| No. 23 (Training) Group RAF | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1 April 1918 - 10 May 1918 12 April 1926 – 2 May 1975 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Type | Royal Air Force group |
| Role | Military aviationtraining |
| Part of | RAF Training Command (May 1936 - May 1940, June 1968 - May 1975) RAF Flying Training Command (May 1940 - June 1968) |
| Headquarters | Glasgow; Spitalgate; South Cerney; Leighton Buzzard; Church Fenton; Dishforth; Linton-on-Ouse[1] |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Air Chief MarshalSir Keith Rodney ParkGCB, KBE, MC &Bar, DFC |
No. 23 Group RAF (23 Gp) was agroup of theRoyal Air Force, first established in 1918. It disbanded the same year but reformed during 1926 and finally disbanded for the second time in 1975.
On the 1 April 1918, at the Adelphi Hotel, located on the corner of Union Street andArgyle Street, in theScottish city ofGlasgow,No. 23 (Equipment) Group was formed. The group was initially within No. 5 Area, but this changed on 8 May to become North-Western Area. However, two days later, on 10 May 1918, the group disbanded.[1]
The group was reformed asNo. 23 (Training) Group inRAF Inland Area on 12 April 1926, atRAF Spitalgate, by re-numberingNo. 3 Group RAF. Its stations wereRAF Digby,RAF Eastchurch,RAF Flowerdown,RAF Manston, andRAF Sealand, while it commandedNos. 1 (Netheravon),2, and5 FTSs; theArmament and Gunnery School RAF at RAF Eastchurch; the School of Technical Training (Airmen) at RAF Manston; theCentral Flying School atRAF Upavon, and finally theElectrical and Wireless School at RAF Flowerdown.[2]
The Group was transferred toRAF Training Command on 1 May 1936. The RAF List for 1938 records that it comprised theCentral Flying School RAF; Nos. 1-3 and Nos. 5-11 Flying Training Schools; the Packing Depot at RAF Sealand; the School of Air Navigation andNo. 48 Squadron RAF at RAF Manston; the Station Flight andNo. 24 MU atRAF Ternhill; andNo. 27 MU atRAF Shawbury.[3]
In September 1939 it controlledNos 1,2,3,5,6,7,9,10,11, and12 Service Flying Training Schools, theAeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment atRAF Martlesham Heath, inSuffolk and the group communications flight, co-located with Group Headquarters, atRAF Spitalgate, inLincolnshire.[4]
It was then transferred again, this time toRAF Flying Training Command on 27 May 1940. In December 1940, after his successful leadership ofNo. 11 Group RAF during theBattle of Britain,Air Vice-MarshalKeith Park was transferred intoRAF Training Command. He becomeAir Officer Commanding of No. 23 Group on 27 December 1940.[5]
After 1 January 1957, No. 23 Group was responsible for Nos 1 - 5,No. 6 Flying Training School RAF (1957-68),No. 7 (from 1957-60) andNo. 8 Flying Training School RAF (from 1957-64). The Group Headquarters moved toRAF Church Fenton inYorkshire during 1959, and then toRAF Dishforth in Yorkshire during 1962. It was reabsorbed intoRAF Training Command in 1968;[1] it disbanded atRAF Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire, on 2 May 1975.[1]
RAF Training Command itself disbanded in 1977, and by 1982 flying training units were being directed by Air Officer Training and AOC Training Units at HeadquartersRAF Support Command.[6]
No. 23 Group had various Headquarters across its two active periods:[1]
Air Officer Commanding, No. 23 Group Royal Air Force, from reformation to the end of World War II.[1]
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