Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

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This site covers a vast body of knowledge so to make it easier to navigate it has been divided into the following areas: -

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Organisation                Personnel                    Equipment            General

Organisation

• Organisational Developments (RAF History Index)
  • Evolution of an Air Ministry,
  • Development of the Air Staff,

    • Air Council/Air Force Board Appointments,
    • Other Senior RAF Appointments,

  • Organisational Structure of the RAF (Organisational Index)

    • Air Council/Air Force Board and Air Staff,
      • Air Staff Development,
      • Air Council/Air Force Board Appointments,

       

    • RAF Branch Development,
      • RAF Police
      • RAF Police Dog Section
    • RAF Reserves
      • RAF Reserve Classes
      • AuxAF/RAuxAF Units
      • University Air Squadrons
      • RAFVR Units
      •  
    • Commands,
    • Command Development 1918 - 1925,
    • Command Development 1925 - 1936,
    • Command Development 1936 - 1968,
    • Home Command Index
      • Home Commands formed 1918 - 1919,
      • Home Commands formed 1920 - 1935,
      • Home Commands formed 1936 - 1938,
      • Home Commands formed 1939 - 1957,
      • Home Commands formed 1958 - 2002,
      • Joint Service Commands,

      Listings of units controlled by: -

      • Air Defence of Great Britain - Jul 1930 |
      • Inland Area - Jul 1920 | Jul 1930 |
      • Coastal Area - Jul 1920 | Jul 1930 |
      • RAF Cranwell - Jul 1920 | Jul 1930 |
      • RAF Halton - Jul 1920 | Jul 1930 |
      • No 11 (Irish) Wing - Jul 1920 |
      • Bomber Command - Jan 1939 | Jul 1942 | Jun 1944 |
      • Fighter Command - Jan 1939 | Jul 1942 |
      • Allied Expeditionary Air Force - Jun 1944 |
      • 2nd Tactical Air Force - Jun 1944 |
      • Coastal Command - Jan 1939 | Jul 1942 |
      • RAF Gibraltar - Jun 1944 |
      • RAF Iceland - Jun 1944 |
      • Training Command - Jan 1939 |
      • Maintenance Command - Jan 1939 | Jul 1942 | Jun 1944 |
      • Balloon Command - Jan 1939 | Jul 1942 | Jun 1944 |
      • Flying Training Command - Jul 1942 | Jun 1944 |
      • Technical Training Command - Jul 1942 | Jun 1944 |
      • Army Co-operation Command - Jul 1942 |
      • RAF in Northern Ireland - Jul 1942 | Jun 1944 |
      • Ferry Command - Jul 1942 |
      • Transport Command - Jun 1944 |
      • Air Ministry - Jul 1942 | Jun 1944 |
      • Royal Observer Corps - Jul 1942 |

      To access the above files (in Red) requires RAFWEB membership, to register click here.

  • Overseas Command Index,

    • RAF Commands - Europe 1918 - 1945,

      Listings of units controlled by: -

      • Independent Units - Jul 1920 |
      • RAF Rhine - Jul 1920 |

      To access the above files (in Red) requires RAFWEB membership, to register click here.

  • • RAF Commands - Middle East and Mediterranean 1918 - 1945,

      Listings of units controlled by: -

      • Middle East Area/RAF Middle East/Middle east Command - Jul 1920 | Jul 1930 | Jan 1939 | Jul 1942 |
      • Mediterranean Group/RAF Mediterranean - Jul 1920 | Jul 1930 | Jan 1939 |
      • Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force -  Jun 1944 |
      • Mediterranean Allied Strategical Air Force -  Jun 1944 |
      • Mediterranean Allied Coastal Air Force -  Jun 1944 |
      • Mediterranean Allied Photographic Reconnaissance Wing -  Jun 1944 |
      • Aden Command/British Forces in Aden - Jul 1930 | Jan 1939 |  Jul 1942 |
      • AHQ Western Desert - Jul 1942 |
      • Desert Air Force - Jun 1944 |
      • AHQ Egypt - Jul 1942 |
      • AHQ Levant - Jul 1942 | Jun 1944 |
      • AHQ Malta - Jul 1942 | Jun 1944 |
      • AHQ Eastern Mediterranean - Jun 1944 |
      • AHQ East Africa - Jul 1942 | Jun 1944 |

      To access the above files (in Red) requires RAFWEB membership, to register click here.

    • RAF Commands - Iraq, India and Far East 1918 - 1945,

      Listings of units controlled by: -

      • Iraq Command/British Forces in Iraq - Jul 1930 | Jan 1939 |
      • AHQ Iraq - Jul 1942 |
      • AHQ Iraq and Persia - Jun 1944 |
      • RAF India/Air Forces in India - Jul 1920 | Jul 1930 | Jan 1939 | Jul 1942 |
      • AHQ India - Jun 1944 |
      • RAF Far East - Jul 1930 | Jan 1939 |
      • Air Command South-East Asia -  Jun 1944 |
      • Eastern Air Command (SEA) -  Jun 1944 |
      • 3rd Tactical Air Force -  Jun 1944 |
        • No 221 Group - Jun 1944 |
        • No 222 Group -  Jun 1944 |
        • No 223 Group -  Jun 1944 |
        • No 224 Group -  Jun 1944 |
        • No 226 Group -  Jun 1944 |
        • No 227 Group - Jun 1944 |
        • No 229 Group -  Jun 1944 |
        • No 230 Group -  Jun 1944 |
        • No 231 Group -  Jun 1944 |

      To access the above files (in Red) requires RAFWEB membership, to register click here.

       

    • RAF Commands/Units - Overseas 1939 - 1945,

      Listings of units controlled by: -

      • AHQ West Africa - Jul 1942 | Jun 1944 |
      • RAF Schools in Canada - Jul 1942 | Jun 1944 |
      • RAF Schools in South Africa - Jul 1942 |
      • Units administered by RAF Delegation, Washington - Jun 1944 |
      • RAF Embarkation Units - Jun 1944 |

      To access the above files (in Red) requires RAFWEB membership, to register click here.

       

    • Multinational Commands involving RAF Officers,

    • Groups
      • Group Index
        • 1 - 9,    10 - 19,    20 - 29,    30 - 48,    50 - 67,    
        • 70 - 106,     200 - 333,
        • Named units with Group status,
        • Directly Administered Units (Ministry Level)

         

      • Schools, Colleges and Admin Establishments Index,
        • Flying Training Establishments,
        • Flying Training Schools,
          • Formation details,
          • Officers Commanding
          • RAF Training Aircraft and Markings
            • Ab Initio/Basic Pilot Training
            • Advanced Pilot Training
            • Aircrew training
        • Schools and Staff Colleges,
        • Experimental and Administrative,

         

    • Other Establishments,
      • Home Locations
        • East Anglia - Commanding Officers,
        • Lincolnshire and the East Midlands - Commanding Officers,
        • Yorkshire - Commanding Officers,
        • Scotland, North East England and Northern Ireland - Commanding Officers,
        • North West England and Wales - Commanding Officers,
        • South West England - Commanding Officers,
        • South East England - Commanding Officers,
        • Central England - Commanding Officers,
        • Greater London - Commanding Officers,
        • RAF Station used by the USAAF
      • Overseas Locations - Commanding Officers, Germany
      • Overseas Locations - Commanding Officers, Far East
      • Overseas Locations - Commanding Officers, Mediterranean & Middle East
      • Bomber Bases

  • Station histories
  • A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z,

    • Wings
      • No's 1 - 50,
      • No's 51 - 110,
      • No's 111 - 192,
      • No's 215 - 298,
      • No's 300 - 910

       

    • Squadrons
      • No's 1 - 5,            No's 6 - 10,          No's 11 - 15,   
      • No's 16 - 20,        No's 21 - 25,        No's 26 - 30,    
      • No's 31 - 35,        No's 36 - 40,        No's 41 - 45,    
      • No's 46 - 50,        No's 51 - 55,        No's 56 - 60,    
      • No's 61 - 65,        No's 66 - 70,        No's 71 - 75,        
      • No's 76 - 80,        No's 81 - 85,        No's 86 - 90,    
      • No's 91 - 95,        No's 96 - 100,      No's 101 - 105,    
      • No's 106 - 110,    No's 111 - 115,    No's 116 - 120,
      • No's 121 - 125,    No's 126 - 130,    No's 131 - 135,
      • No's 136 - 140,    No's 141 - 145,    No's 146 - 150,
      • No's 151 - 155,    No's 156 - 160,    No's 161 - 165,
      • No's 166 - 170,    No's 171 - 175,    No's 176 - 180,
      • No's 181 - 185,    No's 186 - 190,    No's 191 - 195,
      • No's 196 - 200,    No's 201 - 205,    No's 206 - 210,
      • No's 211 - 215,    No's 216 - 220,    No's 221 - 225,
      • No's 226 - 230,    No's 231 - 235,    No's 236 - 240,
      • No's 241 - 245,    No's 246 - 250,    No's 251 - 255,
      • No's 256 - 260,    No's 261 - 265,    No's 266 - 270,
      • No's 271 - 275,    No's 276 - 280,    No's 281 - 285,
      • No's 286 - 290,    No's 291 - 295,    No's 296 - 299,
      • No's 300 - 309,    No's 310 - 313,    No's 315 - 318,
      • No's 320 - 322,    No's 326 - 329,    No's 330 - 336,
      • No's 340 - 347,    No's 349 - 352,    No's 353 - 361,
      • No's 400 - 410,    No's 411 - 420,    No's 421 - 433,
      • No's 431 - 443,    No's 450 - 467,    No's 485 - 490,
      • No's 500 - 520,    No's 521 - 540,    No's 541 - 598,
      • No's 600 - 604,    No's 605 - 610,    No's 611 - 620 ,   
      • No's 621 - 650,    No's 651 - 670,    No's 671 - 1435,  
      • No's 712 - 825,    No's 900+.

    • Operational Training Units
      • No's 1 - 23,
      • No's 24 - 38,
      • No's 41 - 63,
      • No's 70 - 86,
      • No's 101 - 15,2

       

    • Operational Conversion Units
      • 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 235, 236, 237, 238, 240, 241, 242.
      • Tactical Weapons Unit/No 1 TWU

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  • RAF Ground Forces

    • Armoured Car Units
    • Iraq Levies
    • Aden Protectorate Levies
    • RAF Regiment Squadrons No 1 - 533
    • RAF Regiment Squadrons No 2700 - 2850
    • RAF Regiment Squadrons No 2851 - 2972
    • RAF Regiment Wings and other units
    • RAF Regiment (Malaya)
    • Assyrian Levies R.A.F. (link to separate website)
    • No 1 Air Control Centre

  • RAF Mountain Rescue Service

   

  • RAF Service Records (this section is particularly useful in helping interpret RAF Service Records)

    • Common Unit Abbreviations

    To access the above files (in Red) requires RAFWEB membership, to register click here.

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Equipment

• Squadron Aircraft and Markings (also accessible from the Squadron history pages)

  • 1,    2,    3,    4,    5,    6,    7,    8,    9,    10,    11,    12,    13,    14,    15,    16,    17,    18,   19,    20,    21,    22,    23,    24,    25,    26,    27,    28,    29,    30,    31,   32,    33,    34-35,    36,    37,    38,    39,    40,    41,    42,    43,    44,    45,    46,    47,    48,    49,    50,    51,    52,    53,    54,    55,    56,    57,    58-59,    60,    61-63,    64,    65,    66,    67-69,    70,    71,    72,    73,    74,    75,    76,    77,    78,    79,    80,    81,    82-83,    84,    85,    86-87,    88,    89-90,    91-93,    94-97,   98,     99,    100,    101-102,    103-105,    106-110,    111,    112,    113-115,    116-120,    121-125,    126-140,    141-144,    145-150,    151,    152-158,    159-179,    180-200,     201,    202,    203,    204,    205-207,    208,    209-212,    213,    214-216,    217-221,    222,    223-225,    226-230,    231-234,    235-240,    241-246,    247-248,    249-250,    251-254,    255-259,    260-265,    266-270,    271-299,    300-309,    310-330,    331-360,    400-407,    408-429,    430-443,    450-467,    485-490,    500-510,    511-598,    600,    601-602,    603-604,    605-607,    608-610,    611-614,    615,    616,    617,    618-695,    712-801,    802-1435.

• OTU Aircraft and Markings

  • No 4, No 6, No 54, No 57, No 73, 

• OCU Aircraft and Markings

  • No 226, No 228, No 229, No 230, No 231, No 235, No 237, No 240, No 242,
  • Tactical Weapons Unit/No 1 TWU.

• Aircraft and Markings (Aircraft of the RAF Index)
  • Development of Camouflage and Markings, (1939 - 45)

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Personnel

• Air Officer Biographies (Air Officers Index)
  • Select by Rank,
    • Marshals of the RAF,
    • Air Chief Marshals,
    • Air Marshals,
    • Air Vice-Marshals,
    • Air Commodores,
  • Select by Surname,
    • A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y,
  • How to interpret the biographical details,

   

• RAF Casualties

  To access this section (in red) requires RAFWEB membership, to register click here.

   

• Victoria Cross, George Cross and other gallantry awards
  • Victoria Cross holders
  • George Cross holders
  • George Medal holders
  • Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying) holders
  • OBE/MBE holders
  • BEM holders
  • Military Medal holders

• Ranks and Insignia (Ranks and Insignia Index)
  • Commissioned ranks of the RFC,
  • Commissioned ranks of the RNAS,
  • Commissioned ranks of the RAF
    • Interim ranks and uniform 1918 - 1919,
    • Initial uniform and final ranks 1919,
    • Final uniform and ranks 1919 - Current,
  • NCO ranks of the RFC,
  • NCO ranks of the RNAS
  • NCO ranks of the RAF
    • Ground Trades (All Trades) 1918 - 1950, Non Technical Trades 1950 - present and Aircrew up to 1946,
    • Technician Trades 1950 - 1964,
    • Technician Trades 1964 - present,
    • Aircrew from 1946,
  • Flying badges of the RFC,
  • Flying badges of the RNAS
  • Flying badges of the RAF, (Current)
  • Flying badges of the RAF, (Obsolete)
  • Other badges of the RFC,
  • Other badges of the RNAS,
  • Headgear badges of the RAF,
  • Branch badges of the RAF,
  • Trade and distinguishing badges of the RAF,

   

• Honours and Awards (British Decorations
  • British Orders of Chivalry - Chivalry awards,
  • British Medal Ribbons,
  • Foreign Orders and Decorations,

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General

• Home Page.
  • About this site,
  • Site Map and Main menu
  • Research Sources,
  • Monthly Air Force Lists on CD-ROM
  • London Gazettes on CD-ROM

•  Operations and Records (RAF Operations Index)

• RAF Operations in Northern Europe and Atlantic area,
• RAF Operations in the Middle East, Mediterranean and Southern Europe,
• RAF Operations in Central and Southern Africa,
• RAF Operations in Iraq and the Indian Sub-Continent,
• RAF Operations in the Far East and the Pacific,
• RAF Operations in South and Central America,
• World Records set by the RAF,

• Timeline
  • Timeline 1918 - 1938,
  • Timeline 1939 - 1945,
  • Timeline 1946 - 1960,
  • Timeline 1961 - 1980,
  • Timeline 1981 - Current,

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•  Maps (Maps Index)
  • Home Command Boundaries
    • Home Commands and Group - August 1918
    • Home Commands and Group - July 1919
  • Fighter Command Group Boundaries
    • Battle of Britain,
  • Bomber Command Group dispositions
    • June 1940,
    • February 1941,
    • February 1942,
    • February 1943,
    • February 1944,
    • February 1945,
  • Coastal Command Group Boundaries
    • November 1939,
    • May 1941,
    • May 1942,
    • May 1943,
    • July 1944,
    • July 1945,
  • Training Airfields
    • Training and Reserve Command - November 1939
    • Flying Training and Technical Training Commands - May 1941
    • Flying Training and Technical Training Commands - April 1942
    • Flying Training and Technical Training Commands - April 1943
    • Flying Training and Technical Training Commands - July 1944
    • Flying Training and Technical Training Commands - July 1945

•  

• Archives (The text of various official documents)

  • Memoradum by the Director of the Air Department, Admiralty - 23 October 1914

  • Admiralty memorandum on the Friedrickshafen Raid - 21 November 1914,
  • Admiralty memorandum on 'The Cuxhaven Raid' - 25 December 1914,
  • Royal Warrant instituting the Military Cross - 1 January 1915,
  • Air Council Order - 2 April 1918,
  • Trenchard's despatch on operations of the Independent Air Force - 1 January 1919,
  • Royal Warrant instituting the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Force Cross, the Distinguished Flying Medal and the Air Force Medal,

• Glossary (Find the meaning to that abbreviation)

• Sign Guest Book  (Please leave me your comments after visiting this site)

• View Guest Book (Read what others have said about this site)
  • Guest book 2001 - 2002,
  • Guest book 2003,
  • Guest book 2004,
  • Guest book 2005,
  • Guest book 2006,
  • Guest Book 2007,
  • Guest Book 2008,

   

• What's New?  (Find out what are the latest updates on the site )
  • Updates for 2001 - 2002,
  • Updates for 2003,
  • Updates for 2004,
  • Updates for 2005,
  • Updates for 2006,
  • Updates for 2007,
  • Updates for 2008,

   

• Links (Links to related websites)

• Awards  (See the awards presented to this site)

• Bibliography (Books used for reference in the preparation of this site)

• On-Line Store
  • Books from Amazon

   

• Help Wanted! Need help to locate information, or think you maybe able to help others? - try here
  • Requests 1 - 299, (Removed due to lost of contact details)
  • Request 300 - 399,
  • Requests 400+,

• Reunions
  • Actual Reunions - Look to see what reunions are coming up in the future.
  • Looking for someone? - Trying to find someone you served with, try here.
  • Associations - Post your Associations contact details here

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