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
- Argosy Conversion Unit - RAF Benson
- Belvedere Conversion Unit - RAF Odiham
- Belvedere Trials Unit - RAF Odiham
- Blenheim Refresher Unit
- Canberra Trials and Tactical Evaluation Unit - RAF Akrotiri
- Halifax Training Unit - 1331 H(T)CU
- Harrier Conversion Team - RAF Wittering
- Jaguar Conversion Team - RAF Lossiemouth
- Jet Provost Trials Unit - RAF Tengah, Singapore
- Tornado F.3 Operational Evaluation Unit - RAF Coningsby
- Tornado Weapons Conversion Unit -
- Twin Pioneer Conversion Unit - RAF Odiham
- Victor (B.2) Trials Unit - RAF Cottesmore
- Victor 2 Conversion Unit - RAF Gaydon
- Warwick Training Unit
- Washington Conversion Unit - RAF Marham
- Wessex Intensive Flying Trials Unit - RAF Odiham
Refresher Flying Units
- 1 (Pilots) & 2 (Pilots)
- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9.
Advanced Flying Units
- 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10.
Pilots
Anti-aircraft units
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Beach units
- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 68, 69, 70, 71, 76 & 77
Command level units
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Ferry units
Ferry Training Units
Other Ferry Units
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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.
- 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
- 1 (Coastal), 2 (Coastal), 3 (Coastal), 4 (Coastal), 8 (Coastal), 9 (Coastal), 111 (Coastal), 131 (Coastal) & 132 (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
- No. 5 Heavy Bomber Conversion Unit, Lydda
- No. 21 Heavy Glider Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 22 Heavy Glider Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 23 Heavy Glider Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1330 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1331 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1332 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1333 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1334 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1335 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1336 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1380 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1381 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1382 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1383 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1384 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1385 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1584 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1651 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1652 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1653 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1654 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1655 Mosquito Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1656 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1657 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1658 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1659 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1660 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1661 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1662 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1663 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1664 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1665 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1666 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1667 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1668 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1669 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1670 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1671 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1672 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1673 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1674 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1675 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1678 Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 1699 Conversion Unit RAF
- Other Conversion Units
- Heavy Bomber Conversion Unit, Salbani
- Heavy Glider Conversion Unit RAF
- Short-Range Conversion Unit RAF
- Tornado Weapons Conversion Unit RAF
Aircraft units
Overseas Aircraft Despatch
Overseas Aircraft Preparation
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Aircraft Preparation
Other
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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
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Wings
- 2nd Tactical Air Force Communication Wing
Armament Practice and Training Units
Unit | Previous name | Formed at | Formed | Aircraft | Disbanded | Disbanded at | History |
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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.
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Training Wings
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Establishments
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Foreign Air Arms
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See also
References
Citations
Bibliography
- Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
- Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988 (second edition 2001). ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
- Lake, Alan. "Flying Units of the RAF".Airlife Publishing. Shrewsbury. 1999. ISBN 1-84037-086-6
External links
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