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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,
  Listings of personnel (Officers) serving with the Air Ministry/MoD(Air): -
  - Air Ministry
    - 1918
    - 1919
    - 1920-1924
    - 1925-1929
    - 1930-1933
    - 1934-1936
    - Jul 1937
    - Jul 1938
    - Jan 1939
    - Sep 1939
    - Dec 1939
    - Apr 1940
    - Aug 1940 - Chief of the Air Staff | Air Member for Personnel | Air Member for Supply and Organisation | Air Member for Training | Other Departments |
    - Jul 1941 - Chief of the Air Staff | Air Member for Personnel | Air Member for Supply and Organisation | Air Member for Training | Other Departments |
    - Jul 1942 - Chief of the Air Staff | Air Member for Personnel | Air Member for Supply and Organisation | Air Member for Training | Other Departments |
    - Jul 1943 - Chief of the Air Staff | Air Member for Personnel | Air Member for Supply and Organisation | Air Member for Training | Other Departments |
    - Jul 1944 - Chief of the Air Staff | Air Member for Personnel | Air Member for Supply and Organisation | Air Member for Training | Other Departments |
    - Jul 1945 - Chief of the Air Staff | Air Member for Personnel | Air Member for Supply and Organisation | Air Member for Training | Other Departments |
    - Apr 1946 - Chief of the Air Staff | Air Member for Personnel | Air Member for Supply and Organisation | Air Member for Training | Other Departments |
    - Jul 1947 - Chief of the Air Staff | Air Member for Personnel | Air Member for Supply and Organisation | Air Member for Training | Other Departments |
    - Jul 1948 - Chief of the Air Staff | Air Member for Personnel | Air Member for Supply and Organisation | Air Member for Training | Other Departments |
    - Apr 1949 - Chief of the Air Staff | Air Member for Personnel | Air Member for Supply and Organisation | Air Member for Training | Other Departments |
    - 1950-1959
    - 1960-1964
  - Ministry of Defence (Air)
    - 1964-1969
    - 1970-1979
    - 1980-1989
    - 1990-1999
    - 2000-2008
- - RAF Branch Development,
    - RAF Police
    - RAF Police Dog Section
  - RAF Reserves
  - Commands,
  - Command Development 1918 - 1925,
  - Command Development 1925 - 1936,
  - Command Development 1936 - 1968,
  - Home Command Index
    Listings of units controlled by: -
    - Air Defence of Great Britain
    - Inland Area
    - Coastal Area
    - RAF Cranwell
    - RAF Halton
    - No 11 (Irish) Wing
    - Bomber Command
    - Fighter Command
    - Allied Expeditionary Air Force
    - 2nd Tactical Air Force
    - Coastal Command
    - RAF Gibraltar
    - RAF Iceland
    - Training Command
    - Maintenance Command
    - Balloon Command
    - Flying Training Command
    - Technical Training Command
    - Army Co-operation Command
    - RAF in Northern Ireland
    - Ferry Command
    - Transport Command
    - Air Ministry
    - Royal Observer Corps
    Listings of personnel (Officers) serving at: -
    - HQ South-Eastern Area
    - HQ South-Western Area
    - HQ Midland Area
    - HQ North-Eastern Area
    - HQ North-Western Area
    - HQ Northern Area
    - HQ Southern Area
    - HQ Coastal Area
    - HQ RAF Cranwell
    - HQ No 11 (Irish) Group
    - HQ RAF Halton
    - Inland Area
    - No 11 (Irish) Wing
    - RAF Ireland
    - Air Defences of Great Britain
    - Special Reserve and Auxiliary Air Force
    - Bomber Command
    - Fighter Command
    - Coastal Command
    - Training Command
    - Maintenance Command
    - Balloon Command
    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
    - RAF Rhine
    Listings of personnel (Officers) serving at: -
    - HQ RAF France and Flanders
    - Middle East Area
    - HQ India
    - RAF Middle East
    - Indian Group
    - RAF India
    - Mediterranean District/Group
    - RAF Mediterranean
    - RAF Iraq
    - Iraq Command/British Forces in Iraq
    - Palestine Command
    - RAF China
    - RAF Shanghai
    - Aden Command/British Forces in Aden
    - Far East Command/RAF Far East
    - British Forces in Palestine and Trans-Jordan
  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
    - Mediterranean Group/RAF Mediterranean
    - Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force
    - Mediterranean Allied Strategical Air Force
    - Mediterranean Allied Coastal Air Force
    - Mediterranean Allied Photographic Reconnaissance Wing
    - Aden Command/British Forces in Aden
    - AHQ Western Desert
    - Desert Air Force
    - AHQ Egypt
    - AHQ Levant
    - AHQ Malta
    - AHQ Eastern Mediterranean
    - AHQ East Africa
    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
    - AHQ Iraq
    - AHQ Iraq and Persia
    - RAF India/Air Forces in India
    - AHQ India
    - RAF Far East
    - Air Command South-East Asia
    - Eastern Air Command (SEAC)
    - 3rd Tactical Air Force
      
      No 221 Group
      
      No 222 Group
      
      No 223 Group
      
      No 224 Group
      
      No 226 Group
      
      No 227 Group
      
      No 229 Group
      
      No 230 Group
      
      No 231 Group
    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
    - RAF Schools in Canada
    - RAF Schools in South Africa
    - RAF Schools in Southern Rhodesia
    - Units administered by RAF Delegation, Washington
    - RAF Embarkation Units
    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)
    Listings of personnel (Officers) serving at: -
    No 1 Group
    
    No 1 Air Defence Group
    
    No 1 (Indian) Group
    
    No 1 (Bomber) Group
    
    No 2 (Bomber) Group
    
    No 3 Group
    
    No 4 (Bomber) Group
    
    No 5 (Bomber) Group
    
    No 6 Group
    
    No 7 Group
    
    No 10 Group
    
    No 11 (Fighter) Group
    
    No 12 (Fighter) Group
    
    No 16 (Reconnaissance) Group
    
    No 17 (Training) Group
    
    No 18 (Reconnaissance) Group
    
    No 21 Group
    
    No 22 Group
    
    No 23 Group
    
    No 24 (Training) Group
    
    No 25 (Armament) Group
    
    No 26 (Training) Group
    
    No 29 Group
    
    No 30 (Balloon) Group
    
    Egyptian Group
    
    Mediterranean Group
    
    Mesopotamian Group
    
    Palestine Group
    
    Wessex Bombing Area
    
    Fighting Area
    
    Air Defence Group
    
    RAF Transjordan and Palestine
  To access the above files (in Red) requires RAFWEB membership, to register click here.
  - 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,
    Listings of personnel (Officers) serving at: -
    - RAF School of Aeronautical Engineering
    - (No 1) Air Armament School | No 2 Air Armament School |
    - School of Air Navigation
    - No 1 Air Observers School | No 2 Air Observers School |
    - Air Pilotage School
    - Anti-Gas School
    - School of Army Co-operation | Army Co-operation School (India) |
    - No 1 Armament Training Camp | No 2 Armament Training Camp | No 3 Armament Training Camp | No 4 Armament Training Camp | No 5 Armament Training Camp | No 6 Armament Training Camp | Armament Training Camp North Coates Fittes | Armament Training Camp Aldergrove |
    - RAF Balloon Centre
    - School of Balloon Training
    - No 2 Balloon Training Unit
    - Central Flying School
    - School of Clerks, Accounting
    - RAF (Cadet) College/RAF College
    - (No 1) Electrical and Wireless School | No 2 Electrical and Wireless School |
    - Elementary and Reserve Flying Training Schools
    - Equipment Training School (Officers) | Equipment Training School (Airmen)
    - Flying Instructors School
    - No 1 Flying Training School | No 2 Flying Training School | No 3 Flying Training School | No 4 Flying Training School | No 5 Flying Training School | No 6 Flying Training School | No 7 Flying Training School | No 8 Flying Training School | No 9 Flying Training School | No 10 Flying Training School | No 11 Flying Training School | No 12 Flying Training School | No 13 Flying Training School | No 14 Flying Training School | No 15 Flying Training School |
    - School of General Reconnaissance
    - Imperial Defence College
    - RAF School, India |
    - School of Naval Co-operation (and Aerial Navigation)
    - School of Parachute Training |
    - School of Photography
    - School of Physical Training
    - Seaplane Training School |
    - RAF Staff College |
    - School of Stores Accounting and Storekeeping |
    - No 1 School of Technical Training (Boys) | No 2 School of Technical Training (Boys) | School of Technical Training (Men)/No 3 School of Technical Training (Men) | No 4 School of Technical Training (Men) | No 5 School of Technical Training (Men) | No 6 School of Technical Training (Men) |
      To access the above files (in Red) requires RAFWEB membership, to register click here.
  - Other Establishments,
- 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
    Listings of personnel serving at: -
    - No 1 Wing
    - No 1 (Indian ) Wing
    - No 2 (Indian) Wing
    - No 3 (Indian) Wing
    - No 7 Wing
    - No 8 Wing
    - No 11 Wing
    - No 12 Wing
    - Mesopotamian Wing
    - Palestine Wing
    - RAF Trans-Jordania
    - Constantinople Wing
    To access the above files (in Red) requires RAFWEB membership, to register click here.
- - 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 - 430,
    - 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
- Unit Personnel, aircraft and locations
  - Squadrons
    | No 1 Sqn | No 2 Sqn | No 3 Sqn | No 4 Sqn | No 5 Sqn | No 6 Sqn | No 7 Sqn | No 8 Sqn | No 9 Sqn | No 10 Sqn | No 11 Sqn | No 12 Sqn | No 13 Sqn | No 14 Sqn | No 15 Sqn | No 16 Sqn | No 17 Sqn | No 19 Sqn | No 20 Sqn | No 22 Sqn | No 23 Sqn | No 24 Sqn | No 25 Sqn | No 26 Sqn | No 27 Sqn | No 28 Sqn | No 29 Sqn | No 30 Sqn | No 31 Sqn | No 32 Sqn | No 39 Sqn | No 41 Sqn | No 43 Sqn | No 45 Sqn | No 47 Sqn | No 55 Sqn | No 56 Sqn | No 58 Sqn | No 60 Sqn | No 70 Sqn | No 84 Sqn | No 100 Sqn | No 101 Sqn | No 202 Sqn | No 203 Sqn | No 207 Sqn | No 208 Sqn | No 210 Sqn | No 216 Sqn | No 230 Sqn | No 238 Sqn | No 267 Sqn | No 502 Sqn | No 503 Sqn | No 504 Sqn | No 600 Sqn | No 601 Sqn | No 602 Sqn | No 603 Sqn | No 605 Sqn |
    
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RAF Expansion Schemes
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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 removed due to infected site)
- 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
Radar and Signals Units
- Ground Radar Developments
- UK Chain Home Stations
- UK Chain Home Low Stations
- UK Chain Home Extra Low Stations
- Ground Controlled Interception Stations

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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
- Development of Camouflage and Markings, (1939 - 45)
- Aircraft A - D
- Aircraft E - L
- Aircraft M - T
- Aircraft U - Y

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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 Cranwell Graduation Lists

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RAF Casualties
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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

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

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,

Guest Book 2009,

Guest Book 2010,

Guest Book 2011

Guest Book 2012

Guest Book - Current

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,

Updates for 2009,

Updates for 2010,

Updates for 2011

Updates for 2012

'What's New' - Current

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 - 399, (Removed due to lost of contact details)

Requests 400-599,

Requests 600-799,

Requests 800-1000,

Requests 1001-1200,

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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