No. 11 Group RAF
Encyclopedia
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
.
I M Bonham-Carter
took command. Three months later, in May 1920, No. 11 Group was reduced to No. 11 Wing.
It was reformed on 1 May 1936 as No. 11 (Fighter) Group by renaming Fighting Area. On 14 July 1936, 11 Group became the first RAF Fighter Command
group formed, with the responsibility for the air defence of southern England
, including London
.
within RAF Uxbridge
. The Group operations room was underground in what is now known as the Battle of Britain Bunker
. Commands were passed to the sector airfields, each of which was in charge of several airfields and fighter squadrons. The sector airfields were:
11 Group's most famous period was during the Battle of Britain
when, due to its position, 11 Group bore the brunt of the German aerial assault. Pilots posted to squadrons in 11 Group knew that they would be sent into certain action while pilots and squadrons transferring out of 11 Group knew that they were going to comparatively safer duty.
During the Battle of Britain, 11 Group was commanded by New Zealander Air Vice Marshal Keith Park
.
While fully supported by the commanders (AOC
s) of 10 Group
and 13 Group
, he received insufficient support from the AOC of 12 Group
, Air Vice Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory
, who wanted the 11 Group AOC position and used the Big Wing
controversy to criticise Park's tactics. Leigh-Mallory's lack of support compromised Britain's defenses at a critical time and the following controversy caused problems for Park. When the Battle of Britain was finally over, Leigh-Mallory, acting with Air Marshal
Sholto Douglas
, conspired to have Park removed from his position (along with the Commander-in-Chief of Fighter Command, Air Chief Marshal
Hugh Dowding). Leigh-Mallory then took over 11 Group.
and 54 and 247 Squadrons at RAF Odiham
. The Metropolitan Sector had 25 Squadron at RAF West Malling
, 41/253 at RAF Biggin Hill, 56/87 and 63 at RAF Waterbeach, 64 and 65 at Duxford, 72 at North Weald, 85/145 at West Malling with Meteor NF.11s, and 257 and 263 Squadrons at Wattisham. (The '/' denotes a short-lived RAF postwar scheme in which some squadrons were linked, and two squadron numbers' heritage was carried on within one single unit.)
However, in 1960 there was a rationalisation of Fighter Command, and 11 Group was disbanded on 31 December 1960. However, it reformed one day later when No. 13 Group
was renamed to No. 11 Group. On 1 April 1963 the Group was renamed No. 11 (Northern) Sector. This incarnation lasted until Fighter Command was absorbed into the new Strike Command
on 1 April 1968. The day Fighter Command merged into RAF Strike Command
, 30 April 1968, Group Headquarters shifted to RAF Bentley Priory
in northwest London, and took responsibility for the UK Air Defence Region (UK ADR). In aircraft terms, the English Electric Lightning
entered service in 1960 and the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II
in 1969, with No. 43 Squadron
at RAF Leuchars
.
The group was renamed No. 11 (Air Defence) Group in January 1986. In the early 1990s, the Group's frontline force consisted of Nos 56 and 74 Squadrons flying Phantoms from RAF Wattisham
, No. 5
and No. 29 Squadrons flying Panavia Tornado
s from RAF Coningsby
, Nos 11, 23, and 25 Squadrons flying Panavia Tornado
s from RAF Leeming
, and No. 43 and No. 111
Squadrons at RAF Leuchars
. No. 8 Squadron RAF flew E-3 Sentry
AEW aircraft from RAF Waddington
. Nos 5 and 11 Squadrons had been the last units flying the English Electric Lightning
from RAF Binbrook
until 1988. Nos 25 and 85 Squadrons had been operating Bristol Bloodhound surface-to-air missiles, but re-equipped with Tornado and disbanded, respectively, in 1989 and on 10 July 1991. The Wattisham Phantom Wing was disbanded relatively quickly following the end of the Cold War. Later, No. 23 Squadron was disbanded in March 1994.
No. 11 Group lasted until 1996, when on 1 April it was amalgamated with No. 18 Group
to form No. 11/18 Group
. Air Vice Marshal Anthony Bagnall
, who took over on 15 July 1994, was the Group's last commander.
1968 to 1996
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...
in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
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
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
during the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
.
First World War
No. 11 Group was first formed on 1 April 1918 in No. 2 Area as No. 11 (Equipment) Group, and was transferred to South-Western Area the next month on 8 May. 11 Group's short first existence came to an end on 17 May 1918, when it was disbanded.Inter-war years
The next incarnation of the Group was later the same year when it was formed in North-Western Area on 22 August. On 6 February 1920 Group CaptainGroup Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
I M Bonham-Carter
Ian Bonham-Carter
Air Commodore Ian Malcolm Bonham-Carter CB, OBE, RAF was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force.After his education at Haileybury, Ian Bonham-Carter was commissioned into the Northumberland Fusiliers in 1900. Bonham-Carter served in the 5th Battalion and then the 1st Battalion of the...
took command. Three months later, in May 1920, No. 11 Group was reduced to No. 11 Wing.
It was reformed on 1 May 1936 as No. 11 (Fighter) Group by renaming Fighting Area. On 14 July 1936, 11 Group became the first RAF Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command was one of three functional commands of the Royal Air Force. It was formed in 1936 to allow more specialised control of fighter aircraft. It served throughout the Second World War, gaining recognition in the Battle of Britain. The Command continued until 17 November 1943, when...
group formed, with the responsibility for the air defence of southern England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, including London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Second World War
11 Group was organised using the Dowding System of fighter control. Group Headquarters was at Hillingdon HouseHillingdon House
Hillingdon House is a Grade II listed mansion in Hillingdon, Greater London. The original house was built in 1717 as a hunting lodge for the Duke of Schomberg. It was destroyed by fire and the present house was built in its place in 1844....
within RAF Uxbridge
RAF Uxbridge
RAF Uxbridge was a Royal Air Force station in Uxbridge within the London Borough of Hillingdon. Its grounds covered originally belonging to the Hillingdon House estate, which was purchased by the British Government in 1915, three years before the founding of the RAF...
. The Group operations room was underground in what is now known as the Battle of Britain Bunker
Battle of Britain Bunker
The Battle of Britain Bunker is an underground operations room at RAF Uxbridge, formerly used by No. 11 Group Fighter Command during the Second World War. Fighter aircraft operations were controlled from there throughout the War but most notably during the Battle of Britain and on D-Day...
. Commands were passed to the sector airfields, each of which was in charge of several airfields and fighter squadrons. The sector airfields were:
- Sector A: RAF TangmereRAF TangmereRAF Tangmere was a Royal Air Force station famous for its role in the Battle of Britain, located at Tangmere village about 3 miles east of Chichester in West Sussex, England. American RAF pilot Billy Fiske died at Tangmere and was the first American aviator to die during World War II...
- Sector B: RAF KenleyRAF KenleyThe former Royal Air Force Station Kenley, more commonly known as RAF Kenley was a station of the Royal Flying Corps in World War I and the RAF in World War II. It is located near Kenley, London, England.-History:...
- Sector C: RAF Biggin Hill
- Sector D: RAF HornchurchRAF HornchurchRAF Hornchurch was an airfield in the south of Hornchurch in what is now the London Borough of Havering. Known as Sutton's Farm during the First World War, it occupied of the farm of the same name and was situated east north-east of Charing Cross...
- Sector E: RAF North Weald
- Sector F: RAF DebdenRAF DebdenRAF Debden is a former RAF airfield in England. The field is located 3 miles SE of Saffron Walden and approximately 1 mile north of the village of Debden in North Essex.-RAF Fighter Command:...
- Sector Y: RAF Middle Wallop
- Sector Z: RAF NortholtRAF NortholtRAF Northolt is a Royal Air Force station situated in South Ruislip, east by northeast of Uxbridge in the London Borough of Hillingdon, West London. Approximately north of London Heathrow Airport, the station also handles a large number of private civil flights...
11 Group's most famous period was during the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
when, due to its position, 11 Group bore the brunt of the German aerial assault. Pilots posted to squadrons in 11 Group knew that they would be sent into certain action while pilots and squadrons transferring out of 11 Group knew that they were going to comparatively safer duty.
During the Battle of Britain, 11 Group was commanded by New Zealander Air Vice Marshal Keith Park
Keith Park
Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Rodney Park GCB, KBE, MC & Bar, DFC, RAF was a New Zealand soldier, First World War flying ace and Second World War Royal Air Force commander...
.
While fully supported by the commanders (AOC
Air Officer Commanding
Air Officer Commanding is a title given in the air forces of Commonwealth nations to an air officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, an air vice marshal might be the AOC 38 Group...
s) of 10 Group
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....
and 13 Group
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:...
, he received insufficient support from the AOC of 12 Group
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...
, Air Vice Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory
Trafford Leigh-Mallory
Air Chief Marshal Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory KCB, DSO & Bar was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force. Leigh-Mallory served as a Royal Flying Corps pilot and squadron commander during World War I...
, who wanted the 11 Group AOC position and used the Big Wing
Big Wing
The Big Wing, also known as a Balbo, was an air fighting tactic proposed during the Battle of Britain by 12 Group commander Air Vice-Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory and Acting Squadron Leader Douglas Bader. In essence, the tactic involved meeting incoming Luftwaffe bombing raids in strength with a...
controversy to criticise Park's tactics. Leigh-Mallory's lack of support compromised Britain's defenses at a critical time and the following controversy caused problems for Park. When the Battle of Britain was finally over, Leigh-Mallory, acting with Air Marshal
Air Marshal
Air marshal is a three-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Sholto Douglas
Sholto Douglas
Sholto Douglas was the mythical Progenitor of Clan Douglas, a powerful and warlike family in Medieval Scotland.A Mythical battle took place: "in 767, between King Solvathius rightful king of Scotland and a pretender Donald Bane...
, conspired to have Park removed from his position (along with the Commander-in-Chief of Fighter Command, Air Chief Marshal
Air Chief Marshal
Air chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Hugh Dowding). Leigh-Mallory then took over 11 Group.
Post-war
Following the war, 11 Group continued to be a key formation within Fighter Command. In December 1951 it consisted of two sectors, the Southern and Metropolitan. The Southern Sector had Nos 1 and 29/22 Squadrons at RAF TangmereRAF Tangmere
RAF Tangmere was a Royal Air Force station famous for its role in the Battle of Britain, located at Tangmere village about 3 miles east of Chichester in West Sussex, England. American RAF pilot Billy Fiske died at Tangmere and was the first American aviator to die during World War II...
and 54 and 247 Squadrons at RAF Odiham
RAF Odiham
RAF Odiham is a Royal Air Force station situated a little to the south of the historic small village of Odiham in Hampshire, England. It is the home of the Royal Air Force's heavy lift helicopter, the Chinook HC2, HC2A and HC3...
. The Metropolitan Sector had 25 Squadron at RAF West Malling
RAF West Malling
RAF West Malling was a Royal Air Force station near West Malling in Kent, England.Originally used as a landing area during the first World War, the site opened as a private landing ground and in 1930, then known as Kingshill, home to the Maidstone School of Flying, before being renamed West Malling...
, 41/253 at RAF Biggin Hill, 56/87 and 63 at RAF Waterbeach, 64 and 65 at Duxford, 72 at North Weald, 85/145 at West Malling with Meteor NF.11s, and 257 and 263 Squadrons at Wattisham. (The '/' denotes a short-lived RAF postwar scheme in which some squadrons were linked, and two squadron numbers' heritage was carried on within one single unit.)
However, in 1960 there was a rationalisation of Fighter Command, and 11 Group was disbanded on 31 December 1960. However, it reformed one day later when No. 13 Group
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:...
was renamed to No. 11 Group. On 1 April 1963 the Group was renamed No. 11 (Northern) Sector. This incarnation lasted until Fighter Command was absorbed into the new Strike Command
RAF Strike Command
The Royal Air Force's Strike Command was the military formation which controlled the majority of the United Kingdom's bomber and fighter aircraft from 1968 until 2007: it was merged with Personnel and Training Command to form the single Air Command. It latterly consisted of two formations - No. 1...
on 1 April 1968. The day Fighter Command merged into RAF Strike Command
RAF Strike Command
The Royal Air Force's Strike Command was the military formation which controlled the majority of the United Kingdom's bomber and fighter aircraft from 1968 until 2007: it was merged with Personnel and Training Command to form the single Air Command. It latterly consisted of two formations - No. 1...
, 30 April 1968, Group Headquarters shifted to RAF Bentley Priory
RAF Bentley Priory
RAF Bentley Priory was a non-flying Royal Air Force station near Stanmore in the London Borough of Harrow. It was famous as the headquarters of Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain and the Second World War. The RAF Bentley Priory site includes a Grade II* listed Officers' Mess and Italian...
in northwest London, and took responsibility for the UK Air Defence Region (UK ADR). In aircraft terms, the English Electric Lightning
English Electric Lightning
The English Electric Lightning is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft of the Cold War era, noted for its great speed and unpainted natural metal exterior finish. It is the only all-British Mach 2 fighter aircraft. The aircraft was renowned for its capabilities as an interceptor; Royal Air Force ...
entered service in 1960 and the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II
F-4 Phantom II
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable,...
in 1969, with No. 43 Squadron
No. 43 Squadron RAF
No. 43 Squadron was a Royal Air Force aircraft squadron originally formed in 1916 as part of the Royal Flying Corps. It last operated the Panavia Tornado F3 from RAF Leuchars, Scotland in the air defence role until disbanded in July 2009.-In World War I:...
at RAF Leuchars
RAF Leuchars
RAF Leuchars is the most northerly air defence station in the United Kingdom. It is located in Leuchars, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland, near to the university town of St Andrews.-Operations:...
.
The group was renamed No. 11 (Air Defence) Group in January 1986. In the early 1990s, the Group's frontline force consisted of Nos 56 and 74 Squadrons flying Phantoms from RAF Wattisham
RAF Wattisham
RAF Wattisham was a Royal Air Force station located in East Anglia just outside the village of Wattisham, south of Stowmarket in Suffolk, England. During the Cold War it was a major front-line air force base...
, No. 5
No. 5 Squadron RAF
No. 5 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is the operator of the new Sentinel R1 Airborne STand-Off Radar aircraft and is based at RAF Waddington.-History:As No...
and No. 29 Squadrons flying Panavia Tornado
Panavia Tornado
The Panavia Tornado is a family of twin-engine, variable-sweep wing combat aircraft, which was jointly developed and manufactured by the United Kingdom, West Germany and Italy...
s from RAF Coningsby
RAF Coningsby
RAF Coningsby , is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England. It has been commanded by Group Captain Martin Sampson since 10 December 2010.-Operational units:...
, Nos 11, 23, and 25 Squadrons flying Panavia Tornado
Panavia Tornado
The Panavia Tornado is a family of twin-engine, variable-sweep wing combat aircraft, which was jointly developed and manufactured by the United Kingdom, West Germany and Italy...
s from RAF Leeming
RAF Leeming
RAF Leeming is a Royal Air Force station in North Yorkshire, UK.HRH The Duchess of Cornwall is the Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Leeming. The Station Commander is Group Captain Anthony Innes....
, and No. 43 and No. 111
No. 111 Squadron RAF
No. 111 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operated the Panavia Tornado F3 from RAF Leuchars, Scotland until March 2011, when the squadron was disbanded, ending the Tornado F3's RAF service.-In World War I:...
Squadrons at RAF Leuchars
RAF Leuchars
RAF Leuchars is the most northerly air defence station in the United Kingdom. It is located in Leuchars, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland, near to the university town of St Andrews.-Operations:...
. No. 8 Squadron RAF flew E-3 Sentry
E-3 Sentry
The Boeing E-3 Sentry is an airborne warning and control system developed by Boeing as the prime contractor. Derived from the Boeing 707, it provides all-weather surveillance, command, control and communications, and is used by the United States Air Force , NATO, Royal Air Force , French Air Force...
AEW aircraft from RAF Waddington
RAF Waddington
RAF Waddington is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England.-Formation:Waddington opened as a Royal Flying Corps flying training station in 1916 until 1920, when the station went into care and maintenance....
. Nos 5 and 11 Squadrons had been the last units flying the English Electric Lightning
English Electric Lightning
The English Electric Lightning is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft of the Cold War era, noted for its great speed and unpainted natural metal exterior finish. It is the only all-British Mach 2 fighter aircraft. The aircraft was renowned for its capabilities as an interceptor; Royal Air Force ...
from RAF Binbrook
RAF Binbrook
RAF Binbrook was a Bomber Command station during World War II. After the war it was amongst others the home of the Central Fighter Establishment...
until 1988. Nos 25 and 85 Squadrons had been operating Bristol Bloodhound surface-to-air missiles, but re-equipped with Tornado and disbanded, respectively, in 1989 and on 10 July 1991. The Wattisham Phantom Wing was disbanded relatively quickly following the end of the Cold War. Later, No. 23 Squadron was disbanded in March 1994.
No. 11 Group lasted until 1996, when on 1 April it was amalgamated with No. 18 Group
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...
to form No. 11/18 Group
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...
. Air Vice Marshal Anthony Bagnall
Anthony Bagnall
Air Chief Marshal Sir Anthony John Crowther "Tony" Bagnall, GBE, KCB, FRAeS is a retired senior Royal Air Force officer and former Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff.- Flying career :...
, who took over on 15 July 1994, was the Group's last commander.
Commanders
1936 to 1963- 14 July 1936 Air Vice-MarshalAir Vice-MarshalAir vice-marshal is a two-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in...
P B Joubert de la FertéPhilip Joubert de la FertéAir Chief Marshal Sir Philip Bennet Joubert de la Ferté KCB, CMG, DSO was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force during the 1930s and the Second World War.-RAF career:...
- 7 September 1936 Air Vice-Marshal E L GossageLeslie GossageAir Marshal Sir Ernest Leslie Gossage KCB, CVO, DSO, MC . He was a former artillery officer who become a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps and later a senior officer in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War...
- January 1940 Air Vice-Marshal W L Welsh
- 20 April 1940 Air Vice-Marshal K R ParkKeith ParkAir Chief Marshal Sir Keith Rodney Park GCB, KBE, MC & Bar, DFC, RAF was a New Zealand soldier, First World War flying ace and Second World War Royal Air Force commander...
- 18 December 1940 Air Vice-Marshal T L Leigh-MalloryTrafford Leigh-MalloryAir Chief Marshal Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory KCB, DSO & Bar was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force. Leigh-Mallory served as a Royal Flying Corps pilot and squadron commander during World War I...
- 28 November 1942 Air Vice-Marshal H W L SaundersHugh SaundersAir Chief Marshal Sir Hugh William Lumsden Saunders GCB KBE MC DFC and Bar MM RAF was a South African who rose through the ranks to become a senior Royal Air Force commander.-RAF career:...
- 1 November 1944 Air Vice-Marshal J B Cole-HamiltonJohn Cole-HamiltonAir Vice Marshal John Beresford Cole-Hamilton CB, CBE, RAF was an airship pilot in the Royal Naval Air Service during World War I and a senior Royal Air Force commander during World War II.-World War II:...
- 20 July 1945 Air Vice-Marshal D A BoyleDermot BoyleMarshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Dermot Alexander Boyle GCB, KCVO, KBE, AFC, RAF was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force.-RAF career:...
- 24 April 1946 Air Vice-Marshal S D Macdonald
- 1 June 1948 Air Vice-Marshal S F VincentStanley VincentAir Vice Marshal Sir Stanley Flamank Vincent CB, DFC, AFC, DL, RAF was a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps and later a senior commander in the Royal Air Force...
- 9 January 1950 Air Vice-Marshal T G PikeThomas PikeMarshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Thomas Geoffrey Pike GCB CBE DFC & Bar DL RAF was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force.-RAF career:...
- 5 July 1951 Air Vice-Marshal The Earl of BandonPercy Bernard, 5th Earl of BandonAir Chief Marshal Percy Ronald Gardner Bernard, 5th Earl of Bandon, GBE, CB, CVO, DSO, RAF was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force in the mid-20th century. He was a squadron, station and group commander during World War II and the fifth Commandant of the Royal Observer Corps after the War...
- 1 November 1953 Air Vice-Marshal H L PatchHubert PatchAir Chief Marshal Sir Hubert Leonard Patch KCB CBE RAF was a senior Royal Air Force commander.-RAF career:Patch joined the Royal Air Force as a flight cadet in 1923 and served in World War II....
- 16 January 1956 Air Vice-Marshal V S Bowling
- 12 January 1959 Air Vice-Marshal A Foord-KelceyAlick Foord-KelceyAir Vice Marshal Alick Foord-Kelcey CBE AFC was a Royal Air Force officer who became Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at Signals Command.-RAF career:...
- 1 January 1961 Air Vice-Marshal H J MaguireHarold MaguireAir Marshal Sir Harold John Maguire, KCB, DSO, OBE, was Director-General of Intelligence at the Ministry of Defence from 1968 to 1972.-RAF career:...
- 13 January 1962 Air Vice-Marshal G T B Clayton
1968 to 1996
- 30 April 1968 Air Vice-Marshal R I Jones
- 2 February 1970 Air Vice-Marshal I G Broom
- 6 December 1972 Air Vice-Marshal R W G FreerRobert FreerAir Chief Marshal Sir Robert William George Freer GBE KCB is a former Royal Air Force officer who became Deputy Commander of RAF Strike Command.-RAF career:...
- 15 March 1975 Air Vice-Marshal W HarbisonWilliam Harbison-Post-Korean War:After completing his tour in Korea, Harbison was once again flying the F-86 as commander of No. 67 Squadron of the RAF Second Tactical Air Force at RAF Wildenrath in West Germany. In 1956, he returned home to attend the Army Staff College at Camberley, Surrey...
- 14 March 1977 Air Vice-Marshal D P Hall
- 3 September 1977 Air Vice-Marshal P A Latham
- 7 January 1981 Air Vice-Marshal P R HardingPeter HardingMarshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Peter Robin Harding, GCB is a retired Royal Air Force Chief of the Air Staff, and Chief of Defence Staff.-RAF career:...
- 11 August 1982 Air Vice-Marshal K W HayrKenneth HayrAir Marshal Sir Kenneth William Hayr KCB, KBE, AFC & Bar was a former Deputy Commanding-in-Chief Strike Command and Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff .-Early Life and Flying Career:...
- 1 August 1985 Air Vice-Marshal M J D Stear
- 17 March 1989 Air Vice-Marshal W J WrattenBill WrattenAir Chief Marshal Sir William John Wratten GBE, CB, AFC was Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of RAF Strike Command from 1994.-Flying career:...
- 16 September 1991 Air Vice-Marshal D Allison
- 15 July 1994 Air Vice-Marshal A J C BagnallAnthony BagnallAir Chief Marshal Sir Anthony John Crowther "Tony" Bagnall, GBE, KCB, FRAeS is a retired senior Royal Air Force officer and former Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff.- Flying career :...
See also
- Battle of Britain AirfieldsBattle of Britain airfieldsDuring the Battle of Britain, the defence of the UK's airspace was divided up within RAF Fighter Command into four Groups, each comprising several airfields and squadrons....
- Battle of Britain Squadrons