List of Royal Air Force groups - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

This is a list of Royal Air Force groups
Group (air force)
A group is a military aviation unit, a component of military organization and a military formation. Usage of the terms group and wing differ from one country to another, as well as different branches of a defence force, in some cases...

. The group is a formation just below command

Command (military formation)

A command in military terminology is an organisational unit that the individual in Military command has responsibility for. A Commander will normally be specifically appointed into the role in order to provide a legal framework for the authority bestowed...

level.

No. 1 Group RAF
No. 1 Group RAF
Number 1 Group of the Royal Air Force is one of the two operations groups in Air Command.The group is today referred to as the Air Combat Group, as it controls the RAF's combat fast-jet aircraft and has airfields in the UK plus RAF Unit Goose Bay in Canada, which is used extensively as an...
No. 2 Group RAF
No. 2 Group RAF
Number 2 Group is a Group of the Royal Air Force which was first activated in 1918, served from 1918–20, from 1936 through the Second World War to 1947, from 1948 to 1958, from 1993 to 1996, was reactivated in 2000, and is today part of Air Command....
No. 3 Group RAF
No. 3 Group RAF
Number 3 Group of the Royal Air Force was an RAF group first active in 1918, again in 1923-26, part of RAF Bomber Command from 1936 to 1967, and part of RAF Strike Command from 2000 until it disbanded on 1 April 2006.-The 1930s and World War II:...
No. 4 Group RAF
No. 4 Group RAF
No. 4 Group was a Royal Air Force group, originally formed in World War I, and reformed in the wake of the Second World War, mostly part of RAF Bomber Command, but ending its days in RAF Transport Command.-Formation in World War I:...
No. 5 Group RAF
No. 5 Group RAF
No. 5 Group was a Royal Air Force bomber group of the Second World War, led during the latter part by AVM Sir Ralph Cochrane.-History:The Group was formed on 1 September 1937 with headquarters at RAF Mildenhall....
No. 6 Group RAF
No. 7 Group RAF
No. 7 Group RAF
Number 7 Group of the Royal Air Force was an RAF group active in the latter part of World War I, during the 1920s and also in World War II.-Organizational history:...
No. 8 Group RAF
No. 8 Group RAF
No. 8 Group RAF was a Royal Air Force group which existed during the final year of World War I and during World War II.-Formation in World War II:...
No. 9 Group RAF
No. 9 Group RAF
-History:No. 9 Group RAF was first formed on 1 April 1918 in No. 2 Area. The next month it was transferred to South-Western Area and then disbanded on 15 May 1919....
No. 10 Group RAF
No. 10 Group RAF
No. 10 Group of the Royal Air Force was formed on 1 April 1918 in No. 2 Area. On 8 May of the next year it was transferred to South-Western Area. In 1919 it was transferred to Coastal Area where it remained until it was disbanded on 18 January 1932....
No. 11 Group RAF
No. 11 Group RAF
No. 11 Group was a group in the Royal Air Force for various periods in the 20th century, finally disbanding in 1996. Its most famous service was during 1940 when it defended London and the south-east against the attacks of the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain.-First World War:No. 11 Group was...
No. 12 Group RAF
No. 12 Group RAF
No. 12 Group of the Royal Air Force was a command organization that exisited over two separate periods, namely the end of World War I when it had a training function and from just prior to World War II until the early 1960s when it was tasked with an air defence role.No. 12 Group was first formed...
No. 13 Group RAF
No. 13 Group RAF
No. 13 Group was a group in the Royal Air Force for various periods in the 20th century. It is most famous for having the responsibility for defending the North of Great Britain during the Battle of Britain-World War I:...
No. 14 Group RAF
No. 14 Group RAF
No. 14 Group RAF was first formed on 1 April 1918 by the redesignation of Milford Haven Anti-Submarine Group. On 8 May it was transferred to Midland Area, and it was disbanded on 19 May 1919....
No. 15 Group RAF - No. 15 Group was formed 1 Apr 1918 as No 15 (Equipment) Group in No 3 Area. It was transferred to Midland Area, 8 May 1918. Disbanded, before Sept 1918. The group was reformed on 27 Sep 1918 as No 15 (Aegean) Group to control 62 and 63 Wings. Disbanded 1 Sep 1919. It was Reformed 15 Mar 1939 as No 15 (General Reconnaissance) Group in Coastal Command. It was Disbanded 1 Aug 1945.
No. 16 Group RAF
No. 17 Group RAF
No. 18 Group RAF
No. 18 Group RAF
No. 18 Group of the Royal Air Force was a group active from 1918 to 1919, and from 1938 to 1996.- 1918 - 1919 :The Group was initially formed on 1 April 1918 in No 4 Area. It was transferred to North-Eastern Area, 8 May 1918...
No. 11/18 Group RAF
No. 11/18 Group RAF
No. 11/18 Group was a short-lived formation of Strike Command in the Royal Air Force. It was formed in 1996 as part of the post-Cold War reorganisation of the RAF. It absorbed the forces of No. 11 and No. 18 Groups, which were descended from the old Fighter Command and Coastal Command functional...
No. 19 Group RAF
No. 20 Group RAF
No. 21 Group RAF
No. 22 Group RAF
No. 22 Group RAF
Number 22 Group is one of only three groups currently active in the Royal Air Force, falling under the responsibility of Deputy Commander-in-Chief in Air Command. Its current full title is Number 22 Group and it is responsible for RAF training policy and controlling the Royal Air Force College...
No. 23 Group RAF - No. 23 Group was reformed as No 23 (Training) Group in Inland Area on 12 Apr 1926 by re-numbering No. 3 Group RAF
No. 3 Group RAF
Number 3 Group of the Royal Air Force was an RAF group first active in 1918, again in 1923-26, part of RAF Bomber Command from 1936 to 1967, and part of RAF Strike Command from 2000 until it disbanded on 1 April 2006.-The 1930s and World War II:...

. It was transferred to RAF Training Command
RAF Training Command
Training Command was the RAF's command responsible for flying and ground training from 1936 to 1940 and again from 1968 to 1977.-History:Training Command was formed from Inland Area on 1 May 1936 and absorbed into RAF Support Command on 13 June 1977...

on 1 May 1936. It was then transferred again to Flying Training Command on 27 May 1940. It was reabsorbed into Training Command in 1968 and disbanded on 2 May 1975.
No. 24 Group RAF
No. 25 Group RAF
No. 26 Group RAF
No. 27 Group RAF
No. 28 Group RAF
No. 29 Group RAF
No. 30 Group RAF - headquartered at Chessington
Chessington
Chessington is a town in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in Greater London, England. The Hogsmill river runs through it. Neighbouring settlements include: Tolworth, Ewell, Surbiton, Claygate, Epsom, Oxshott, Leatherhead, Esher, Kingston upon Thames and Worcester Park.-History:Its name...

, near Surbiton
Surbiton
Surbiton, a suburban area of London in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, is situated next to the River Thames, with a mixture of Art-Deco courts, more recent residential blocks and grand, spacious 19th century townhouses blending into a sea of semi-detached 20th century housing estates...

, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...

(RAF Balloon Command
RAF Balloon Command
Balloon Command was the Royal Air Force command which was responsible for controlling all the United Kingdom-based barrage balloon units during World War II.- History :...

)
No. 31 Group RAF - Balloon Barrage group
No. 32 Group RAF - HQ at Claverton Manor, Claverton
Claverton, Somerset
Claverton is a small village and civil parish about east of Bath at the southern end of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, in Somerset, England...

, near Bath, Somerset (Balloon Barrage group)
No. 33 Group RAF - headquartered at Parkhead House, Abbey Lane, Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...

, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...

(Balloon Barrage group)
No. 34 Group RAF - headquartered at Tor House, Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...

(Balloon Barrage group)
No. 38 Group RAF
No. 38 Group RAF
No 38 Group RAF was formed on 6 November 1943 from nine squadrons as part of Fighter Command. It was finally disbanded on 1 April 2000.-History:...

- Headquartered at Netheravon, Wiltshire
No. 40 Group RAF - Formed 3 January 1939 within RAF Maintenance Command
RAF Maintenance Command
RAF Maintenance Command was the Royal Air Force command which was responsible for controlling maintenance for all the United Kingdom-based units from formation on 1 April 1938 until being renamed RAF Support Command on 31 August 1973.- History :...

. Responsible for all equipment except bombs and explosives. Disbanded 28 July 1961. Last AOC Acting AVM V H B Roth.
No. 41 Group RAF
No. 42 Group RAF - No. 42 Group was formed on 1 January 1939 as part of RAF Maintenance Command
RAF Maintenance Command
RAF Maintenance Command was the Royal Air Force command which was responsible for controlling maintenance for all the United Kingdom-based units from formation on 1 April 1938 until being renamed RAF Support Command on 31 August 1973.- History :...

. The group assumed responsibility on 17 April 1939 for ammunition and fuel depots. It was disbanded on 2 January 1956. See also RAF munitions storage during Word War II
No. 43 Group RAF
No. 44 Group RAF
No. 45 Group RAF - redesignation of RAF Ferry Command
RAF Ferry Command
The RAF Ferry Command had a short life, but it spawned, in part, an organisation that lasted well beyond the war years during which it was formed.-History:...

, from 25 March 1943. No 45 (Atlantic Ferry) Group from that date. Renamed No 45 (Transport) Group, Jun 1944. Reduced to wing status 1945-46.
No. 46 Group RAF
No. 47 Group RAF
No. 48 Group RAF
No. 50 Group RAF - flying training group, RAF Reserve Command/RAF Flying Training Command
No. 51 Group RAF - flying training group
No. 52 Group RAF
No. 53 Group RAF
No. 54 Group RAF - flying training group
No. 60 Group RAF - formed 23 March 1940 in Fighter Command to control RDF
Radio direction finder
A radio direction finder is a device for finding the direction to a radio source. Due to low frequency propagation characteristic to travel very long distances and "over the horizon", it makes a particularly good navigation system for ships, small boats, and aircraft that might be some distance...

(Radar) Stations and other Radio units. Amalgamated with No. 26 Group to form No. 90 (Signals) Group, 25 April 1946.
No. 61 Group RAF
No. 62 Group RAF
No. 63 Group RAF
No. 64 Group RAF
No. 65 Group RAF
No. 66 Group RAF
No. 67 Group RAF
No. 70 Group RAF - army air cooperation training. Order of battle 1 June 1944, mostly target towing Hurricanes, http://www.orbat.com/site/ww2/drleo/017_britain/44-06-06_Neptune/Air/z-air_Group-070.htm
No. 71 Group RAF
No. 72 Group RAF
No. 81 Group RAF
No. 81 Group RAF
No. 81 Group was a group within the Royal Air Force's Fighter Command during the Second World War and the post-war era.-History:The group was formed on 16 December 1940 at RAF Sealand as part of Fighter Command to control the Operational Training Unit...

- reformed as part of Fighter Command in January 1952 to control the command's training units. Disbanded in 1957.
No. 82 Group RAF
No. 83 Group RAF
No. 83 Group RAF
No. 83 Group was a group within the Royal Air Force's 2nd Tactical Air Force during the Second World War and the post-war era. In 2006, the group was re-established as No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group.-History:...
No. 84 Group RAF
No. 85 Group RAF
No. 87 Group RAF
No. 88 Group RAF
No. 90 Group RAF - No 26 Group and No 60 Group were amalgamated to form No 90 Group on 25 April 1946. The group was disbanded in 1973.
No. 91 Group RAF - operational training group, RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...

, Second World War
No. 92 Group RAF - operational training group, RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...

, Second World War
No. 93 Group RAF - operational training group, RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...

, Second World War
No. 100 Group RAF
No. 100 Group RAF
No. 100 Group was a special duties group within RAF Bomber Command.It was formed on 11 November 1943 to consolidate the increasingly complex business of electronic warfare and countermeasures within one organisation. The group was responsible for the development, operational trial and use of...

- Second World War only. Electronic warfare.
No. 106 Group RAF - In June 1943, No. 1 PRU was formed into No 106 Wing, with five squadrons (Nos. 540 to 544 inclusive) and an Operational Training Unit. The Wing was elevated to Group status in April 1944, with two Mosquito and two Spitfire Squadrons (No. 543 Squadron having been disbanded when the aircraft strength per Squadron was increased).
No. 200 Group RAF
No. 201 Group RAF
No. 202 Group RAF
No. 203 Group RAF
No. 204 Group RAF
No. 205 Group RAF
No. 206 Group RAF
No. 207 Group RAF
No. 207 Group RAF
No. 207 Group was a group of the Royal Air Force established on December 15, 1941 by downgrading the British RAF Command known as Air H.Q. East Africa to Group status. The group was commanded by Air Commodore William Sowrey until June 1942 when Air Commodore Malcolm Taylor took over.No...
No. 210 Group RAF
No. 211 Group RAF
No. 211 Group RAF
No 211 Group or No. 211 Group was a Group of the Royal Air Force formed on 10 December 1941 by renaming Nucleus Group Western Desert. The group was officially disbanded from 3 February 1942 to 12 March 1943, although some references refer to some of its original squadrons during this period as...
No. 212 Group RAF
No. 213 Group RAF
No. 214 Group RAF
No. 215 Group RAF
No. 216 Group RAF
No. 216 Group RAF
No. 216 Group was a command of the Royal Air Force during World War II established on May 21, 1942. The group was renamed No. 216 Group on September 9, 1942 and placed under the command of Air Commodore Whitney Straight the following day.No...
No. 217 Group RAF
No. 218 Group RAF
No. 219 Group RAF
No. 221 Group RAF
No. 222 Group RAF
No. 222 Group RAF
No. 222 Group was a group of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Formed on 1 September 1941, based at Ceylon, however squadrons were based around the Indian Ocean. The group undertook long-range bombing and mine-laying operations that took them as far afield as Sumatra and Singapore...
No. 223 Group RAF
No. 224 Group RAF
No. 225 Group RAF
No. 226 Group RAF
No. 227 Group RAF
No. 228 Group RAF
No. 229 Group RAF
No. 230 Group RAF
No. 231 Group RAF
No. 232 Group RAF
No. 233 Group RAF
No. 238 Group RAF
No. 241 Group RAF
No. 242 Group RAF
No. 246 Group RAF
No. 247 Group RAF
No. 300 Group RAF
No. 333 Group RAF

Air Defence Group RAF
Armament Group RAF
Experimental Group RAF
Firth of Forth Group RAF
Technical Group RAF
Training Group RAF
Training Group RAF
Training Group of the Royal Air Force was the group that controlled the stations of Personnel and Training Command.- History :It was formed on 1 April 1994 from the AOC Training Units with Personnel and Training Command its controlling formation. On 30 October 2006, Training Group was renamed as...

No. 3 (Indian) Group RAF

See also