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, 7, 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 WW2 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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