Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
Named Groups and Other Formations with Group status
This was formed at West Africa House, Kingsway, London WC2 on 16 August 1918 to control RAF experimental establishments, disbanding on 1 January 1919.
Air Officers Commanding
xx Aug 1918 ?
This was formed at Turnhouse under the C-in-C, Grand Fleet on 1 November 1918 to control the RAF units at Turnhouse, Rosyth and Donibristle, disbanding in December 1918.
Air Officers Commanding
xx Nov 1918 ?
This was formed at the Covent Garden Hotel, London WC2 in November 1918 to control Nos 2, 7, 8 & 10 Aircraft Acceptance Parks. It had moved to 14 Southampton Street, London by April 1919, when it re-located to 4 Thurloe Place, London SW7 on 14 April, where it disbanded on 1 May 1919.
Air Officers Commanding
xx Nov 1918 ?
This was formed at 145 Sloane Street, London SW1 on 18 July 1927 from HQ Special Reserve and Auxiliary Air Force but was redesignated No 1 Air Defence Group on 25 August 1927.
Air Officers Commanding
1 Dec 1925 A/Cdre J G Hearson
9 Aug 1927 A/Cdre E L Gerrard
This was formed at Eastchurch on 1 February 1934, assuming control of the Air Armament School and the Air Training Camps. It was transferred to Training Command on 1 May 1936 and redesignated No 25 Group on 1 December 1937.
Air Officers Commanding
1 Feb 1934 A/Cdre L A Pattinson
18 Feb 1937 A/Cdre A G R Garrod
This was formed at Alexandria on 8 September 1939 but was redesignated No 201 Group on 18 September.
Post established xx xxx 1977? in RAF Support Command, to take over the duties previously carried out by the AOCs of numbered Groups within Training Command. Transferred to HQ Personnel and Training Command, 1 Apr 1994. Post became AOC Training Group at the same time. It has been included here because the post replaced that of Group commander and was itself replaced by a unit of Group status.
Air Officers Commanding
2 May 1977
AVM P E Bairsto
10 Nov 1979
AVM J Rogers
4 Jul 1981
AVM F D G Clark
29 Jan 1983
AVM M K Adams
7 Jan 1984
AVM R I Stuart-Paul
11 Nov 1985
AVM J D Spottiswood
3 Mar 1989
AVM M J Pilkington
30 Jul 1992
AVM C C C Coville
Training
Group (Defence Agency)
Formed 1 Apr 1994 within the newly formed
Personnel and Training Command. Title changed to Chief Executive, Training Group
Defence Agency and AOC, Training Group; xx xxx 1996/7
Air Officers Commanding
1 Apr 1994
AVM C C C Coville
xx xxx 1994
A/Cdre A A Nicholson (Acting)
8 Jan 1997 AVM A J Stables
17 Nov 1999 AVM I S Corbitt
4 Apr 2002: AVM G A Miller
xx xxx 2003: AVM D Walker
4 Jan 2005 AVM J M M Ponsonby
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