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HQ No 70 Group Personnel, locations and units

[Dec 1939 | Sep 1940 | Jun 1941 | Jul 1942 | Dec 1943 | Jun 1944 | Jun 1945 | Jul 1945]

This Group was formed as No 70 (Army Co-operation Training and Development) Group within Fighter Command on 25 November 1940 from No 22 (Army Co-operation) Group at Farnborough but was taken over by the new Army Co-operation Command on 1 December 1940.  The units initially allocated to the the Group were as follows: -

SHQ RAF Andover
SHQ RAF Old Sarum
SHQ RAF Odiham
SHQ RAF Farnborough
SHQ RAF Christchurch
SHQ RAF Cardiff
SHQ RAF Castle Bromwich
SHQ RAF Ringway
SHQ RAF Weston Zoyland
No 112 (RCAF) Sqn
No 1 AACU
No 110 (AAC) Wing
No 6 AACU
No 7 AACU
No 8 AACU
Pilotless Aircraft Unit
Special Duty Flight
'D' Flight (Army Co-operation)
No 1 School of Army Co-operation
No 2 School of Army Co-operation
Central Landing Establishment

Source - No 22 Group ORB

June 1941

Location Command Controlled
South Farnborough, Hampshire Army Co-operation Command

  • SHQ RAF Aberporth

    • 'L' and 'X' Flights No 1 AACU

  • SHQ RAF Andover

    • No 2 School of Army Co-operation

  • SHQ RAF Bodorgan

    • 'J' and 'Z' Flights No 1 AACU

  • SHQ RAF Cardiff

    • No 8 AACU

  • SHQ RAF Castle Bromwich

    • No 7 AACU

  • SHQ RAF Christchurch

    • 'H' Flight No 1 AACU

  • SHQ RAF Farnborough

    • HQ, No 1 AACU

    • No 1 Maintenance Flight

    • Experimental Establishment RAE

    • RAF Detachment

  • SHQ RAF Kidsdale

    • 'W' Flight No 1 AACU

  • SHQ RAF Larkhill

    • 'D' Flight (Army Co-operation)

  • SHQ RAF Manorbier

    • 'Y' Flight No 1 AACU

  • SHQ RAF Morfa Towyn

    • 'U' Flight No 1 AACU

  • SHQ RAF Odiham

    • No 400 (RCAF) Squadron

  • SHQ RAF Old Sarum

    • No 1 School of Army Co-operation

  • SHQ RAF Ringway

    • No 110 (AAC) Wing

    • No 6 AACU

    • Central Landing Establishment

  • SHQ RAF Weybourne

    • 'T' Flight No 1 AACU

  • SHQ RAF Weston Zoyland

    • No 2 Maintenance Flight

    • 'A' Flight No 1 AACU

  • Pilotless Aircraft Unit

  • 'B' Flight No 1 AACU

  • 'C' Flight No 1 AACU

  • 'E' Flight No 1 AACU

  • 'F' Flight No 1 AACU

  • 'K' and 'M' Flight, No 1 AACU

  • 'D', 'G', 'O' and 'V' Flights No 1 AACU

 

Rank Name Date Notes
A/Cdre

John B Cole-Hamilton

  1 Dec 1940 Air Officer Commanding, CBE; later AVM
Personal Appointment
Plt Off N H Sagar 25 Jan 1941 Personal Assistant to AOC, DCM
Air Staff
Gp Capt Allan R Churchman 30 Nov 1940 Senior Air Staff Officer, DFC; later A/Cdre
Sqn Ldr P F Edlinger  9 Mar1941  
Maj G P L Weston  1 Dec 1940  
Maj F D Maclean    
Flt Lt W D Macpherson  1 Dec 1940  
Administrative Staff
Sqn Ldr A H Love  1 Dec 1940 Senior Administrative Staff Officer
Flt Lt H R Harington 25 Nov 1940  
Flt Lt C G Mathew 28 Apr 1941  
Capt R W Rodwell  1 Dec 1940  
Capt J E Inglis  1 Feb 1941  
Plt Off S H Granville-Smith 25 Nov 1940  
Plt Off J H Morren  8 Jan 1941  
Staffs of the Services
Engineer
Sqn Ldr D W Williams  1 Dec 1940  
Signals
Fg Off G Costick  1 Apr 1941  
Armament
Sqn Ldr James D Ronald  1 Dec 1940 later A/Cdre
Equipment
Flt Lt R D Robinson  1 Dec 1940 DCM
Medical
Flt Lt P H Lomax  9 Dec 1940 Senior Medical Officer, MRCS, LRCP
Miscellaneous Appointments
Plt Off A D Crompton 21 Mar 1941  

Source - June 1941 Confidential Air Force List

July 1942

Location Command Controlled
South Farnborough, Hampshire Army Co-operation Command

  • SHQ RAF Aberporth

    • 'L', 'Q' and 'X' Flights No 1 AACU

  • SHQ RAF Andover

    • No 42 Operational Training Unit

    • No 1526 (Beam Approach Training) Flight

  • SHQ RAF Bodorgan

    • 'J' and 'Z' Flights No 1 AACU

    • No 2 Maintenance Flight

  • SHQ RAF Cardiff

    • No 8 AACU

  • SHQ RAF Castle Bromwich

    • No 7 AACU

  • SHQ RAF Cleave

    • 'D', 'G', 'O' and 'V' Flights, No 1 AACU

    • No 3 Maintenance Flight

  • SHQ RAF Farnborough

    • HQ, No 1 AACU

    • No 1 Maintenance Flight

    • Experimental Establishment RAE

  • SHQ RAF Kidlington

    • No 101 (Glider) Operational Training Unit

    • No 102 (Glider) Operational Training Unit

  • SHQ RAF Manorbier

    • 'Y' Flight, No 1 AACU

  • SHQ RAF Towyn

    • 'C' Flight, No 1 AACU

    • 'U' Flight, No 1 AACU

  • SHQ RAF Old Sarum

    • No 41 Operational Training Unit

    • No 651 Squadron

    • No 1471 Flight

  • SHQ RAF Ringway

    • Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment

  • SHQ RAF Shobden

  • SHQ RAF Weston Zoyland

    • 'A' Flight, No 1 AACU

    • 'P' Flight, No 1 AACU

  • Pilotless Aircraft Unit - St Athan

  • 'B' Flight ,No 1 AACU - Carew Cheriton

  • 'E' Flight, No 1 AACU - West Freugh

  • 'F' Flight, No 1 AACU - Cark

  • 'H' Flight, No 1 AACU - Martlesham Heath

  • 'K' and 'M' Flight, No 1 AACU - Langham

  • 'N' Flight, No 1 AACU - Thornaby

  • 'R' Flight, No 1 AACU - Cark

  • 'S' Flight, No 1 AACU - Newtownards

  • No 1424 Flight - Larkhill

  • No 6 AACU - Cark

 

Rank Name Date Notes
A/Cdre Cedric E V Porter 21 Nov 1941 Air Officer Commanding; later AVM
Air Staff
Gp Capt Allan R Churchman 30 Nov 1940 Senior Air Staff Officer, DFC; later A/Cdre
Maj K W Round 31 Jan 1941  
Flt Lt W D Macpherson  1 Dec 1940  
Administrative Staff
Sqn Ldr A H Love  1 Dec 1940 Senior Administrative Staff Officer
Sqn Ldr C G Mathew 28 Apr 1941  
Flt Lt W J Bond 29 Aug 1941  
Capt J E Inglis  1 Feb 1941  
Capt H M Leith 26 May 1940  
Capt R G Osborn 15 Apr 1942  
Fg Off A G Jones 15 Feb 1942  
Fg Off G W Duncan 11 Aug 1941  
Fg Off R R Johnson 21 Feb 1941  
Plt Off B A James 29 Oct 1941  
Staffs of the Services
Signals
Fg Off G Costick  1 Apr 1941  
Equipment
Sqn Ldr R D Robinson  1 Dec 1940 DCM
WAAF Staff Officers
SO M F Ralston 26 Jan 1942 WAAF
RAF Regiment
Lt Col G R R Beaumont 23 Feb 1942

Source - July 1942 Confidential Air Force List

Control was transferred back to Fighter Command on 1 June 1943, which was renamed Air Defence of Great Britain on 15 November 1943.

December 1943

Location Command Controlled
South Farnborough, Hampshire Air Defence of Great Britain

  • SHQ RAF Aberporth

    • No 595 Squadron

  • SHQ RAF Andover

    • No 1526 (Beam Approach Training) Flight

  • SHQ RAF Bodorgan

    • No 1606 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flight

  • SHQ RAF Cardiff

    • No 8 AACU

  • SHQ RAF Castle Bromwich

    • No 6 AACU

    • No 7 AACU

    • No 2855 Squadron RAF Regiment

  • SHQ RAF Cleave

    • No 639 Squadron

  • SHQ RAF Ipswich

    • No 679 Squadron

  • SHQ RAF Manorbier

    • Pilotless Aircraft Unit

  • SHQ RAF Old Sarum

    • School of Army Co-operation

    • No 43 Operational Training Unit

    • No 661 Squadron

    • No 662 Squadron

  • SHQ RAF Towyn

    • No 639 Squadron

  • SHQ RAF Welford

  • SHQ RAF Weston Zoyland

    • No 587 Squadron

  • No 285 Squadron - Woodvale

  • No 286 Squadron - Weston-super-Mare

  • No 287 Squadron - Croydon

  • No 288 Squadron - Digby

  • No 289 Squadron - Turnhouse

  • No 290 Squadron - Newtownards

  • No 291 Squadron - Gosport

  • No 567 Squadron - Detling

  • No 577 Squadron - Montford Bridge

  • No 598 Squadron - Peterhead

  • No 650 Squadron - Cark

  • No 667 Squadron - Gosport

  • No 691 Squadron - Roborough

  • No 695 Squadron - Bircham Newton

  • Experimental Establishment RAE - Farnborough

 

Rank Name Date Notes
A/Cdre Herbert B Russell 12 Jul 1943 Air Officer Commanding, DFC, AFC; later AVM
Air Staff
Gp Capt H R McL Reid 28 Dec 1942 Senior Air Staff Officer, DFC
Wg Cdr J A C Fuller 22 Jun 1943  
Lt Col K W Round 31 Jan 1941  
Sqn Ldr J Stansell  3 Nov 1942  
Sqn Ldr F M Bantoft 24 Jul 1943  
Sqn Ldr W W Legh-Jones 30 Aug 1943  
Administrative Staff
Wg Cdr A H Love  1 Dec 1940 Senior Administrative Staff Officer
Sqn Ldr G W Duncan 11 Aug 1941 Senior Personnel Staff Officer
Sqn Ldr W J Bond 29 Aug 1941  
Staffs of the Services
Engineer
Sqn Ldr J R C Lane 18 Nov 1942  
Signals
Sqn Ldr C H Dawson  9 Oct 1943  
Equipment
Sqn Ldr R D Robinson  4 May 1942 DCM
WAAF Staff Officers
Sqn Off M B Measures  1 Dec 1943 WAAF
RAF Regiment
Lt Col H M Leith 26 May 1941
Sqn Ldr S C R Isitt  8 Aug 1941

Source - December 1943 Confidential Air Force List

June 1944

Location Command Controlled
South Farnborough, Hampshire Air Defence of Great Britain

  • SHQ RAF Aberporth

    • No 595 Squadron

  • SHQ RAF Andover

  • SHQ RAF Bodorgan

    • No 1606 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flight

    • No 3506 Servicing Unit

  • SHQ RAF Castle Bromwich

    • No 577 Squadron

    • No 3507 Servicing Unit

  • SHQ RAF Cleave

    • No 639 Squadron

  • SHQ RAF Ipswich

    • No 679 Squadron

  • SHQ RAF Manorbier

    • Pilotless Aircraft Unit

  • SHQ RAF Old Sarum

    • RAF School of Army Co-operation

    • No 43 Operational Training Unit

  • SHQ RAF Towyn

    • No 631 Squadron

  • SHQ RAF Weston Zoyland

    • No 13 Armament Practice Camp

    • No 3505 Servicing Unit

  • No 285 Squadron - Woodvale

  • No 286 Squadron - Colerne

  • No 287 Squadron - Croydon

  • No 288 Squadron - Collyweston

  • No 289 Squadron - Turnhouse

  • No 290 Squadron - Long Kesh

  • No 291 Squadron - Hutton Cranswick

  • No 567 Squadron - Detling

  • No 587 Squadron - Culmhead

  • No 598 Squadron - Peterhead

  • No 650 Squadron - Cark

  • No 667 Squadron - Gosport

  • No 691 Squadron - Roborough

  • No 695 Squadron - Bircham Newton

  • No 70 Group Communication Flight - Farnborough

  • Experimental Establishment RAE - Farnborough

  • No 3508 Servicing Unit - Turnhouse

 

Rank Name Date Notes
A/Cdre Herbert B Russell 12 Jul 1943 Air Officer Commanding, DFC, AFC; later AVM
Air Staff
Gp Capt H R McL Reid 28 Dec 1942 Senior Air Staff Officer, DFC
Lt Col K W Round 31 Jan 1941  
Sqn Ldr J G Cave 16 Jan 1944  
Sqn Ldr R A Field 11 Feb 1944  
Administrative Staff
Wg Cdr A H Love  1 Dec 1940 Senior Administrative Staff Officer
Sqn Ldr G W Duncan 11 Aug 1941 Senior Personnel Staff Officer
Sqn Ldr J W Ebbutt  5 Mar 1944  
Staffs of the Services
Engineer
Sqn Ldr J R C Lane 18 Nov 1942  
Signals
Sqn Ldr C H Dawson  9 Oct 1943  
Equipment
Sqn Ldr R J Sullivan  2 Feb 1944  
Medical
Wg Cdr J H Lewis 29 Nov 1943 LMSSA
WAAF Staff Officers
Sqn Off M B Measures  1 Dec 1943 WAAF
RAF Regiment
Lt Col J R Willows 29 Mar 1944

Source - June 1944 Confidential Air Force List

Control was transferred back to Fighter Command on 16 Oct 1944, when Air Defence of Great Britain reverted to the old title.

June 1945

Location Command Controlled
South Farnborough, Hampshire Air Defence of Great Britain

  • SHQ RAF Aberporth

    • No 595 Squadron

  • SHQ RAF Andover

    • No 43 Operational Training Unit

  • SHQ RAF Bodorgan

    • No 650 Squadron

    • No 3506 Servicing Unit

  • SHQ RAF Castle Bromwich

    • No 577 Squadron

    • No 3507 Servicing Unit

  • SHQ RAF Ipswich

    • No 679 Squadron

  • SHQ RAF Manorbier

    • Pilotless Aircraft Unit

  • SHQ RAF Old Sarum

    • The School of Air Support

  • SHQ RAF Towyn

    • No 631 Squadron

  • SHQ RAF Weston Zoyland

    • No 587 Squadron

    • No 3505 Servicing Unit

  • No 285 Squadron - North Weald

  • No 287 Squadron - Hornchurch

  • No 288 Squadron - Church Fenton

  • No 289 Squadron - Eshott

  • No 291 Squadron - Hutton Cranswick

  • No 567 Squadron - Hornchurch

  • No 631 Squadron - Llanbedr

  • No 667 Squadron - Gosport

  • No 695 Squadron - Bircham Newton

  • No 70 Group Communication Flight - Farnborough

  • RAE - Farnborough

 

Rank Name Date Notes
A/Cdre Herbert B Russell 12 Jul 1943 Air Officer Commanding, DFC, AFC; later AVM
Air Staff
Gp Capt H R McL Reid 28 Dec 1942 Senior Air Staff Officer, DFC
Lt Col K W Round 31 Jan 1941  
Sqn Ldr J G Cave 16 Jan 1944  
Administrative Staff
Wg Cdr A H Love  1 Dec 1940 Senior Administrative Staff Officer
Sqn Ldr G J Black 19 Aug 1944 Senior Personnel Staff Officer, DSO, DFC
Sqn Ldr W J Bond 12 Jun 1944  
Staffs of the Services
Engineer
Sqn Ldr E C Latter 20 Nov 1944  
Signals
Sqn Ldr C H Dawson  9 Oct 1943  
Equipment
Sqn Ldr R J Sullivan  2 Feb 1944  
Medical
Wg Cdr V A F Martin 16 Oct 1944 MB, ChB
WAAF Staff Officers
Sqn Off M F Gordon-Wilson  9 Jan 1945 WAAF
RAF Regiment
Wg Cdr T C Burchell 23 Oct 1944

Source - June 1945 Confidential Air Force List

July 1945

Location Command Controlled
South Farnborough, Hampshire Air Defence of Great Britain

  • SHQ RAF Aberporth

    • No 595 Squadron

  • SHQ RAF Andover

    • No 43 Operational Training Unit

    • No 289 Squadron

  • SHQ RAF Bodorgan

    • No 3506 Servicing Unit

  • SHQ RAF Castle Bromwich

    • No 577 Squadron

    • No 3507 Servicing Unit

  • SHQ RAF Ipswich

  • SHQ RAF Manorbier

    • Pilotless Aircraft Unit

  • SHQ RAF Old Sarum

    • The School of Air Support

  • SHQ RAF Weston Zoyland

    • No 587 Squadron

    • No 3505 Servicing Unit

  • No 287 Squadron - Hornchurch

  • No 288 Squadron - Church Fenton

  • No 567 Squadron - Hawkinge

  • No 631 Squadron - Llanbedr

  • No 667 Squadron - Gosport

  • No 695 Squadron - Bircham Newton

  • No 70 Group Communication Flight - Farnborough

  • RAE - Farnborough

 

Rank Name Date Notes
A/Cdre Herbert B Russell 12 Jul 1943 Air Officer Commanding, DFC, AFC; later AVM
Air Staff
Lt Col K W Round 31 Jan 1941  
Sqn Ldr J G Cave 16 Jan 1944  
Sqn Ldr G Reid 16 Mar 1945  
Administrative Staff
Wg Cdr A H Love  1 Dec 1940 Senior Administrative Staff Officer
Sqn Ldr G J Black 19 Aug 1944 Senior Personnel Staff Officer, DSO, DFC
Sqn Ldr W J Bond 12 Jun 1944  
Staffs of the Services
Engineer
Sqn Ldr E C Latter 20 Nov 1944  
Signals
Sqn Ldr C H Dawson  9 Oct 1943  
Equipment
Sqn Ldr R J Sullivan  2 Feb 1944  
Medical
Wg Cdr V A F Martin 16 Oct 1944 MB, ChB
WAAF Staff Officers
Sqn Off M F Gordon-Wilson  9 Jan 1945 WAAF
RAF Regiment
Wg Cdr T C Burchell 23 Oct 1944

Source - July 1945 Confidential Air Force List (AIR 10/3839)

The Group disbanded on 17 July 1945.

[Dec 1939 | Sep 1940 | Jun 1941 | Jul 1942 | Dec 1943 | Jun 1944 | Jun 1945 | Jul 1945]

This page was last updated on 18/03/25©

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