Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
This section covers those units set up to provide navigational support (such as GEE and LORAN) and improve bombing accuracy (such as OBOE and GEE-H). Those units designated as such are listed below with further details to be added in due course.
Radio Navigation Aids Wing
This was formed at Welford under the control of No 90 Group on 21 September 1950, moving to Wythall on 15 May 1952, where it disbanded on 1 December 1953.
GEE Stations
GEE was a 30-60 MHz Hyperbolic navigation system
Type 7000 Station
This was located at Saligo Bay (Station 7411) being opened around March 1945 and closed around July 1945
Type 7000 Station
This was located at Canewdon (Station 7223) being opened around October 1942 and closed around July 1944
Type 7000 Station
This was located at Downhill (Station 7421) being opened around April 1945 and closed around June 1945
Type 7000 Station
This was located at Kilkenneth being opened around March 1945 and closed around July 1945
Type 7000 Station, Eastern Chain
The HQ was located at Great Bromley with another station at Barkway, being opened around March 1942 and closed around November 1945
Type 7000 Station, London Chain
The HQ was located at Elstree with other stations at Wrotham Tower and other places, being opened around August 1945 and closed around November 1945
Type 7000 Station, North Eastern Chain
The HQ was located at Richmond, Yorkshire being opened around February 1944 and closed around June 1945
Type 7000 Station, North Western Chain
The HQ was located at Downhill with other stations at Saligo and Kilkenneth, being opened around May 1945 and closed around November 1945
Type 7000 Station, Northern Chain
The HQ was located at Burifa Hill, Caithness with other stations at Scousburgh (Shetland), Windy Head and Sango being opened around June 1942 and closed around October 1945
Type 7000 Station, Southern Chain
The HQ was located at Brandy Bay, Dorset, later moving to Worth Matravers and was opened around June 1942 and closed around December 1945
Type 7000 Station, Southwestern Chain
The HQ was located at Treraw with stations at other places, being opened around July 1943 and closed around November 1945
No 141 Air Ministry Experimental Station
This was formed as part of the Tripoli GEE Chain Castel Benito in November 1945. It was later based at Garian, Libya in December 1945 and disbanded in November 1945
No 142 Air Ministry Experimental Station
This was formed as part of the Tripoli GEE Chain Castel Benito in November 1945. It was later based at Garian, Libya in December 1945 and disbanded in November 1945
No 143 Air Ministry Experimental Station
This was formed as part of the Tripoli GEE Chain Castel Benito in November 1945. It was later based at Garian, Libya in December 1945 and disbanded in November 1945
No 144 Air Ministry Experimental Station
This was formed as part of the Tripoli GEE Chain Castel Benito in November 1945. It was later based at Garian, Libya in December 1945 and disbanded in November 1945
No 7932 Air Ministry Experimental Station
This was formed as a Mobile GEE station in Holland in January 1945. It was initially deployed to Roermond in Holland before moving to Winterberg in Germany in April 1945, where it disbanded in November 1948
GEE-H Stations
GEE-H was a 20-80 MHz Transponder-based navigation system
Type 100 Station
This was located at Grangewood being opened around February 1943 and closed around November 1944
Type 100 Station
This was located at High Street being opened around September 1943 and closed around November 1944
Type 100 Station
This was located at Kilter being opened around May 1943 and closed around July 1943
Type 100 Station
This was located at Worth Matravers being opened around January 1944 and closed around July 1944
No 101 Air Ministry Experimental Station
This was formed as a Mobile Gee-H station (Type 100) at Plomodiern in France under the control of No 2 Group in February 1945. It moved to Parthenay, France in January 1946, where it disbanded in November 1946
No 102 Air Ministry Experimental Station
This was formed as a Mobile Gee-H station (Type 100) at Renscombe Down under the control of No 2 Group in March 1944. It moved to Wasserkuppe, Germany in June 1945, where it disbanded in April 1946
No 103 Air Ministry Experimental Station
This was formed as a Mobile Gee-H Station (Type 100) at Cardington under the control of No 2 Group in May 1944. It moved to Winterberg, Germany in May 1945, where it disbanded in September 1945
No 104 Air Ministry Experimental Station
This was formed as a Mobile Gee-H Station (Type 100), possibly in the UK under the control of No 2 Group in June 1944. It was based at Prades, France in June 1945 and disbanded in June 1947
No 114 Air Ministry Experimental Station
This was formed as a Mobile Gee-H station (Heavy type 100) at Swanage in August 1944. It moved to Rosee, France in December then to Laroche, France in February 1945, Delmenhorst, Germany in June and finally to Alverdissen, Germany in November, where it disbanded in October 1946
No 115 Air Ministry Experimental Station
This was formed as a Mobile Gee-H station (Heavy type 100), possibly in the UK in August 1944. It was based at Boekel, Holland in October 1944, moving to Blaubeuren, Germany in June 1945, where it disbanded in August 1945
No 116 Air Ministry Experimental Station
This was formed as a Mobile Gee-H station (Heavy type 100) at Grangewood in May 1944. Initially located at Trelanvean and Kilter Farm it was under the control of No 83 (Signals) Wing. It arrived in France on 29 July landing on Utah Beach becoming operational at Anseville-sur-Saire. On 30 August it was ordered to move to Commercy, arriving three days later. By March 1945 it have moved to Langenfeld in Germany and on 22 April it moved to Neubronn but on 5 August it was recalled to Mons, where it disbanded in August 1945
No 117 Air Ministry Experimental Station
This was formed as a Mobile Gee-H station (Heavy type 100), possibly in the UK in December 1944. It crossed from Dover to France on 10/11 December and set off for Mutzig on 16 December, arriving two days later, becoming operational on 22 December. Due to the German advance in the Ardennes, the unit retreated to Commercy and Mons between 5 and 27 January 1945. From 1 February to 3 April the unit was based at St Avold, moving on to Edenkoben, where it remained until 24 April. Its final move was to Wildenreuth, which took four days, arriving on 29 April and it disbanded in October 1945
No 118 Air Ministry Experimental Station
This was formed as a Mobile Gee-H station (Heavy type 100) at Cardington in January 1945. It was based at Epe, Holland from October 1945 and disbanded in October 1946
No 119 Air Ministry Experimental Station
This was formed as a Mobile Gee-H station (Heavy type 100) at Cardington in December 1944. It moved to Delle, France in February 1945, then to Gotha, Germany in April and finally to Wasserkuppe, Germany in August, where it disbanded in September 1945
LORAN Stations
LORAN was a 1.7-2.0 MHz Hyperbolic navigation system
Type 700 Station
This was located at Clee Hill in No 60 Group, being opened around January 1944 and closed around January 1945
Type 700 Station
This was located at Danby Beacon being opened around December 1944 and closed around January 1945
Type 700 Station
This was located at Port Errol being opened around December 1943 and closed around October 1945
Type 700 Station
This was located at Skaw (Station 713) being opened around July 1944 and closed around July 1944
Type 700 Station
This was located at Worth Matravers being opened around November 1943 and closed around November 1945
Type 702 Station
This was located at Burifa Hill in No 60 Group, being opened around June 1945 and closed around November 1945
No 364 Air Ministry Experimental Station
This was formed at Stenigot, Lincolnshire in 1944. It moved to the Far East via Chigwell and was a Mobile CH station modified as a one-off navigation aid – LORAN-B for service on the Cocos Islands. A disbandment date has not yet been found.
OBOE Stations
OBOE was a 200 MHz transponder-based navigation system - Oboe Mk I ground station - Oboe Mk III, S band
Air Ministry Experimental Stations 9411 & 9421 (AMES) Type 9000
This was located at Beachy Head (Convoy 9411 and 9421), being opened around April 1944 and closed around September 1944
Air Ministry Experimental Stations 9313, 9323 (AMES) Type 9000
This was located at Cleadon, being opened around July 1943 and closed around September 1945
Air Ministry Experimental Stations 9132, 9162, 9212, 9222, 9312 & 9322 (AMES) Type 9000
These were located at Hawkshill Down, being opened around October 1942. The Mk I equipment working with Trimingham I ceased operations on 20 November 1945, whilst Hawkshill III, working with Winterton II carried out its last operation on 14 January 1945. The final operations carried out by Mk II and III equipment were on 8 May 1945, marking dropping sites in Holland for Bomber Command aircraft to deliver food parcels to Dutch civilians.
Air Ministry Experimental Station 9141 (AMES) Type 9000
This was located at Sennen, being opened around January 1943 and closed on 6 November 1944.
Air Ministry Experimental Station 9122 (AMES) Type 9000
This was located at Swingate, being opened around May 1943. The Mk I equipment working with Trimingham ceased operations in April 1944 but was retained for training purpose until mid January 1945, whilst the Mk I equipment working with Hawkshill Down I ceased operations on 20 November 1945
Air Ministry Experimental Station 9314, 9411, 9412 (AMES) Type 9000
These were located at Tilly Whim, being opened around May 1944 and closed around February 1945. AMES 9412 joined Unit 2/9000 and by 1 March 1945 was at Laroche, whilst AMES 9411 joined Unit 5/9000, which was at Rips by 1 March 1945.
Air Ministry Experimental Station 9151 (AMES) Type 9000
This was located at Treen, being opened around April 1944 and closed on 6 November 1944.
Air Ministry Experimental Stations 9121 & 9131 (AMES) Type 9000
These were located at Trimingham, being opened around December 1942. The Mk I equipment working with Swingate ceased operations in April 1944 but was retained for training purpose until mid January 1945.
Air Ministry Experimental Stations 9161, 9211, 9221 9311 & 9321(AMES) Type 9000
These were located at Winterton, being opened around May 1943.The Mk I equipment at Winterton II, working with Hawkshill III carried out its last operation on 14 January 1945. The final operations carried out by Mk II and III equipment were on 8 May 1945, marking dropping sites in Holland for Bomber Command aircraft to deliver food parcels to Dutch civilians.
Air Ministry Experimental Stations 9142 & 9152 (AMES) Type 9000
These were located at Worth Matravers being opened around February 1943. It carried out its last operational task on 28 September 1944 when the ground battles moved out of range of the Mk I equipment.
The table below gives the operational characteristics of the Type 9000 station shown above: -
OBOE Mk I (December 1943)
Station & Number |
Position and Aerial Reference Numbers |
Height of Aerial above MSL (ft) |
Radio Frequencies |
Baillie Beam Positions Azimuth Arc |
||
Transmit |
Transmit |
Receive |
||||
Trimingham I 9121 |
52:53:36.34N 01:24:11.64E |
246 |
216 |
228 |
232 |
Caistor 078-140o
|
Trimingham II 9131 |
52:53:24.27N 01:24:41.37E |
212 |
228 |
236 |
232 |
|
Winterton II 9161 |
52:42:27.472N 01:42:01.508E |
56 |
212 |
220 |
236 |
|
Hawkshill Down I 9132 |
51:11:30.081N 01:23:53.219E |
160 |
216 |
228 |
232 |
Oldstairs 0-360o |
Hawkshill Down II 9162 |
51:11:30.081N 01:23:53.298E |
131 |
212 |
220 |
236 |
|
Swingate 9122 |
51:08:07.050N 01:21:24.233E |
397 |
228 |
236 |
232 |
|
Worth Matravers I 9142 |
50:35:42.370N 02:03:07.850W |
416 |
216 |
228 |
232 |
Worth Matravers 070-230o |
Worth Matravers II 9152 |
50:35:41.496N 02:03:09.436W |
412 |
212 |
220 |
236 |
|
Sennen 9141 |
50:03:56.690N 05:40:14.053W |
304 |
216 |
228 |
232 |
Constantine 070-230o
|
Treen 9151 |
|
326 |
212 |
220 |
236 |
OBOE Mk II (December 1943)
Station & Number |
Position and Aerial Reference Numbers |
Height of Aerial above MSL (ft) |
Baillie Beam Positions Azimuth Arc |
Winterton I 9211 |
52:42:30.619N 01:41:59.293E |
86 |
Caistor 078-140o |
Winterton III 9221 |
52:42:25.146N 01:42:03.101E |
54 |
|
Hawkshill Down IV 9222 |
51:10:57.532N 01:23:42.509E |
221 |
Oldstairs 0-360o |
Hawkshill Down II 9212 |
51:11:25.913N 01:23:49.370E |
131 |
OBOE Mk III (January 1944)
Station & Number |
Position and Aerial Reference Numbers |
Height of Aerial above MSL (ft) |
Baillie Beam Positions Azimuth Arc |
Cleadon III 9313 |
54:58:07.363N 01:22:57.579E
54:58:07.855N 01:22:56.760E |
275
275 |
Cleadon 090-140o |
Cleadon IV 9323 |
54:57:58.835N 01:22:49.884E
54:57:59.318N 01:22:49.022E |
265
265 |
|
Hawkshill Down V 9132 |
51:10:55.285N 01:23:41.595E
51:10:55.595N 01:23:41.604E |
225
225 |
Oldstairs 0-360o |
Hawkshill Down VI 9162 |
51:11:52.342N 01:23:35.939E
51:11:51.683N 01:23:35.644E |
221
221 |
|
Winterton IV 9321 |
52:42:19.960N 01:42:05.830E
52:42:19.547N 01:42:06.684E |
52
52 |
Caistor 078-140o |
Winterton V 9161 |
52:40:59.101N 01:42:59.270E
52:40:58.644N 01:42:58.431E |
49
49 |
|
Tilly Whim 9314 |
50:35:42.035N 01:57:21.718W
50:35:41.501N 01:57:22.407W |
282
284 |
Worth Matravers 070-230o
|
3150-3180 and 3210-3240 Mc/s
OBOE Mk II (Mobile) (April 1944)
Station Type & Number |
Radio frequencies in Mc/s |
Baillie Beam Positions Azimuth Arc |
Tilly Whim II (WM) 9411 |
3,150-3,135 |
Worth Matravers 070-230o
|
Tilly Whim III (SM) 9412 |
3,240-3,225 | |
Tilly Whim IV (SM) 9412 |
3,195-3,180 | |
Beachy Head I (SM) 9421 |
3,195-3,180 |
Oldstairs 0-360o |
Beachy Head II (SM) 9421 |
3,240-3,225 | |
Beachy Head III (WM) 9411 |
3,150-3,135 | |
Hawkshill Down II (SM) 9212 |
3,240-3,225 | |
Hawkshill Down IV (SM) 9222 |
3,195-3,180 |
Air Ministry Experimental Station (AMES) Type 9000, No 1/9000
This was a mobile OBOE unit known as Convoy 1/9000 being set up around December 1944 and operated in Alsace until closing down around September 1945. The table below gives more details of this unit.
Air Ministry Experimental Station (AMES) Type 9000, No 2/9000
This was a mobile OBOE unit known as Convoy 2/9000 being set up around October 1944 and operated in La Roche and Germany until closing down around October 1945. The table below gives more details of this unit.
Air Ministry Experimental Station (AMES) Type 9000, No 3/9000
This was a mobile OBOE unit known as Convoy 3 being set up around January 1945 and operated in Belgium and Germany until closing down around October 1945. The table below gives more details of this unit.
Air Ministry Experimental Station (AMES) Type 9000, No 4/9000
This was a mobile OBOE unit known as Convoy 4 being set up around January 1945 and operated in France and Germany until closing down around August 1945. The table below gives more details of this unit.
Air Ministry Experimental Station (AMES) Type 9000, No 5/9000
This was a mobile OBOE unit known as Convoy 5 being set up around February 1945 and operated in Germany and other locations until closing down around August 1945. The table below gives more details of this unit.
Air Ministry Experimental Station (AMES) Type 9000, No 6/9000
This was a mobile OBOE unit known as Convoy 6 being set up in early 1945 and operated in Netherlands and Germany until closing down around August 1945. The table below gives more details of this unit.
Air Ministry Experimental Stations 9411 & 9421 (AMES) Type 9000
These were formed as Mobile OBOE units at Beachy Head (Convoy 9411 and 9421), being opened around April 1944. By 1 March 1945, AMES 9411 was part of Unit No 5/9000 at Rips, whilst 9421 was used by Units 3/9000 at Florennes and 4/9000 at Commercy.
Air Ministry Experimental Station 9422 (AMES) Type 9000
This was probably formed at Bawdsey, Suffolk, being opened around June 1944 and by 1 March 1945 was used by Units 1/9000 at Molshein and 5/9000 at Rips
No 9432 Air Ministry Experimental Station
This was formed as a Mobile OBOE station, at Cardington in August 1944. After landing on a beach at Boulogne it moved to Mons and then on to its first operational location at Laroche later moving to Rosee in Belgium in September and then to Florennes, Belgium in October, where it disbanded after this date
No 9442 Air Ministry Experimental Station
This was formed as a Mobile OBOE station, at Durnford, near Swanage in August 1944. Its first operational location was at Barraque Fraiture in the Ardennes region of Belgium from late September. In December the unit had to retreat to Mons as a result of German advances through the Ardennes but on Boxing Day it set off to a new site at Selvigny but returned to Barraque Fraiture at the end of January 1945. It moved into Germany in April arriving at Quechbron on the 21st of the month, remaining until 11 August when it moved to Fort Schaar near Wilhelmshaven, where it disbanded in December 1945.
The locations and make of the six OBOE convoys on 1 March 1945 is as follows: -
Unit | Site | Convoy | Channel | Cabin |
No 1/9000 | Molsheim |
9422 9431 9451 9452 |
12A 13A 11C 11B |
15 14 9 12 |
No 2/9000 | Laroche |
9442 9442 9431 9412 |
13A 11B 11C 12 |
6 7 13 62 |
No 3/9000 | Florennes |
9432 9432 9452 9421 |
13A 11B 11C 12 |
1 2 11 64 |
No 4/9000 | Commercy |
9441 9441 9451 9421 |
11B 13A 11C 12 |
3 5 10 63 |
No 5/9000 | Rips |
9411 9411 9412 9422 |
11B 13A 12 11C |
51 52 61 16 |
No 6/9000 | Tilbourg |
9461 9461 9462 9462 |
|
17 18 19 20 |
A detailed description of the deployment of mobile OBOE equipment is given here.
This page was last updated on 11/09/20©