List of Royal Air Force units & establishments
There have been many units with various tasks in the Royal Air Force (RAF), and they are listed here. A unit is an administrative term for a body, which can be larger or smaller than a flight or squadron, is given a specific mission, but does not warrant the status of being formed as a formal flight or squadron.
Aircraft training units
Aircraft units
Overseas aircraft despatch
Overseas aircraft preparation
Aircraft preparation
Other
Airfields
Advanced flying units
Observers
Pilots
Anti-aircraft units
Armament practice and training units
To hone aircrew weapons skills armament practice camps and stations have been used and these are listed here.
Armament practice camp
No. 11 Armament Practice Camp
No. 12 Armament Practice Camp
No. 13 Armament Practice Camp
No. 14 Armament Practice Camp
No. 15 Armament Practice Camp
No. 16 Armament Practice Camp
No. 17 Armament Practice Camp
No. 18 Armament Practice Camp
No. 20 Armament Practice Camp
No. 21 Armament Practice Camp
No. 22 Armament Practice Camp
No. 23 Armament Practice Camp
No. 24 Armament Practice Camp
No. 25 Armament Practice Camp
No. 26 Armament Practice Camp
No. 27 Armament Practice Camp
Armament Practice Camp, Butterworth
Armament Practice Camp (Middle East Air Force)
Armament Practice Camp, Sylt
Fighter Command Missile Armament Practice Camp
No. 15 Group Armament Practice Camp
No. 16 Group Armament Practice Camp
No. 18 Group Armament Practice Camp
No. 19 Group Armament Practice Camp
Middle East Air Force Armament Practice Camp
Armament practice station
Armament training camp
Armament training station
Bases
Base
Formed On
Formed At
Disbanded On
Disbanded At
Became
Notes
11
71 Base
12
Disbanded
13
Disbanded
14
Disbanded
15
Disbanded
31
73 Base
32
Disbanded
33
Disbanded
41
74 Base
42
Disbanded
43
Disbanded
44
Disbanded
51
75 Base
52
15 Base
53
Disbanded
54
Disbanded
55
Disbanded
56
Disbanded
61 (RCAF)
76 Base
62 (RCAF) (Beaver)
RCAF Control
63 (RCAF)
Disbanded
64 (RCAF)
RCAF Control
71
Disbanded
72
Disbanded
73
Disbanded
74
Disbanded
75
Disbanded
76 (RCAF)
Disbanded
Beach units
Memorial to 1, 2 and 4 Beach Sqns RAF at Arromanches , Normandy.
Beam approach beacon system
Command level units
Communications
Conversion units
The RAF have now granted all OCUs Reserve squadron status.[ 26]
Operational conversion units (OCU)
Numbered operational conversion units (OCU)
226 , 227 , 228 , 229 , 230 , 231 , 232 , 233 , 235 , 236 , 237 , 238 , 240 , 241 & 242 .
Numbered conversion units
Other conversion units
Establishments
Ferry units
Ferry units
1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 & 16 .
1 (Long-Range) & 3 (Long-Range) .
1 (Overseas) .
2 (Home) & 4 (Home) .
Ferry crew pools
Ferry pilots pools
Ferry pools
Ferry training units
301 , 302 , 303 , 304 , 305 , 306 , 307 , 308 , 309 , 310 , 311 , 312 & 313 .
308 Ferry Training and Test Flying Unit .
309 Ferry Training and Aircraft Despatch Unit .
313 Ferry Training and Conversion Unit .
Other ferry units
Foreign air arms
In Rhodesia, the Rhodesian Air Unit of the Territorial Forces, active 1935-39, became the Rhodesian Air Unit, and then the Southern Rhodesian Air Force (1939-40). The SRAF was absorbed into the RAF proper in April 1940 and re-designated No. 237 (Rhodesia) Squadron RAF . Later the Rhodesian Air Training Group RAF was created.
Maintenance units
Operational Training Units (OTU)
OTUs were created during World War II to take the pressure off operational squadrons, which previously would have had training Flights . Post war, they became OCUs.
Coastal
Normal
5 , 6 , 7 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 34 , 36 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 , 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 , 85 & 86 .
Other
Other units
Numbered other units
Other units
Pools
Photographic reconnaissance
Refresher flying units
Sectors
sector
formed on
formed at
disbanded on
disbanded at
became
notes
11 (Northern)
April 1963
RAF Leconfield
April 1968
RAF Boulmer
Sector South
12 (East Anglia)
April 1963
RAF Horsham St Faith
April 1968
Neatishead
Sector North
13 (Scotland)
April 1963
RAF Boulmer
March 1965
RAF Boulmer
Disbanded into 11 Sector
15
May 1944
RAF Ford
July 1944
Martragny
Disbanded
17 (Fighter)
May 1944
RAF Kenley
July 1944
Crepon
Disbanded
18 (Fighter)
May 1944
RAF Chailey
July 1944
RAF Chailey
Disbanded
19 (Fighter)
May 1944
RAF Appledram
July 1944
RAF Appledram
Disbanded
20 (Fighter)
May 1944
RAF Thorney Island
July 1944
RAF Thorney Island
Disbanded
21 (Base Defence)
May 1944
RAF Sopley Park
July 1944
RAF Ibsley
Disbanded
22 (Fighter)
May 1944
RAF Hurn
July 1944
Le Fresnoy
Disbanded
24 (Base Defence)
May 1944
RAF Wartling
March 1945
St Denis Westrem
Disbanded into 85 Group Unit
25 (Base Defence)
May 1944
RAF Hornchurch
March 1945
Everburg
Disbanded into 85 Group Operations Room
North
April 1968
RAF Neatishead
January 1992
RAF Neatishead
Disbanded
South
April 1968
RAF Boulmer
January 1992
RAF Boulmer
Disbanded
Caledonian Sector HQ RAF
October 1951
RAF Barnton Quarry
November 1957
RAF Barnton Quarry
Disbanded
Eastern Sector HQ RAF
July 1946
RAF Horsham St Faith
July 1958
RAF Coltishall
Disbanded
Essex Sector HQ RAF
October 1945
RAF North Weald
June 1946
RAF North Weald
Metropolitan Sector HQ
Fighter Sector Z RAF
September 1943
Amriya
October 1943
Amriya
No. 335 Wing
Fighter Sector HQ Digby RAF
July 1945
RAF Blankney
November 1945
RAF Blankney
Lincolnshire Sector HQ
Fighter Sector HQ Exeter RAF
January 1945
RAF Exeter
November 1945
RAF Exeter
Western Sector HQ
Lincolnshire Sector HQ RAF
November 1945
RAF Blankney
July 1946
RAF Blankney
Eastern Sector HQ
Metropolitan Sector HQ RAF
May 1946
RAF North Weald
November 1957
RAF North Weald
Disbanded
Norfolk Sector HQ RAF
August 1945
RAF Horsham St Faith
July 1946
RAF Horsham St Faith
Eastern Sector HQ
Northern Sector HQ RAF
December 1950
RAF Linton-On-Ouse
November 1957
RAF Church Fenton
Disbanded
Scottish Sector HQ RAF
November 1949
RAF Turnhouse
October 1951
RAF Leuchars
Station Flight, Caledonian Sector
Southern Sector HQ RAF
January 1946
RAF Nether Wallop
November 1957
RAF Rudloe Manor
Disbanded
South Eastern Sector HQ RAF
November 1945
RAF Biggin Hill
June 1946
RAF North Weald
Metropolitan Sector
Western Sector HQ RAF
November 1945
RAF Exeter
July 1946
RAF Exeter
Southern Sector HQ
Yorkshire Sector HQ RAF
November 1945
RAF Church Fenton
December 1950
RAF Patrington
Northern Sector HQ
Signals units
1 , 2 , 6 , 7 , 9 , 11 , 12 , 26 , 33 , 50 , 54 , 59 , 71 , 81 , 90 & 91 .
101 , 112 , 117 , 123 , 144 & 146 .
235 , 244 , 264 , 271 , 276 & 280 .
303 , 336 , 367 , 388 & 399 .
405 , 409 , 425 , 432 , 444 , 469 & 487 .
500 , 585 & 591 .
615 & 646 .
719 , 721 , 724 & 751 .
815 , 840 & 889 .
926 , 962 , 966 & 993 .
1001 .
Signals Development Unit RAF
Signals Flying Unit RAF
Training wings
See also
Royal Air Force
Army Air Corps
Fleet Air Arm
Others
References
Citations
Bibliography
Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918–1988 . Air Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-164-9 .
Jefford, C.G. (2001) [1988]. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-053-6 .
Lake, Alan (1999). Flying Units of the RAF . Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-84037-086-6 .
Sturtivant, R; Hamlin, J; Halley, J (1997). Royal Air Force flying training and support units . UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 0-85130-252-1 .
External links
formations and units
branches and components reserve forces equipment personnel appointments symbols and uniform associated civil organisations
Royal Air Force Training Establishments
Flying schools and units
Advanced Flying Schools Basic Flying Training Schools (Basic) Flying Training Schools (Advanced) Flying Training Schools British Flying Training Schools Elementary and Reserve Flying Training Schools Elementary Flying Training Schools Gliding schools Instructor schools Flying Refresher Schools Flying Training Schools Reserve Flying Schools Service Flying Schools Special Flying Schools
Operational and Conversion Units Officer training establishments Ground-based training schools
Royal Air Force unit types