List of Royal Air Force units & establishments

There have been many Units with various tasks in the Royal Air Force and they are listed here. A unit is an administrative 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

Refresher Flying Units

  • 1 (Pilots) & 2 (Pilots)
  • 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9.

Advanced Flying Units

Observers
  • 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10.

Pilots

  • 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20 & 21.

Anti-aircraft units

  • No. 1 Civilian Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
  • No. 2 Civilian Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
  • No. 3 Civilian Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
  • No. 3/4 Civilian Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
  • No. 4 Civilian Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
  • No. 5 Civilian Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
  • No. 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit, IAFVR
  • No. 2 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit, IAFVR
  • No. 3 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit, IAFVR
  • No. 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit,Indian Air Force
  • No. 2 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit,Indian Air Force
  • No. 3 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit,Indian Air Force
  • No. 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
  • No. 2 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
  • No. 3 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
  • No. 4 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
  • No. 5 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
  • No. 6 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
  • No. 7 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
  • No. 8 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
  • No. 9 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
  • No. 21 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
  • No. 22 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
  • No. 23 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
  • No. 24 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF. Planned but cancelled.
  • No. 25 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
  • No. 26 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF

Beach units

Command level units

  • Bomber Command Development Unit
  • Bomber Command Experimental Unit
  • Coastal Command Development Unit
  • Coastal Command Fighter Affiliation Training Unit
  • Coastal Command Fighter Circus
  • Fighter Command Trials Unit
  • Home Command Examining Unit
  • Transport Command Aircrew Examining Unit
  • Transport Command Development Unit
  • Transport Command Examining Unit

Ferry units

Ferry Units

Ferry Crew Pools

Ferry Pilots Pools

  • 1, 2, 3, 7 (Service), 9 (Service).

Ferry Pools

Maintenance Units

Signals Units

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
  • 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.

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

  • 70 (Middle East)
  • 80 (French)
  • 101 (Glider)
  • 102 (Glider)
  • 104 (Transport)
  • 105 (Transport)
  • 107 (Transport)
  • 108 (Transport)
  • 109 (Transport)
  • 151 (Fighter)
  • 152 (Fighter)
  • No. 1 Operational Training Unit, India

Conversion Units

The RAF have now granted all OCUs Reserve squadron status.[1]

Operational Conversion Units (OCU)
  • All-Weather Operational Conversion Unit RAF
  • Jaguar Operational Conversion Unit RAF

Numbered Operational Conversion Units (OCU)

Numbered Conversion Units
Other Conversion Units

Aircraft units

Overseas Aircraft Despatch

  • Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit, Kemble and Portreath
  • 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5.

Overseas Aircraft Preparation

  • 1, 2, 3 & 4.

Aircraft Preparation

  • 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12 & 13.

Other

  • 1 Aircraft Delivery Unit
  • 13 Aircraft Modification Unit

Other Units

  • 'Q' Unit
  • 'Z' Unit, British Somaliland
  • No. 1 (Middle East) Pilots and Aircrew Pool
  • No. 1 Aeronautical Information Documents Unit
  • No. 1 Air-Sea Rescue Unit (North Africa)
  • No. 1 Auxiliary Embarkation Unit
  • No. 1 British Airways Repair Unit (Middle East)
  • No. 1 British Airways Repair Unit
  • No. 1 Camouflage Unit
  • No. 1 Civilian Fighter Control Co-operation Unit
  • No. 1 Coast Artillery Co-operation Unit
  • No. 1 Delivery Unit
  • No. 1 Engine Consumption Unit
  • No. 1 Engine Control Demonstration Unit
  • No. 1 Fighter Support Training Unit
  • No. 1 General Reconnaissance Unit
  • No. 1 Grading Unit (Airwork)
  • No. 1 Group Pool
  • No. 1 Heavy Glider Servicing Unit
  • No. 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit RAF
  • No. 1 Practice Flying Unit
  • No. 1 Pupil Pilots Pool
  • No. 1 Royal Air Force Film Production Unit
  • No. 1 Tactical Exercise Unit
  • No. 1 Tactical Weapons Unit
  • No. 1 Torpedo Training Unit
  • No. 11 (Landplane) Aircraft Preparation and Modification Unit
  • No. 11 (Landplane) Preparation and Modification Unit
  • No. 11 Group Pool
  • No. 12 (Flying Boat) Aircraft Preparation and Modification Unit
  • No. 12 (Flying Boat) Preparation and Modification Unit
  • No. 12 Group Pool
  • No. 2 (Middle East) Pilots and Aircrew Pool
  • No. 2 Aircraft Delivery Unit
  • No. 2 Auxiliary Embarkation Unit
  • No. 2 British Airways Repair Unit (Middle East)
  • No. 2 Camouflage Unit
  • No. 2 Civilian Fighter Control Co-operation Unit
  • No. 2 General Reconnaissance Unit
  • No. 2 Grading Unit (Airwork)
  • No. 2 Group Pool
  • No. 2 Group Support Unit
  • No. 2 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit RAF
  • No. 2 Pupil Pilots Pool
  • No. 2 Tactical Exercise Unit
  • No. 2 Tactical Weapons Unit
  • No. 2 Torpedo Training Unit
  • No. 201 Crew Training Unit
  • No. 202 Crew Training Unit
  • No. 203 Crew Training Unit
  • No. 204 Crew Training Unit
  • No. 3 Aircraft Delivery Unit
  • No. 3 Auxiliary Embarkation Unit
  • No. 3 Civilian Fighter Control Co-operation Unit
  • No. 3 Fighter Support Training Unit
  • No. 3 General Reconnaissance Unit
  • No. 3 Group Pool
  • No. 3 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit RAF (India)
  • No. 3 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit RAF
  • No. 3 Pupil Pilots Pool
  • No. 3 Tactical Exercise Unit
  • No. 4 Aircraft Delivery Unit
  • No. 4 Group Pool
  • No. 4 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit RAF
  • No. 4 Tactical Exercise Unit
  • No. 5 Group Pool
  • No. 5 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit RAF
  • No. 81 Auxiliary Embarkation Unit
  • No. 82 Auxiliary Embarkation Unit
  • No. 83 Embarkation Unit
  • No. 83 Group Support Unit
  • No. 84 Group Support Unit
  • No. 88 Group Support Unit
  • 2nd Tactical Air Force Air Sea Rescue Unit
  • 2nd Tactical Air Force Development Unit
  • 2nd Tactical Air Force Support Unit
  • Advanced Flying Training Unit
  • Advanced Flying Unit, Sétif
  • Air Combat Development Unit (Middle East)
  • Air Command and Control Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Operational Evaluation Unit
  • Air Defence Co-operation Unit
  • Air Defence Unit, Tanganyika
  • Air Fighting Development Unit
  • Air Fighting Training Unit
  • Air Gunnery Training Unit
  • Air Ministry Servicing Development Unit
  • Air Movements Development Unit
  • Air Photographic Development Unit
  • Air Pilotage Unit
  • Air Transport Development Centre (India)
  • Air Transport Development Unit
  • Air Transport Tactical Development Unit
  • Air-Sea Rescue Training Unit
  • Air-Sea warfare Development Unit (ACSEA)
  • Air-Sea warfare Development Unit
  • Airborne Forces Research Centre (India)
  • Airborne Forces Tactical Development Unit
  • Aircraft Delivery Unit
  • Aircraft Torpedo Development Unit
  • Aircrew Testing and Grading Unit
  • Aircrew Transit Pool
  • Airwork Grading Unit
  • Armament Support Unit
  • Allied Tactical Air Intelligence Unit, Southeast Asia
  • Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit
  • Armament and Instrument Experimental Unit
  • Armament Experimental Station
  • Army Co-operation Development Unit
  • Beam Approach Development Unit
  • Blind Approach Training and Development Unit
  • Blind Landing Detachment
  • Blind Landing Experimental Unit
  • Bomb Ballistic and Blind Landing Experimental Unit
  • Bomb Ballistic Unit
  • Bomber Development Unit
  • Bomber Support Development Unit
  • Bombing Development Unit
  • Bombing Trials Unit
  • British Airways Repair Unit (Middle East)
  • British Airways Training Unit
  • Central Interpretation Unit
  • Civil Defence Camouflage Unit
  • Civilian Fighter Control Co-operation Unit
  • Coast Defence Development Unit
  • Electronic Warfare and Avionics Unit
  • Enemy Aircraft Storage and Servicing Unit
  • Engine Consumption Unit
  • Experimental Air Ambulance Service
  • Experimental Co-operation Unit
  • Far East Tactical Development Unit
  • Far East Training Squadron
  • Fast Jet and Weapons Operational Evaluation Unit
  • Fighter Affiliation Training Unit
  • Fighter Armament Trials Unit
  • Fighter Interception Development Unit
  • Fighter Interception Unit
  • Fleet Requirements Unit
  • Floatplane Training Unit
  • Flying Boat Practice Camp
  • GEE (TR1335) Training Unit
  • Glider Exercise Unit
  • Glider Pilot Exercise Unit
  • Glider Training Unit
  • Gransden Lodge Navigation Training Unit
  • Gremlin Task Force - Japanese aircraft and crew transport operations[2]
  • Ground Attack Training Unit
  • Gunnery Research Unit
  • Helicopter Development Unit
  • Instant Readiness Reserve Unit
  • Joint Air Delivery Test and Evaluation Unit
  • Joint Air Transport Evaluation Unit
  • Joint Concealment Centre (Royal Air Force Component)
  • Joint Experimental Helicopter Unit
  • Joint Forward Air Controller Training and Standards Unit
  • Jungle Target Research Unit
  • Long-Range Desert Group
  • Long-Range Development Unit
  • LORAN Training Unit
  • Majunga Detachment Support Unit
  • Marine Aircraft Experimental Unit
  • Merchant Ship Fighter Unit
  • Middle East Advanced Crew Training Unit
  • Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit
  • Mobile Catering Support Unit
  • Navigation Training Unit
  • Night Fighter Unit, Malta
  • Night Ground Attack Trials Unit
  • Operational and Refresher Training Unit
  • Overseas Experimental Unit
  • Parachute Test Unit
  • Pathfinder Navigation Training Unit
  • Photographic Development Unit
  • Photographic Reconnaissance Development Unit
  • Photographic Reconnaissance Unit
  • Pilot Refresher Training Unit
  • Pilot Training Unit and Reinforcement Pool
  • Pilotless Aircraft Unit
  • Pilots and Aircrew Pool
  • Pilots Reinforcement and Reserve Pool
  • Pool of Pilots, Joyce Green
  • Pool of Pilots, Manston
  • Pupil Pilots Pool
  • Radar Research Flying Unit
  • Radio Engineering Unit
  • Reinforcement and Reserve Pool
  • Research and Development Unit
  • Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team – 'The Red Arrows'
  • Royal Air Force Element, Allied Tactical Air Intelligence Unit, Southeast Asia
  • Royal Air Force Element, Helicopter Development Unit
  • Royal Air Force Film Production Unit
  • Royal Air Force Film Unit
  • Search and Rescue Training Unit
  • Signals Development Unit
  • Signals Flying Unit
  • Special Avionics Servicing Unit
  • Special Duties (Radio) Development Unit
  • Special Installation Unit
  • Staff Pilot Training Unit
  • Strategic Reconnaissance Unit
  • Strike/Attack Operational Evaluation Unit
  • Strike Command Development Unit
  • Survival and Rescue Training Unit
  • Tactical and Weapon Development Unit
  • Tactical Weapons Unit
  • Target Towing Section, Shallufa
  • Telecommunications Flying Unit
  • Torpedo Development Section
  • Torpedo Development Unit
  • Torpedo Training Unit
  • Training Unit and Reserve Pool
  • Transport Support Practice Camp (BAFO)
  • Transport Support Practice Camp
  • Transport Support Training Unit
  • Tropical Experimental Unit
  • Wireless Development Unit
  • Wireless Intelligence Development Unit
  • Wireless Testing Park

Communications

Units

  • Aden Communication Unit
  • Air Command Southeast Asia Communication Unit
  • Air Headquarters Bengal Communication Unit
  • Bengal Communication Unit
  • Communication Unit, Desert Air Force
  • Communication Unit, Heliopolis
  • Communication Unit, Western Desert
  • Mediterranean Air Command Communication Unit

Wings

Armament Practice and Training Units

Unit Previous name Formed at Formed Aircraft Disbanded Disbanded at History
No. 1
Armament
Practice Camp
No. 15 Group
Armament
Practice Camp
RAF Aldergrove 5 November 1941 Westland Lysander II/III/IIIA
Fairey Battle
Miles Master
Miles Martinet
de Havilland Dominie I
1 September 1945 RAF Aldergrove
No. 2
Armament
Practice Camp
No. 16 Group
Armament
Practice Camp
RAF Thorney Island 5 November 1941 Westland Lysander III/IIIA
Miles Martinet
1 September 1945 RAF Bradwell Bay Absorbed by the Armament Practice Station, Spilsby.
No. 3
Armament
Practice Camp
No. 18 Group
Armament
Practice Camp
RAF Leuchars 5 November 1941 Westland Lysander II/III/IIIA
Fairey Battle
Miles Martinet
1 September 1945 RAF Leuchars
No. 4
Armament
Practice Camp
No. 19 Group
Armament
Practice Camp
RAF Carew Cheriton 5 November 1941 Westland Lysander IIIA
Fairey Battle
Miles Master II
Miles Martinet I
1 September 1945 RAF Talbenny

To hone aircrew weapons skills armament practice camps and stations have been used and these are listed here.

  • No. 11 Armament Practice Camp RAF
  • No. 12 Armament Practice Camp RAF
  • No. 13 Armament Practice Camp RAF
  • No. 14 Armament Practice Camp RAF
  • No. 15 Armament Practice Camp RAF
  • No. 16 Armament Practice Camp RAF
  • No. 17 Armament Practice Camp RAF
  • No. 18 Armament Practice Camp RAF
  • No. 20 Armament Practice Camp RAF
  • No. 21 Armament Practice Camp RAF
  • No. 22 Armament Practice Camp RAF
  • No. 23 Armament Practice Camp RAF
  • No. 24 Armament Practice Camp RAF
  • No. 25 Armament Practice Camp RAF
  • No. 26 Armament Practice Camp RAF
  • No. 27 Armament Practice Camp RAF
  • Armament Practice Camp, Butterworth
  • Armament Practice Camp (Middle East Air Force)
  • Armament Practice Camp, Sylt
  • Armament Practice Station, Lübeck
  • Armament Practice Station, Spilsby
  • Armament Practice Station, Sylt
  • No. 1 Armament Practice Station RAF
  • No. 2 Armament Practice Station RAF
  • No. 3 Armament Practice Station RAF
  • No. 1 Armament Training Camp, Kuantan
  • No. 1 Armament Training Camp RAF
  • No. 2 Armament Training Camp RAF
  • No. 3 Armament Training Camp RAF
  • No. 4 Armament Training Camp RAF
  • No. 5 Armament Training Camp RAF
  • No. 6 Armament Training Camp RAF
  • No. 7 Armament Training Camp RAF
  • No. 8 Armament Training Camp RAF
  • No. 1 Armament Training Station RAF
  • No. 1 Armament Training Station (France) RAF
  • No. 2 Armament Training Station RAF
  • No. 3 Armament Training Station RAF
  • No. 4 Armament Training Station RAF
  • No. 5 Armament Training Station RAF
  • No. 6 Armament Training Station RAF
  • No. 7 Armament Training Station RAF
  • No. 8 Armament Training Station RAF
  • No. 9 Armament Training Station RAF
  • No. 1 Armament Training Unit RAF
  • Fighter Command Missile Practice Camp RAF
  • No. 15 Group Armament Practice Camp RAF
  • No. 16 Group Armament Practice Camp RAF
  • No. 18 Group Armament Practice Camp RAF
  • No. 19 Group Armament Practice Camp RAF
  • Middle East Air Force Armament Practice Camp
  • Temporary Armament Training Camp, Aldergrove
  • Temporary Armament Training Camp, Flimstone
  • Temporary Armament Training Camp, Leuchars
  • Temporary Armament Training Camp, North Coates Fitties
  • Temporary Armament Training Station, Leuchars
  • Temporary Armament Training Station, North Coates Fitties

Training Wings

  • No. 1 Combat Training Wing
  • No. 2 Combat Training Wing

Establishments

Foreign Air Arms

  • Burmese Volunteer Air Force
  • Central Flying School (Southern Rhodesia)
  • Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force
  • Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Force (Air Component)
  • Kenya Auxiliary Air Unit
  • Kenya Pool
  • Malayan Volunteer Air Force
  • Norwegian Training Base
  • Polish Fighting Team (Skalski's Circus), attached to 145 Squadron
  • Polish Training Unit
  • Rhodesian Air Unit
  • Rhodesian Air Unit of the Territorial Forces
  • Southern Rhodesian Air Force
  • Straits Settlements Volunteer Air force
  • WAAF (Polish) Holding Unit
  • Yugoslav Holding Unit

See also

References

Citations

Bibliography

External links

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