Main units: -

Camouflage Flt (9 Oct - 3 Nov 1939)

No 1 Camouflage Unit (3 Nov 1939 - 22 Sep 1940)

308 Sqn (25 Sep 1940 - 1 Jun 1941)

403 Sqn (19 Feb - 30 May 1941)

605 Sqn (31 May - 4 Sep 1941)

457 Sqn (16 Jun - 7 Aug 1941)

135 Sqn (15 Aug - 4 Sep 1941)

No 3005 Servicing Echelon (14 Nov 1941 – 1 May 1942)

79 Sqn (27 Dec 1941 - 4 Mar 1942)

Special Duties Flt (xxx 1941 - xxx xxxx)

134 Sqn (25 Mar - 10 Apr 1942)

32 Sqn (18 - 25 Oct 1942)

No 3003 Servicing Echelon (19 Oct – 25 Nov 1942)

Location

County: - Warwickshire

Lat/Long:   52:22:12N  01:28:50W

Grid Ref -  SP346748

Height Above Sea Level - 270 ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: - 1934 (as Coventry Airport)

26 Group (1944)

Closed: - 

Notes

It is was originally Coventry Airport and reverted to this after WW2.

Detachments

No 6 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit (5 Dec 1940 - 10 Jan 1941)

116 Sqn (Feb - Apr 1941)

No 9 Group Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Flt (25 May - xxx 1941)

No 1 Camouflage Unit (4 Oct 1942 - xxx 1943)

RLG for No 63 Operational Training Unit (7 Sep - 14 Oct 1943)

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps,  Control Tower website,

Main units (continued): -

No 224 Group Communication Flt (9 - 11 Sep 1945)

HQ, No 905 Wing (12 - 14 Sep 1945)

No 7005 Servicing Echelon (12 – 25 Sep 1945, 20 Sep – 2 Oct 1945)

No 7030 Servicing Echelon (12 – 24 Sep 1945, 30 Sep – 2 Oct 1945, 4 Dec 1945 – 2 Feb 1946)

AHQ Burma Communication Sqn (20 Sep - 14 Nov 1945)

No 7060 Servicing Echelon (25 Sep – 1 Oct 1945)

No 7081 Servicing Echelon (25 – 30 Sep 1945)

5 Sqn (

11 Sqn (

30 Sqn (

34 Sqn (

60 Sqn (

67 Sqn (

81 Sqn (

84 Sqn (

89 Sqn (

123 Sqn (

131 Sqn (

134 Sqn (

136 Sqn (

146 Sqn (

152 Sqn (

155 Sqn (

176 Sqn (

258 Sqn (

261 Sqn (

607 Sqn (

615 Sqn (

Location

Country: - India

Lat/Long: 

Height Above Sea Level: 

Operational Control: -

Notes

Main Units: -

No 9 Care & Maintenance Party (7 May - xxx 1943)

No 1300 Meteorological Flt (11 Apr - 19 Sep 1944)

No 1581 Calibration Flt (12 Apr 1944 - 25 Jul 1945)

No 7134 Servicing Echelon (19 – 26 Nov 1944)

No 7123 Servicing Echelon (3 - 18 Dec 1944, 10 Jun 1945)

RAF Bengal Communication Sqn (4 Dec 1944 - 21 Apr 1945)

No 7089 Servicing Echelon (19 Jan – 6 Sep 1945)

Mk X Conversion Flt (31 Mar - 30 Nov 1945)

No 158 Staging Post (10 Apr 1945 - 22 Jul 1946)

RAF Burma Communication Sqn (21 Apr - 20 Sep 1945)

No 134 Repair & Salvage Unit (3 May - 3 Jul 1945)

No 1355 Communication Flt (18 May - Oct 1945)

No 1356 Communication Flt (18 May 1945 - xxx xxxx)

No 7131 Servicing Echelon (31 Aug – 11 Sep 1945)

No 7084 Servicing Echelon (2 – 10 Sep 1945)

Detachments**

No 136 Repair & Salvage Unit (xxx xxxx - 1 Jan 1946)

No 138 Repair & Salvage Unit (1 Jan - 7 Jul 1946)

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo of the general area on Google Maps,

Main units: -

73 Sqn (

94 Sqn (

256 Sqn (

Conversion & Refresher School (24 Feb - 5 Apr 1942)

HQ, No 233 Wing (27 Feb - 4 Apr 1942)

No 1 Middle East Training School (5 Apr - 4 Jul 1942, 31 Jul 1942 - 1 Mar 1943)

No 1 (Middle East) Central Gunnery School (1 Mar - 25 Apr 1943)

RAF (Middle East) Central Gunnery School (25 Apr 1943 - Dec 1945)

No 1342 (RP Training) Flt (15 Apr - 20 Nov 1945)

No 1343 (Conversion) Flt (12 Sep - 1 Oct 1945)

Location

Country: - El Ballah, Egypt

Lat/Long:  30:46N   32:18E  Approx

Height Above Sea Level: 

Operational Control: -

Notes

Located at El Ballah, the Air Force Lists use the name RAF Ballah not RAF El Ballah

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo of the general area on Google Maps,

Main units: -

No 81 Group Communication Flt (Sep 1941 - 5 Jan 1942)

No 82 Group Target Towing Flt (2 - 24 Nov 1941)

245 Sqn (14 Jul - 1 Sep 1941)

504 Sqn (26 Aug 1941 - 22 Jan 1942, 19 Jun - 19 Oct 1942)

153 Sqn (24 Oct 1941 - 18 Dec 1942)

No 504 (AAF) Servicing Echelon (14 Nov 1941 – 2 Jan 1942, 19 Jun 1942 – 5 Jul 1943)

25 Sqn (16 Jan - 16 May 1942)

501 Sqn (19 Oct 1942 - 30 Apr 1943)

887 Sqn FAA (19 Oct - 4 Nov 1942)

130 Sqn (30 Apr - 5 Jul 1943)

315 Sqn (5 Jul - 13 Nov 1943)

303 Sqn (12 Nov 1943 - 30 Apr 1944)

No 6303 (Polish) Servicing Echelon (22 Mar – 30 Apr 1944)

RAF Northern Ireland Communication Flt (xxx - 1 May 1944)

Location

County: - County Down

Lat/Long:  54:29:45N  05:28:00W

Grid Ref - J640638

Height Above Sea Level - 26 ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: - 1941

RAF in Northern Ireland (1944)

Fleet Air Arm (Apr 1945 - 15 Jan 1946)

Coastal Command (15 Jan - xxx 1946)

Closed: -  1946

Notes

From October 1943 it hosted a large number of FAA units, although it remained an RAF Station until Apr 1945.

Detachments**

245 Sqn (xxx - 14 Jul 1941)

No 13 Group Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Flt (May - Nov 1941)

256 Sqn (29 Nov 1942 - xxx xxxx)

153 Sqn (18 Dec 1942 - 31 Jan 1943)

Det 4, 835 Sqn FAA (7 - 8 Jan 1943)

231 Sqn (Jan - Mar 1943)

406 Sqn (17 Apr - Sep 1943)

'D' Flt, 275 Sqn (May - xxx 1943)

26 Sqn (26 Jul 1943 - 3 Mar 1944)

125 Sqn (xx xxx - 25 Mar 1944)

63 Sqn (26 Apr - 26 May 1944, 4 Jul - 29 Aug 1944)

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps,  FAA Archive Website,  Unofficial Station website,  Officers Commanding,  Control Tower website,

Main units (continued): -

No 2707 Sqn RAF Regiment (1 Feb 1942 - xxx xxxx)

220 Sqn (20 Jun 1942 - 14 Feb 1943)

120 Sqn (21 Jul 1942 - 14 Feb 1943, 21 Mar 1944 - 4 Jun 1945)

Various FAA units (15 Dec 1942 - 7 Jun 1943)

86 Sqn (6 Sep 1943 - 24 Mar 1944)

59 Sqn (14 Sep 1943 - 14 Sep 1945)

General Reconnaissance Pool (xxx 1943 - Aug 1945)

No 246 Maintenance Unit (1 Jan 1945 - 1 Apr 1949)

No 4059 Servicing Echelon (10 Jun – 14 Sep 1945)

281 Sqn (13 Aug - 24 Oct 1945)

Joint Anti-Submarine School (19 Nov 1945 - Jun 1970)

248 Sqn (8 - 17 Dec 1945)

Air-Sea Warfare Development Unit (26 May 1948 - 10 May 1951, 1 Sep 1958 - 1 Apr 1970)

269 Sqn (24 Mar 1952 - 1 Dec 1958)

240 Sqn (5 Jun 1952 - 1 Nov 1958)

No 282 Maintenance Unit (18 Aug - Nov 1952)

210 Sqn (10 - 26 Sep 1952, 1 Dec 1958 - 31 Oct 1970)

204 Sqn (1 Jan 1954 - 1 Apr 1971)

815 Sqn FAA (26 - 30 Jul 1954)

745 Sqn FAA (2 - 6 May 1957, 16 May - 20 Aug 1957)

203 Sqn (1 Nov 1958 - 1 Feb 1969)

Various FAA and AAC units (22 Nov 1962 - 29 Jan 1971)

665 Sqn AAC (xxx 1967 -xxx xxxx)

Location

County: - Londonderry

Lat/Long:  55:03:45N  07:00:31W

Grid Ref: C632245

Height above sea level: 10 ft

Operational Control: -

Opened - 1941

No 15 Group (1944)

Closed - 1971?

Notes

It was transferred to the Army as Shackleton Barracks but is now closed and its future is undecided being subject to debate.

Main units: -

Coastal Command Development Unit (1 Dec 1941 - 18 Jun 1942)

No 707 (Ground Defence) Sqn (19 Dec 1941 - 1 Feb 1942)

Coastal Command Development Unit (1 Dec 1941 - 18 Jun 1942)

No 707 (Ground Defence) Sqn (19 Dec 1941 - 1 Feb 1942)

Detachments**

'A' Flt, 153 Sqn (19 - 30 Mar 1942)

280 Sqn (Oct 1942 - xxx xxxx)

53 Sqn (15 - 29 Jan 1944)

157 Sqn (25 Mar 1944 - xxx xxxx)

279 Sqn (7 Sep 1945 - xx xxxx)

Det 6, 744 Sqn FAA (27 Nov 1945 - 1 May 1946)

179 Sqn (6 - 18 Dec 1945)

665 Sqn AAC (xxx xxxx - xxx 1967)

Links to related sites/pages

FAA Archive Website, Officers Commanding, Aerial photo on Google Maps,

Work began on this airfield in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland in 1940 and opened on 1 June 1941.  No units were based here until December 1941 when the Coastal Command Development Unit arrived from Carew Cheriton but in June 1942 it moved again to Tain in Scotland. 

The station now took on a role for which it would be well known for the remainder of its existence, long range maritime patrol, when No 220 Squadron arrived with it Fortress aircraft from Nutt’s Corner.  On 21 July 1942, No 120 Squadron arrived, also from Nutt’s Corner, equipped with Liberators.  From here the squadron operated deep into the Atlantic as well as operating detachments from Iceland in order to extend its reach even further. 

Both units moved to Aldergrove in February 1943 and for a while the station only hosted visiting Royal Navy aircraft disembarked from carriers, but in September the Liberators of No 86 Squadron arrived.  86 remained until March 1944 when they were replaced by No 120 Squadron once again, remaining until disbanding on 4 June 1945.  September 1943 had also seen the arrival of No 59 Squadron and its Liberators from Aldergrove which operated alongside No 120 until the latter disbanded.  No 59 stayed at Ballykelly until September 1945 when it moved to Waterbeach and converted to the transport role.  Finally on 24 October 1945, No 281 Squadron disbanded at Ballykelly having arrived two months earlier after which the station was placed on Care and Maintenance.

Ballykelly re-opened in 1947 when the Joint Anti-Submarine School was formed there.  Five years later operational units returned when No 269 Squadron reformed on 10 March 1952 with Shackletons to be followed in June by No 240 Squadron.  On 1 November 1958 No 240 was re-numbered 203 and exactly one month later No 269 was re-numbered as No 210 Squadron.  No 204 Squadron had been reformed at Ballykelly on 1 January 1954 and all three units operated side-by-side until February 1969 when No 203 moved to Malta.  No 210 eventually left for the Persian Gulf in November 1970 leaving No 204 as the sole occupant until it disbanded in March 1971.  The station was later transferred to the control of the Army who renamed it ‘Shackleton Barracks’.

Main units: -

144 Sqn (3 Sep 1944 - 22Oct 1944)

404 Sqn (4 Sep 1944 - 22Oct 1944, 3 Apr - 25 May 1945)

235 Sqn (6 Sep 1944 - 6 Jul 1945)

248 Sqn (10 Sep 1944 - 19 Jul 1945)

143 Sqn (23 Oct 1944 - 25 May 1945)

'B' Flt, 309 Flt (Dec 1944 - Apr 1945)

65 Sqn (21 Jan - 2 Feb 1945)

No 6065 Servicing Echelon (28 Jan – 2 Feb 1945)

Detachment - 279 Sqn (Feb - Sep 1945)

Detachment - 281 Sqn (Feb 1944 - Feb 1945)

No 6333 (Norwegian) Servicing Echelon (30 May – Jun 1945)

14 Sqn (25 May - 29 Aug 1945)

No 6014 Servicing Echelon (2 – 29 Aug 1945)

334 Sqn (30 May - 8 Jun 1945)

No 6334 (Norwegian) Servicing Echelon (30 May – 8 Jun 1945)

489 Sqn (16 Jun - 1 Aug 1945)

No 9 Casualty Air Evacuation Unit (Nov 1945 - Jan 1946)

Location

County: -  Banffshire

Lat/Long:  57:40:00N  02:38:00W

Grid Ref -  NJ619643

Height Above Sea Level - 250 ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: - 1943

No 18 Group (1944)

Closed: -  1946

Notes

Aerial photo on Google Maps is unsuitable for use

Main Units: -

No 14 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit (25 May 1943 - 1 Sep 1944)

No 1512 Beam Approach Training Flt (25 May 1943 - 31 Aug 1944)

333 Sqn (30 Aug 1944 - Jun 1945)

Links to related sites/pages

Unofficial Website, Officers Commanding,

Main units: -

20 Sqn (

62 Sqn (

21 Sqn (

273 Sqn (

357 Sqn (

681 Sqn (

684 Sqn (

No 7020 Servicing Echelon (28 Sep 1945 – 27 Jan 1946)

No 3209 Servicing Commando (Oct 1945 - 15 Feb 1946)

No 3 Staging Post (1 Dec 1945 - 30 Apr 1946, 15 Sep 1946 - 31 Jan 1947)

Location

Country: - Thailand

Lat/Long:  13:54:45N   100:36:24E

Height Above Sea Level:  9 ft

Operational Control: -

Notes

It is now as joint civil military facility known as Don Muang (International) Airport and Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base

Detachments**

AHQ Burma Communication Flt (May 1946)

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps,

Main units: -

9 Sqn (14 Apr - 25 Aug 1943, 4 Sep 1943 - 6 Jul 1945)

227 Sqn (7 - 21 Oct 1944)

189 Sqn (15 Oct - 2 Nov 1944)

Bomber Command Film Flight Unit (10 Mar 1945 - 8 Apr 1945)

106 Sqn (22 Jul 1959 - 24 May 1963)

Location

County: -  Lincolnshire

Lat/Long:  53:13:30N  00:17:30W

Grid Ref -  TF140712

Height Above Sea Level - 40 ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: -

No 5 Group (1944)

Closed: - 

Notes

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps, Bomber Command 60th Anniversary website,   RAF-Lincolnshire.info,  Control Tower website,

Main units (continued): -

No 205 Group Communication Flt (Mar - 21 Apr 1944)

HQ, No 8 (SAAF) Wing (24 Jun - 5 Aug 1944)

No 65 Staging Post (1 - 16 Aug 1944)

No 127 Staging Post (18 Oct 1944 - 1 Dec 1945)

No 30 Refuelling and Re-arming Party (1 - 13 Nov 1944, 5 Jan - 7 Feb 1945)

HQ, No 283 (Fighter) Wing (16 Jun - 8 Jul 1944)

AHQ 'X' (1 Sep - 15 Oct 1944)

No 53 Personnel Transit Centre (1 Nov 1944 - 21 Mar 1946)

RAF Element, Yugoslav Training Flt (14 Feb - xxx 1945)

No 2 Lancaster Servicing Unit (15 Jul 1945 - 15 Feb 1946)

No 110 Repair & Salvage Unit (26 Jul 1945 - 22 Feb 1946)

112 Sqn (

117 Sqn (

187 Sqn (

208 Sqn (

216 Sqn (

250 Sqn (

260 Sqn (

267 Sqn (

450 Sqn (

512 Sqn (

575 Sqn (

651 Sqn (

Location

Country: - Italy

Lat/Long:  41:08:20N  16:45:38:E

Height Above Sea Level:  177 ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: -

Closed: - 

Notes

It is now known as Bari "Karol Wojtyla" International Airport

Main units: -

No 25 Air Despatch & Reception Unit(9 Apr 1943 - Sep 1944)

HQ, 975 Sqn (26 Sep 1943 - 1 Nov 1944)

'B' Flt, 975 Sqn (26 Sep 1943 - 1 Nov 1944)

No 3201 Servicing Commando (9 Oct - 10 Dec 1943)

Desert Air Force Reserve Aircraft Pool (3 Nov 1943 - xxx xxxx)

No 3231 Servicing Commando (21 Nov - 5 Dec 1943)

No 253 Air-Sea Rescue Unit (xx Dec 1943 - 30 Jul 1944)

No 2 Mobile Parachute Servicing Unit (10 Dec 1943 - xxx 1944)

HQ, Mediterranean Allied Strategic Air Force (1 Jan 1944 - Aug 1945)

Mediterranean Tactical Air Forces Communication Flt (1 Jan - Aug 1944)

No 62 Staging Post (Sep 1943 - Aug 1945)

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps,

Main units: -

No 94 Maintenance Unit (1 Oct 1939 - 14 Jul 1947)

Sub-site, No 94 Maintenance Unit (27 Jan 1948 - 1 Sep 1956, 1 May 1957 - 31 Jul 1963)

No 95 Maintenance Unit (1 Sep 1956 - 1 May 1957)

Location

County: -  Suffolk

Lat/Long:  52:23:17N  00:44:10E

Grid Ref -

Height Above Sea Level -  ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: -

Closed: - 

Notes

It is now parented by RAF Honington

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps, Subterranea Britannica website,

Main units: -

Airship Constructional Station (xxx xxxx - 28 Aug 1921)

970 (Balloon) Sqn (1 Jul 1941 - 1 Jul 1942)

No 10 Air Gunners School (15 Dec 1941 - 30 Jun 1946)

Detachment - 766 Sqn FAA (4 - 8 Jan 1945)

Detachment - 577 Sqn (Dec 1943 - Jun 1945)

No 188 Gliding School (May 1947 - 1 Sep 1955)

Location

County: -  Lancashire (Cumbria)

Lat/Long:  54:07:45N  03:16:00W

Grid Ref -   SD175712

Height Above Sea Level - 25 ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: - 1941

No 25 Group (1944)

Closed: -  1946

Notes

It is now owned and operated by BAe Systems and is used by The Lakes Gliding Club

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps,

Main units: -

HQ No 9 (Fighter) Group (9 Aug 1940 - 17 Sep 1944)

Western Sector HQ (15 Dec 1950 - 25 Oct 1957)

Location

County: -  Lancashire

Lat/Long:  53:49:50N  02:44:10W

Operational Control: -

Opened: - 1940

Closed: -  1944

Notes

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps,

Main units (continued): -

55 Sqn (

63 Sqn (

72 Sqn (

203 Sqn (

294 Sqn (

No 118 Maintenance Unit (19 Oct 1941 - 30 Apr 1943)

No 125 Maintenance Unit (17 - 25 Jan 1942 )

HQ, No 275 (Balloon) Wing (17 - 22 Jul 1942)

981 (Balloon) Sqn (6 Sep 1942 - xxx 1943)

No 214 Air-Sea Rescue Unit (1 Dec 1943 - Apr 1944)

No 27 Personnel Transit Centre (10 May - 15 Jun 1944)

No 903 Expeditionary Air Wing (1 Apr 2006 - Current)

 No 3 Sqn RAF Regiment (May – Nov 2006)

No 63 Sqn RAF Regiment (Nov 2006 – May 2007)

Joint Helicopter Force Iraq

No 2 Sqn RAF Regiment (xxx xxxx - xxx 2008)

No 15 Sqn RAF Regiment (xxx 2008 - xxx 2009).

Location

Country: - Iraq

Lat/Long:  30:32:57N   47:39:44E (BIA)

Height Above Sea Level:  11 ft

Operational Control: -

Notes

The current (2008) Basrah International Airport was built in the 1960's and could be on the site of the earlier RAF site

Main units: -

HQ, Basrah Group (1 Oct 1922 - 31 Jul 1925)

Temporary Seaplane Flt (Jun 1928 - 8 Mar 1929)

6 Sqn (

8 Sqn (

30 Sqn (

31 Sqn (

45 Sqn (

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps, Listings of Officers serving at SHQ RAF Basrah,

Main units (continued): -

No 2732 Sqn RAF Regiment (1 Feb 1942 - xxx xxxx)

No 1446 (Ferry Training) Flt (23 Mar - 18 May 1942)

No 1 Engine Control Demonstration Unit (14 Sep - 2 Oct 1942)

91st Bomb Group, USAAF (14 Oct 1942 - 23 Jun 1945)

94th Bomb Group, USAAF (Apr - 27 May 1943)

857th Bomb Sqn (10 Mar - 11 Jun 1945)

422 Sqn (25 Jul - 4 Sep 1945)

No 4422 Servicing Echelon (25 Jul – 4 Sep 1945)

423 Sqn (8 Aug - 4 Sep 1945)

No 4423 Servicing Echelon (8 Aug – 4 Sep 1945)

466 Sqn (6 Sep - 26 Oct 1945)

102 Sqn (8 Sep 1945 - 15 Feb 1946)

No 4102 Servicing Echelon (8 Sep 1945 – 14 Feb 1946)

No 1359 Flt (25 Feb - 30 Jun 1946)

24 Sqn (25 Feb 1946 - 8 Jun 1949)

No 4024 Servicing Echelon (24 Feb 1946 – 23 Apr 1948)

No 7 Mobile Section , No 1552 Radio Aids Training Flt (19 Mar - 26 Oct 1946)

No 1552 Radio Aids Training Flt (31 Oct 1946 - 19 Mar 1947)

40 Sqn (25 Jun 1949 - 15 Mar 1950)

51 Sqn (25 Jun 1949 - 30 Oct 1950)

59 Sqn (25 Jun 1949 - 30 Oct 1950)

353rd Bomb Sqn, 301st Bomb Group USAF (25 Aug 1950 - Jan 1951)

341st Bomb Sqn, 97th Bomb Group USAF (4 Dec 1950 - Feb 1951)

7516th Air Support Sqn USAF (11 Dec 1950 - 16 May 1951)

38th Sqn, 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (Jan - May 1951)

96th Bomb Sqn, 2nd Bomb Group USAF (May - Sep 1951)

3913 Air Support Sqn USAF (16 May 1951 - Apr 1953)

No 237 Operational Conversion Unit (3 Oct - 1 Dec 1951)

No 231 Operational Conversion Unit (1 Dec 1951 - 19 May 1969)

No 204 Advanced Flying School (13 - 20 Feb 1952)

Location

County: - Cambridgeshire

3.5 miles NNW of Royston

Lat/Long:  52:05:53N 00:03:00W

Grid Ref:  TL330462

Height above sea level: 78 ft

Operational Control: -

Opened - 1938

USAAF (xxx 1942 - Jun 1945)

No 47 Group (Jun 1945 - xxx xxxx)

Closed - 1969

Notes

Became the HQ and Depot for the Queen's Division on 29 August 1969

Main units: -

104 Sqn (2 May 1938 - 17 Sep 1939)

108 Sqn (2 May 1938 - 18 Sep 1939)

215 Sqn (24 Sep 1939 - 8 Apr 1940, 18 - 22 May 1940)

35 Sqn (7 Dec 1939 - 1 Feb 1940)

No 11 Operational Training Unit (8 Apr 1940 - 19 Oct 1942)

RLG for No 5 Service Flying Training School (10 - 18 Feb 1941)

Ground Defence Sqn (Apr - 19 Dec 1941)

No 732 Sqn (19 Dec 1941 - 1 Feb 1942)

Detachments**

98 Sqn (Jun 1938 - Mar 1940)

21 Sqn (19 - 25 Sep 1939)

Links to related sites/pages

Commanding Officers,  Bassingbourn Museum, Aerial photo on Google Maps,  Control Tower website,

Main units (Bathurst): -

95 Sqn (

204 Sqn (

228 Sqn (

270 Sqn (

No 7001 Servicing Echelon (1 – 18 Apr 1944)

No 7095 Servicing Echelon (18 Apr 1944 – 30 Jun 1945)

Main units (Half Die): -

95 Sqn (

204 Sqn (

490 Sqn (

Main units (Jeswang): -

128 Sqn (

200 Sqn (

Location

Country: - Gambia

Lat/Long:  13:26N  16:35W

There were three airfields around Bathurst; Half Die, Jeswang and Yundum.  This entry covers the first two whilst Yundum is covered separately as it was raised to station status in its own right.

Operational Control: -

Notes

Bathurst was renamed Banjul in 1973

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo of the general area on Google Maps,

Main units: -

HQ No 1 (Bomber) Group (20 Jul 1941 - 1 Sep 1972)

HQ No 1 Group (1 Sep 1972 - 17 Nov 1983)

Location

County: - West Yorkshire

Lat/Long:  53:25:44N  01:01:23W

Operational Control: -

Opened: - 20 Jul 1941

No 1 Group (20 Jul 1941 - 17 Nov 1983)

Closed: -  17 Nov 1983

Notes

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps,

Main units WW1 (continued): -

No 73 Training Sqn (20 Feb - 27 Jul 1918)

170th Aero Sqn, USAAS (xxx - xxx 1918)

177th Aero Sqn, USAAS (xxx - xxx 1918)

No 29 Training Depot Station (27 Jul 1918 - 28 Mar 1919)

43rd Aero Sqn, USAAS (24 Aug - xxx 1918)

No 11 Training Depot Station (Apr - Jul 1919)

Wireless Telephony School (May 1919 - 1 Sep 1919)

No 11 Training School (Jul 1919 - Mar 1920)

Main units WW2: -

224 Sqn (9 Sep 1942 - 25 Apr 1943)

Detachment - 405 Sqn (25 Oct 1942 - 3 Mar 1943)

Detachment - 158 Sqn (Oct - Dec 1942)

Detachment - No 1 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit (24 Mar - 6 Sep 1943)

311 Sqn (26 May 1943  - 23 Feb 1944)

Detachment - 280 Sqn (xxx - 25 Sep 1943)

53 Sqn (25 Sep 1943 - 5 Jan 1944)

No 3010 Servicing Echelon (17 – 31 Jan 1944)

257 Sqn (20 - 31 Jan 1944)

263 Sqn (23 Jan - 6 Mar 1944)

486 Sqn (31 Jan - 28 Feb 1944)

Detachment - 88 Sqn (Feb 1944)

Detachment - 193 Sqn (Feb - Mar 1944)

HQ, No 146 Airfield (Feb - 10 Apr 1944)

365th Fighter Group, USAAF (5 Mar - 27 Jun 1944)

323rd Bomb Group, USAAF (21 Jul - 26 Aug 1944)

Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment (4 Jan 1945 - 14 Sep 1950)

No 1901 AOP Flt, 657 Sqn (1 Jan - May 1947)

Location

County: -  Hampshire

Lat/Long:  50:48:15N  01:30:15W (WW2)

Grid Ref -  SU365005 (WW1), SU350008 (WW2)

Height Above Sea Level - 130 ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: - (WW1) 1915, (WW2) 1942

No 11 Group (1944)

Closed: -  1950

Notes

There have been two separate stations at Beaulieu but both are covered by this entry.

Main units WW1: -

No 16 Reserve Aeroplane Sqn (15 Dec 1915 - 13 Jan 1916)

84 Sqn (7 Jan - 22 Mar 1917)

No 16 Reserve Sqn (13 Jan 1916 - 31 May 1917)

No 23 Reserve Sqn (Jun - Aug 1917)

No 81 (Canadian) Reserve Sqn (9 - 15 Feb 1917)

No 87 (Canadian) Reserve Sqn (28 Feb - May 1917)

No 16 Training Sqn (31 May - 30 Oct 1917)

HQ, No. 17 Wing (2 Aug 1917– 12 Aug 1918)

School of Instruction, Southern Training Brigade (Oct 1917 - xxx 1918)

79 Sqn (8 Aug 1917 - 20Feb 1918)

103 Sqn (1 - 8 Sep 1917)

No 59 Training Sqn (30 Oct - 20 Nov 1917)

No 70 Training Sqn (20 Dec 1917 - 27 Jul 1918)

No 1 Training Sqn (Jan - 27 Jul 1918)

93rd Aero Sqn, USAAS (7 Jan - 24 Jun 1918)

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps,

Main units: -

618 Sqn (21 Aug - 30 Oct 1944)

827 Sqn FAA (15 - 28 Oct 1944)

280 Sqn (30 Oct 1944 - 3 Nov 1945)

Detachment - 278 Sqn (24 Feb - 15 Oct 1945)

810 Sqn FAA (8 Apr - 3 Jun 1945)

279 Sqn (3 Sep 1945 - 3 Mar 1946)

No 15 (RAAF) Air Crew Holding Unit (12 Jun - 5 Nov 1945)

Location

County: -  Suffolk

Lat/Long:  52:26:08N  01:36:30E

Grid Ref -  TM453882

Height Above Sea Level - 50 ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: - 1943

No 16 Group (1944)

Closed: -  1945

Notes

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps, FAA Archive Website,  Control Tower website,

Main units: -

80 Sqn (

127 Sqn (

208 Sqn (

260 Sqn (

261 Sqn (

HQ, No 263 (Defensive Fighter) Wing (6 Oct 1941 - 5 Jul 1942)

973 (Balloon) Sqn (Apr 1942 - 7 Aug 1943, 20 May - xxx 1944)

No 2 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (xxx xxxx - 9 Dec 1942)

HQ, No 241 Wing (12 Nov - 1 Dec 1942)

No 34 Air Stores Park (1 Sep - 13 Dec 1943)

Location

Country: - Lebenon

Lat/Long:  33° 51' 59" N, 35° 29' 36" E

Height Above Sea Level:  87 ft

Operational Control: -

Notes

Detachments**

No 2 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (21 Mar 1942 - xxx xxxx)

No 207 Air-Sea Rescue Unit (Dec 1943-  Jan 1946)

No 26 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit (Jan 1944 - Jan 1945)

Links to related sites/pages

Photos - Luftwaffe reconnaissance photos taken on 3rd July 1941 (Bundesarchiv)

Main units: -

No 1434 (Photographic Survey) Flt (24 May - 1 Jul 1943)

HQ, No 283 (Airborne Forces) Wing (1 Feb 1946 - 17 Jan 1947)

Location

Country: - Gaza, Palestine (Israel)

Lat/Long:  32N  34E  Approx

Operational Control: -

Notes

This Palestinian town was captured by the Israelis in 1948 and was depopulated, the area now being the location of Azrikam and Emunim.

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo of general area on Google Maps,

Main units: -

HQ RAF Northern Ireland (1 Aug 1940 - 4 Jan 1945)

HQ, No 23 Wing (13 Sep 1940 - 15 Jul 1941)

HQ No 96 Wireless (Observer) Wing (1 Oct 1941 - 3 Apr 1942)

Location

County: -  Northern Ireland

Lat/Long:  54:35:50N  05:55:40W

Grid Ref - J338740

Height Above Sea Level -  ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: -

RAF in Northern Ireland

Closed: - 

Notes

This entry covers units located at various location in the City of Belfast.

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps,

Main units: -

Location

County: - East Yorkshire

Lat/Long:  54:08:56N  00:10:30W

Operational Control: -

Opened: -

Closed: - 

Notes

Chain Home Low and Type 31 Radar. Originally called RAF Flamborough Head, it was quickly changed to Bempton.

Links to related sites/pages

Battle of Britain Anniversary website, Subterranea Britannica website, Aerial photo on Google Maps,

Main units (airfield): -

No 841 Sqn (19 Dec 1941 - 1 Feb 1942)

No 2841 Sqn RAF Regiment (1 Feb 1942 - xxx xxxx)

206 Sqn (1 Jul 1942 - 18 Oct 1943)

220 Sqn (20 Mar - 9 Oct 1943)

842 Sqn FAA (10 Sep - 8 Nov 1944)

838 Sqn FAA (12 - 28 Sep 1944)

179 Sqn (21 Sep - 23 Oct 1944)

304 Sqn (21 Sep 1944 - 6 Mar 1945)

36 Sqn (9 Mar - 4 Jun 1945)

Detachments:

455 Sqn (5 - 8 Aug 1943)

838 Sqn FAA (1 - 2 Nov 1944)

282 Sqn (xxx 1944 - xxx 1945)

Harbour: -

No 62 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit (28 Mar 1942 - 27 Mar 1944, 16 Oct - 29 Nov 1944)

Location

County: - Hebrides

57:29:00N 07:21:30W

Grid Ref:  NF787562

Height above Sea Level: 16 ft

Railhead: Oban

Operational Control: -

Opened (RAF airfield) - 1941

No 15 Group (1944)

Closed (RAF airfield) -1947

No 2 Group (2005)

Notes

There have been four sites used for non-flying purposes

1st - Borve Castle (radar site)

2nd - on the airfield (1972 - 1982)

3rd - just off the airfield (CRC) (1982 - 2003)

4th - South Clettraval (CRC)

Remote Radar Head (2004 - Current)

Links to related sites/pages

FAA Archive Website, Martin Briscoe website, Aerial photo on Google Maps,

Main units (continued): -

Yugoslav Holding Unit (28 Feb - 6 Aug 1944)

No 102 Maintenance Unit (15 Jan - 31 Aug 1948)

33 Sqn (

37 Sqn (

38 Sqn (

5 Sqn (

70 Sqn (

89 Sqn (

162 Sqn (

208 Sqn (

221 Sqn (

238 Sqn (

260 Sqn (

274 Sqn (

294 Sqn (

335 Sqn (

Location

Country: - Libya

Lat/Long:  32:05:49N  20:16:10E

Height Above Sea Level:  433 ft

Operational Control: -

Notes

Located near Benghazi it is now known as Benina International Airport.

Main Units: -

HQ, No 285 Wing (2 - 11 Dec 1942)

Communication Unit, Rear HQ Western Desert (7 Dec 1942 - 12 Jan 1943)

No 33 Air Stores Park (7 Dec 1942 - 13 Jan 1943)

HQ, No 231 Wing (15 Dec 1942 - 20 Jan 1943)

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps,

Main units (continued): -

HQ, No 104 Wing (5 Feb - 11 Mar 1945)

Central Photographic Establishment (15 Aug 1946 - 1 Mar 1950)

58 Sqn (1 Oct 1946 - 31 Mar 1953)

82 Sqn (1 Oct 1946 - 18 Jun 1947, 6 Oct 1947 - 31 Oct 1947, 30 Oct 1952 - 31 Mar 1953)

No 8 (Coastal) OTU (19 Oct 1946 - 31 Jul 1947)

No 237 OCU (31 Jul 1947 - 15 Apr 1948, 3 Oct 1950 - 3 Oct 1951)

Air Photographic Development Unit (8 Aug 1947 - 1 Mar 1950)

HQ, No 54 Group (1 Apr 1951 - 10 Jul 1953)

No 54 Group Communications Flt (1 Apr 1951 - 10 Jul 1953)

Radar Reconnaissance Flt (1 Oct 1951 - 27 Mar 1952)

30 Sqn (2 May 1952 - 15 Apr 1953)

Ferry Training Unit (9 Apr 1953 - xxx 1961)

147 Sqn (16 Apr 1953 - 15 Sep 1958)

167 Sqn (16 Apr 1953 - 15 Sep 1958)

The Queen's Flight (1 Aug 1952 - 1 Apr 1995)

1832 Sqn FAA (18 Jul 1953 - 10 May 1957)

1835 Sqn FAA (18 Jul 1953 - 10 May 1957)

1836 Sqn FAA (18 Jul 1953 - 10 May 1957)

1834 Sqn FAA (10Oct 1953 - 16 Jan 1954)

Ferry Support Sqn (xxx 1956 - 2 Sep 1957, 1 Jan - 1 Dec 1958)

Transport Command Training and Development Flt (16 Jan 1956 - 8 Feb 1957)

Transport Command Examining Unit (1 Sep 1958 - 1 Aug 1967)

Ferry Sqn (15 Sep - 1 Dec 1958)

21 Sqn (1 May - 15 Sep 1959)

114 Sqn (1 Oct 1961 - 31 Oct 1971)

Argosy Conversion Unit (1 Nov 1961 - 30 Apr 1963)

105 Sqn (21 Feb - 15 Jun 1962)

267 Sqn (1 Nov 1962 - 30 Jun 1970)

215 Sqn (1 May - 31 Jul 1963)

Air Support Command Examining Unit (1 Aug 1967 - 13 Nov 1970)

Bomber Command Communication Sqn (Jet Element) (xxx xxxx - 16 Jun 1960)

No 38 Group Tactical Support Unit (14 Dec 1970 - xxx xxxx)

No 38 Group Tactical Communication Wing (14 Dec 1970 -1 Dec 1976)

HQ, No 38 Group (15 May 1972 - 10 Nov 1975)

No 38 Group Communications Flt (15 May 1972 - 31 Mar 1976)

No 38 Group Standardisation Unit (1 Aug 1972 - xxx 1976)

No 612 Volunteer Gliding School (1980 - 1992)

Wessex Training Flt (3 Nov 1980 - 30 Apr 1982)

72 Sqn (16 Apr - 12 Nov 1981)

Andover Training Flt (4 Jan 1983 - 1 Sep 1988)

115 Sqn (4 Jan 1983 - 1 Oct 1993)

Mobile Meteorological Unit , RAuxAF

60 Sqn (1 Apr 1992 - 31 Apr 1997)

London University Air Sqn (31 Jul 1992 - Sep 1999)

Oxford University Air Sqn (31 Jul 1992 - Current)

No 6 Air Experience Flt (31 Jul 1992 - 26 Nov 1995)

Helicopter Support Sqn RAuxAF (1 Oct 1996 - 1 Oct 1999)

Rotary Wing Operational Evaluation and Training Unit (5 Apr 1997 - Current)

33 Sqn (13 Jun 1997 - Current)

27 Sqn (3 Feb 1998 - xxx 2006)

606 (Chiltern) Sqn RAuxAF (1 Oct 1999- Current)

Merlin Operational Conversion Unit (xxx 2000 - Current?)

28 Sqn (17 Jul 2001 - Current)

78 Sqn (3 Dec 2007 - Current)

230 Sqn (17 Nov 2009 - Current)

Location

County: - Oxfordshire

13 miles South-East of Oxford

Lat/Long:  51:37:00N  01:05:15W

Grid Ref:  SU628914

Height above Sea Level:  200 ft

Railhead: Wallingford

Operational Control: -

Opened - 1939

No 1 Group (1939 - xxxx)

No 106 Group (1944 - 1946)

Joint Helicopter Command

Notes

For many years Benson was the home of the RAF Photographic Reconnaissance force.

It was also the home of the King's/Queen's Flight for most of its existence.

Main units: -

103 Sqn (1 Apr - 2 Sep 1939)

150 Sqn (3 Apr - 2 Sep 1939)

HQ, No 79 Wing (22 Aug 1939 - xx xxx xxxx)

HQ, No 74 Wing (26 Aug - 2 Sep 1939)

No 1 Group Pool (14 - 18 Sep 1939)

No 4 Group Pool (14 - 17 Sep 1939)

HQ No 1 Group (12 Sep - 22 Dec 1939,30 Jul 1993 - 1 Apr 1996)

The King's Flight (15 Sep 1939 - 14 Feb 1941, 1 May 1946 - 1 Aug 1952)

63 Sqn (17 Sep 1939 - 8 Apr 1940)

52 Sqn (18 Sep 1939 - 8 Apr 1940)

No 12 OTU (8 Apr 1940 - Aug 1941)

207 Sqn (xx - 8 Apr 1940)

Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (Jul - 27 Dec 1940)

No 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (27 Dec 1940 - 9 Oct 1942)

No 3 PRU (21 Jul - 15 Aug 1941)

No 1416 Flt (1 - 17 Sep 1941)

140 Sqn (17 Sep - 29 Oct 1941, 4 Nov 1941 - 20 Mar 1942)

RAF Film Production Unit (20 Sep 1941 - Feb 1944)

No 733 (Ground Defence) Sqn (19 Dec 1941 - 1 Feb 1942)

No 2733 Sqn RAF Regiment (1 Feb 1942 - xxx xxxx)

541 Sqn (19 Oct 1942 - 1 Oct 1946, 1 Nov 1947 - 7 Jun 1951)

542 Sqn (19 Oct 1942 - 27 Aug 1945)

543 Sqn (19 Oct 1942 - 18 Oct 1943)

544 Sqn (19 Oct 1942 - 13 Oct 1945)

No 303 Ferry Training and Air Delivery Unit (21 Apr 1943 - 17 Sep 1945)

HQ, No 106 Wing (3 Jul 1943 - 14 Apr 1944)

Photographic Reconnaissance Development Unit (28 Dec 1943 - 8 Aug 1947)

No 2 Group Communications Flt (16 Jan - 16 Nov 1944)

No 1 RAF Film Production Unit (Feb - 1 Sep 1944)

540 Sqn (29 Feb 1944 - 29 Mar 1945, 6 Nov 1945 - 1 Oct 1946, 1 Dec 1947 - 26 Mar 1953)

No 106 Group (14 Apr 1944 - 15 Aug 1946)

HQ, No 106 Group Communications Flt (14 Apr 1944 - 15 Aug 1946)

Detachments**

166 Sqn (6 - 16 Sep 1939)

'C' Flt, 12 Sqn (Sep 1939 - 8 Apr 1940)

'B' Flt, 540 Sqn (19 Oct 1942 - 29 Feb 1944)

618 Sqn (Apr - Oct 1943)

170 Sqn (30 Oct - 22 Dec 1943)

63 Sqn (10 Dec 1943 - 21 Jan 1944)

2 Sqn (xx - 11 Feb 1944)

168 Sqn (11 - 20 Feb 1944)

21 Sqn (Mar 1973 - Jan 1976)

Links to related sites/pages

Station Website,  FAA Archive Website, Officers Commanding, Aerial photo on Google Maps,

Location

County: - Middlesex

Lat/Long:  51:37:35N  00:59:00W

Notes

Operational Control: -

Opened -

Inland Area (1 Jun 1926 - 1 May 1936)

Training Command (1 May - 13 Jul 1936)

Fighter Command (14 Jul 1936 - 15 Nov 1943, 16 Oct 1944 - 30 Apr 1968)

Strike Command (30 Apr 1968 - 17 Dec 1972)

No 11 (Fighter) Group (1 Apr 1968 - 1 Sep 1972)

No 11 Group (1 Sep 1972 - xxx xxxx

No 11 (Air Defence) Group (xxx xxxx - 1 Apr 1996)

No 11/18 Group (1 Apr 1996 - xxx xxxx)

Closed -

Main units (continued): -

No 2 Group Rear Element (Jan 1945 - xxx xxxx)

HQ Royal Observer Corp (Feb 1951 - xxx 1995)

Central School of Aircraft Recognition (Apr 1951 - Sep 1954)

Air Defence Ops Centre (Feb 1953 - 1 Mar 1971)

HQ, No 80 Wing (1 Aug 1953 - 15 Mar 1957)

Centralised Filter Plotting Centre (Feb 1954 - Aug 1956)

Met. Raid Recognition Centre (Aug 1956 - Apr 1957

Met. Air Defence Notification Centre (Apr - Dec 1957)

Air Defence Notification Centre [South] (Dec 1957 - Sep 1958)

UK Air Traffic Services (Jun 1959 - 1 Jan 1961)

HQ, No 165 Wing (5 Aug - Oct 1959)

HQ Military Air Traffic Organisation (1 Jan 1961 - Dec 1965)

Control & Reporting Evaluation Team (Dec 1964 - 28 Feb 1973)

HQ, Strike Command (30 Apr 1968 - 17 Dec 1972)

HQ, No 11 (Fighter) Group (30 Apr 1968 - 1 Sep 1972)

HQ, No 11 Group (1 Sep 1972 - xxx xxxx

Systems Development Centre (1 Apr 1983 - xxx xxxx)

Sector Operations Centre UK (1 Apr 1995 - 1 Apr 1996)

HQ, No 11 (Air Defence) Group (xxx xxxx - 1 Apr 1996)

HQ, No 11/18 Group (1 Apr 1996 - xxx xxxx)

RAF Inspectorate of Flight Safety (Sep 1996 - xxx xxxx)

Element of Air Warfare Centre (xxx xxxx - xxx xxxx)

Standby Air Defence Operations Centre (xxx xxxx - xxx xxxx)

Main units: -

HQ, Inland Area (1 Jun 1926 - 1 May 1936)

HQ, Training Command (1 May - 13 Jul 1936)

HQ, Fighter Command (14 Jul 1936 - 15 Nov 1943, 16 Oct 1944 - 30 Apr 1968)

Controllers' Training Unit (10 - 15 Jun 1940)

No 713 (Ground Defence) Sqn (19 Dec 1941 - 1 Feb 1942)

No 2713 Sqn RAF Regiment (1 Feb 1942 - Sep 1943)

HQ Allied Expeditionary Air Forces (15 Nov 1943 - 15 Oct 1944)

HQ, Air Defence of Great Britain (15 Nov 1943 - 16 Oct 1944)

No 2718 Sqn RAF Regiment (17 May 1943 - Apr 1944)

No 2747 Sqn RAF Regiment (Apr 1944 - xxx xxxx)

No 6 RAF Film Production Unit (Oct 1944 - xxx xxxx)

Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (Rear) (16 Oct 1944 - Feb 1945)

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps,

Main units: -

165 Sqn (15 Dec 1944 - 29 May 1945)

No 6165 Servicing Echelon (15 Dec 1944 – 29 May 1945)

No 6234 Servicing Echelon (16 Dec 1944 – 30 Apr 1945, 27 Jul 1945 – 12 Feb 1946)

234 Sqn (17 Dec 1944 - 1 May 1945, 27 Jul - 27 Aug 1945, 21 Sep 1945 - 12 Feb 1946)

No 6064 Servicing Echelon (27 Dec 1944 – 15 Aug 1945)

64 Sqn (29 Dec 1944 - 15 Aug 1945)

No 6126 Servicing Echelon (28 Dec 1944 – 5 Sep 1945)

126 Sqn (30 Dec 1944 - 5 Sep 1945, 15 Sep - 5 Oct 1945, )

Towed Target Flt (Jan - Oct 1945)

65 Sqn (15 May - 13 Aug 1945 )

No 6065 Servicing Echelon (15 May – 13 Aug 1945)

No 7 Fighter Command Servicing Unit (May 1945 - 1 May 1946)

124 Sqn (5 Oct 1945 - 18 Feb 1946, 20 Mar - 1 Apr 1946)

No 6124 Servicing Echelon (5 Oct 1945 – 18 Feb 1946, 20 Mar – 1 Apr 1946)

56 Sqn (1 Apr - 16 Sep 1946)

No 6056 Servicing Echelon (1 Apr - 16 Sep 1946)

74 Sqn (2 - 9 Jun 1946)

245 Sqn (2 - 9 Jun 1946)

No 2707 Sqn RAF Regiment (xxx xxxx - xxx xxxx)

No 226 OCU (10 Oct 1946 - 26 Aug 1949)

7506th Air Support Group USAF (16 Mar - 16 Oct 1951 )

81st Fighter Interceptor Group (5 Sep 1951 - 1 Apr 1954)

'C' Flt, 9th Air Rescue Sqn (xxx xxxx - 14 Nov 1952)

7554th Tow Target Flt (22 Mar - 16 Dec 1952)

81st Fighter Bomber Wing (1 Apr 1954 - 8 Jul 1958)

87th Fighter Interceptor Sqn (13 Dec1954 - 8 Sep 1955)

81st Tactical Fighter Wing (8 Jul 1958 - 23 Mar 1993)

527th Aggressor Sqn (xxx 1988 - Jan 1990)

Location

County: - Suffolk

4.5 miles NE of Woodbridge

Lat/Long:  52:07:30N  01:26:15E

Grid Ref: TM353533

Height above sea level:  80ft

Operational Control: -

Care & Maintenance - 17 Apr 1944

Bomber Command (17 Apr - 22 Nov 1944)

Opened - 22 Nov 1944

No 11 Group (22 Nov 1944 - xxx xxxx, 12 Apr - 7 Sep 1951)

No 12 Group (xxx xxxx - 12 Apr 1951)

USAFE (7 Sep 1951- 21 May 1993)

Closed - 21 May 1993

Notes

Built originally for the USAAF, by the time it opened it was no longer required and was taken over by the RAF.  It was originally named Butley but it was changed to Bentwaters on 23 January 1943.

Main Units: -

129 Sqn (11 Dec 1944 - 26 May 1945)

No 6129 Servicing Echelon (11 Dec 1944 – 26 May 1945)

118 Sqn  (15 Dec 1944 - 11 Aug 1945)

No 6118 Servicing Echelon (15 Dec 1944 – 11 Aug 1945)

Links to related sites/pages

Unofficial Website,  Subterranea Britannica website, Aerial photo on Google Maps,  Control Tower website,

Only main USAF units are listed.

Main units (continued): -

Berka Main

38 Sqn (

46 Sqn (

47 Sqn (

55 Sqn (

203 Sqn (

221 Sqn (

227 Sqn (

237 Sqn (

252 Sqn (

294 Sqn (

454 Sqn (

458 Sqn (

459 Sqn (

603 Sqn (

No 54 Refuelling and Re-arming Party (28 Nov 1942 - xxx 1943)

Location

Country: - Libya

Lat/Long:  32:07N  20:04E

Height Above Sea Level: 

Operational Control: -

Notes

There was a cluster of three airfields surrounding Benghazi during WW2 called Berka I, II and III.

Main Units: -

Berka II

HQ, No 247 Wing (13 Dec 1942 - 29 Feb 1944)

No 26 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit (23 Sep 1943 - 25 Feb 1944)

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo of the general area on Google Maps,

Main units: -

5 Sqn (

30 Sqn (

No 3 Det,  No 141 Repair & Salvage Unit (xxx 1944 - xxx xxxx)

Fighter Support Training Unit (15Dec 1945 - Jun 1946)

No 37 Staging Post (14 Nov - Dec 1945)

No 7005 Servicing Echelon (26 Jan – 1 Jun 1946)

No 7030 Servicing Echelon (2 Feb – 27 Apr 1946)

Location

Country -  Madhya Pradesh, India

Lat/Long:  23:17:15N  77:20:15E

Height above sea level: 1,719 ft

Operational Control: -

Notes

It is now known as Raja Bhoj Airport

Detachments**

No 140 Repair & Salvage Unit (xxx 1943 - xxx 1944)

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps,

Main units (continued): -

144 Sqn (11 Jan - 9 Feb 1937)

90 Sqn (15 Mar 1937 - 10 May 1939)

217 Sqn (16 Aug - 13 Sep 1937)

12 Sqn (9 May - 2 Sep 1939)

142 Sqn (9 May - 2 Sep 1939)

No 2 Group Pool (14 Sep 1939 - 8 Apr 1940)

104 Sqn (17 Sep 1939 - 8 Apr 1940)

108 Sqn (18 Sep 1939 - 8 Apr 1940)

No 13 Operational Training Unit (8 Mar 1940 - 12 Oct 1944)

No 7 Group Communications Flt (Sep 1941 - 11 May 1942)

Ferry Training Flt (27 Oct 1941 - 21 Jan 1942)

No 734 (Ground Defence) Sqn (19 Dec 1941 - 1 Feb 1942)

No 2734 Sqn RAF Regiment (1 Feb 1942 - xxx xxxx)

No 1442 (Ferry Training) Flt (21 Jan - 1 Aug 1942)

No 92 Group Communications Flt (11 May - 14 Sep 1942)

Beam Approach Calibration Flt (3 Jul - 20 Nov 1942)

No 1551 Beam Approach Calibration Flt (20 Nov 1942 - 15 Apr 1943)

No 307 Ferry Training Unit (24 Dec 1942 - 18 Feb 1943)

'B' Flt, Signals Development Unit (15 Apr - 28 Aug 1943)

No 420 Repair & Salvage Unit (1 - 19 Feb 1944)

No 34 Air Stores Park (5 May 1944 - 10 Aug 1945)

No 246 Maintenance Unit (1 Jan 1945 - 1 Apr 1949)

HQ, No 40 Group (Feb 1947 - 28 Jul 1961)

Sub-site, No 3 Maintenance Unit (1947 - 1958)

No 282 Maintenance Unit (18 Aug 1952 - 23 Oct 1954)

No 71 Maintenance Unit (15 Dec 1953 - xxx 1976)

Oxford University Air Sqn (12 Jan 1959 - 26 Sep 1975)

No 5 Wing RAF Regiment (1 Apr 1967 - Oct 1970)

No 1 Sqn RAF Regiment

No 26 Sqn RAF Regiment

Location

County: - Oxfordshire

1.75 miles NNE of Bicester

Lat/Long:  51:54:53N  01:08:00W

Grid Ref: SP 598245

Height above sea level: 270 ft

Operational Control: -

Opened - 1917

21th Wing (1917 - 1919)

No 12 Group (1944)

Closed -

Notes

HQ, No 57 Wing was at Brashfield House, Bicester (21 Mar 1946 - 15 Jan 1947)

Main units: -

118 Sqn (7 Aug - 7 Sep 1918)

No 44 Training Depot Station (1 Oct 1918 - Aug 1919)

2 Sqn (14 Feb - 19 Oct 1919)

No 44 Training Sqn (Aug - Dec 1919)

5 Sqn (19 Sep 1919 - 20 Jan 1920)

100 Sqn (10 Jan 1928 - 3 Nov 1930)

33 Sqn (5 Nov 1930 - 27 Nov 1934)

101 Sqn (1 Dec 1934 - 9 May 1939)

48 Sqn (25 Nov - 16 Dec 1935)

Links to related sites/pages

Officers Commanding, Aerial photo on Google Maps,  Control Tower website,

Main units (continued): -

66 Sqn (7 Nov 1940 - 24 Feb 1941)

264 Sqn (11 Jan - 14 Apr 1941)

No 76 Wing Calibration Flt (17 Feb 1941 - 9 Jun 1943)

609 Sqn (24 Feb - 28 Jul 1941, 24 Sep - 19 Nov 1941, 18 Sep - 2 Nov 1942)

401 Sqn (20 Oct 1941 - 19 Mar 1942, 3 - 14 Aug 1942, 21 Aug - 24 Sep 1942, 13 Oct 1943 - 8 Apr 1944)

No 609 (AAF) Servicing Echelon (14 – 19 Nov 1941, 18 Sep – 9 Nov 1942)

No 3045 (RCAF) Servicing Echelon (14 Nov 1941 – 10 Aug 1942)

124 Sqn (17 Nov 1941 - 3 May 1942)

No 3034 Servicing Echelon (17 Nov 1941 – xxx xxxx, 12 Aug – 23 Sep 1942)

133 Sqn (3 May - 30 Jun 1942, 12 - 31 Jul 1942, 31 Aug - 23 Sep 1942)

No 2824 Sqn RAF Regiment

No 2709 Sqn RAF Regiment

19 Sqn (1 - 7 Jul 1942, 10 - 16 Sep 1946)

307th Fighter Sqn, USAAF (1 - 24 Aug 1942)

401 Sqn (2 - 13 Aug 1942, 20 Aug - 23Sep 1942)

No 3026 Servicing Echelon (9 Aug – 9 Sep 1942)

222 Sqn (15 - 21 Aug 1942)

4th Fighter Sqn, USAAF (25 Aug - 13 Sep 1942)

340 Sqn (23 Sep 1942 - 21 Mar 1943, 2 Nov - 17 Dec 1944)

611 Sqn (23 Sep 1942 - 1 Jul 1943)

No 611 (AAF) Servicing Echelon (23 Sep 1942 – 11 Oct 1943)

No 3017 (Eagle) Servicing Echelon (8 Feb – 15 Mar 1943)

1 Sqn (9 Feb - 15 Mar 1943)

341 Sqn (21 Mar - 11 Oct 1943)

No 2745 Sqn RAF Regiment

41 Sqn (21- 28 May 1943, 29 Mar 1951 - 31 Jan 1958)

485 Sqn (1 Jul - 18 Oct 1943)

HQ, No 126 Airfield (13 Oct 1943 - 15 Apr 1944)

411 Sqn (13 Oct 1943 - 24 Feb 1944, 29 Feb - 16 Apr 1944)

412 Sqn (14 Oct 1943 - 5 Jan 1944, 20 Jan - 30 Mar 1944, 7 - 15 Apr 1944)

No 403 Repair and Salvage Unit (Oct - Dec 1943)

No 410 Repair and Salvage Unit (26 Jan - 16 Apr 1944)

661 Sqn (18 Feb - 24 Jun 1944)

No 6401 (RCAF) Servicing Echelon (22 Mar – 8 Apr 1944)

No 6411 (RCAF) Servicing Echelon (22 Mar – 15 May 1944)

No 6412 (RCAF) Servicing Echelon (22 Mar – 15 May 1944)

91 Sqn ( 7 - 29 Oct 1944)

No 6091 Servicing Echelon (17 - 29 Oct 1944)

No 6322 (Dutch) Servicing Echelon (17 Oct 1944 – 2 Jan 1945)

HQ No 141 Wing (18 Oct - 5 Nov 1944)

No 141 Wing Communication Flt (18 Oct - 5 Nov 1944)

345 Sqn (28 Oct - 1 Nov 1944)

No 6131 Servicing Echelon (29 Oct – 7 Nov 1944)

322 Sqn (31 Oct 1944 - 3 Jan 1945)

154 Sqn (5 Nov 1944 - 1 Mar 1945)

No 6154 Servicing Echelon (7 Nov 1944 – 3 Mar 1945)

South East Sector Communication Flt (Nov 1945 - Jun 1946)

No 1 Fighter Command Servicing Unit (Jun - Nov 1945)

No 2 Fighter Command Servicing Unit (Jun - Nov 1945)

HQ, South Eastern Sector (Nov 1945 - Jun 1946)

No 8 Fighter Command Servicing Unit (Nov - Dec 1945)

600 Sqn (R)AuxAF (10 May 1946 - 10 Mar 1957)

615 Sqn (R)AuxAF (10 May 1946 - 10 Mar 1957)

London University Air Sqn (Oct 1946 - 15 Dec 1947)

No 162 Gliding School (xxx 1949 - 31 Aug 1950)

807 Sqn FAA (21 - 27 Sep 1947)

502 Sqn RAuxAF (19 Jul - 2 Aug 1952)

Historic Aircraft Flt (Jul 1957 - 21 Feb 1958)

Battle of Britain Flt (21 - 28 Feb 1958)

No 61 Group Communications Flt (1 Mar 1958 - 15 Jan 1959)

University of London Air Sqn (1 Apr 1957 - 12 Jan 1959)

No 1 Air Experience Flt (8 Sep 1958 - 7 Feb 1959)

Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre (9 Apr 1962 - Sep 1992)

Location

County: - Kent

5.5 miles SSE of Bromley

Lat /Long:  51:19:30N  00:02:00E

Grid ref:  TQ415606

Height above sea level:  600ft

Operational Control: -

Opened - 1917

Fighting Area (

No 11 Group (1936 -

Notes

Main units: -

Wireless Testing Park (1 Jan 1917 - 14 Dec 1917)

78 Sqn (11 Dec 1917 - 16 Feb 1919)

Wireless Experimental Establishment (14 Dec 1917 - 2 Apr 1918)

141 Sqn (8 Feb 1918 - 1 Mar 1919)

W/T Establishment (2 Apr 1918 - 1 Nov 1919)

Wireless Telephony School (2 - 16 Apr 1918)

140 Sqn (1 May - 4 Jul 1918)

39 Sqn (1 Jul - 20 Dec 1919)

Instrument Design Establishment (1 Nov 1919 - Mar 1920)

Instrument Design Establishment (Home) (Mar 1920 -1 Jul 1922)

Navigation Flt (Apr 1920 - xxx xxxx)

Signals Co-operation Flt (1 Apr 1921 - 15 Dec 1922)

HQ, No 5 Wing (1 Apr 1923 - xxx 1924)

56 Sqn (7 May 1923 - 12 Oct 1927)

Night Flying Flt (1 Jul 1923 - 22 Oct 1931)

Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Flt (22 Oct 1931 - 14 Apr 1936)

23 Sqn (17 Sep 1932 - 11 Sep 1935, Mar - 21 Dec 1936)

32 Sqn (21 Sep 1932 - 3 Jan 1940, 27 Mar - 26 May 1940, 4 Jun - 27 Aug 1940)

802 Sqn (17 - 27 Jul 1935)

Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit (14 Apr 1936 - 10 Feb 1937)

No 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit (10 Feb 1937 - 24 May 1937, 16 Sep 1937 - 11 Apr 1938)

'A' Flt, No 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit (10 Feb 1937 - Sep 1938)

'C' Flt, No 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit (15 Mar - 121 Sep 1937)

79 Sqn (22 Mar 1937 - 12 Nov 1939, 8 Mar - 10 May 1940, 21 - 27 May 1940, 5 Jun - 1 Jul 1940, 27 Aug - 8 Sep 1940)

Queen Bee Flt (16 Sep 1937)

'D' Flt, No 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit (16 Sep 1937 - 11 Apr 1938)

601 Sqn (29 Sep - 5 Oct 1938, 2 Sep - 30 Dec 1939)

'E' Flt, No 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit (27 Oct 1938 - 20 May 1939)

'H' Flt, No 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit (1 Apr - 25 Sep 1939)

3 Sqn (1 May - 2 Sep 1939)

610 Sqn (10 - 27 May 1940, 8 Jul - 31 Aug 1941)

616 Sqn (10 - 27 May 1940)

242 Sqn (21 May - 8 Jun 1940)

213 Sqn (9 - 18 Jun 1940)

No 6 Radio Maintenance Unit (1 Jul - 31 Aug 1940)

No 6 Radio Maintenance Unit Calibration Flt (1 Jul - 14 Oct  1940)

72 Sqn (31 Aug - 1 Sep 1940, 12 Sep - 13 Oct 1940, 26 Jul - 20 Oct 1941, 22 Mar - 30 Jun 1942, 7 Jul - 4 Aug 1942)

92 Sqn (8 Sep 1940 - 9 Jan 1941, 20 Feb - 24 Sep 1941)

64 Sqn (13 - 15 Oct 1940)

No 6 Radio Servicing Sqn Calibration Flt (14 Oct  1940 - 17 Feb 1941)

74 Sqn (15 Oct 1940 - 20 Feb 1941)

No 421 Flt (6 - 15 Nov 1940)

Detachments:**

'D' Flt, 39 Sqn (1 - 11 Dec 1917)

'A' & 'B' Flts, 37 Sqn (17 Mar - 1 Jul 1919)

229 Sqn (26 May - Jun 1940)

141 Sqn (10 Jul - xxx 1940, 13 - 18 Sep 1940, 13 - 15 Oct 1940, Apr 1941 - xxx xxxx)

287 Sqn (Nov 1941 - Jul 1944)

264 Sqn (Dec 1941 - xxx xxxx)

'A' Flt, 602 Sqn (16 - 20 Aug 1942)

819 Sqn FAA (29 - 30 Sep 1944)

168 Sqn RCAF (Sep 1944 - Dec 1945)

436 Sqn (9 Dec 1945 - 14 Jan 1946)

Links to related sites/pages

Battle of Britain Anniversary website, Officers Commanding, 1,000th Victory celebrations - 1943, Aerial photo on Google Maps, Biggin Hill Wing Leaders,

Probably one of the most well known RAF Stations, it began its career on 14 February 1917 as a RFC Signals Unit and a year later it became part of the London Air Defence Zone, with the arrival of No 141 Squadron.  This squadron remained for the rest of the war, eventually leaving in March 1919.  Other squadrons came and went, including No 140, No 37 and No 39, before No 56 Squadron arrived in May 1923.  Also arriving at the same time was the Night Flying Flight.  No 56 left for North Weald in October 1927, leaving the Night Flying Flight as sole occupants until they left in 1929.

A major building programme now began lasting three years, following which Nos 23 and 32 Squadrons arrived, equipped with Demons and Bulldogs respectively.  At the same time the Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Flight was formed and this provided training to the increasing number of anti-aircraft guns being set up in the London area.  At some point before the outbreak of war an Air Defence training school was established at Biggin Hill, although it is likely that this was an Army unit, as they were tasked with all anti-aircraft artillery defence at that time.

23 Squadron moved to Northolt in 1936 and were replaced by No 79 Squadron, which formed from ‘B’ Flight of No 32, both equipped with Gloster Gauntlets.  During the Munich crisis of 1938, No 601 Squadron of the Auxiliary Air Force arrived, to bolster the defences but they returned to Hendon, once the crisis was over.  The two resident squadrons converted to Hurricanes in late 1938 and in late 1939 a tarmac runway of 4,800 ft x 150 ft was laid.

Once the war began the movement of units took place at a pace and a number of units moved in and out of Biggin Hill.  Its squadrons were operating over the Channel and Dunkirk and by the start of the Battle of Britain, it was home to Nos 72, 79 and 610 Squadrons.  During this period and the night Blitz which followed, Biggin Hill was a major target of the Luftwaffe, being attacked 12 times between August 1940 and January 1941.

With the coming of the New Year in 1941, Fighter Command went over to the offensive and the squadrons at Biggin Hill were in the fore front of these operations.  These operations took the form of ‘Circus’ missions, were a small force of bombers were escorted by up to six squadrons of fighters in the hope of bringing the Luftwaffe’s fighters up to fight.  At other times small groups of fighters, usually pairs, would undertake ‘Rhubarbs’ over the French country side, looking for targets of opportunity.  In August 1942, the squadrons at Biggin Hill, took part in Operation Jubilee, the abortive raid on Dieppe and shortly after this the Biggin Hill Wing, received the Spitfire IX, which was more than a match for the German’s Focke Wulf Fw190.

In May 1943, the station celebrated the destruction of 1,000 enemy aircraft, a record which remained unbroken by the end of the war.  Operations continued from Biggin Hill until the week after D-Day in June 1944, when all flying ceased and the station was taken over by Balloon Command in order to combat the V-1 flying bombs being unleashed against the South of England.  The station was inside the London defence zone and six V-1s actually fell within the airfield boundary.  Balloon Command left in September 1944, once the threat from the V-1s had diminished due to their launch sites being over-run by the advancing Allied armies.

Fighter squadrons now returned to Biggin Hill, but the pace and tempo of the mid war operations was now gone and the squadrons were now involved in escorting Bomber Command operations on daylight raids over the continent and Germany.  By early March 1945, the station was also being used by Transport Command, which was operating services from to and from the UK and the liberated areas of Europe and by June 1945, the station had been transferred from No 11 Group, Fighter Command to No 46 Group, Transport Command.  Various RAF, RCAF and USAAF units now used Biggin Hill as the Uk terminal for their services and the station was probably now busier then it was when it had been a fighter station.

On 10 May 1946, two squadrons of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force were reformed at Biggin Hill, Nos 600 (City of London) and 615 (County of Surrey) and three months later the headquarters of Reserve Command moved into the Station.  In November 1949, the station reverted to Fighter Command and in 1950 the two RAuxAF units received Meteors and in early 1951, were joined by No 41 Squadron, similarly equipped.  In 1955, No 41 Squadron was re-equipped with the Hawker Hunter and two years later the runway at Biggin Hill was extended, but the end was in sight for the station.  In March 1957, all the RAuxAF flying squadrons were disbanded and as the airspace around Biggin Hill got more and more congested, the station closed as a fighter station, the airfield being leased to Surrey Aviation who developed the airfield as a general aviation centre, the only military flying being by the Chipmunks of No 1 Air Experience Flight, formed to fly cadets of the Air Training Corps and Combined Cadet Force.  The RAF retained the North Camp which became home to the Officers’ and Aircrew Selection Centre from April 1959 and this remained until it re-located to Cranwell in around 2001.  The only remaining RAF element is now St George’s Chapel, which houses the Books of Remembrance for the personnel who lost their lives whilst serving at this famous station.

Main units (continued): -

460 Sqn (14 May 1943 - 27 Jul 1945)

No 1 Group Special Duties Flt (18 Apr - 11 Aug 1944)

101 Sqn (1 Oct 1945 - 1 Feb 1957)

9 Sqn (19 Apr 1946 - 2 Jun 1959)

617 Sqn (1 May 1946 - 15 Dec 1955)

Bomber Command Jet Conversion Flt (15 Dec 1950 - 7 Jul 1952)

Bomber Command Acceptance and Modification Unit (21 Jul 1952 - 16 Nov 1953)

Bomber Command Aircraft Maintenance Unit (21 Jul 1952 - xxx xxxx)

50 Sqn (15 Aug 1952 - 8 Jan 1956)

109 Sqn (1 Jan 1956 - 1 Feb 1957)

139 Sqn (1 Jan 1956 - 31 Dec 1959)

Bomber Command Supply Support Unit (Oct - 10 Nov 1956)

64 Sqn (24 Aug 1962 - 1 Apr 1965)

Central Fighter Establishment (5 Oct 1962 - 1 Feb 1966)

CFE included: -

• Air Fighting Development Sqn (5 Oct 1962 - 1 Feb 1966)

• Day Fighter Combat Sqn (13 Nov 1962 - 1 Nov 1965)

85 Sqn (25 Apr 1963 - 28 Jan 1972)

5 Sqn (7 Oct 1965 - 31 Dec 1987)

Target Facilities Flt (1 Feb 1966 - 31 Dec 1973)

Detachment - 849 Sqn FAA (5 - 8 Oct 1970, 22 - 25 Jun 1971, 22 - 25 May 1972, 12 - 15 Oct 1981, 29 Mar - 3 Apr 1987, 16 - 20 Nov 1987)

11 Sqn (28 Mar 1972 - 30 Apr 1988)

Lightning Special Engineering Project Team (29 Apr 1974 - xxx xxxx)

Lightning Training Flt (1 Oct 1975 - 30 Apr 1987)

Instant Readiness Reserve Unit (Jun 1979 - xxx 1981)

Lightning Augmentation Flt (xxx 1981 - xxx 1982)

No 643 Volunteer Gliding School (29 Jun 1991 - 10 Oct 1992)

Location

County: - Lincolnshire

9 miles SW of Grimsby

Lat /Long:  53:26:45N  00:12:00W

Grid ref:  TF189959

Height above sea level:  330ft

Operational Control: -

Opened - 1940

No 1 Group (xxx 1940 -

No 11 Group

Notes

Main units: -

12 Sqn (3 Jul 1940 - 25 Sep 1942, 24 Sep 1945 - 26 Jul 1946, 18 Sep 1946 - 12 Jan 1948, 14 Mar 1948 - 2 Jul 1959)

142 Sqn (3 Jul  - 12 Aug 1940, 6 Sep 1940 - 26 Nov 1941)

No 1 Group  Target Towing Flt (10 - 14 Nov 1941)

No 1481 (Target Towing) Flt (14 Nov 1941 - Jan 1942)

No 1481 (Target Towing & Gunnery) Flt (Jan 1942 - 2 Nov 1942)

Air Bomber Training Flt (No 1 Group) (17 Jun - 26 Sep 1942)

HQ, No 11 Base (25 Apr 1943 - 12 Apr 1945)

No 2842 Sqn RAF Regiment

No 1481 (Bomber Gunnery) Flt (7 May 1943 - 13 Mar 1944)

Links to related sites/pages

Bomber Command 60th Anniversary website, Commanding Officers, RAF-Lincolnshire.info, Aerial photo on Google Maps,  Control Tower website,

Main units (continued): -

815 Sqn FAA (8 Apr - 16 May 1940)

235 Sqn (25 Apr - 26 May 1940, 24 Jun 1940 - 4 Jun 1941)

826 Sqn FAA (7 - 21 May 1940, 29 May - 7 Oct 1940)

815 Sqn FAA (20 - 23 May 1940, 6 - 11 Jun 1940)

812 Sqn FAA (28 - 29 May 1940)

No 1 Mobile Torpedo Servicing Unit (xxx - 3 Nov 1940)

'K' Flt, No 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit  (6 Sep - 7 Oct 1940)

'M' Flt, No 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit  (27 Sep - 7 Oct 1940)

221 Sqn (21 Nov 1940 - 2 May 1941)

252 Sqn (21 Nov - 1 Dec 1940)

No 1403 (Meteorological) Flt (xx Nov 1940 - 7 Feb 1942)

53 Sqn (10 - 23 Feb 1941, 2 Jul - 19 Oct 1941)

200 Sqn (25 May - 12 Jun 1941)

500 Sqn (30 May 1941 - 2 Apr 1942)

502 Sqn (10 Jan - 22 Feb 1942)

248 Sqn (21 Jun 1942 - 28 Feb 1942)

No 1401 (Meteorological) Flt (25 Oct 1941 - 1 Aug 1942)

No 1620 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flt (1 Nov 1942 - 1 Dec 1943)

No 1611 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flt (9 Nov 1942 - 1 Dec 1943)

279 Sqn (16 Nov 1941 - 31 Oct 1944)

407 Sqn (31 Mar - 1 Oct 1942)

320 Sqn (20 Apr 1942 - 15 Mar 1943)

521 Sqn (1 Aug 1942 - Mar 1943)

280 Sqn (2 Nov 1942 - 25 Sep 1943)

No 1612 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flt (8 Dec 1942 - 1 Dec 1943)

53 Sqn (18 Mar - 28 Apr 1943)

No 2 Armament Practice Camp (16 Jun 1943 - xxx 1944)

Warwick Training Flt (3 Jul - 13 Oct 1943)

Air-Sea Rescue Training Unit (13 Oct - 20 Oct 1943)

No 1626 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flt (30 Nov - 1 Dec 1943)

415 Sqn (15 Nov 1943 - 12 Jul 1944)

695 Sqn (1 Dec 1943 - 11 Aug 1945)

48 Sqn (23 - 24 Feb 1944)

233 Sqn (1 - 5 Mar 1944)

Coastal Command Preparation Pool (Jun 1944 - 1 Sep 1945)

524 Sqn (25 Jul 1944 - 25 May 1945)

HQ, No 157 Wing (23 Oct 1944 - 25 May 1945)

119 Sqn (22 - 25 May 1945)

598 Sqn (12 Mar - 30 Apr 1945)

No 18 (RCAF) Air Crew Holding Unit (4 Jun - 10 Sep 1945)

No 27 Air Crew Holding Unit (21 Sep 1945 - 21 May 1946)

Air Crew Allocation Centre (8 Aug - 1 Sep 1946)

Transport Command Initial Conversion Unit (Oct 1946 - 16 Sep 1948)

No 1510 Beam Approach Training Flt (22 Nov 1946 - 15 Sep 1948)

No 1559 Beam Approach Training Flt (9 Mar - 9 Aug 1947)

No 1555 Beam Approach Training Flt (19 Mar - 9 Aug 1947)

Location

County: -  Norfolk

Lat/Long:  52:52:23N  00:39:15E

Grid Ref -  TF785345

Height Above Sea Level - 230 ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: - 1916

No 16 Group (1944)

Closed: -  1965

Notes see below

Main units: -

No 3 School of Aerial Fighting & Gunnery (xx - 29 May 1918)

No 3 Fighting School (29 May - 21 Sep 1918)

166 Sqn (13 Jun 1918 - 31 May 1919)

HQ No 87 (Night) Wing (29 Aug - 10 Dec 1918)

HQ No 86 (Night) Wing (29 Sep - 10 Dec 1918)

167 Sqn (18 Nov 1918 - 21 May 1919)

No 5 Communication Sqn (1 - 15 Jun 1919)

No 6 Communication Sqn (Feb - 15 Jun 1919)

No 7 Communication Sqn (Feb - 15 Jun 1919)

No 8 Communication Sqn (Feb - 15 Jun 1919)

274 Sqn (15 Jun 1919 - 30 Jan 1920)

56 Sqn [cadre] (30 Dec 1919 - 22 Jan 1920)

60 Sqn [cadre] (30 Dec 1919 - 22 Jan 1920)

207 Sqn (1 Feb 1920 - 29 Sep 1922, 7 Nov 1929 - 28 Oct 1935)

7 Sqn (1 Jun 1923 - 7 Apr 1927)

11 Sqn (16 Sep 1923 - 31 May 1924)

99 Sqn (31 May 1924 - 5 Jan 1928)

32 Sqn (30 Jun - 5 Aug 1924)

39 Sqn (21 Jan - 29 Dec 1928)

101 Sqn (21 Mar 1928 - 10 Oct 1929)

35 Sqn (1 Mar 1929 - 4 Oct 1935)

21 Sqn (3 Dec 1935 - 22 Jul 1936)

34 Sqn (3 Dec 1935 - 30 Jul 1936)

18 Sqn (7 Jan - 14 Aug 1936)

49 Sqn (10 Feb - 8 Aug 1936)

206 Sqn (30 Jul 1936 - 30 May 1941)

220 Sqn (17 Aug 1936 - 21 Aug 1939)

269 Sqn (7 - 30 Dec 1936)

'B' Flt, No 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit (10 Feb - 10 May 1937, 7 - 21 Sep 1937)

'D' Flt, No 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit  (18 Apr - 26 Sep 1938, 28 Apr - 6 Sep 1939)

'C' Flt, No 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit  (15 May - 26 Sep 1938, 14 Apr - 6 Sep 1939)

42 Sqn (12 Aug 1939 - 27 Apr 1940)

48 Sqn (Oct 1939 - xxx xxxx)

254 Sqn (28 Jan - 23 Apr 1940)

No 2 General Reconnaissance Unit (4 Mar - Apr 1940)

Detachments**

18 Sqn (2 - 7 Jan 1936)

233 Sqn (Jun - Sep 1939, Dec 1939 - Jan 1940)

608 Sqn (20 Oct 1939 - xxx xxxx, 30 Jun - Dec 1941)

600 Sqn (14 Dec 1939 - xxx xxxx)

610 Sqn (9 Jan - 29 Mar 1940)

'A' Flt, 19 Sqn (21 Mar 1940 - xxx xxxx)

42 Sqn (28 Mar - xxx 1940)

48 Sqn (31 Mar - 8 Jul 1940)

22 Sqn (5 - 6 May 1940)

254 Sqn (10 - xx May 1940, 20 May 1940 - xxx xxxx)

59 Sqn (Jun 1940 - Jun 1941, 15 Mar - 30 May 1941, 20 Oct - 18 Dec 1941, Feb - Oct 1942)

229 Sqn (Jun - Sep 1940, 11 Jul - Sep 1940)

269 Sqn (Jun 1940 - xxx xxxx)

816 Sqn FAA (1 - 6 Jul 1940)

53 Sqn (Jul 1940 - xxx 1941)

'B' Flt, 1 Sqn (8 Dec 1940 - xx xxxx)

No 54 Maintenance Unit (xxx 1942 - Jun 1943)

217 Sqn (Mar - Apr 1942)

280 Sqn (3 Jul - 6 Aug 1942)

235 Sqn (21 Jul 1942 - xxx xxxx)

415 Sqn (25 - 28 Nov 1942)

No 7 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit (Mar - 27 May 1943)

409 Sqn (xxx 1943 - xxx xxxx)

168 Sqn (1 - 9 Mar 1944)

119 Sqn (29 Sep - 2 Oct 1944)

695 Sqn (11 Aug - 30 Nov 1945)

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps, FAA Archive Website, Commanding Officers,  Control Tower website, Listings of Officers serving at SHQ RAF Bircham Newton,

Built during the First World War to house No 3 Fighter School, it operated in this training role until 1918, when No 27 Group was formed to undertake strategic bombing of Germany using the Four-engined Handley Page V/1500.  No 166 Squadron formed in June, but before any operations could be carried out, the war ended and the squadron was disbanded.  Squadrons returning from France used Bircham Newton at this period as a base to undertake the disbandment process.  The airfield was retained by the RAF after the war and in 1923, it became a heavy bomber base with Nos 7 and 99 Squadrons flying the Vickers Vimy.  99 Squadron became the only unit to operate the single engine heavy bomber , the Avro Aldershot, in 1924 and on 12 September of that year, a Station HQ was formed under the command of Wing Commander F J Fiennes. 

In 1927, No 7 Squadron now equipped with the Vickers Virginia, moved to Worthy Down whilst No 99 was now flying the Handley Page Hyderabad followed three weeks later to Upper Heyford.  No 39 Squadron flying the DH9A arrived in January 1928, but left for India later that year.  No 101 Squadron formed at Bircham in March 1928 and early in 1929, they received the Boulton-Paul Sidestrand but departed for Andover in October.  The next unit to arrive, in April 1929, was No 35 Squadron with DH9As, these being replaced by Fairey IIIFs and later Fairey Gordons.  In November No 207 Squadron returned to the station having been reformed there in 1920 but having left to go to Turkey in 1922.  These became the resident units at Bircham until 1935, when they moved to the Middle East during the Abyssinian Crisis.

In 1933 the station became part of Central Area and on 1 May 1936, this Area and Western were amalgamated into No 3 Group, which on 14 July became part of the newly formed Bomber Command.  However, on 10 August, control of Bircham Newton was transferred from Bomber to Coastal Command, its new residents being the Anson equipped Nos 206 and 220 Squadrons.  The station also underwent expansion and re-building as new ‘C’ type hangers replaced the WW1 buildings and new facilities were constructed.  The station also began to house ’B’ Flight of No 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit.  The Vildebeest  torpedo bombers of No 42 Squadron arrived in August 1939, No 220 having left in January.

The first U-boat to be sunk in WW2 was destroyed by a No 206 Squadron crew captained  by Pilot Officer Harper in K6184 on 8 November 1939.  A flight of Blenheims were formed at the station to provide protection for the North Sea Herring fleet and this became ‘D’ Flight of No 233 Squadron in early January 1940 and then ‘B’ Flight of No 254 Squadron, when that unit arrived at the end of January.  When No 254 Squadron left in April, at the same time as No 42, it was replaced by No 235.  Both 254 and 235 operated the Blenheim fighter on coastal protection duties along the East Coast and across the North Sea.   This type of activity remained Bircham’s main task throughout the war with various units forming and operating from the station for varying lengths of time.  These included 221 Squadron (Wellington VIIIs) forming on 21 November 1940 , leaving on 2 May 1941, and No 2 General Reconnaissance Unit, which formed on March 1940 to operate Wellingtons equipped with a large electrical coil for destroying  magnetic mines.

Other units operating from Bircham Newton included No 500 Squadron, No 248 Squadron from June  to September 1941 and No 608 from  August  to December 1941.  During 1942 the main residents were Hudson squadrons including the Canadians of No 407 Squadron and the Dutchmen of No 320, both squadrons taking in Bomber Command’s ‘1,000 Bomber’ raid against Bremen in June.  By March 1943, the Hudson strike squadron’s had departed leaving AACU flights, which were amalgamated into No 695 Squadron on 31 October 1942, as well as two Meteorological Flights which formed into No 521 Squadron on 31 July 1942.  Another squadron was also operating from Bircham since 16 November 1941, when No 279  formed in the Air-Sea Rescue role and from mid 1943 began to carry airborne lifeboats under its Hudsons.

In November 1943, No 415 Squadron arrived with Wellington XIIIs and Albacores to carry out night anti-shipping operations.  From August 1944, the station also became the Coastal Command Preparation Pool, which prepared various types for issue to operational squadrons.  The following month No 855 Squadron of the Royal Navy arrived and later Nos 819 Squadron (RN) and 119 Squadron (RAF) arrived to form No 157 Wing, to conduct night anti-submarine operations with Swordfish and Albacore biplanes, remaining until January 1945.  No 279 Squadron moved to Thornaby in October 1944 and in February 1945, No 819 Squadron returned to disband.

With the end of the war, Bircham became home to No 18 Aircrew Holding Unit and looked after Canadians waiting to be shipped home.  From July to September 1945 the Coastal Command EBT School was based here and No 15 Air Beam Training Flight was at Bircham until September 1948.  The lack of metalled runways limited the stations usefulness for operating modern aircraft and following allocation to various commands, it was taken over by Technical Training Command  in October 1948 as the Officers’ Advanced Training School, later the Junior Command and Staff School and the Administrative Apprentices School also moved in.  By 18 December 1962 the OATS had disbanded, the JCSS had moved to Ternhill and the AAS had moved to Hereford, resulting in the closure of the station.  Today, the station his home to the Construction Industries Training School, hence the reason why many of the pre-war building are still maintained in excellent condition.

Badge not yet located

Main units: -

950 (Balloon) Sqn (15 Jan - 19 Feb 1940)

Sub-site, No 14 Maintenance Unit (1 Jul - 4 Oct 1943)

Location

County: -  Lanarkshire (Strathclyde)

Lat/Long:  55:54:28N  04:12:54W

Grid Ref -

Height Above Sea Level -  ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: -

Closed: - 

Notes

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps,

Main units (continued): -

No 7 Air Observers School (17 May 1943 - 15 Feb 1944)

No 12 Air Gunners School (1 Aug 1943 - 31 May 1945)

No 7 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit (15 Feb 1944 - 31 May 1945)

No 7 Air Navigation School (31 May 1945 - 4 Jun 1947)

No 2 Air Navigation School (4 Jun - 1 Oct 1947)

No 3 Air Navigation School (3 Mar 1952 - 14 Apr 1954)

No 671 Volunteer Gliding School (22 Jan 1959 - Sep 1962)

819 Sqn FAA (30 Sep - 2 Oct 1969)

No 664 Volunteer Gliding School (Feb 1987 - 31 Oct 1990)

Location

County: - County Down, Northern Ireland

Lat/Long:  54:18:36N  05:34:48W

Grid ref:  J580425

Operational Control: -

Opened -

Closed -

Notes

Links to related sites/pages

Officers Commanding, Aerial photo on Google Maps, Control Towers website,

Main units: -

Location

County: - Lancashire?

Lat/Long: 

Grid Ref -

Height Above Sea Level -  ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: -

Closed: - 

Notes

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps,

Main units (Hartfordbridge) (continued): -

No 6088 Servicing Echelon (22 Mar - 16 Oct 1944)

No 6226 Servicing Echelon (22 Mar – 17 Oct 1944)

No 6342 (French) Servicing Echelon (22 Mar – 17 Oct 1944)

322 Sqn (23 Apr - 20 Jun 1944)

264 Sqn (5 May - 26 Jul 1944)

HQ, No 137 Wing (12 May - 17 Oct 1944)

No 137 Wing Communication Flt (12 May - 17 Oct 1944)

HQ, No 141 Wing (12 May - 12 Jul 1944, 25 Nov 1944 - 15 Mar 1945)

No 141 Wing Communication Flt  (12 May - 21 Jul 1944)

No 6107 Servicing Echelon (22 May – 19 Nov 1944)

HQ, No 142 Wing (25 Jun - 5 Aug 1944)

Special Signals Communication Flt (21 Jul - 24 Oct 1944)

No 34 Wing Support Unit (16 Oct 1944 - 12 Jul 1945)

HQ, No 136 Wing (20 Oct 1944 - 15 Mar 1945)

No 6305 (Polish) Servicing Echelon (23 Oct – 19 Nov 1944)

No 6613 Servicing Echelon (23 Oct – 20 Nov 1944)

HQ, No 138 Wing (29 Oct - 19 Nov 1944)

305 Sqn (30 Oct - 19 Nov 1944)

613 Sqn (30 Oct - 19 Nov 1944)

No 6605 Servicing Echelon (21 Nov 1944 – 15 Mar 1945)

No 6418 (RCAF) Servicing Echelon (21 Nov 1944 – 15 Mar 1945)

Main units (Blackbushe): -

605 Sqn (21 Nov 1944 - 15 Mar 1945)

418 Sqn (21 Nov 1944 - 15 Mar 1945)

167 Sqn (31 Mar 1945 - 1 Feb 1946)

301 Sqn (4 Apr - 2 Jul 1945)

162 Sqn (6 Jul 1945 - 14 Jul 1946)

No 4167 Servicing Echelon (30 Mar 1945 – 1 Feb 1946)

Air Despatch Letter Service Sqn (12 Jun 1945 - 15 Jan 1946)

No 160 Staging Post (7 May - 15 Nov 1946)

622 Sqn (15 Dec 1950 - 30 Sep 1953)

FASRON 200, USN (1 Oct 1956 - xxx 1960)

Location

County: - Hampshire

Lat/Long:  51:19:30N  01:50:30W

Grid Ref -  SU078915

Height Above Sea Level - 305 ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: - 1943

No 11 Group (1944)

Closed: -  1946

Notes

Originally known as Hartfordbridge

Main Units (Hartfordbridge): -

RAE Aircraft Flt (13 Aug - Oct 1942)

Glider Experimental Flt (Oct 1942 - 23 Mar 1943)

171 Sqn (7 - 31 Dec 1942)

430 Sqn (1 - 11 Jan 1943)

No 1422 (Night Fighter) Flt (7 Mar - 6 Jul 1943)

140 Sqn (13 Mar 1943 - 7 Apr 1944)

16 Sqn (29 Jun 1943 - 7 Apr 1944)

HQ, No 34 Wing (30 Jun 1943 - 8 Apr 1944)

2nd Tactical Air Force Communication Flt (24 Jul 1943  - 1 Mar 1944)

107 Sqn (1 Aug 1943 - 3 Feb 1944, 30 Oct - 19 Nov 1944)

21 Sqn (19 Aug - 27 Sep 1943)

88 Sqn (19 Aug 1943 - 17 Oct 1944)

342 Sqn (6 Sep 1943 - 17 Oct 1944)

'B' Section, No 3210 Servicing Commando (Oct 1943)

No 416 Repair & Salvage Unit (6 Dec 1943 - Sep 1944)

No 2 Group Servicing Section (11 Dec 1943 - Oct 1944)

226 Sqn (13 Feb - 17 Oct 1944)

No 3126 Servicing Echelon (13 Feb – 22 Mar 1944)

2nd Tactical Air Force Communication Sqn (1 Mar - 3 Apr 1944)

Detachments**

'B' Flt, Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment (xx - 23 Mar 1943)

2nd Tactical Air Force Communication Sqn (3 Apr 1944 - xxx xxxx)

167 Sqn (24 - 31 Mar 1945)

162 Sqn (7 Jun - 6 Jul 1945)

24 Sqn (2 Oct 1945 - 17 Sep 1946)

106 Sqn (Nov 1945)

139 Sqn (Nov - Dec 1945)

Air Dispatch Letter Sqn (15 Jan - 4 Mar 1946)

128 Sqn (Jan - Mar 1946)

69 Sqn (Jun - 1946 - xxx xxxx)

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps, Control Tower website,

Main units: -

Polish Depot (18 Aug 1940 - 1 Nov 1942)

No 17 Aviation Candidates Selection Board (19 Aug 1940 - 1 Dec 1942)

No 18 Aviation Candidates Selection Board (19 Aug 1940 - 1 Dec 1942)

No 2 School of Photography (Nov 1940 - 29 Jun 1944)

Polish Technical Training School (xx - 30 Jul 1942)

Polish Deputy Inspectorate General (1 Nov 1942 - xxx xxxx)

School of Sea Rescue (3 May 1943 - 12 Feb 1945)

HQ, No 334 Wing (7 - 12 Sep 1943)

Location

County: -  Lancashire

Lat/Long:  53:49:48N   03:03:00W

Grid Ref -

Height Above Sea Level -  ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: -

Closed: - 

Notes

SHQ was located at the Lansdowne Hotel on the North Shore

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo of the general area on Google Maps,

Main units: -

No 93 (Forward) Staging Post (1 - 29 Jun 1944)

Detachment - 168 Sqn RCAF (Jun - Sep1944)

No 4233 Servicing Echelon (6 Jun 1944 – 9 Jul 1945)

No 4437 (RCAF) Servicing Echelon (1 Sep 1944 – 7 May 1945)

437 Sqn (4 Sep 1944 - 6 May 1945)

No 123 (Major) Staging Post (5 Sep - 5 Dec 1944)

Detachment - No 109 OTU (22 - 28 Sep 1944)

No16 (Horsa) Glider Servicing Unit (4 Nov 1944 - xxx xxxx)

No 4 Mobile Parachute Servicing Unit (xxx 1944 - 9 Mar 1945)

No 22 Heavy Glider Conversion Unit (21 Jun - 15 Nov 1945)

575 Sqn (16 Nov 1945 - 11 Jan 1946)

No 3575 Servicing Echelon (16– 24 Nov 1945)

No 4575 Servicing Echelon (24 Nov 1945 – 31 Jan 1946)

No 512 Sqn (30 Dec 1945 - xxx 1946)

No 1555 Beam Approach Training Flt (30 Apr - Jul 1946)

No 2 Section, No 1552 Beam Approach Training Flt (Jul 1946 - xxx xxxx)

Satellite, No 2 Flying Training School (Apr 1948 - May 1952)

Location

County: - Wiltshire

Lat/Long:  51:37:23N  01:53:15W

Grid Ref - SU078915

Height Above Sea Level - 305 ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: - 1944

No 46 Group (1944)

Closed: -  1952

Notes

Main Units -

233 Sqn (5 Mar 1944 - 8 Jun 1945)

No11 (Horsa) Glider Servicing Echelon (15 Mar 1944 - 1 Feb 1946)

No 92 (Forward) Staging Post (16 Mar - 25 May 1944)

No 18 Terminal Staging Post (22 May - 12 Aug 1944)

No 19 Terminal Staging Post (22 May - 8 Aug 1944)

'A' Flt, 271 Sqn (31 May - Jul 1944)

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps, Atlantikwall website,  Control Tower website,

Main units: -

Location

County: -  Northumberland

Lat/Long:  54:59:42N  01:40:12W

Grid Ref -

Height Above Sea Level -  ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: -

Closed: - 

Notes

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo of the general area on Google Maps,

Main units (continued): -

Mediterranean Allied Coastal Air Forces Communication Flt (1 Jan - 1 May 1944)

No 3 Ferry Unit (1 Jun 1945 - 14 Jan 1946)

13 Sqn (

14 Sqn (

18 Sqn (

23 Sqn (

36 Sqn (

114 Sqn (

142 Sqn (

144 Sqn (

150 Sqn (

179 Sqn (

283 Sqn (

293 Sqn (

458 Sqn (

500 Sqn (

600 Sqn (

608 Sqn (

614 Sqn (

624 Sqn (

Location

Country: - Algeria

Lat/Long:  36:30:00N   02:49:12E

Height Above Sea Level:  535 ft

Operational Control: -

Notes

It is now Blida airport.

Main units: -

HQ, No 328 Wing (17 Nov 1942 - 31 Mar 1943)

HQ, No 330 Wing (19 Dec 1942 - 5 May 1943)

No 3203 Servicing Commando (19 Dec 1942 - 12 Feb 1943)

No 2 (Northwest Africa) Aircraft Repair Unit (12 Mar - 10 May 1943)

No  (North Africa) Aircraft Repair Unit (10 - 22 May 1943)

No 156 Maintenance Unit (22 May 1943 - 31 Dec 1945)

Fighter Pilots Practice Flt, Blida (May - 30 Jun 1943)

No 3203 Servicing Commando (3 - 9 Jun 1943)

No 3202 Servicing Commando (30 May - 7 Jun 1943, xx Jun - 17 Jul 1943, )

No 1 (North Africa) Air-Sea Rescue Flt (14 Oct - 31 Dec 1943)

No 4 RAF Mobile Servicing Unit (Torpedo) (10 Dec 1943 - xxx 1944)

Detachments**

'A' Det, No 3 Ferry Unit (xxx - 1 Jun 1945)

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps,

Main units: -

No 1 Group Air Bomber Training Flt (26 Sep - 1 Nov 1942)

No 1481 (Target Towing) Flt (26 Sep - 2 Nov 1942)

199 Sqn (7 Nov 1942 - 3 Feb 1943)

No 1662 Heavy Conversion Unit (26 Jan 1943 - 6 Apr 1945)

'B' Flt, No 1 Lancaster Finishing School (21 Nov 1943 - 12 Feb 1944)

No 1 Air Crew Holding Unit (7 Jun 1945 - 26 Jan 1946)

Sub-site, No 61 Maintenance Unit (31 Mar 1946 - xxx xxxx)

RLG for No 101 Flying Refresher School (29 Oct 1951 - 1 Feb 1952)

RLG for No 215 Advanced Flying School (11 Feb 1952 - 28 Jan 1954)

Location

County: -  Lincolnshire

Lat/Long:  53:27:15N  00:41:30W

Grid Ref - SK868958

Height Above Sea Level - 70 ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: - 1942

No 7 Group (1944)

Closed: -  1954

Notes

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps, Bomber Command 60th Anniversary website,  RAF-Lincolnshire.info,  Control Tower website,

Main units: -

Detachment - 21 Sqn (xxx 1939 - xxx 1940)

82 Sqn (1 Oct 1940 - 18 Apr 1941)

Detachment - 90 Sqn (May 1941)

RLG for No 17 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit (29 Jan 1942 - 1 May 1943)

21 Sqn (14 Mar - 30 Oct 1942)

352 Fighter Group, USAAF (7 Jul 1943 - 28 Jan 1945)

Location

County: - Norfolk

Lat/Long:  52:33:38N  00:42:45E

Grid Ref - TL840995

Height Above Sea Level - 130 ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: - 1940

USAAF (1944)

Closed: -  1945

Notes

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps, Bomber Command 60th Anniversary website,  Control Tower website,

Main units: -

'J' Flt, No 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit  (14 Sep 1940 - 1 Nov 1942)

Detachment - No 6 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit (Mar - Jul 1941)

'Z' Flt, No 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit  (30 Oct 1940 - 1 Nov 1942)

No 15 Satellite Landing Ground (1 Apr 1941 - Dec 1944)

Detachment - No 1 Coastal Artillery Co-operation Unit (18 Aug 1941 - 11 Oct 1943)

No 1606 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flt (1 Nov 1942 - 30 Apr 1945)

No 1620 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flt (1 Nov 1942 - 1 Dec 1943)

No 8 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit (20 May - 30 Nov 1943)

Detachment - 577 Sqn (1 Dec 143 - 1 Apr 1944)

650 Sqn (18 Nov 1944 - 26 Jun 1945)

Location

County: - Anglesey

Lat/Long:  53:11:07N  04:25:30W

Grid Ref - SH375688

Height Above Sea Level - 150 ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: - 1940

70 Group (1944)

Closed: -  1945

Notes

Originally called Aberffraw until 15 May 1941

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps,

Main units: -

14 Sqn (

36 Sqn (

72 Sqn (

81 Sqn (

111 Sqn (

152 Sqn (

153 Sqn (

154 Sqn (

219 Sqn (

225 Sqn (

232 Sqn (

242 Sqn (

243 Sqn (

255 Sqn (

284 Sqn (

293 Sqn (

458 Sqn (

500 Sqn (

600 Sqn (

608 Sqn (

624 Sqn (

651 Sqn (

655 Sqn (

657 Sqn (

Location

Country: - Algeria

Lat/Long:  36:49:20N   07:48:34E

Height Above Sea Level: 

Operational Control: -

Notes

It is now known as Rabah Bitat Airport and the town of Bone as been renamed Annaba.

Main units: -

No 108 Repair & Salvage Unit (Nov 1942 - xxx 1943)

HQ, No 322 Wing (28 Nov 1942 - 17 Jan 1943)

No 3203 Servicing Commando (10 - 16 Dec 1942)

No 3202 Servicing Commando (12 Jan - 18 Mar 1943)

No 251 Air-Sea Rescue Unit (17 Jan 1943 - 15 Jan 1946)

Reserve Aircraft Pool (North Africa)? (Jan - xxx 1943)

985 (Balloon) Sqn (12 Feb - 30 Sep 1943)

HQ, No 242 Group (23 Feb - 10 Mar 1942)

No 136 Air Sores Park (30 Apr - 29 Aug 1943)

No 222 Air-Sea Rescue Unit (1 Jun 1943 - 15 Mar 1944)

No 225 Air-Sea Rescue Unit (18 Jun - 30 Sep 1943)

'A' Flt, 981 Sqn (27 Jun 1943 - 1 May 1944)

Mk VIII AI Conversion Flt (MAAF) (29 Jul - 18 Aug 1943)

Marine Craft Repair Unit (1 Oct 1943 - 31 Dec 1945)

No 4 Aircraft Delivery Flt (Middle East) (29 Nov 1943 - Jan 1944)

Marine Craft Base (21 Apr - 15 Jul 1944,24 Jul 1944 - 10 Sep 1945)

No 252 Air-Sea Rescue Unit (21 Jan - xxx 1944)

HQ, No 332 Wing (5 - 12 Sep 1944)

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps,

Main units: -

No 50 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School (xxx - 3 Sep 1939)

No 21 Elementary Flying Training School (1 Jun 1941 - 28 Feb 1950)

Used by No 5 Maintenance Unit for temporary dispersal

No 126 Gliding School (Aug 1943 - 1 Sep 1955)

Bomber Command Communication Flt (23 May 1946 - 1 Feb 1956)

Joint Services Staff College Flt (15 Jan 1947 - 31 Oct 1952)

University of London Air Sqn (6 Oct 1950 - 12 Jan 1956)

No 1 Basic Flying Training School (20 Dec 1950 - 21 Jul 1953)

Air Crew Allocation Unit (28 May 1955 - 1 Jul 1958)

Bomber Command Communication Sqn (1 Feb 1956 - 31 Mar 1963)

Home Command Modified Officer Cadet Training Unit (1 Jun 1956 - xxx xxxx)

Location

County: - Buckinghamshire

Lat/Long:  51:36:30N  00:48:30W

Grid Ref - SU828910

Height Above Sea Level - 515 ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: - 1939

No 50 Group (1944)

Closed: -  1951

Notes

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps,

Main units (continued): -

No 122 Staging Post (20 Apr - 1 Jul 1945)

No 123 Staging Post (23 Apr - 1 Jun 1945)

No 169 Staging Post (12 Apr - 29 Jun 1945,14 Nov 1945 - 2 Feb 1946)

No 170 Staging Post (12 Apr - 3 Jul 1945)

No 161 Staging Post (21 Apr - xxx1945)

No 163 Staging Post (21 Apr - 1 Jul 1945)

No 164 Staging Post (21 Apr 1945 - xxx 1946)

No 165 Staging Post (21 Apr - 20 Dec 1945)

No 166 Staging Post (21 Apr 1945 - 10 May 1946)

No 167 Staging Post (12 May - 5 Sep 1945)

No 168 Staging Post (21 May - 3 Jul 1945, 21 Nov 1945 - 2 Feb 1946)

No 162 Staging Post (24 May - 29 Sep 1945)

No 160 Staging Post (17 Oct - Nov 1945)

No 91 (Forward) Staging Post (3 Nov - 20 Dec 1945)

No 94 (Forward) Staging Post (Nov - 12 Dec 1945)

Location

County: - Essex

Lat/Long:  51:46:45N  00:31:30E

Grid Ref - TL743120

Height Above Sea Level - 170 ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: - 1944

USAAF (1944)

Closed: -  1945

Notes

Main Units: -

394th Bomb Group, USAAF (11 Mar - 24 Jul 1944)

Detachment - 196 Sqn (Sep 1944 - xxx xxxx)

No 120 Staging Post (20-22 Apr -17 May 1945)

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps,  Control Tower website,

Main units (continued): -

Detachment - 166 Sqn (Sep 1939 - xxx xxxx)

The Lysander Flt (20 Nov 1939 - xxx xxxx)

249 Sqn (14 Aug - 1 Sep 1940)

56 Sqn (1 Sep - 29 Nov 1940)

Wireless (Intelligence) Development Unit (30 Oct - 10 Dec 1940)

35 Sqn (7 - 20 Nov 1940)

Handling Flight (8 Nov 1940 - 11 Jun 1941)

Bomber Development Flt (21 Nov 1940 - 1 May 1941)

109 Sqn (10 Dec 1940 - 19 Jan 1942)

High Altitude Flt (30 Dec 1940 - Sep 1944)

Handling Sqn (11 Jun 1941 - 22 Aug 1942, 12 Apr 1954 - Current)

Intensive Flying Development Unit (15 Nov 1941 - Jun 1942)

Aircraft Gun Mounting Establishment (23 Nov 1941 - 29 Jan 1942)

No 786 (Ground Defence) Sqn (19 Dec 1941 - 1 Feb 1942)

'B' Flt, 109 Sqn (19 Jan - 6 Apr 1942)

No 2786 Sqn RAF Regiment (1 Feb 1942 - xxx 1943)

Intensive Flying Development Flt (Jun 1942 - Current)

Meteorological Research Flt (xxx 1942 - xxx xxxx, xxx 1944 - Current)

Test Pilots' School (21 Jun 1943 - 28 Jul 1944)

Empire Test Pilots' School (28 Jul 1944 - Oct 1945, 29 Jan 1968 - Current)

No 13 Joint Trials Unit (1 Feb 1962 - 14 Jul 1967)

No 22 Joint Trials Unit (1 Jan 1966 - 31 Dec 1974)

899 Sqn FAA (24 May - 24 Jun 1967, 18 Jul - 15 Aug 1967)

893 Sqn FAA (30 Jun - 24 Aug 1967)

819 Sqn FAA (4 - 21 Jul 1971)

No 29 Joint Trials Unit (1 May -15 Sep 1980)

Tornado Operation Evaluation Unit (1 Sep 1983 - 5 Oct 1987)

Strike/Attack Operation Evaluation Unit (5 Oct 1987 - 1 Apr 2004)

826E Sqn FAA (Jul - 1 Sep 1992, Nov 1992 - 15 Feb 1993, 22 Feb - 26 Mar 1993, Apr - 22 Jun 1993, 30 Jun - 27 Jul 1993)

899 Sqn FAA (1 Jun - 30 Sep 1993)

Sea King HAS Mk 6 OEU (27 Jul 1993 - xxx xxxx)

Meteorological Research Flt (xxx 1994 - xxx xxxx)

Defence Test and Evaluation Organisation (1 Apr 1995 - Current)

Aircraft and Armament Evaluation Establishment (1 Apr 1992 - 1 Apr 1996)

Southampton UAS (2 Apr 1993 - Current)

No 2 AEF (1 Apr 1996 - Current)

Assessment and Evaluation Centre ( 1 Apr 1996 - Current)

Subordinate units include: -

• Fast Jet Test Sqn

• Heavy Aircraft Test Sqn

• Rotary Wing Test Sqn

Merlin HC3 Operation Evaluation Unit (xxx 2000 - xxx xxxx)

206 (Reserve) Sqn (1 Apr 2009 - Current)

Special Duties Sqn (xxx 2009 - 31 Mar 2010)

Location

County: - Wiltshire

1.5 miles E of Amesbury

Lat /Long:  51:09:38N  01:44:30W

Grid ref:  SU182398

Height above sea level:  377ft

Operational Control: -

Opened - 1917

No 23 Group (1944)

Notes

Main units: -

No 6 Training Depot Station (12 Oct 1917 - 15 May 1919)

166th Aero Sqn, USAAS (xxx 1918 - xxx xxxx)

188th Aero Sqn, USAAS (xxx 1918 - xxx xxxx)

No 11 Training Depot Station (Nov 1918 - Apr 1919)

No 14 training Depot Station (Nov 1918 - Mar 1919)

9 Sqn (26 Feb 1930 - 15 Oct 1935)

10 Sqn (1 Apr 1931 - 25 Jan 1937)

214 Sqn (16 Sep - 15 Oct 1935)

97 Sqn (26 Sep 1935 - 7 Jan 1937)

78 Sqn (1 Nov 1936 - 1 Feb 1937)

166 Sqn (1 Nov 1936 - 20 Jan 1937)

224 Sqn (15 Feb - 9 Jul 1937)

217 Sqn (15 Mar - 7 Jun 1937)

51 Sqn (24 Mar 1937 - 20 Apr 1938)

58 Sqn (24 Mar 1937 - 20 Apr 1938)

218 Sqn (22 Apr 1938 -2 Sep 1939)

42 Sqn (14 Jun - 13 Jul 1937)

88 Sqn (17 Jul 1937 - 11 Sep 1939)

13 Sqn (Jul 1938)

Special Duties Flt (xxx 1938 - xxx xxxx)

150 Sqn (8 Aug 1938 - 3 Apr 1939)

HQ No 75 Wing (24 Aug - 2 Sep 1939)

Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (9 Sep 1939 - 1 Apr 1996)

No 4 Group Experimental Flt (xxx 1939 - xxx xxxx)

Blind Approach Training and Development Unit (18 Sep 1939 - 6 Jun 1940, 13 Jun - 30 Oct 1940)

Links to related sites/pages

Battle of Britain Anniversary website, FAA Archive Website, Officers Commanding, Aerial photo on Google Maps,

No 1524 Beam Approach Training Flt (Oct 1941 - 3 Jan 1944)

207 Sqn (17 Nov 1941 - 20 Sep 1942)

No 207 Conversion Flt (16 Jan - 22 Aug 1942)

90 Sqn (7 Nov - 27 Dec 1942)

467 Sqn (24 Nov 1942 - 12 Nov 1943)

436th Troop Carrier Group, USAAF (6 Jan - 3 Mar 1944)

440th Troop Carrier Group, USAAF (11Mar - 26 Apr 1944)

No 30 Heavy Glider Maintenance Section (16 Aug 1943 - 15 Mar 1944)

No 1668 Heavy Conversion Unit (28 Jul 1944 - 117 Sep 1945)

No 1321 (Bomber Defence Training) Flt (1 Sep - 1 Nov 1944)

No 7 Group Communication Flt (11 Nov 1944 - 24 Mar 1945)

RLG for No 17 Service Flying Training School (16 Sep 946 - 18 Jun 1947)

RLG for No 1 Flying Training School (Aug 1947 - 25 Feb 1948)

Sub-site, No 93 Maintenance Unit (17 Jan 1949 - 31 Jan 1959)

Sub-site, No 92 Maintenance Unit (31 Jan 1959 - 4 Mar 1960)

Location

County: -  Leicestershire/Lincolnshire

Lat/Long:  52:58:00N 00:46:45W

Grid Ref - SK819415

Height Above Sea Level - 110 ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: - 1941

No 7 Group (1944)

Closed: -  1945

Main units: -

RLG for No 3 Operational Training Unit (Aug - Dec 1941)

No 24 Beam Approach Training Flt (Oct 1941)

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps, Bomber Command 60th Anniversary website,  RAF-Lincolnshire.info,  Control Tower website,

Main units (continued): -

241 Sqn (1 Jul - 8 Oct 1941)

652 Sqn (15 Jun - 11 Aug 1942)

168 Sqn (13 Jul - 18 Nov 1942)

No 3226 Servicing Commando (16 Nov 1942 - 3 Feb 1943)

654 Sqn (20 Nov - 20 Dec 1942)

2 Sqn (3 Feb - 20 Mar 1943)

268 Sqn (6 - 10 Mar 1943)

613 Sqn (6 - 18 Mar 1943)

169 Sqn (10 - 12 Mar 1943)

4 Sqn (20 Mar - 16 Jul 1943)

Detachment - 288 Sqn (4 Jun - Jul 1943)

Detachment - 26 Sqn (Jun - 21 Jul 1943)

No 1495 (Target Towing) Flt (Jul - Aug 1943)

361st Fighter Group, USAAF (30 Nov 1943 - 28 Sep 1944)

RAF (Belgian) Training School [recruit reception] (9 Jun 1945 - 13 Mar 1946)

RLG for RAF (Belgian) Training School, Snailwell (1 Jun 1945 - Feb 1946)

Location

County: - Cambridgeshire

Lat/Long:  52:12:45N  00:15:23E

Grid Ref - TL540592

Height Above Sea Level - 50 ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: - 1940

No 11 Group (1944)

Closed: -  1946

Notes

Main Units: -

RLG for No 22 Elementary Flying Training School (May 1940 - Apr 1941)

RLG for No 4 Flying Instructors School (xxx xxxx - xxx xxxx)

400 Sqn (18 - 25 Jun 1941)

Detachments**

No 3226 Servicing Commando (Nov - Dec 1942)

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps,  Control Tower website,

Main units: -

RLG for No 57 OTU (1 Mar 1943 - 6 Jun 1945)

RLG for No 59 OTU (1943 - 1944)

808 Sqn FAA (25 - 26 Sep 1944)

No 500 Signals Unit (1953 - xxxx)

RLG for No 6 FTS (Sep 1961 - xxx xxxx)

No 13 Sector (1 Apr 1963 - 17 Mar 1965)

No 13 Sector Communication Flt (1 Mar 1963 - 17 Mar 1965)

No 11 Sector (17 Mar 1965 - 1 Apr 1968)

No 11 Sector Communication Flt (17 Mar 1965 - 1 Apr 1968)

Sector North (1 Apr 1968 - 9 Jan 1992)

No 1 Air Control Centre (1 Apr 1995 - early 2005)

RAF School of Fighter Control (1 May 1990 - Current)

'A' Flt, No 202 Sqn (21 Oct 1975 - Current)

HQ, No 202 Sqn (Dec 1992 - Current)

Location

County: - Northumberland

3.75 miles East of Alnwick

Lat/Long:  55:24:45N  01:35:45W (airfield)

La/Long:  54:24:25N  01:37:16W (Ops site)

Lat/Long: 55:25:19N  01:36:14W (Domestic site)

Grid Ref:  NU259133

Height above Sea Level:  44ft

Railhead:  Alnmouth

Notes

Originally set up as a decoy airfield for  RAF Acklington.  It has two sites, the current Domestic/Administrative site being near the site of the former airfield

Re-opened as an Air Defence Control Centre, by 1957 it was a Group Control Centre.  By 1974 it was a Sector Control Centre with Types 84 and 85 radars.

Operational Control: -

Opened - 1940

No 12 Group (1944)

Closed - 1945

Reopened - 1953

No 2 Group (2005)

Links to related sites/pages

Officers Commanding, Aerial photo of the airfield site on Google Maps, Aerial photo of the domestic site on Google Maps, Aerial photo of the operations site on Google Maps,

Main units: -

101 Sqn (11 Feb - 11 Aug 1942)

Detachment - No 23 OTU (27 May - 3 Jun 1942)

15 Sqn (13 Aug 1942 - 14 Apr 1943)

609 Sqn (26 - 30 Aug 1942)

97 Sqn (18 Apr 1943 - 18 Apr 1944)

No 1409 (Meteorological) Flt (Nov 1943 - 8 Jan 1944)

105 Sqn (23 Mar 1944 - 29 Jun 1945)

No 1696 (Bomber) Defence Training Flt (28 Oct 1944 - 28 Jun 1945)

No 1323 Automatic Gun Laying Turret Flt (29 Nov 1944 - 1 Jan 1945)

162 Sqn (18 Dec 1944 - 6 Jul 1945)

Location

County: - Cambridgeshire

Lat/Long:  52:12:45N  00:02:15W

Grid Ref - TL341595

Height Above Sea Level - 235 ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: - 1941

No 8 Group (1944)

Closed: -  1948

Notes

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps, Bomber Command 60th Anniversary website,  Bourn Village Website,  Commanding Officers,

Main units: -

Wireless Telephony School (21 Nov 1918 - May 1919)

413 Sqn (

The RAAF Personnel Dispersal Centre (1 Oct - 10 Dec 1942)

The RNZAF Personnel Dispersal Centre (1 Oct 1942 - 31 May 1943)

Personnel Dispersal and Reception Centre (10 - 30 Dec 1942)

No 11 (RAAF) Personnel Reception Centre (30 Dec 1942 - 31 May 1943)

Location

County: - Dorset

Lat/Long:  50:53:12N  01:52:48W

Grid Ref -

Height Above Sea Level -  ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: -

Closed: - 

Notes

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo of the general area on Google Maps,

No Badge authorised

Main units (continued): -

11th CCRC, USAAF (Jan 1943 - Sep 1944)

8th Fighter Command Communication Flt, USAAF (xxx 1943 - xxx 1944)

8th Bomber Command Communication Flt, USAAF (xxx 1943 - xxx 1944)

8th Air Force HQ Communication Flt, USAAF (xxx - xxx 1944)

1402nd Air Base Group USAAF (Oct 1944 - Apr 1946)

No 150 Staging Post (9 Aug 1946 - 18 Feb 1947)

Flying Training Command Communication Sqn (9 Jul 1947 - 30 Jun 1963)

7531st Air Base Sqn, USAAF (25 May 1951 - xxx 1962)

Coastal Command Communication Flt (May 1952 - 30 Jun 1963)

32nd AAA Brigade, US Army (Apr 1957 - xxx xxxx)

Bomber Command Communication Sqn (31 Mar - 30 Jun 1963)

BC/FC/CC Communication Sqn (30 Jun - 1 Aug 1963)

Southern Communication Sqn (1 Aug 1963 - 1 Jan 1969)

617 Volunteer Gliding School (xxx 1968 - Sep 1969)

Strike Command Communication Sqn (1 - 27 Jan 1969)

Location

County: - Hertfordshire

Lat/Long:  51:43:30N  00:32:30W

Grid Ref - TL005045

Height Above Sea Level - 500 ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: - 1942

USAAF (1944)

Closed: -  1972

Notes

Main units: -

92nd Bomb Group, USAAF ( 18 Aug 1942 - 6 Jan 1943)

11th CCRC, USAAF (Jan 1943 - Sep 1944)

92nd Bomb Group, USAAF ( 18 Aug 1942 - 6 Jan 1943)

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps,  Officers Commanding,  Control Tower website,

Main units: -

'G' Flt (24 Dec 1940 - 13 Mar 1941)

119 Sqn (13 Mar - 4 Aug 1941)

246 Sqn (5 Aug 1942 - 30Apr 1943)

422 Sqn (7 May - 7 Nov 1943)

Location

County: -  Island of Islay

Lat/Long:  55:45:18N  06:17:24W

Grid Ref -

Height Above Sea Level -  ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: -

Closed: - 

Notes

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps, Martin Briscoe website,

Main units (continued): -

5th Emergency Rescue Sqn, USAAF (1 May 1944 - 16 Jan 1945)

No 1 Fighter Command Servicing Unit (18 Feb - Mar 1946)

222 Sqn (9 - 12 Jun 1945)

25 Sqn (11 - 27 Jan 1946, 9 Feb - 27 Apr 1946, 10 May - 13 Jul 1946,9 Aug - 5 Sep 1946)

No 6025 Servicing Echelon (11 Jan – 5 Sep 1946)

234 Sqn (28 Mar - 1 Sep 1946)

No 6234 Servicing Echelon (28 Mar – 1 Sep 1946)

263 Sqn (3 - 9 Jun 1946)

Detachment - 695 Sqn (27 Jul - 1 Nov 1946)

266 Sqn (1 Sep - 4 Nov 1946, 5 Dec 1946 - 4 Jan 1947)

No 6266 Servicing Echelon (1 – 23 Sep 1946, cadre from 20 Sep 1946, 15 Dec 1946 – 4 Jan 1947)

56 Sqn (16 Sep - 10 Nov 1946)

No 6056 Servicing Echelon (16 Sep – 5 Nov 1946 – cadre from 25 Sep 1946)

No 145 Gliding School (xxx 1947 - 25 Apr 1948)

Location

County: - Essex

Lat/Long:  51:56:24N  00:56:00E

Grid Ref - TM015305

Height Above Sea Level - 157 ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: - 1943

USAAF (1944)

Closed: -  1947

Notes

Main units: -

386th Bomb Group, USAAF (10 Jun - 24 Sep 1943)

354th Fighter Group, USAAF (13 Nov 1943 - 17 Apr 1944)

56th Fighter Group (19 Apr 1944 - 11 Oct 1945)

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps,

Main units: -

RLG for No 2 Central Flying School (1 Nov 1941 - xxx xxxx)

Satellite for No 19 OTU (7 Jan 1942 - 27 Apr 1944)

Air Crew Allocation Centre (May 1944 - 6 Feb 1945)

RLG for No 19 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit (20 Oct 1942 - 14 Jun 1943, 3 Dec 1943 - 25 Feb 194)

RLG for No 14 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit (17 Jun - 1 Sep 1944)

RLG for No 2 Air Gunners School (xxx 1944 - xxx 1945)

No 102 Satellite Landing Ground, Mo 45 Maintenance Unit (17 Feb - Apr 1945)

No 102 Storage Sub-Site, Mo 45 Maintenance Unit (Apr 1945 - Sep 1947)

No 45 Maintenance Unit Communication Flt (Feb 1944 - 15 Sep 1947)

Location

County: - Nairnshire (Highland Region)

Lat/Long:  57:32:30N  03:54:38W

Grid Ref - NH858519

Height Above Sea Level - 82 ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: - 1941

No 29 Group (1944)

Closed: -  1946

Notes

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps,

Main units: -

305 Sqn (29 Aug - 4 Dec 1940)

No 18 Operational Training Unit (7 Nov 1940 - 27 Mar 1943)

151 Sqn (28 Nov - 22 Dec 1940)

No 1513 Beam Approach Training Flt (31 Oct 1942 - 15 Sep 1945)

No 105 (Transport) Operational Training Unit (5 Apr 1943 - 10 Aug 1945)

No 1381 (Transport) Conversion Unit (10 Aug - 19 Nov 1945)

No 1513 Radio Aids Training Flt (15 Sep 1945 - 13 May 1946, xxx - 1 Dec 1946)

No 1 Air Traffic Control School (20 Nov 1945 - 15 Aug 1946)

Squadron & Flight Commanders School (29 Nov 1945 - 1 Apr 1946)

Oxford Test Flt (20 Dec 1945 - 12 Jul 1946)

Transport Command Air Crew Examining Unit (Dec 1945 - 7 Aug 1946)

HQ, No 52 (Maintenance) Wing (15 Jan 1946 - 15 Jan 1947)

No 17 Air Crew Holding Unit (27 May - 15 Aug 1946)

Transport Command Initial Conversion Unit (Jul - Oct 1946)

No 1510 (BABS) Flt (16 Jul - 22 Nov 1946)

Transport Command Examining Unit (7 - 10 Aug 1946)

No 42 Gliding School (Jan 1947 - 27 Nov 1949)

Location

County: - Warwickshire

Lat/Long:  52:29:15N  01:23:45W

Grid Ref - SP406883

Height Above Sea Level - 378 ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: - 1940

No 44 Group (1944)

Closed: -  ?

Notes

It was transferred to the Royal Navy in 1947 and became HMS Gamecock and in 1959 was transferred to the Army as Gamecock Barracks

Main Units: -

215 Sqn (10 - 24 Sep 1939)

300 Sqn (1 Jul - 22 Aug 1940)

301 Sqn (26 Jul - 28 Aug 1940)

304 Sqn (22 Aug - 2 Dec 1940)

Detachments

308 Sqn (6 Jan 1941 - 7 Feb 1942)

No 6 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit (10 Jan - 6 Feb 1941)

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps,  FAA Archive Website,  Commanding Officers,  Control Tower website,

Main units: -

HQ, No 7 (Operational Training) Group (15 Jul 1940 - 1 Sep 1941)

HQ, No 8 (Light Bomber) Group (1 Sep 1941 - 28 Jan 1942)

HQ, Technical Training Command (29 Oct 1945 - 1 Jun 1968)

Transport Command Examining Unit (7 Aug - 15 Sep 1946)

Navigation Synthetic Training Development Unit (29 Oct - Nov 1945)

Central Reconnaissance Establishment (12 Jan 1957 - 1 Oct 1970)

Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre

HQ Training Command (1 Jun 1968 -13 Jun 1977)

HQ Air Commander of the Home Defence Forces (Jul 1968 - xxxx)

HQ Air Cadets (23 Sep 1968 - Dec 1975)

HQ, RAF Support Command (13 Jun 1977 - 1 Apr 1994)

HQ Logistics Command (1 Apr 1994 - 1 Apr 2000)

Location

County: - Huntingdonshire

Lat/Long:  52:18:55N  00:13:40W

Operational Control: -

Opened - July 1942

Still active - 2006

xx Apr 2012 - Joint Forces Command

Notes

From Aug 1942 to Sep 1945, it was HQ, 1st Bomb Wing, USAAF.

Brampton  is currently (2006) the administration centre for the Wyton/Brampton/Henlow complex.

Links to related sites/pages

Control Towers website, Officers Commanding, Aerial photo on Google Maps,

Main units: -

517 Sqn (1 Feb 1944 - 30 Nov 1945)

Radio Meteorological Flt (15 Jan - xx xxx 1945)

Detachment - 595 Sqn (7 Feb1945 - Apr 1946)

Detachment - No 8 (Coastal) OTU (24 Feb - 29 May 1945)

Detachment - 521 Sqn (Oct - Nov 1945)

'D' Flt, 22 Sqn (1 Feb 1974 - 1 Jul 1979)

Tactical Weapons Unit (2 Sep 1974 - 31 Jul 1978)

No 1 Tactical Weapons Unit (31 Jul 1978 - 31 Aug 1992)

Shadow Sqns used by TWU/No 1 TWU: -

• 63 (Reserve) Sqn (2 Sep 1974 - 1 Aug 1980)

• 79 (Reserve) Sqn (2 Sep 1974 - 31 Aug 1992)

• 234 (Reserve) Sqn (2 Sep 1974 - 31 Aug 1992)

'B' Flt 202 Sqn (1 Jul 1979 - Jun 1994)

Location

County: - Pembrokeshire

9 miles NW of Haverfordwest

Lat/Long:  51:53:08N  05:07:23W

Grid Ref:  SM852255

Height above Sea Level:  350ft

Operational Control: -

Opened - 2 Feb 1944

Fleet Air Arm (1 Jan1946 - xxx 1971)

Closed - 1992

Notes

It was transferred to the Royal Navy on 1 Jan 1946 who occupied it until 1971.  The RAF returned in 1974, who retained it until 1992 when it was transferred to the Army as Cawdor Barracks.

Links to related sites/pages

FAA Archive Website, Officers Commanding, Aerial photo on Google Maps,

Main units: -

460 Sqn (4 Jan 1942 - 14 May 1943)

No 460 Conversion Flt (22 May - 15 Aug 1942, 26 Sep - 10 Oct 1942)

'A' Flt, No 1556 Heavy Conversion Unit (10 Oct - 10 Nov 1942)

78 Sqn (16 Jun 1943 - 20 Sep 1945)

RLG for No 103 Refresher Flying School (1 Jun - 20 Nov 1951)

RLG for No 207 Advanced Flying School (20 Nov 1951 - 30 Jun 1954)

Sub-site, No 35 Maintenance Unit (15 Nov 1945 - 1 Jun 1951)

240 Sqn (1 Aug 1959 - 8 Jan 1963)

112 Sqn (7 Nov 1960 - 31 Mar 1964)

Location

County: - East Yorkshire

Lat/Long:  53:48:15N  00:54:30W

Grid Ref - SE721350

Height Above Sea Level - 12 ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: - 1942

Closed: -  1946

Notes

The site was re-used between 1959 and 1963 as the location of a Thor IRBM site and Bloodhound missiles provided air defence.

Part of the airfield is now used by the Real Aeroplane Company.

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps,  Bomber Command 60th Anniversary website,  Commanding Officers,

Main units (continued): -

HQ, British Air Forces in France (5 - 24 Jun 1940)

HQ, Advance Air Striking Force ( 5  - 24 Jun 1940)

School of Flying Control (15 Nov 1942 - 14 Nov 1943)

No 18 Initial Training Wing (4 Jan 1943 - 25 Mar 1944)

No 19 Initial Training Wing (20 Mar 1943 - 26 Feb 1944)

No 15 Initial Training Wing (26 Feb - 21 Apr 1944)

No 80 Initial Training Wing (21 Apr - 27 Nov 1944)

No 81 Initial Training Wing (21 Apr - 6 Oct 1944)

No 82 Initial Training Wing (21 Apr - 31 May 1944)

No 50 Initial Training Wing (1 Jun 1944 - 21  May 1946)

No 60 Initial Training Wing (31 Mar - 6 May 1945)

No 1 Initial Training School (xxx 1946 - 1 Jan 1947)

No 23 (French) Initial Training Wing (6 Jun - 1 Aug 1946)

Location

County: - Shropshire

Lat/Long:  52:31:53N  02:25:04W

Operational Control: -

Opened -

Closed -

Notes

Main units: -

Links to related sites/pages

Officers Commanding, Aerial photo on Google Maps, http://www.rafbridgnorth.org.uk/indexinner.html,

Main units: -

Civilian Technical Corps Reception Depot (1 Jul 1941 - xxx xxxx)

No 21 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit (28 Mar 1942 - 10 Feb 1946)

No 20 Initial Training Wing (29 May - 6 Nov 1943)

No 15 Initial Training Wing (23 Sep 1943 - xxx xxxx)

No 21 Initial Training Wing (6 Nov 1943 - 21 Apr 1944)

No 19 Initial Training Wing (26 Feb - 21 Apr 1944)

No 18 Initial Training Wing (25 Mar - 21 Apr 1944)

No 70 Initial Training Wing (21 Apr - 21 Oct 1944)

No 1104 Marine Craft Base Unit (10 Feb - 1 Jul 1946)

No 1104 Marine Craft Unit (1 Jul 1946 - 31 Oct 1958, 1 Jun 1959 - 31 Dec 1980)

Location

County: - East Yorkshire

Lat/Long:  54:04:46N  00:11:49W

Grid Ref -

Height Above Sea Level -  ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: -

Closed: - 

Notes

The SHQ during WW2 was at the Southcliffe Hotel

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps,

Main units: -

Air Crew Testing and Reselection Centre (xxx xxxx - 15 Sep 1941)

Air Crew Disposal Wing (1 Oct 1941 - xxx xxxx)

Polish Initial Training Wing (25 Jul 1942 - 21 May 1944)

Air Crew Refresher School (5 Aug 1942 - 1 Jul 1943)

No 12 (RNZAF) Personnel Reception Centre (31 May 1943 - 23 May 1944, 28 Oct 1944 - 21 Jan 1946)

Location

County: - Sussex

Lat/Long:  50:49:22N  00:09:04W

Grid Ref -

Height Above Sea Level -  ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: - 15 Sep 1941

Closed: - 

Notes

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps,

Main units (continued): -

HQ, No 281 (Fighter) Wing (16 May - 30 Sep 1945)

No 392 Maintenance Unit (31 Dec 1945 - 15 Jun 1946)

6 Sqn (

18 Sqn (

32 Sqn (

55 Sqn (

73 Sqn (

112 Sqn (

114 Sqn (

148 Sqn (

185 Sqn (

213 Sqn (

223 Sqn (

249 Sqn (

253 Sqn (

284 Sqn (

301 Sqn (

600 Sqn (

624 Sqn (

1435 Sqn (

Location

Country: - Italy

Lat/Long:  40:39:27N  17:56:49E

Height Above Sea Level:  47 ft

Operational Control: -

Notes

It is now known as Papola Casale Airport

Main Units: -

HQ, No 326 Wing (21 Sep - 26 Oct 1943)

No 31 Air Stores Park (5 - 23 Oct 1943)

No 51 Repair & Salvage Unit (5 - 31 Oct 1943)

No 253 Air-Sea Rescue Unit (10 - xx Dec 1943)

985 (Balloon) Sqn (10 Dec 1943 - 15 Jul 1944, xxx - 11 Sep 1944)

HQ, No 334 Wing (23 Dec 1943 - 11 Jun 1945)

No 110 Maintenance Unit (29 Dec 1943 - xxx 1944)

No 1586 Special Duties Flt (1 Jan - 7 Nov 1944)

No 159 Maintenance Unit (10 Jan - 7 May 1944)

RAF Element, Yugoslav Training Flt (xxx - 12 Apr 1945)

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps,

Main units (continued): -

296 Sqn (14 Mar - 29 Sep 1944)

No 6296 Servicing Echelon (22 Mar – 29 Sep 1944)

297 Sqn (14 Mar - 30 Sep 1944, 5 Sep 1946 - 21 Aug 1947)

No 6297 Servicing Echelon (22 Mar – 30 Sep 1944)

No 3138 Servicing Echelon (14 – 22 Mar 1944)

No 3139 Servicing Echelon (14 – 22 Mar 1944)

No 21 Heavy Glider Conversion Unit (20 Oct 1944 - 29 Dec 1945)

Transport Command Development Unit (31 Dec 1945 - 1 Jul 1949)

No 4297 Servicing Echelon (7 Sep 1946 – 21 Aug 1947)

Transport Command Examining Unit (15 Nov 1947 - 2 Jul 1949)

Examining Wing, Empire Flying School (30 Jun - 31 Jul 1949)

No 204 Advanced Flying School (15 Aug 1949 - 1 Jun 1950)

10 Sqn (23 May 1967 - 14 Oct 2005, 1 Jul 2011 - Current)

53 Sqn (23 May 1967 - 14 Sep 1976)

99 Sqn (16 Jun 1970 - 7 Jan 1976, Oct 2000 - Current)

Air Movements Training School (xxx xxxx - xxx xxxx)

511 Sqn (16 Jun 1970 - 7 Jan 1976)

No 241 OCU (1 Jul 1970 - 1 Oct 1993)

No 1 Parachute Training School (31 Dec 1975 - Current)

115 Sqn (23 Feb 1976 - 4 Jan 1983)

Tactical Communication Wing (1 Dec 1976 - Current)

Joint Air Transport Establishment ( 22 Jul 1976 - xxx xxxx)

Andover Training Sqn (Jan 1983 -xxx 1993)

Movements Training School (xxx xxxx - xxx xxxx)

146 Evaluation Flt, No 241 OCU (Jun 1983 - 31 Mar 1985)

101 Sqn (1 May 1984 - Current)

216 Sqn (1 Nov 1984 - Current)

Air-to-Air Refuelling School

55 (Reserve) Sqn (15 Oct 1993 - 31 Mar 1996)

Aircrew and Groundcrew Training Sqn (1 Apr 1996 - Current)

Defence Movements School (xxx xxxx - xxx xxxx)

No 19 Sqn RAF Regiment

No 24 Sqn ( 1 Jul 2011 - Current)

No 30 Sqn ( 1 Jul 2011 - Current)

No 47 Sqn ( 1 Jul 2011 - Current)

No 47 Air Despatch Sqn, RLC ( 1 Jul 2011 - Current)

Location

County: - Oxfordshire

Lat/Long:  51:45:08N  01:34:30W

Grid Ref:  SP293058

Height above Sea Level:  270ft

Railhead:  Brize Norton

Operational Control: -

Opened: 13 Aug 1937

23 Group (1944)

USAF (Apr 1951 - xxx 1965)

2 Group (2006)

Still active - 2006

Notes

Main units: -

No 2 Flying Training School (7 Sep 1937 - 3 Sep 1939)

No 6 Maintenance Unit (10 Oct 1938 - 1 Jan 1952)

No 6 Maintenance Unit Communication Flt (10 Oct 1938 - 1 Jan 1952)

No 2 Service FTS (3 Sep 1939 - 14 Mar 1942)

HQ, No 25 Group (28 Jun 1939 - 31 Jan 1940)

No 25 Group Communications Flt (Jun 1939 - 1 Mar 1940)

101 Sqn (3 - xx Sep 1939)

No 15 Service FTS (11 Jun - 1 Oct 1940)

No 25 Blind Approach Training Flt (Oct 1941)

No 1525 Beam Approach Training Flt (Oct 1941 - 13 Jul 1942)

No 2 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit (14 Mar - 13 Jul 1942)

Heavy Glider Conversion Unit (15 Jul 1942 - 2 Mar 1944, 16 - 20 Oct 1944)

Flying Training Command Instructors School (21 Oct 1942 - 1 Mar 1944, 16 Oct 1944 - 17 Dec 1945)

Detachments:

110 Sqn (6 Sep 1939 - xxx xxxx)

Links to related sites/pages

Station Website, Officers Commanding, Aerial photo on Google Maps,

Main units (continued): -

No 91 (Forward) Staging Post (22 Feb - 16 Mar 1944)

No 92 (Forward) Staging Post (23 Feb - 16 Mar 1944)

No 4575 Servicing Echelon (6 Jun 1944 – 6 Aug 1945)

No 94 (Forward) Staging Post (19 Feb - 29 Jun 1944)

No 9 (Horsa) Glider Servicing Echelon (15 Mar 1944 - 9 Dec 1945)

No10 (Horsa) Glider Servicing Echelon (15 Mar 1944 - 1 Feb 1946)

No 6 (RCAF) Casualty Air Evacuation Unit (10 May - 24 Aug 1944)

Satellite for No 21 Heavy Glider Conversion Unit (xxx - xxx 1944)

No 126 Staging Post (3 Oct 1944 - 1 Apr 1945)

10 Sqn (6 Aug - 10 Sep 1945)

76 Sqn (6 - 29 Aug 1945)

77 Sqn (31 Aug - 1 Oct 1945)

271 Sqn ( Oct 1945 – 1 Dec 1946)

No 4271 Servicing Echelon (5 Oct 1945 – 1 Dec 1946)

No 4077 Servicing Echelon (1 – 31 Dec 1946)

Location

County: - Oxfordshire

Lat/Long:  51:45:30N  01:38:23W

Grid Ref - SP248065

Height Above Sea Level - 340 ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: - 1943

No 46 Group (1944)

Closed: -  1947

Notes

Main units: -

512 Sqn (14 Feb 1944 - 31 Mar 1945, 9 Jun - 6 Aug 1945)

No 4512 Servicing Echelon (6 Jun 1944 – 14 Aug 1945)

575 Sqn (15 Feb 1944 - 5 Aug 1945)

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps, Officers Commanding, Atlantikwall website,  Control Tower website,

Main units: -

No 2 (Northern) Marine Acceptance Park (22 Apr 1918 - 8 Dec 1919)

Detachment - No 2 (Northern) Marine Air Depot (xxx - xxx 1918)

228 Sqn [cadre] (30 Apr - 5 Jun 1919)

No 4 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School (xxx 1935 - 3 Sep 1939)

No 4 Elementary Flying Training School (3 Sep 1939 - 10 Mar 1947)

Purgatory Storage Unit for No 48 MU (1944)

No 4 Refresher Flying School (10 Mar 1947 - 31 Mar 1948)

Hull University Air Sqn (1 Dec 1950 - 15 Mar 1969)

Location

County: - East Yorkshire

Lat/Long:  53:43:00N  00:33:45W

Grid Ref - SE948255

Height Above Sea Level - 13 ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: -

No 51 Group (1944)

Closed: - 

Notes

It was opened by Blackburn Aircraft in 1916 and is still in use by BAe Systems.

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps, FAA Archive Website

Main units: -

130 Sqn (1 Aug 1953 - 31 May 1957)

67 Sqn (5 Jul 1955 - 31 May 1957)

71 Sqn (7 Jul 1955 - 31 May 1957)

No 85 Sqn RAF Regiment (xxx xxxx - 1 Jan1958)

No 89 Sqn RAF Regiment (xxx xxxx - 1 Jan1958)

80 Sqn (11 Jun 1957 - 30 Sep 1969)

87 Sqn (2 Jul 1957 - 3 Jan 1961)

213 Sqn (22 Aug 1957 - 31 Dec 1969)

No 431 Maintenance Unit (1 Oct 1960 - 31 Mar 1993)

14 Sqn (1 Jul 1970 - 12 Jan 2001)

17 Sqn (1 Sep 1970 - 31 Mar 1999)

2 Sqn (1 Dec 1970 - 30 Sep 1976)

25 Sqn (1 Jan 1971 - 1 Mar 1983)

31 Sqn (20 Jul 1971 - 15 Aug 2001)

20 Sqn (1 Mar 1977 - 30 Jun 1984)

9 Sqn (1 Oct 1986 - 17 Jul 2001)

No 37 Sqn RAF Regiment

No 66 Sqn RAF Regiment

Location

Country: - Germany

Lat/Long:  51:12:00N   06:07:48E

Height Above Sea Level:  164 ft

Operational Control: -

RAF Germany

No 2 Group

Notes

This was the RAF's last operational airfield in Germany.

Main units: -

HQ, No 135 (Fighter) Wing (1 Apr 1953 - 1 Jan 1960)

112 Sqn (6 Jul 1953 - 31 May 1957)

Links to related sites/pages

Officers Commanding, Aerial photo on Google Maps,

When the RAF first based its squadrons in Germany after World War Two, it did so on ex-Luftwaffe airfields.  However, with the formation of NATO in 1949 and the gradual re-activation of the German armed services, the RAF began to hand these bases back to the newly formed Luftwaffe.  This required the RAF to build new airfields for its own use and one of these was built at Bruggen near the German/Dutch border, two others were also built nearby at Laarbruch and Wildenrath and these three became known as ‘The Clutch’ 

Construction began in 1952 and the station opened in July 1953, with No 112 Squadron moving in during the same month, equipped with Vampire FB Mk 5s.  As well as housing operational squadron Bruggen became home to the General Equipment Park, which was renamed No 431 Maintenance Unit in 1960.  Another squadron arrived in August 1953, No 130, equipped with the new Sabre F Mk 4 and in January 1954, No 112 Squadron was re-equipped with the type.  In July 1955, two more Sabre squadrons arrived, Nos 67 and 71 and during April/May 1956, all four units were re-equipped with the Hawker Hunter.  However, on 31 May 1957, all four units were disbanded, effectively bringing flying to a halt at Bruggen.

Replacement units were soon arriving, in the form of No 80 Squadron in June (Canberra PR Mk 7s), No 87 in July (Meteor NF Mk 11s) and No 213 in August (Canberra B(I) Mk 6s).  All three units remained at Bruggen until disbanding in December 1970.

In 1970, three squadrons of Phantom FGR Mk 2s were formed at the station, No 14 on 1 July,  Nos 17 and 2 later in the year.   In July 1971, No 31 was also formed, bringing the strength of the station to three attack units and one tactical reconnaissance unit (No 2 Squadron).  However, the Phantom was only intended as an interim type in this role and in December 1975 the process began to replace them with the Jaguar GR Mk 1, when No 14 Squadron was re-equipped.  No 17 Squadron received its Jaguars in February 1976 and No 31 in June, with a fourth attack squadron being added when No 20 arrived in March 1977, No 2 Squadron also converted to the Jaguar in  October 1976, but continued to operate in the tactical reconnaissance role.

The next major change began in December 1984 when No 31 Squadron converted to the Tornado GR Mk 1 followed by No 17 in March 1985 and No 14 in November.  No 20 Squadron left to go to nearby Laarbruch in June 1984, where it also converted but was replaced in October 1986 by No 9 Squadron from Honington. 

From the late 1980’s the RAF presence in Germany began to be reduced and RAF Bruggen became the last RAF station in Germany but on 4 September 2001 the last No 9 Squadron aircraft was flown out of Bruggen to Marham by Bruggen’s last Commanding Officer, Group Captain Tim Anderson.

Main units: -

No 29 Operational Training Unit (1 Jun 1943 - 27 May 1945)

No 1683 (Bomber) Defence Training Flt (5 Jun 1943 - 3 Feb 1944)

Power Jets Units (Dec 1944 - Apr 1947)

No 11 Air Crew Holding Unit (7 Jun 1945 - 21 Oct 1946)

No 44 Gliding School (Dec 1945 - xxx 1949)

No 42 Gliding School (Jan 1946 - Jan 1947)

It was used by the USAF between approximately 1959 and 1962.

Location

County: - Leicestershire

Lat/Long:  52:29:30N  01:07:17W

Grid Ref - SP590885

Height Above Sea Level - 450 ft

Operational Control: -

Opened: - 1942

No 92 Group (1944)

Closed: -  1962

Notes

The airfield was the base for the only flying Vulcan, XH588, in the world but at the beginning of the 2009 flying season XH558 left Bruntingthorpe with an understanding that she will not be returning.

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps,  Control Tower website,

Main units: -

Location

County: - Aberdeenshire

Lat/Long:  57:31N  01:47W  Approx

Operational Control: -

Opened: - 1952

Closed: -  2004

Notes

Radar Station - Types T80, FPS6 and TPS34.  ADGE Control and Reporting Centre.   Ceased operations as a CRC on 30 Nov 2004.

Links to related sites/pages

Subterranea Britannica website,  Officers Commanding,

Main units: -

No 37 Maintenance Unit (1 Apr 1940 - 15 Jul 1942, 15 Aug 1946 - 1 Mar 1949)

No 3 Aircraft Assembly Unit (29 Jul 1940 - xxx xxxx)

No 3 Supplementary School of Technical Training (31 Mar - 7 Jul 1941)

5th Air Depot Group USAAF (12 Jun - Sep 1942)

2nd Air Depot Group USAAF (Jun - Sep 1942)

21st Air Depot Group USAAF (21 Nov 1942 - xxx xxxx)

No 21 School of Technical Training (7 Jul 1941 - 1 Apr 1943)

No 5 Personnel Transit Centre (15 Dec 1942 - 1 Sep 1948)

Base Air Depot Area, USAAF (6 Mar 1944 - 26 May 1946)

No 276 Maintenance Unit (7 Jan 1946 - 23 Sep 1950)

59th Air Depot Group USAF (12 Sep 1948 - 1 Sep 1953)

Northern Air Materiel Area USAF (1 Sep 1953 - 30 Jun 1958)

No 635 Volunteer Gliding School (26 Oct 1959 - 23 Jun 1984)

Location

County: - Lancashire

3 miles NW of Warrington

Lat/Long:  53:24:34N  02:39:15W

Grid Ref:  SJ568910

Height above sea level:  60ft

Operational Control: -

No 41 Group (1 Apr 1940 - 21 Apr 1941)

No 51 Wing (21 Apr 1941 - 15 Jul 1942)

USAAF (xxx 1942 - 7 Jan 1946)

No 56 Wing (7 Jan - 15 Oct 1946)

No 55 Wing (15 Oct 1946 - 23 Sep 1950)

USAFE (xxx 1948 - xxx 1958)

Closed

Notes

Links to related sites/pages

Subterranea Britannica website,  Officers Commanding, Aerial photo on Google Maps,  Control Tower website,

Only major US units shown

Main units: -

No 60 Staging Post (12 Oct 1945 - 1 Jun 1946)

No 2965 Sqn RAF Regiment

47 Sqn (15 Jan - 21 Mar 1946)

No 7047 Servicing Echelon (15 Jan – 21 Mar 1946)

No 1300 Meteorological Flt (15 Nov 1946 -  15 Mar 1947)

18 Sqn (15 Mar - 16 Apr 1947, 1 Oct - 15 Nov 1947)

No 27 Armament Practice Camp (1 Jan 1949 - 30 Apr 1956)

45 Sqn (May 1949 - Dec 1949, Jan 1952 - Mar 1955)

33 Sqn (10 Sep - 13 Oct 1949, 30 May 1950 - 7 Aug 1951, 5 Jan 1952 - 31 Mar 1955, 1 Mar 1965 - 31 Jan 1970)

60 Sqn (15 Oct - 6 Dec 1949)

Auxiliary Fighter Sqn (Malaya) (1 Mar - 1 Jun 1950)

81 Sqn (Mar 1950 - Apr 1958)

Panang Fighter Sqn (1 Jun 1950 - 20 Jun 1955)

FEAF Training Sqn (20 Aug 1954 - 31 May 1955)

45 Sqn (21 Mar 1955 - 22 Nov 1957)

Armament Practice Camp (1 Apr 1955 - 30 Apr 1956)

110 Sqn (1 Sep 1959 - 17 Jan 1964)

52 Sqn (23 Sep 1960 - 25 Apr 1966)

60 Sqn (Jul 1961 - May 1968)

62 Sqn (May 1962 - Mar 1966)

110 Sqn (Jan 1964 - Mar 1969)

No 1 Sqn RAF Regiment

Location

Country: - Malaysia

Lat/Long:  5:27:36N  100:23:24E Approx

Height Above Sea Level: 

Operational Control: -

Opened - Oct 1941

Re-opened - Jan 1946

Notes

Still an active military airfield, now operated by the Royal Malayan Air Force.

Detachments:

34 Sqn (Jun 1941 - Jan 1942)

27 Sqn (14 May - 21 Aug 1941, 9 Dec 1941 - 24 Jan 1942)

62 Sqn (8 - 10 Dec 1941)

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps,

Badge not yet located

Main units: -

No 52 Repair Unit (Plant) (31 Aug 1950 - 19 Dec 1955)

2nd Tactical Air Force Forward Repair Unit (114 Mar 1952 - 1 Jan 1967)

No 4 Mobile Repair and Salvage Unit (10 Sep 1956 - 1 Jan 1957)

2nd Tactical Air Force Repair and Salvage Sqn (1 Jan - 1 Feb 1957)

No 420 Repair & Salvage Sqn (1 Feb 1957 - 31 Dec 1961)

No. 5 (Signals) Wing (12 Aug 1958 – Sep 1966)

Location

Country: - Germany

Lat/Long:  50:58:49N   06:53:49E

Height Above Sea Level: 

Operational Control: -

Opened - Aug 1951

Closed - 27 Jan 1967

Notes

The above description was provided by Colin Noad.

Links to related sites/pages

Aerial photo on Google Maps, Reminiscences of an MT Driver, History of the airport (German), Butzweilerhof website (German/English),