List of Royal Air Force units & establishments

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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[]

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

Unit Previous name Formed at Formed Aircraft Disbanded Disbanded at History
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 1945 RAF 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

Unit Previous name Formed at Formed Aircraft Disbanded Disbanded at History

Armament Training Camp

Unit Previous name Formed at Formed Aircraft Disbanded Disbanded at History
No. 3 Armament Training Camp RAF
No. 5 Armament Training Camp RAF

Armament Training Station

Unit Previous name Formed at Formed Aircraft Disbanded Disbanded at History
No. 5 Armament Training Station RAF
No. 7 Armament Training Station RAF

B[]

Beach units[]

Beam approach beacon system[]

C[]

Command level units[]

  • (1954-68) became [10]
  • (-1942) became [11]
  • (1940-45) became [12]
  • (1945-46) [13]
  • (1944-45) became [13]
  • (1966-67) [14]
  • (1951-59) [15]
  • Transport Command Aircrew Examining Unit RAF (1945-46) became Transport Command Examining Unit RAF [16]
  • Transport Command Development Unit RAF (1945-50) became [16]
  • Transport Command Examining Unit RAF (1946-64) became [16]

Communications[]

Conversion Units[]

The RAF have now granted all OCUs Reserve squadron status.[17]

Operational Conversion Units (OCU)
  • All-Weather Operational Conversion Unit RAF
  • Jaguar Operational Conversion Unit RAF

Numbered Operational Conversion Units (OCU)

Numbered Conversion Units
  • No. 5 Heavy Bomber Conversion Unit RAF, Lydda
  • No. 21 Heavy Glider Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 22 Heavy Glider Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 23 Heavy Glider Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1330 Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1331 Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1331 Heavy Transport Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1332 (Transport) Heavy Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1332 Heavy Transport Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1333 (Transport Support) Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1334 (Transport Support) Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1335 (Meteor) Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1336 (Transport Support) Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1336 Transport Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1380 (Transport Support) Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1380 Transport Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1381 (Transport) Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1382 (Transport) Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1383 (Transport) Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1384 (Heavy Transport) Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1385 (Heavy Transport Support) Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1584 (Heavy Bomber) Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1651 Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1651 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1652 Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1653 Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1653 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1654 Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1654 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1655 Mosquito Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1656 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1657 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1660 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1661 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1662 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1663 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1664 Heavy Conversion Unit RCAF
  • No. 1664 (Royal Canadian Air Force) Heavy Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1665 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1665 (Heavy Transport) Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1666 Heavy Conversion Unit RCAF
  • No. 1666 (Royal Canadian Air Force) Heavy Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1667 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1668 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1669 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1670 (Thunderbolt) Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1671 Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1672 (Mosquito) Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1673 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1674 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1675 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1678 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1699 (Bomber Support) Conversion Unit RAF
  • No. 1699 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF
Other Conversion Units
  • Heavy Bomber Conversion Unit RAF, Salbani
  • Heavy Glider Conversion Unit RAF
  • Short Range Conversion Unit RAF
  • Tornado Weapons Conversion Unit RAF

E[]

Establishments[]

F[]

Ferry units[]

Foreign Air Arms[]

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

  • , 6, 7, 10, 11, , , 14, , 16, 17, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 76, , , , , , , , 85 & .

Other

  • 107 (Transport)
  • 108 (Transport)

Other Units[]

Numbered other units

  • (1920) [19]
  • (1919-20) [20]
  • (1943) became [21]
  • (1943-44) became No. 168 Maintenance Unit RAF [11]
  • (1943-44) [22]
  • (1939-44) [3]
  • (1939-40) became Photographic Development Unit RAF [3]
  • (1957-61) [23]
  • (1957-61) [23]
  • (1957-61) [23]
  • (1937-41 & 1942-43) [23]
  • (1942) became [24]
  • (1942-45) [24]
  • (1946) [25]
  • (1945-46) became [25]
  • (1939-44) [26]
  • (1940) [26]
  • (1940) [26]
  • (1952-53) [27]
  • (1952-53) [27]
  • (1940) [19]
  • (1944-47) became [28]
  • (1944) [29]
  • (1943-44) [29]
  • No. 3 Tactical Exercise Unit RAF (1944) became No. 55 OTU [29]
  • (1944) became No. 3 Tactical Exercise Unit RAF [29]
  • (1978-92) [29]
  • No. 2 Tactical Weapons Unit RAF (1978-81 & 1981-92) became No. 7 FTS [29]
  • (1943-44 & 1945-47) [7]
  • (1942-43) [30]
  • No. 2 Aircraft Delivery Unit RAF (1942-44) became No. 2 Ferry Unit RAF [31]
  • No. 3 Aircraft Delivery Unit RAF (1943-44) became No. 3 Ferry Unit RAF [31]
  • No. 4 Aircraft Delivery Unit RAF (1943-44) became No. 4 Ferry Unit RAF [31]
  • (1944-45) became [32]
  • (1944-45) became [33]
  • (1944-45) became [34]
  • (1945) [34]
  • No. 11 (Landplane) Preparation and Modification Unit RAF (1945-46) [35]
  • No. 12 (Flying Boat) Preparation and Modification Unit RAF (1945-46) [36]
  • (1947) became [37]
  • (1947) became [37]
  • No. 204 Crew Training Unit RAF (1947) became No. 204 Advanced Flying School RAF [37]
  • (1955-61) [38]
  • (1953) became No. 1323 (Canberra) Flight RAF [38]
  • (1954) [29]

Other units

P[]

Pools[]

  • (1942) became [81]
  • (1942) [81]
  • No. 1 Group Pool RAF (1939-40) became No. 12 OTU [27]
  • No. 2 Group Pool RAF (1939-40) became No. 13 OTU [32]
  • No. 3 Group Pool RAF (1939-40) became No. 15 OTU [32]
  • No. 4 Group Pool RAF (1939-40) became No. 10 OTU [32]
  • No. 5 Group Pool RAF (1939-40) became No. 16 OTU [82]
  • No. 11 Group Pool RAF (1939-40) became No. 6 OTU [82]
  • No. 12 Group Pool RAF (1939-40) became No. 5 OTU [83]
  • Pupil Pilots Pool RAF (1943-47) [19]
  • (1941-43) [19]
  • (1941-43) [19]
  • (1941-43) became Pupil Pilots Pool RAF [19]
  • (1943-44) became [47]
  • (1941-42) became [84]
  • Pilots Reinforcement and Reserve Pool RAF (1940) became Reinforcement and Reserve Pool RAF [84]
  • (1919) [19]
  • (1918) became [19]
  • (1939-40) [69]
  • Reinforcement and Reserve Pool RAF (1940) became Training Unit and Reserve Pool RAF [84]
  • Training Unit and Reserve Pool RAF (1940) became No. 70 OTU [16]

Photographic Reconnaissance[]

Refresher Flying Units[]

  • 1 (Pilots) & 2 (Pilots)
  • 1, Planned but cancelled, 2, Planned but cancelled, , 4, , , , & .

Signals Units[]

  • 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 26, 33, 50, 54, 59, 71, 81, 90 & 91.
  • 101, 112, 117, 123, 144 & 146.
  • 235, 244, 264, 271, 276 & 280.
  • 303, 336, 367, 388 & 399.
  • 405, 409, 425, 432, 444, 469 & 487.
  • 500, 585 & 591.
  • 615 & 646.
  • 719, 721, 724 & 751.
  • 815, 840 & 889.
  • 926, 962, 966 & 993.
  • 1001.
  • Signals Development Unit RAF
  • Signals Flying Unit RAF

Training Wings[]

See also[]

References[]

Citations[]

  1. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 31.
  2. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 36.
  3. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 42.
  4. ^ Lake 1999, p. 53.
  5. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 128.
  6. ^ a b c d Lake 1999, p. 133.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Lake 1999, p. 282.
  8. ^ a b c d Lake 1999, p. 289.
  9. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 290.
  10. ^ a b c d Lake 1999, p. 39.
  11. ^ a b c d e Lake 1999, p. 40.
  12. ^ Lake 1999, p. 49.
  13. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 50.
  14. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 71.
  15. ^ Lake 1999, p. 130.
  16. ^ a b c d e f Lake 1999, p. 288.
  17. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 February 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 8 December 2010. Retrieved 12 December 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h Lake 1999, p. 158.
  20. ^ Lake 1999, p. 293.
  21. ^ a b c d Lake 1999, p. 23.
  22. ^ Lake 1999, p. 41.
  23. ^ a b c d e Lake 1999, p. 48.
  24. ^ a b c d Lake 1999, p. 65.
  25. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 72.
  26. ^ a b c d Lake 1999, p. 109.
  27. ^ a b c d e Lake 1999, p. 118.
  28. ^ a b c d e Lake 1999, p. 175.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h i Lake 1999, p. 280.
  30. ^ Lake 1999, p. 283.
  31. ^ a b c d Lake 1999, p. 26.
  32. ^ a b c d Lake 1999, p. 119.
  33. ^ Lake 1999, p. 124.
  34. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 125.
  35. ^ Lake 1999, p. 134.
  36. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 102.
  37. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 56.
  38. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 279.
  39. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 11.
  40. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 14.
  41. ^ Lake 1999, p. 15.
  42. ^ Lake 1999, p. 16.
  43. ^ Lake 1999, p. 17.
  44. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 19.
  45. ^ Lake 1999, p. 22.
  46. ^ a b c d e Lake 1999, p. 25.
  47. ^ a b c d Lake 1999, p. 27.
  48. ^ Lake 1999, p. 28.
  49. ^ Lake 1999, p. 34.
  50. ^ Lake 1999, p. 37.
  51. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 38.
  52. ^ Lake 1999, p. 58.
  53. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 66.
  54. ^ Lake 1999, p. 70.
  55. ^ Lake 1999, p. 101.
  56. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 110.
  57. ^ Lake 1999, p. 111.
  58. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 140.
  59. ^ "Flight 6 December 1945 p612". flightglobal.com. Archived from the original on 30 April 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  60. ^ Lake 1999, p. 127.
  61. ^ Lake 1999, p. 132.
  62. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 135.
  63. ^ Lake 1999, p. 238.
  64. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 137.
  65. ^ Lake 1999, p. 138.
  66. ^ Lake 1999, p. 142.
  67. ^ Lake 1999, p. 154.
  68. ^ a b c d e Lake 1999, p. 155.
  69. ^ a b c d e f g h Lake 1999, p. 156.
  70. ^ Lake 1999, p. 159.
  71. ^ Lake 1999, p. 186.
  72. ^ Lake 1999, p. 161.
  73. ^ Lake 1999, p. 173.
  74. ^ Lake 1999, p. 187.
  75. ^ Lake 1999, p. 188.
  76. ^ Lake 1999, p. 277.
  77. ^ Lake 1999, p. 278.
  78. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 281.
  79. ^ Lake 1999, p. 291.
  80. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 292.
  81. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 139.
  82. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 120.
  83. ^ Lake 1999, p. 121.
  84. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 157.
  85. ^ a b 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.

External links[]

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