Commands - N Europe

Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

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Overseas Commands - Europe 1918 - 1945

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HQ Royal Air Force

St Andre-aux-bois; Cologne. (from 7 May 1919); Rear HQ - Wimereux (from 7 Jul 1919)

Formed 1 Apr 1918 from HQ RFC. Renamed RAF Rhine xx xxx 1918?

1 Apr 1918 Maj-Gen Sir John Salmond

Independent Force

Formed 6 Jun 1918 by renaming 41st Wing. Renamed Inter-Allied Independent Force, 26 Oct 1918. Disbanded, xx xxx 1918?.

6 Jun 1918 Maj-Gen Sir Hugh Trenchard

20 Nov 1918? Brig-Gen C L Courtney

HQ RAF in France and Flanders

Wimereux, France

Formed xx xxx 1919 by renaming Rear HQ RAF. Disbanded xx May 1920

xx xxx 1919 Lt Col/Wg Cdr G B Hynes

RAF Rhine

Bickendorf, Germany

Formed xx xxx 1918 by renaming HQ Royal Air Force. Disbanded 2 Oct 1919. Continued to be listed in AFL until at least Jul 1922.

4 Jan 1919 Maj-Gen Sir John Higgins

7 May 1919 Maj-Gen Sir John Salmond

19 Aug 1919

xx xxx xxxx OC, No 12 Sqn?

Listings of units controlled by RAF Rhine: -

[July 1920 |

Air Component of the British Expeditionary Force

Formed xx Aug 1939 from a nucleus of No 22 (Army Co-operation) Group.

xx Aug 1939 AVM C H B Blount

Advanced Air Striking Force

Formed 24 Aug 1939 from No 1 (Bomber) Group. Disbanded 26 Jun 1940.

24 Aug 1939 AVM P H L Playfair

British Air Forces in France

Formed 15 Jan 1940 to control both the AASF and the Air Component. Disbanded 24 Jun 1940.

15 Jan 1940 AM Sir Arthur Barratt

RAF Iceland

Formed 2 Jul 1941 by raising No 30 Wing to Command status within Coastal Command. Disbanded xx Jul 1945.

xx xxx xxxx: A/Cdre W H Primrose

20 Sep 1943: A/Cdre C G Wigglesworth

4 Jan 1945: A/Cdre G H Boyce

Listings of units controlled by RAF Iceland: -

[Jul 1942 | June1944 |

Allied Expeditionary Air Force

Formed 15 Nov 1943 to control all Allied air operations in connection with Operation 'Overlord'. Disbanded 15 Oct 1944.

15 Nov 1943 ACM Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory

Listings of units controlled by AEAF: -

[June 1944 |

2nd Tactical Air Force

2nd Tactical Air Force Badge Formed 1 Jun 1943 as HQ Tactical Air Force from Army Co-operation Command to control all tactical air assets in connection with Operation 'Overlord'. Subordinated to HQ AEAF, 15 Nov 1943. Renamed British Air Forces of Occupation, 15 Jul 1945. Reformed 1 Sep 1951 by renaming BAFO, redesignated RAF Germany, 1 Jan 1959.

Motto: Keepers of the Peace

1 Jun 1943 AM Sir John D'Albiac

21 Jan 1944 AM Sir Arthur Coningham

Listings of units controlled by 2nd TAF: -

[June1944 |

British Air Forces of Occupation

Formed 15 Jul 1945 by renaming 2nd Tactical Air Force. Renamed 2nd Tactical Air Force, 1 Sep 1951.

15 Jul 1945 ACM Sir Sholto Douglas

1 Feb 1946 AM Sir Philip Wigglesworth

30 Oct 1948 AM Sir Thomas Williams

RAF Germany

Badge - RAF Germany Formed 1 Jan 1959 by renaming 2nd Tactical Air Force. The C-in-C also held the NATO post of Commander, 2nd Allied Tactical Air Force. It was redesignated as No 2 Group within Strike Command, 1 Apr 1993.