  75. Lake 1999, p. 17.
  76. Lake 1999, p. 19.
  77. Lake 1999, p. 22.
  78. Lake 1999, p. 27.
  79. Lake 1999, p. 28.
  80. Lake 1999, p. 34.
  81. Lake 1999, p. 37.
  82. Lake 1999, p. 38.
  83. Lake 1999, p. 58.
  84. Lake 1999, p. 66.
  85. Lake 1999, p. 70.
  86. Lake 1999, p. 101.
  87. Lake 1999, p. 110.
  88. Lake 1999, p. 111.
  89. Lake 1999, p. 140.
  90. "Flight 6 December 1945 p612". flightglobal.com. Archived from the original on 30 April 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  91. Lake 1999, p. 127.
  92. Lake 1999, p. 238.
  93. Lake 1999, p. 137.
  94. Lake 1999, p. 138.
  95. Lake 1999, p. 154.
  96. Lake 1999, p. 155.
  97. Lake 1999, p. 159.
  98. Lake 1999, p. 186.
  99. Lake 1999, p. 187.
  100. Lake 1999, p. 188.
  101. Lake 1999, p. 277.
  102. Lake 1999, p. 281.
  103. Lake 1999, p. 139.
  104. Lake 1999, p. 120.
  105. Lake 1999, p. 121.
  106. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 270.
  107. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 271.
  108. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 86.
  109. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 104.
  110. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 113.
  111. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 120.
  112. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 201.
  113. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 309.
  114. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 223.
  115. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 228.
  116. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 273.
  117. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 339.
  118. Lake 1999, p. 51.

Bibliography

  • Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918–1988. Air Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Jefford, C.G. (2001) [1988]. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • Lake, Alan (1999). Flying Units of the RAF. Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
  • Sturtivant, R; Hamlin, J; Halley, J (1997). Royal Air Force flying training and support units. UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 0-85130-252-1.
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