Thislist of Royal Air Force groups is an overview of allgroups, current and former, of theRoyal Air Force (RAF). Anair force group is a high-level controlling organisational formation, subordinate only tocommand level. Individual groups within the Royal Air Force have overall command and responsibility for major operational tasks of the RAF; for example:combat, combat support,training andadministration.
As of 2024[update], there are only five active groups. Four are in the United Kingdom while the fifth, a more skeleton organisation, is in the Middle East.No. 1 Group (1 Gp),No. 2 Group (2 Gp),No. 11 Group (11 Gp),No. 22 Group (22 Gp) are in the UK. All four groups are now effectively subdivisions and staff branches of the larger Air Command headquarters, as all are at High Wycombe.No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group (83 EAG), the renamed UK Air Component Headquarters in the Middle East, has its headquarters at Al Udeid in Qatar.[1]
| RAF group | Dates active | Description |
|---|---|---|
| No. 1 Group RAF[1] | 1918–1926 1927–1939 1940–present | Originally formed on 1 April 1918 (same day as theRoyal Air Force creation) in London, it was renumbered21 Group on 12 April 1926. Reformed on 25 August 1927 by renaming the Air Defence Group, butdisbanded on 22 December 1939. Reformed on 22 June 1940 withinBomber Command, post-war it operated theThor ballistic missile. From 1968, it operatedbomber andstrike aircraft ofStrike Command. It now administers most flying squadrons. |
| No. 2 Group RAF[1] | 1918–1920 1936–1947 1948–1958 1993–1996 2000–present | Formed as No. 2 (Training) Group on 1 April 1918, it disbanded on 31 March 1920. Reformed as No. 2 (Bombing) Group withinBomber Command on 20 March 1936. In May 1943, it was transferred to theSecond Tactical Air Force (2TAF) withinFighter Command, until the formation of theAllied Expeditionary Air Force. Disbanded on 1 May 1947, but reformed on 1 December 1948 as part of theBritish Air Forces of Occupation (BAFO). It rejoined 2TAF on 1 September 1951, and disbanded on 15 November 1958. Reformed on 1 April 1993 by renamingRoyal Air Force Germany (RAFG), then disbanded on 1 April 1996 when absorbed into1 Group.Reformed on 7 January 2000 to controlair transport,air-to-air refuelling, andairborne early warning within the RAF. On 1 April 2006, it absorbed3 Group.[2] |
| No. 11 Group RAF[1] | 1918–1920 1936–1960 1961–1963 1968–1996 2018–present | Formed on 1 April 1918 as No. 11 (Equipment) Group, and disbanded on 17 May 1918. It reformed on 22 August 1918, but reduced to11 Wing in May 1920. Reformed on 1 May 1936 as No. 11 (Fighter) Group by renaming Fighting Area, and transferred toFighter Command on 14 July 1936. Disbanded on 31 December 1960, but reformed on 1 January 1961 by renaming13 Group. Renamed No. 11 (Northern) Sector on 1 April 1963. Reformed on 1 April 1968 withinStrike Command to take over the role ofFighter Command. Renamed No. 11 (Air Defence) Group in January 1986. Amalgamated with18 Group on 1 April 1996.[3]Reformed in 2018 to leads the RAF's response to new and evolving threats in the air, cyber and space domains,[4] the group now runs day-to-day RAF operations. |
| No. 22 Group RAF[1] | 1918–1919 1926–1940 1943–1972 2006–present | Formed on 1 April 1918 as No. 22 (Operations) Group, inScotland, and disbanded on 30 May 1919. Reformed on 12 April 1926 from7 Group as No. 22 (Army Co-operation) Group, and on 1 December 1940, expanded to becomeArmy Cooperation Command. Reformed on 1 August 1943 as No. 22 (Training) Group,Technical Training Command, until disbanded on 31 January 1972.Reformed on 30 October 2006 as No. 22 (Training) Group. |
| No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group RAF[1] | 1943–1946 1952–1958 2006–present | Formed on 1 April 1943 as No. 83 (Composite) Group,Second Tactical Air Force (2TAF), and was absorbed into84 Group on 21 April 1946 . Reformed on 9 July 1952 as No. 83 Group, part of theBritish Air Forces of Occupation in Germany, until disbanded on 16 June 1958.Reformed as No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group on 1 April 2006 in theMiddle East to support operations in the region. |
| RAF group | Dates active | Description |
|---|---|---|
| No. 3 Group RAF | 1918–1921 1923–1926 1936–1967 2000–2006 | No. 3 Group was first formed on 10 May 1918, and disbanded on 31 August 1921. It reformed from11 Wing on 1 April 1923, and disbanded when renumbered asNo. 23 (Training) Group on 12 April 1926. Reformed on 1 May 1936 as No. 3 (Bomber) Group withinBomber Command. From 1959 to 1963, it operated theThor ballistic missile, thenV bomber squadrons until disbanded in 1967. It reformed on 1 April 2000 to control theJoint Force Harrier (JFH) and maritime resources. By 2004, it was also responsible for Air Battle Management, but disbanded on 1 April 2006, and its functions taken over by2 Group.[2] |
| No. 4 Group RAF | 1918–1919 1937–1948 | Originally formed on 1 April 1918, but disbanded on 24 March 1919. It reformed on 1 April 1937 as No. 4 (Bomber) Group withinBomber Command. Transferred toTransport Command on 7 May 1945, and disbanded on 2 February 1948.[2] |
| No. 5 Group RAF | 1918–1919 1937–1945 | Formed on 1 April 1918, but disbanded on 15 May 1919. Reformed on 1 September 1937 as No. 5 (Bomber) Group withinBomber Command. Disbanded on 15 December 1945.[2] |
| No. 6 Group RAF | 1918 1924–1926 1936–1939 1942–1945 | No. 6 (Equipment) Group was formed on 1 April 1918, but was renamed Technical Group on 15 August 1918. It reformed in Italy as No. 6 (Adriatic) Group on 27 September 1918, but reduced to66 Wing on 20 December 1918. Reformed as No. 6 (Fighter) Group on 1 May 1924, and disbanded 20 May 1926. Reformed as No. 6 (Auxiliary) Group on 1 May 1936 by renaming No. 1 (Air Defence Group). Transferred toBomber Command on 14 July 1936, and renamed No. 6 (Bomber) Group on 1 January 1939, but became91 Group on 11 May 1942. Reformed as part of theRoyal Canadian Air Force on 25 October 1942, and disbanded on 31 August 1945.[2] |
| No. 7 Group RAF | 1918–1919 1919–1926 1940–1942 1944–1945 | Formed on 1 April 1918 from Southern Training Brigade, renamed No. 7 (Training) Group on 8 August, and disbanded on 16 August 1919. Reformed by reducing South-Western Area to group status on 20 September 1919, and disbanded on 12 April 1926. Reformed on 15 July 1940 as No. 7 (Operational Training) Group withinBomber Command. Renamed92 Group on 11 May 1942. Reformed on 1 November 1944 to controlHeavy conversion units until disbanded on 21 December 1945.[2] |
| No. 8 Group RAF | 1918–1919 1941–1942 1943–1945 | Formed in April 1918, renamed No. 8 (Training) Group on 8 August, and disbanded on 15 May 1919. Reformed as No. 8 (Bomber) Group on 1 September 1941, but disbanded on 28 January 1942. ThePathfinder Force was renamed No. 8 (Pathfinder Force) Group on 13 January 1943, and disbanded on 15 December 1945.[2] |
| No. 9 Group RAF | 1918–1919 1940–1944 | Formed on 1 April 1918, renamed No. 9 (Operations) Group on 8 August, and disbanded on 15 May 1919. Reformed on 9 August 1940 as No. 9 (Fighter) Group withinFighter Command, to cover the north-west England andNorthern Ireland. Absorbed into12 Group on 15 September 1944.[2] |
| No. 10 Group RAF | 1918–1932 1940–1945 | Formed on 1 April 1918, renamed No. 10 (Operations) Group on 8 August, and disbanded on 18 January 1932. Reformed on 1 June 1940 as No. 10 (Fighter) Group to cover south-west England. Absorbed into11 Group on 2 May 1945.[3] |
| No. 12 Group RAF | 1918–1919 1937–1963 | Formed in April 1918, renamed No. 12 (Training) Group on 8 August, becoming RAF (Cadet) College on 1 November 1919. Reformed on 1 April 1937 as No. 12 (Fighter) Group to cover the Midlands and North of England. Renamed No. 12 (Northern) Sector on 31 March 1963.[3] |
| No. 13 Group RAF | 1918–1961 | Formed on 1 April 1918, renamed No. 13 (Training) Group on 8 August 1918, and merged into3 Group on 18 October 1919. Reformed on 15 March 1939 as No. 13 (Fighter) Group to cover the North of England and Scotland, and disbanded on 20 May 1946. Reformed on 16 May 1955, and disbanded on 31 December 1961 by being renamed11 Group.[3] |
| No. 14 Group RAF | 1918–1919 1940–1943 | Formed on 1 April 1918 by renaming the Milford Haven Anti-Submarine Group, renamed No. 14 (Operations) Group on 8 August, and disbanded on 19 May 1919. Reformed on 20 January 1940 as No. 14 (Fighter) Group by renaming60 Wing in France, and disbanded on 22 June 1940. Reformed in June 1940 to cover Scotland, and disbanded on 15 July 1943.[3] |
| No. 15 Group RAF | 1918–1919 1939–1945 | No. 15 (Equipment) Group was formed on 1 April 1918, and disbanded by 27 September 1918, when it reformed as No. 15 (Aegean) Group to control62 and63 Wings, until disbanded on 1 September 1919. Reformed on 15 March 1939 as No. 15 (General Reconnaissance) Group withinCoastal Command. Disbanded on 1 August 1945.[3] |
| No. 16 Group RAF | 1918–1920 1936–1946 | Formed on 1 April 1918 by renaming Northern Training Brigade, renamed No. 16 (Training) Group on 8 August, and disbanded on 7 February 1920. Reformed on 1 December 1936 as No. 16 (Reconnaissance) Group withinCoastal Command. Disbanded by being reduced to16 Wing on 8 March 1946.[3] |
| No. 17 Group RAF | 1918–1919 1936–1945 | Formed in No. 4 Area in April 1918, and transferred to North-Eastern Area on 8 May 1918. (Training) added on 8 August 1918. Disbanded 18 October 1919. Reformed 1 December 1936 as No. 17 (Training) Group withinCoastal Command.[3] Order of battle on 6 June 1944 included No.s 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 131, and 132 OTUs, andNo. 1674 Heavy Conversion Unit.[5] Disbanded 1 September 1945. |
| No. 18 Group RAF | 1918–1919 1938–1996 | First formed on 1 April 1918, it disbanded 18 October 1919. It reformed on 1 September 1938 as No. 18 (Reconnaissance) Group withinCoastal Command. It disbanded when merged with11 Group on 1 April 1996 to form11/18 Group.[3] |
| No. 11/18 Group RAF | 1996–2000 | Formed in 1996 as part ofStrike Command, combiningNo. 11 and18 Groups. In 2000, its assets were transferred to1 Group and3 Group.[3] |
| No. 19 Group RAF | 1918 1941–1969 | Formed in April 1918 as No. 19 (Equipment) Group inYork, but disbanded in June. Reformed in early 1941 as No. 19 (General Reconnaissance) Group withinCoastal Command, atMount Wise, Plymouth, relocating toRAF Mount Batten in 1947. Became HQ Southern Maritime Air Region in November 1969.[3] |
| No. 20 Group RAF | 1918–1919 1939–1943 | Originally formed on 1 April 1918, but disbanded in September 1919. Reformed in November 1939 as No. 20 (Training) Group withinTraining Command. Transferred toTechnical Training Command in May 1940. Absorbed into22 (Training) Group, August 1943.[6] |
| No. 21 Group RAF | 1918 1926–1934 1938–1955 | Formed on 1 April 1918 atRAF Montrose within No. 5 Area, but disbanded on being absorbed into20 Group on 1 July 1918. It reformed as No 21 (Training) Group, on 12 April 1926, when1 Group was renamed. Part of Inland Area, it disbanded on 1 February 1934. Reformed as No 21 (Training) Group withinTraining Command and based atRAF Cranwell. It was transferred toFlying Training Command on 27 May 1940, and was responsible for theRAF College and the Service Flying Training Schools from the Midlands northwards. In 1947 and 1953, absorbed91 Group and54 Group, before finally disbanding in 1955.[6] |
| No. 23 Group RAF | 1918 1926–1975 | Formed on 1 April 1918 as No. 23 (Equipment) Group, but disbanded in May. Reformed as No. 23 (Training) Group on 12 April 1926 by renumbering3 Group. Transferred toTraining Command on 1 May 1936, and toFlying Training Command on 27 May 1940. Disbanded on 2 May 1975.[6] |
| No. 24 Group RAF | 1918–1919 1936–1975 | Formed on 26 June 1918 fromNo. 46 and48 Wings. Disbanded 13 June 1919. Reformed on 10 July 1936 as No. 24 (Training) Group withinTraining Command, and transferred toTechnical Training Command on 27 May 1940, becoming No. 24 (Technical Training) Group. Disbanded on 29 December 1975.[6] |
| No. 25 Group RAF | 1918–1920 1937–1948 | Formed on 12 August 1918 as No. 25 (Operations) Group, but disbanded in 1920. Reformed on 1 February 1937, when the Armament Group was renamed No. 25 (Armament) Group withinTraining Command. Transferred toFlying Training Command on 27 May 1940, and disbanded on 15 April 1948.[6] |
| No. 26 Group RAF | 1918–1919 1937–1939 1940–1946 | Formed inEgypt as No. 26 (Training) Group in November 1918, but disbanded in 1919. Reformed on 1 December 1937 by renaming the Superintendent of the Reserve and Inspector of Civil Flying Training Schools withinTraining Command to control Elementary and Reserve Flying Training Schools. RenamedNo. 50 (Reserve) Group and transferred toReserve Command, 3 February 1939. Reformed on 12 February 1940 as No. 26 (Signals) Group within Training Command, and transferred toTechnical Training Command on 27 May 1940. Transferred toBomber Command on 10 February 1942; supervised105 Wing, responsible for combined operations training; group amalgamated withNo. 60 (Signals) Group to formNo. 90 (Signals) Group on 25 April 1946.[6] |
| No. 27 Group RAF | 1918–1919 1941–1958 | Originally formed on 29 August 1918 atRAF Bircham Newton as part of theIndependent Air Force, and disbanded on 19 May 1919. Reformed on 26 May 1941 as No. 27 (Signals Training) Group withinTechnical Training Command. Disbanded on 1 October 1958.[6] |
| No. 28 Group RAF | 1918–1919 1942–1950 | Formed as No. 28 (Orkney & Shetland Islands) Group under theCommander-in-Chief of theGrand Fleet on 13 July 1918, and disbanded on 15 April 1919. Reformed as No. 28 (Technical Training) Group withinTechnical Training Command, on 1 November 1942. Disbanded on 6 March 1950.[6] |
| No. 29 Group RAF | 1918–1922 1942–1945 | Briefly formed as No 29 (Training) Group inEgypt in early November 1918. Reformed on 27 November 1918 as No. 29 (Operations) Group underCommander-in-Chief of theGrand Fleet. Renamed No. 29 (Fleet) Group in August 1919. Transferred to Coastal Area on 15 September 1919, and disbanded on 31 March 1922. Reformed on 1 July 1942 as No. 29 (Flying Training) Group,Flying Training Command, splitting from25 Group. Re-absorbed into 25 Group in July 1945.[6] |
| No. 30 Group RAF | 1918–1919 1937–1945 | Formed atSalonika in August 1918 as No. 30 (Operational) Group, but reduced and renamed16 Wing on 7 April 1919. Reformed on 17 March 1937 as No. 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group withinFighter Command. Transferred toBalloon Command on 1 November 1938, and disbanded on 7 January 1945.[7] Headquartered atChessington, nearSurbiton,Surrey, whilst in Balloon Command. |
| No. 31 Group RAF | 1918–1919 1939–1941 | Formed inMesopotamia in August 1918 as No. 31 (Operational) Group, and disbanded in April 1919. Reformed on 1 April 1939 as No. 31 (Balloon Barrage) Group withinBalloon Command. Disbanded on 13 November 1941. |
| No. 32 Group RAF | 1939–1944 | Formed on 1 March 1939 as No. 32 (Balloon Barrage) Group withinBalloon Command. Disbanded on 15 November 1944.[7] Headquartered atClaverton Manor,Claverton, nearBath, Somerset. |
| No. 33 Group RAF | 1939–1944 | Formed as No. 33 (Balloon Barrage) Group withinBalloon Command, on 1 March 1939. Disbanded on 4 September 1944.[7] Headquartered atParkhead House, Abbey Lane,Sheffield,Yorkshire. |
| No. 34 Group RAF | 1939–1944 | Formed as No. 34 (Balloon Barrage) Group withinBalloon Command, on 7 April 1940. Disbanded on 19 July 1943.[7] Headquartered at Tor House,Corstorphine Road,Edinburgh. |
| No. 38 Group RAF | 1943–1951 1960–1983 1992–2000 2014–2020 | Formed on 11 October 1943 as No. 38 (Airborne Force) Group withinFighter Command. On 1 June 1945, became part ofTransport Command, and disbanded on 1 February 1951. Reformed on 1 January 1960 as No. 38 (Air Support) Group within Transport Command. It was transferred toStrike Command on 1 July 1972, and disbanded on 17 November 1983. Reformed 1 November 1992 as part of Strike Command, and disbanded on 1 April 2000.[7] No. 38 Group reformed on 2 July 2014, bringing together the RAF's Engineering, Logistics, Communications, and Medical Operations units.[8] It was headquartered atRAF High Wycombe inBuckinghamshire. It disbanded on 31 December 2020. |
| No. 40 Group RAF | 1939–1961 | Formed on 3 January 1939 as No. 40 (Maintenance) Group withinMaintenance Command. Responsible for all equipment except bombs and explosives. Disbanded on 28 July 1961.[7] |
| No. 41 Group RAF | 1939–1961 | Formed on 1 January 1939 as No. 41 (Maintenance) Group withinMaintenance Command. Responsible for supply and allocation ofaircraft. Disbanded on 21 July 1961.[7] |
| No. 42 Group RAF | 1939–1956 | Formed on 1 January 1939 as No. 42 (Maintenance) Group withinMaintenance Command. On 17 April 1939, the group assumed responsibility forall ammunition and fuel depots. Disbanded on 2 January 1956.[7] |
| No. 43 Group RAF | 1939–1956 | Formed on 1 January 1939 as No. 43 (Maintenance) Group withinMaintenance Command. On 21 September 1939, it assumed responsibility for the salvage ofaircraft and equipment. Disbanded on 2 January 1956.[7] |
| No. 44 Group RAF | 1941–1946 | No. 44 (Ferry Service) Group was formed on 15 August 1941 from the Overseas Air Movements Control Unit ofFerry Command. Transferred toTransport Command on 25 March 1943, and disbanded on 14 August 1946.[7] |
| No. 45 Group RAF | 1943–1946 | No. 45 (Atlantic Ferry) Group was formed 1 April 1943 fromFerry Command, when it was reduced to a group withinTransport Command. It was renamed No. 45 (Transport) Group in June 1944, and transferred toCoastal Command on 1 January 1946. Reduced to45 Wing on 15 February 1946.[7] |
| No. 46 Group RAF | 1944–1950 1972–1976 | Formed on 17 January 1944 as No. 46 (Transport) Group, but disbanded on 15 October 1949. It reformed on 1 November 1949 whenNo. 47 (Transport) Group was renamed, and disbanded on 31 March 1950. It reformed on 1 September 1972 as No. 46 (Strategic Support) Group withinStrike Command, to take over the transport role ofAir Support Command. It merged with38 Group on 1 January 1976.[7] |
| No. 47 Group RAF | 1945–1949 | No. 47 (Transport) Group was formed on 1 January 1945 from116 Wing. In June 1946, it controlledRAF Bourn (no units);RAF Holmsley South (246 Sqn);RAF Lyneham (511 Sqn, 2 GCA Unit);RAF Merryfield (no units);RAF Oakington (242 Sqn);RAF Stradishall (51 Sqn);RAF Waterbeach (59 Sqn, (220 Sqn);RAF Upwood (53 Sqn); andRAF Little Staughton (47 Comm Flt). It was renamed46 Group on 1 November 1949.[7] |
| No. 48 Group RAF | 1945–1946 | No. 48 (Transport) Group was formed on 29 October 1945, and disbanded on 15 May 1946.[7] |
| No. 50 Group RAF | 1939–1947 | No. 50 (Training) Group was formed on 1 February 1939 by renamingNo. 26 (Training) Group and transferring it toReserve Command. It was transferred toFlying Training Command on 27 May 1940, and disbanded 31 May 1947.[9] |
| No. 51 Group RAF | 1939–1945 | No. 51 (Training) Group was formed on 11 May 1939 as part ofReserve Command. It was transferred toFlying Training Command on 27 May 1940, and disbanded 14 July 1945.[9] |
| No. 52 Group RAF | No. 52 (Training) Group was due to form in March 1939 inReserve Command, but not activated.[9] | |
| No. 53 Group RAF | No. 53 (Training) Group was due to form in March 1939 inReserve Command, but not activated.[9] | |
| No. 54 Group RAF | 1939–1946 1951–1953 | No. 54 (Training) Group was formed 30 August 1939 inReserve Command to control Initial Training Wings. It was transferred toFlying Training Command on 27 May 1940, and disbanded on 17 June 1946. It reformed on 1 April 1951 to control Initial Training Wings and Grading Schools. All units were transferred to21 Group on 24 June 1953. Disbanded 10 July 1953.[9] |
| No. 60 Group RAF | 1940–1946 | No. 60 (Signals) Group was formed on 23 March 1940 to controlradio direction finder (RDF) (Radar) stations and other Radio units inFighter Command. Amalgamated with26 (Signals) Group to form90 (Signals) Group on 25 April 1946.[9] |
| No. 61 Group RAF | 1940 1946–1959 | No. 61 Group was first formed on 1 July 1940 inNorthern Ireland, and was raised tocommand status and renamedRAF in Northern Ireland on 1 August 1940. Reformed as No. 61 (Eastern Reserve) Group on 2 May 1946 withinReserve Command, it was renamed No. 61 (Eastern) Group on 1 August 1950 and transferred toHome Command. It was renamed No. 61 (Southern Reserve) Group on 1 January 1957, and disbanded 31 May 1959.[9] |
| No. 62 Group RAF | 1946–1957 | No. 62 (Southern Reserve) Group was formed on 15 May 1946 withinReserve Command, and renamed No. 62 (Southern) Group on 1 August 1950 when transferred toHome Command. It was absorbed into61 Group on 1 January 1957.[9] |
| No. 63 Group RAF | 1946–1957 | No. 63 (Western & Welsh Reserve) Group was formed on 2 May 1946 withinReserve Command, and renamed No. 63 (Western & Welsh) Group on 1 August 1950 when transferred toHome Command. It disbanded on 1 February 1957.[9] |
| No. 64 Group RAF | 1946–1958/59 | No. 64 (Northern Reserve) Group was formed on 2 May 1946 withinReserve Command, and was renamed No. 64 (Northern) Group on 1 August 1950 when transferred toHome Command. It disbanded in 1958 or 1959.[9] |
| No. 65 Group RAF | 1946–1950/51 | No. 65 (London Reserve) Group was formed on 2 May 1946 withinReserve Command, and renamed No. 65 (London) Group on 1 August 1950 when transferred toHome Command. It disbanded in 1950 or 1951.[9] |
| No. 66 Group RAF | 1946–1956/57 | No. 66 (Scottish Reserve) Group was formed on 2 May 1946 withinReserve Command and renamed No. 66 (Scottish) Group on 1 August 1950 when transferred toHome Command. It disbanded in 1956 or 1957.[9] |
| No. 67 Group RAF | 1950–1957 | No. 67 (Northern Ireland Reserve) Group was formed on 31 March 1950 fromRAF in Northern Ireland. It was renamed No. 67 (Northern Ireland) Group on 1 August 1950 when transferred toHome Command. It disbanded on 28 February 1957.[9] |
| No. 70 Group RAF | 1940–1955 | No. 70 (Army Co-Operation Training) Group was formed on 25 November 1940 from22 (Army Co-operation) Group withinFighter Command. It was transferred toArmy Cooperation Command on 1 December 1940, and toAir Defence of Great Britain on 1 June 1943, and finally disbanded on 17 July 1945.[10] Order of battle on 1 June 1944, mostly target-towingHurricanes.[11] |
| No. 71 Group RAF | 1940–1941 | No. 71 (Army Co-Operation) Group was formed on 25 November 1940 from22 (Army Co-operation) Group within Fighter Command. It was transferred toArmy Cooperation Command on 1 December 1940, and disbanded on 14 August 1941.[10] |
| No. 72 Group RAF | 1942–1943 | No. 72 (Army Co-Operation Training) Group was formed on 16 September 1942 withinArmy Cooperation Command. It disbanded on 1 August 1943.[10] |
| No. 81 Group RAF | 1940–1943 1952–1958 | No. 81 (Training) Group was formed on 16 December 1940 inFighter Command to control FighterOperational Training Units, and disbanded on 20 April 1943.[10] Reformed as part of Fighter Command in January 1952 to control the command's training units. Disbanded in 1957.[12] |
| No. 82 Group RAF | 1941–1942 | No. 82 (Fighter) Group was formed on 21 July 1941, and absorbed intoRAF in Northern Ireland on 15 October 1942.[10] |
| No. 84 Group RAF | 1943–1947 | No. 84 (Composite) Group was formed on 15 July 1943 withinSecond Tactical Air Force (2TAF). It disbanded on 15 December 1947.[10] |
| No. 85 Group RAF | 1943–1946 1948–1950 | No. 85 Group was formed on 17 December 1943 withinSecond Tactical Air Force (2TAF) from wings of theRAF Airfield Construction Service. It was renamed No. 85 (Base) Group on 14 February 1944, and reduced to the status of85 Wing on 1 July 1946. It reformed on 1 December 1948, and disbanded on 1 July 1950.[10] |
| No. 87 Group RAF | 1945–1956 | No. 87 (Transport) Group was formed on 17 February 1945, and renamed No. 87 (Transport) Group on 15 July 1945. Allocated toSecond Tactical Air Force (2TAF) /British Air Forces of Occupation (BAFO), it was reduced to the status of87 Wing on 15 July 1946.[10] |
| No. 88 Group RAF | 1945 | No. 88 (Fighter) Group was formed inEdinburgh on 7 May 1945 foroperations in Norway. It disbanded on 31 December 1945.[10][13] |
| No. 90 (Signals) Group RAF | 1946–1958 1969–1973 | No. 26 Group andNo. 60 Group were amalgamated to form No 90. (Signals) Group on 24 April 1946, under the administrative control ofBritish Air Forces of Occupation (BAFO) andTransport Command. It became an independent group in 1951 or 1952. It was raised toRAF Signals Command on 3 November 1958, reverting to group status on 1 January 1969 withinStrike Command. It was transferred toMaintenance Command on 1 September 1972, and disbanded on 31 August 1973,[10] becoming part ofRAF Support Command.[14] |
| No. 91 Group RAF | 1942–1947 | No. 91 (Training) Group was formed on 11 May 1942 by renamingNo. 6 Group. It was renamedNo. 21 Group on 1 May 1947.[10] |
| No. 92 Group RAF | 1942–1945 | No. 92 (Training) Group was formed on 11 May 1942 by renamingNo. 7 Group. It disbanded on 15 July 1945.[10] |
| No. 93 Group RAF | 1942–1945 | No. 93 (Training) Group was formed on 15 June 1942, and disbanded on 14 February 1945.[10] |
| No. 100 Group RAF | 1943–1945 | No. 100 (Special Duties) Group was formed on 3 December 1943 withinBomber Command forelectronic warfare and countermeasures. It disbanded on 17 December 1945.[10] |
| No. 106 Group RAF | 1944–1946 | In June 1943,No. 1 PRU was formed into106 Wing, with five squadrons (Nos.540,541,542,543, and544) and anOperational Training Unit. The Wing was elevated to group status in April 1944 as No. 106 (Photo Reconnaissance) Group,[10] with twoSpitfire (541 and542) and twoMosquito (540 and544) squadrons.[15] It disbanded on 15 August 1946.[10] |
| No. 200 Group RAF | 1939–1942 | No. 200 (Coastal) Group was formed on 25 September 1939 under the control of HQRAF Mediterranean to control units operating fromRAF Gibraltar. It was transferred toCoastal Command in November / December 1940, and renamed AHQ Gibraltar on 1 May 1942.[16] |
| No. 201 Group RAF | 1939–1944 | No. 201 (General Reconnaissance) Group was formed on 18 September 1939 from the General Reconnaissance Group, Middle East. It was renamed No. 201 (Naval Co-operation) Group on 3 October 1941, and absorbed intoAir Defence Eastern Mediterranean on 1 February 1944.[16] |
| No. 202 Group RAF | 1939–1941 1944 | No. 202 (Operations) Group was formed on 21 September 1939 by renamingRAF Egypt Group, and was absorbed in204 Group on 12 April 1941. It reformed on 26 May 1941, and renamedAHQ Egypt on 1 December 1941. It reformed on 11 July 1944 to administer RAF units involved onOperation Dragoon, and disbanded on 7 November 1944.[16] |
| No. 203 Group RAF | 1940–1945 | No. 203 (Maintenance) Group was formed on 17 August 1940 from HQRAF Sudan. It was renamed No. 203 (Training) Group on 10 May 1943, and disbanded on 28 February 1945.[16] |
| No. 204 Group RAF | 1941 | No. 204 (Operations) Group was formed on 12 April 1941 by renaming HQRAF Cyrenaica. It was renamedAHQ Western Desert on 21 October 1941.[16] |
| No. 205 Group RAF | 1941–1956 | No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group was formed on 23 October 1941 by renaming257 Wing. It disbanded on 15 April 1956.[16] |
| No. 206 Group RAF | 1941–1946 1951–1954 | No. 206 (Maintenance) Group was formed on 1 September 1941 by renamingMaintenance Group, and disbanded on 28 February 1946. Reformed on 1 June 1951 as No. 206 (Base Maintenance) Group, it disbanded on 31 August 1954.[16] |
| No. 207 Group RAF | 1941–1942 | No. 207 (General Purpose) Group was formed on 15 December 1941 by renamingAHQ East Africa, reverting to AHQ East Africa on 16 November 1942.[16] |
| No. 209 Group RAF | 1942–1944 | No. 209 (Fighter) Group was formed on 15 December 1942 by upgrading263 Wing. It disbanded on 15 November 1944.[16] |
| No. 210 Group RAF | 1943–1945 | No. 210 (Fighter) Group was formed on 1 May 1943, and disbanded on 1 May 1944. It reformed on 6 July 1944 to control coastal air forces inNorth Africa and Western Mediterranean, and transferred toAHQ Malta in January 1945. It disbanded on 25 April 1945.[16] |
| No. 211 Group RAF | 1941–1945 | No. 211 (Medium Bomber) Group was formed on 10 December 1941 by renamingNucleus Group Western Desert. It disbanded on 3 February 1942. Reformed as No. 211 (Offensive Fighter) Group on 12 March 1942, but reduced to 'Z' Sector,Northwest African Air Forces on 17 September 1943.[16] |
| No. 212 Group RAF | 1942–1946 | No. 212 (Fighter Control) Group was formed on 1 December 1942, as part of theWestern Desert Air Force. It was later transferred to AHQ Egypt, but disbanded on 31 January 1946.[16] |
| No. 213 Group RAF | 1941–1943 | No. 213 (Operational) Group was formed on 15 December 1941 by renaming AdvancedAHQ Levant. It disbanded on 15 November 1943.[16] |
| No. 214 Group RAF | 1942–1945 | No. 214 Group was formed on 1 January 1942 as part ofAHQ Iraq, and merged withNo. 217 Group on 30 November 1942. Reformed on 15 April 1943 as No. 214 (Maintenance) Group, it disbanded on 31 December 1945.[16] |
| No. 215 Group RAF | 1942–1943 | No. 215 (General Reconnaissance) Group was formed on 1 May 1942 atBasrah. It disbanded on 1 November 1943.[16] |
| No. 216 Group RAF | 1942–1946 | No. 216 (Ferry) Group was formed on 21 May 1942, and was renamed No. 216 (Air Transport and Ferry) Group on 9 September 1942. It disbanded on 26 October 1946.[16] |
| No. 217 Group RAF | 1942–1943 1943–1944 | No. 217 (Paiforce) Group was formed on 18 September 1942 from Persian Group, and disbanded on 1 May 1943. Reformed on 3 November 1943 withinRAF Middle East, it disbanded on 29 February 1944.[16] |
| No. 218 Group RAF | 1942–1943 1943–1946 | No. 218 (Maintenance) Group was formed on 1 October 1942, and disbanded on 17 April 1943. Reformed on 30 November 1943, it disbanded on 20 June 1946.[16] |
| No. 219 Group RAF | 1942–1944 1946 | No. 219 (Fighter) Group was formed on 6 December 1942 as No. 219 (Fighter) Group, subordinate toAHQ Eastern Mediterranean, and disbanded on 27 July 1944. It reformed on 1 March 1946 by amalgamating AHQ Eastern Mediterranean,AHQ Egypt, and206 Group. It was amalgamated with205 Group on 1 December 1946.[16] |
| No. 221 Group RAF | 1941–1942 1942–1945 | No. 221 Group was formed on 21 April 1941 inBurma. Later renamed BURGROUP, it reverted to No. 221 Group on 15 December 1941. In February 1942, it was again renamed, this time as NORGROUP. It disbanded on 12 March 1942. Reformed on 12 March 1942 as a composite group in India, and later renamed first as No. 221 (Bomber) Group and then as No. 221 (Tactical) Group. It disbanded on 30 September 1945.[16] |
| No. 222 Group RAF | 1941–1945 | No. 222 (General Reconnaissance) Group was formed on 1 September 1941. RenamedAHQ Ceylon on 15 October 1945.[16] |
| No. 223 Group RAF | 1941 1942–1945 | No. 223 Group was formed on 9 August 1941 by renamingAir Headquarters Far East. Planned to be renamed NORGROUP on 24 November 1941 and be established at HQIII Indian Corps to control cross-frontier air operations in Thailand underOperation Matador, involving use ofNo. 21 Squadron RAAF.[17] On 8 December 1941, NORGROUP comprisedNo. 21 Squadron RAAF,No. 27 Squadron RAAF atSungei Petani,No. 62 Squadron RAAF atAlor Star,No. 1 (GR) Squadron RAAF atKota Bharu, andNo. 36 Squadron RAF atRAF Seletar in Singapore; withVildebeests, with a detachment atGong Kedah.[18] Reformed on 1 May 1942 as No. 223 (Composite) Group by renumbering1 (Indian) Group. Renamed No. 1 (Indian) Group on 15 August 1945.[16] |
| No. 224 Group RAF | 1942–1945 1957–1968 | No. 224 (Fighter) Group was formed on 3 January 1942, but disbanded on 28 March 1942. Reformed on 1 April 1942, and renamed No. 224 (Tactical) Group on 1 December 1942. Disbanded by renaming asAHQ Malaya on 30 September 1945. Reformed on 31 August 1957 from AHQ Malaya, it disbanded on 1 October 1968.[16] |
| No. 225 Group RAF | 1942 1942–1945 | No. 225 (Bomber) Group was formed on 17 January 1942 by renaming223 Group. It disbanded on 28 March 1942. Reformed as No. 225 (Composite) Group on 20 April 1942. It absorbed2 (Indian) Group on 12 April 1942. Renamed No. 2 (Indian) Group on 1 October 1945.[16] |
| No. 226 Group RAF | 1942 1942–1946 | No. 226 (Fighter) Group was formed on 18 January 1942 inSingapore. Afterthe surrender, the number was reused to control fighters indefence of Java. Not formally disbanded, but ceased to exist in March 1942. It reformed on 9 May 1942 as No. 226 (Maintenance) Group, and disbanded on 31 July 1946.[16] |
| No. 227 Group RAF | 1942–1946 | No. 227 (Training) Group was formed on 6 June 1942. It was renumbered4 (Indian) Group on 1 May 1946.[16] |
| No. 228 Group RAF | 1943 1945–1946 | No. 228 Group was formed on 22 February 1943, and disbanded on 15 May 1943. Reformed on 27 February 1945 as No. 228 (Administrative) Group, and renumbered,3 (Indian) Group on 1 May 1946.[16] |
| No. 229 Group RAF | 1943–1947 | No. 229 (Transport) Group was formed on 16 December 1943 from179 Wing. It disbanded on 31 March 1947.[16] |
| No. 230 Group RAF | 1943–1945 1952–1953 | No. 230 (Maintenance) Group was formed on 15 December 1943, and absorbed intoAHQ Burma on 16 May 1945. It reformed on 1 April 1952, and renamedAHQ Singapore on 16 February 1953.[16] |
| No. 231 Group RAF | 1943–1945 | No. 231 (Bomber) Group was formed on 13 December 1943. It disbanded on 30 September 1945.[16] |
| No. 232 Group RAF | 1945–1946 | No. 232 (Transport) Group was formed in March 1945, and disbanded on 15 August 1946. Officially aTransport Command group, operating under control of HQAir Command South East Asia.[16] |
| No. 233 Group RAF | 1945–1946 | No. 233 Group was formed on 28 March 1945, but disbanded on 30 June 1946. It was planned to control RAF units allocated toOperation Roger.[16] |
| No. 238 Group RAF | 1945 | No. 238 (Airborne Assault) Group was formed on 20 April 1945, but reduced to238 Wing on 11 September 1945.[16] |
| No. 241 Group RAF | 1942 | No. 241 (Special Operations) Group was formed on 1 January 1942 inLondon, intended for operations in theFar East. It disbanded on 14 July 1942 without becoming operational.[16] |
| No. 242 Group RAF | 1942–1944 | No. 242 Group was formed on 24 August 1942 inNorth Africa. It disbanded on 14 September 1944.[16] |
| No. 246 Group RAF | 1943 | No. 246 Group was formed on 3 July 1943, but disbanded on 9 August 1943. It was formed on to control RAF units for the proposed defence ofPortuguese airfields.[16] |
| No. 247 Group RAF | 1943–1946 | No. 247 Group was formed in October 1943 withinCoastal Command to control units operating from theAzores. It disbanded on 1 March 1946.[16] |
| No. 300 Group RAF | 1945–1946 | Formed inAustralia in late 1944 as300 Wing, becoming No. 300 (Transport) Group on 24 April 1945. Officially part ofTransport Command, it operated under the control of HQAir Command South-East Asia to support theBritish Pacific Fleet.[16] It was reduced to wing status on 31 March 1946. |
| No. 333 Group RAF | 1942 | No. 333 (Special Operational) Group was formed on 1 September 1942 forOperation Torch, and becameEastern Air Command on 19 November 1942.[16] |
| Air Defence Group RAF | 1927 | Air Defence Group was formed on 18 July 1927 by renaming HQ Special Reserve andAuxiliary Air Force. It was renamed No. 1 Air Defence Group on 25 August 1927.[19] |
| Armament Group RAF | 1934–1937 | Armament Group was formed on 1 February 1934. Transferred toTraining Command on 1 May 1936, it was renamed25 Group on 1 December 1937.[19] |
| Experimental Group RAF | 1918–1919 | Experimental Group was formed on 16 August 1918 to control RAF experimental establishments. It disbanded on 1 January 1919.[19] |
| Firth of Forth Group RAF | 1918–???? | Firth of Forth Group was formed on 1 November 1918 to controlRAF Turnhouse,RAF Rosyth, andRAF Donibristle.[19] |
| Technical Group RAF | 1918–???? | Technical Group was formed in November 1918 to control 2, 7, 8, and 10Aircraft Acceptance Parks.[19] |
| Indian Group RAF | 1921–1922 | Formed on 1 January 1921 whenRAF India Command was demoted to group status.[20] It was reorganised in October 1921, divided into fourwings from two, although the number ofsquadrons were not increased.[21] It ceased to exist when re-raised to command status on 1 April 1922.[20] |
| No. 1 (Indian) Group RAF | 1928–1947 | Part of Royal Air Force, India. |
| No. 2 (Indian) Group RAF | 1940–1947 | Part of Royal Air Force, India. |
| No. 3 (Indian) Group RAF | Part of Royal Air Force, India. |
| Formations and units |
| ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Branches and components | |||||||
| Reserve forces | |||||||
| Equipment | |||||||
| Personnel | |||||||
| Appointments | |||||||
| Symbols and uniform | |||||||
| Associated civil organisations | |||||||
