No. 13 Group RAF
Encyclopedia
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
.
expanded prior to World War II
, it was seen that a new Group was needed to command the air defences of Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the north of England. 13 Group was duly reformed on 15 March 1939. During the initial stages of World War II, No. 13 Group was Commanded by Air Vice Marshal Richard Saul
.
The 13 Group HQ was at Kenton
, near Newcastle upon Tyne
with the Filter Room at nearby Blakelaw Quarry (not Blakelow, as erroneously mentioned previously).
The sector airfields were:
, 13 Group also provided reserve squadrons and pilots to the more beleaguered 11 Group
, and provided quieter bases for squadrons to recuperate from operations.
The 13 Group also contributed to pilot education by producing its "Forget-Me-Nots for Fighters" brochure that included a foreword by Air Vice-Marshal R.E.Saul.
During the Battle of Britain, the Germans had faulty intelligence indicating that 13 Group had next to no fighters in operation (they believed that the only reason why 11 Group was still holding out was that 13 Group had been sending them down their available aircraft), so they had thought that any attacks made on Scotland would not face any serious resistance. This proved to be a costly mistake for the Luftwaffe, as their bombers were intercepted by a large number of fighters. The bombers could not be escorted all the way to Scotland
from Occupied Europe because of the short range of the Messerschmitt 109, so the attacking bombers proved to be fodder for Saul's Spitfire and Hurricane squadrons. On August the 15th 1940 the German air force attempted its one and only daylight flank attack on Northern England. North East England was attacked by 65 Heinkel 111s escorted by 34 Messerschmitt 110s, and RAF Great Driffield was attacked by 50 unescorted Junkers 88s. Out of 115 bombers and 35 fighters sent over 16 bombers and 7 fighters were destroyed (Document 32 Battle of Britain Historical Society).
After the Battle of Britain, 13 Group squadrons helped RAF Coastal Command
in patrolling for U-boats and providing air cover for convoys. New pilots would usually find themselves posted to a 13 Group squadron initially so as to gain experience with lesser risk of getting shot down.
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. It is most famous for having the responsibility for defending the North of Great Britain 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...
World War I
No. 13 Group RAF was first formed on 1 April 1918 within No. 3 Area. It was quickly transferred to Midland Area on 8 May of that year. On 18 October 1919 the Group's first existence came to an end when it was disbanded by folding it into No. 3 GroupNo. 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:...
.
Preparations for War II
As Fighter CommandRAF 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...
expanded prior to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, it was seen that a new Group was needed to command the air defences of Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the north of England. 13 Group was duly reformed on 15 March 1939. During the initial stages of World War II, No. 13 Group was Commanded by Air Vice Marshal Richard Saul
Richard Saul
Air Vice-Marshal Richard Ernest Saul CB, DFC, RAF was a pilot during World War I and a senior Royal Air Force commander during World War II.- Earlier Years :Saul was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1891...
.
The Dowding System in 13 Group
Like the other groups into which fighter command were divided, no. 13 Group operated the Dowding System of fighter control.The 13 Group HQ was at Kenton
Kenton, Newcastle upon Tyne
Kenton is a suburb and electoral ward in the north west of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It borders the Town Moor and Gosforth. Kenton also has close road links to Newcastle Airport....
, near Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
with the Filter Room at nearby Blakelaw Quarry (not Blakelow, as erroneously mentioned previously).
The sector airfields were:
- RAF AcklingtonRAF AcklingtonThe former Royal Air Force Station Acklington, commonly known as RAF Acklington, was a Royal Air Force airfield airbase situated near Acklington, in Northumberland, England....
- RAF Dyce
- RAF Turnhouse
- RAF UsworthRAF UsworthRAF Usworth was a Royal Air Force station near Sunderland. In 1958 the station was closed and the airfield became Sunderland Airport. Following the closure of the airport in 1984, the site has since been redeveloped as a manufacturing facility for Nissan cars.- Early history :In October 1916, the...
- RAF Wick
Battle Of Britain
As well as guarding the north during the Battle of BritainBattle 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...
, 13 Group also provided reserve squadrons and pilots to the more beleaguered 11 Group
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...
, and provided quieter bases for squadrons to recuperate from operations.
The 13 Group also contributed to pilot education by producing its "Forget-Me-Nots for Fighters" brochure that included a foreword by Air Vice-Marshal R.E.Saul.
During the Battle of Britain, the Germans had faulty intelligence indicating that 13 Group had next to no fighters in operation (they believed that the only reason why 11 Group was still holding out was that 13 Group had been sending them down their available aircraft), so they had thought that any attacks made on Scotland would not face any serious resistance. This proved to be a costly mistake for the Luftwaffe, as their bombers were intercepted by a large number of fighters. The bombers could not be escorted all the way to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
from Occupied Europe because of the short range of the Messerschmitt 109, so the attacking bombers proved to be fodder for Saul's Spitfire and Hurricane squadrons. On August the 15th 1940 the German air force attempted its one and only daylight flank attack on Northern England. North East England was attacked by 65 Heinkel 111s escorted by 34 Messerschmitt 110s, and RAF Great Driffield was attacked by 50 unescorted Junkers 88s. Out of 115 bombers and 35 fighters sent over 16 bombers and 7 fighters were destroyed (Document 32 Battle of Britain Historical Society).
After the Battle of Britain, 13 Group squadrons helped RAF Coastal Command
RAF Coastal Command
RAF Coastal Command was a formation within the Royal Air Force . Founded in 1936, it was the RAF's premier maritime arm, after the Royal Navy's secondment of the Fleet Air Arm in 1937. Naval aviation was neglected in the inter-war period, 1919–1939, and as a consequence the service did not receive...
in patrolling for U-boats and providing air cover for convoys. New pilots would usually find themselves posted to a 13 Group squadron initially so as to gain experience with lesser risk of getting shot down.
Post war
After the war, the Group was disbanded on 20 May 1946. However, nine years later it was reformed. It finally disbanded on 31 December 1961 when it was redesignated No. 11 Group.1939 to 1946
- 24 July 1939 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...
R E SaulRichard SaulAir Vice-Marshal Richard Ernest Saul CB, DFC, RAF was a pilot during World War I and a senior Royal Air Force commander during World War II.- Earlier Years :Saul was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1891... - 4 February 1941 Air Vice-Marshal J O Andrews
- 27 November 1942 Air Vice-Marshal M HendersonMalcolm HendersonAir Vice-Marshal Malcolm Henderson CB CIE CBE DSO RAF was a World War I pilot and a senior commander in the Royal Air Force during World War II. He was Air Officer Commanding No. 14 Group during the Battle of Britain.-References:*...
- 15 November 1943 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...
- 26 January 1944 Air CommodoreAir CommodoreAir commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
J A Boret - 1945 post vacant
- 7 July 1945 unknown
1955 to 1961
- 16 May 1955 Air Vice-Marshal W G CheshireWalter CheshireAir Chief Marshal Sir Walter Graemes Cheshire GBE KCB RAF was a senior Royal Air Force intelligence officer during World War II and a senior commander in the in the 1950s and early 1960s.-RAF career:...
- 1 July 1957 Air Vice-Marshal A EarleAlfred EarleAir Chief Marshal Sir Alfred Earle, GBE, CB, RAF was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force during World War II who later became Vice-Chief of Defence Staff.-Military career:...
- 9 November 1959 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:...
See also
- RAF Fighter CommandRAF Fighter CommandRAF 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...
- Battle of BritainBattle of BritainThe 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...
- 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