Royal Auxiliary Air Force

Royal Auxiliary Air Force

Badge of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force
Active October 1924 - Present
Country United Kingdom
Allegiance Queen Elizabeth II
Branch Royal Air Force
Type Volunteer Reserve, Auxiliaries
Motto(s) Comitamur Ad Astra (Latin: "We go with them to the stars")
Website Royal Air Force Auxiliary
Commanders
Inspector of the RAuxAF Group Captain Gavin Hellard
Command Warrant Officer Warrant Officer Shobha Earl
Air Commodore-in-Chief Queen Elizabeth II
Insignia
RAF roundels

The Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF), originally the Auxiliary Air Force (AAF), and now more commonly called the RAF Reserve, is the volunteer reserve element of the Royal Air Force, providing a primary reinforcement capability for the regular service. It consists of paid volunteers who give up some of their weekends, evenings and holidays to train at one of a number of squadrons around the United Kingdom. Its current mission is to provide trained personnel in support of the regular RAF.

Formation

The Royal Auxiliary Air Force owes its origin to Lord Trenchard's vision of an elite corps of civilians who would serve their country in flying squadrons in their spare time. Instituted by Order in Council on 9 October 1924, the first Auxiliary Air Force squadrons were formed the following year. The pilots of AAF squadrons were generally formed from the wealthier classes, as applicants were expected to already have, or be prepared to obtain, their pilot's licence at their own expense, at a cost of £96, about £5,000 today.[1] Unlike members of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) which had been trained in the RAF and left, but were obliged to return to service if required.[2]

Pilots of the AAF were expected to join for a period of no less than five years, and were required to fly a few hours every quarter and attend annual training for 15 days. Each squadron was provided with a town base for training, and facilities at an aerodrome.[1]

Second World War

A No. 504 (County of Nottingham) Squadron Supermarine Spitfire during WWII.

By March 1939, 21 flying squadrons had been formed, the 20 surviving units being incorporated into the Royal Air Force at the outbreak of war. The squadrons were equipped with a variety of operational aircraft which included Hurricanes and Spitfires. The squadrons scored a number of notable successes before and during the Second World War: the first flight over Mount Everest, the first German aircraft destroyed over British territorial waters - and over the mainland, the first U-boat to be destroyed with the aid of airborne radar, the first kill of a V-1 flying bomb; the first to be equipped with jet-powered aircraft, and the highest score of any British night fighter squadron. In the Battle of Britain, the AAF provided 14 of the 62 Squadrons in RAF Fighter Command's Order of Battle and accounted for approximately 30% of the accredited enemy kills. The losses sustained during the Battle of Britain were replaced by drafting in regular and RAFVR pilots.

The Tactical Air Force squadrons were chosen to carry out several successful ultra low-level raids on key 'pin-point' targets in occupied Europe. The Balloon Squadrons also played their part, downing and deterring many hostile aircraft and were accredited with the destruction of 279 V1 flying bombs.

The Auxiliary Air Force was also responsible for the anti-aircraft balloon defences of the UK. At the outbreak of war in 1939 there were about 42 Squadrons operating barrage balloons, with the number of squadrons peaking at about 102 in 1944.

Cold War

These achievements were honoured by the prefix "Royal" conferred by King George VI in 1947. Twenty of the pre-war squadrons were reformed postwar as fighter units. Events after the Second World War heralded a time of great danger for the UK. The onset of the Cold War with the Communist Bloc leading to the Berlin Air Lift and ultimately the outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950. During all these crises the RAuxAF fighter squadrons, the five newly formed Air Observation Post (AOP) squadrons and other RAuxAF units, played their part in the UK's air defence and participated in many NATO air exercises. In 1951, at the height of the Korean War, all 20 RAuxAF fighter squadrons (representing one third of Fighter Command strength) were called up for three months full-time service. They were required for home defence in place of regular squadrons earmarked for deployment to Korea. In the event RAF fighter squadrons were not needed in Korea, but the RAuxAF squadrons were retained for intensive refresher training at their home bases.

The 10 March 1957 saw the disbandment of all the 20 RAuxAF Force fighter squadrons, the five post-war AOP squadrons and the Light Anti-Aircraft ground-based squadrons of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment. In the following two years or so, the Auxiliary Fighter Control Units associated with them were also disbanded. On 16 March 1960, the Air Commodore-in-Chief and His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, invited the Squadron Commanders and Flight Commanders of all the disbanded Royal Auxiliary Air Force units to a Reception at Buckingham Palace. All were given the following letter from the Air Commodore-in-Chief:

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

I have welcomed this opportunity of taking leave of the Commanding Officers and senior Auxiliary officers of the squadrons of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force which are being disbanded and of sending through them this message of appreciation and thanks to all their officers, airmen and airwomen.

The history of the Auxiliary Air Force has been a glorious one. The first Auxiliary squadrons were included in the Air Defence of Great Britain in 1925. By the outbreak of war in 1939 the Auxiliary fighter, coastal and balloon squadrons formed an integral and vital part of our forces. It was aircraft of these squadrons which shot down the first enemy bomber over this country; and Auxiliary squadrons were heavily engaged in the air over Dunkirk and throughout the Battle of Britain. Later they were to win battle honours over the Atlantic, in Malta, North Africa, Sicily and Italy, the Arakan and Burma, and in Normandy, France and Germany.

After the war, the fighter squadrons were reconstituted as the Royal Auxiliary Air Force and the traditional spirit of voluntary service found new outlets with the formation of Regiment, Air OP, Fighter Control and Radar reporting Units, some of which are to remain in being and provide further opportunities for voluntary service.

The association of the Force with my family has always been close. I was proud to become Honorary Air Commodore of Nos 603, 2063 and 3603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadrons in 1951 and to succeed my father as Honorary Air Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force in 1952. Members of my family have always treasured their association with Auxiliary squadrons as Honorary Air Commodores.

I wish as Air Commodore-in-Chief to thank officers, airmen and airwomen of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force for all that they have given to the service of the country by their enthusiasm, their spirit and their devotion to duty in peace and war. It is a sad day when it is necessary to tell so many that it is no longer possible to use their services on the duties they have assumed so willingly. I wish them to know that they can look back with pride and satisfaction to service well done.

16 March 1957

Elizabeth R

The renaissance of the RAuxAF began in 1959 with the formation of three Maritime Headquarters Units and one Maritime Support Unit. The MSU in Belfast was very short-lived, but No 1 (County of Hertford) MHU in Northwood, No 2 (City of Edinburgh) MHU in Edinburgh and No 3 (County of Devon) MHU in Mountbatten continued in existence until No 3 was amalgamated into No 1 in 1999. Later that year No 1 was renumbered 600 (City of London) Squadron and No 2 was renumbered 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron. These three units formed the entirety of the RAuxAF for twenty years until expansion starting in 1979, with the formation of three Regiment Field Squadrons, continuing with a Movements Squadron in 1982, and, following lessons learned during the Falklands conflict; an Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron in 1983. A more recent addition, in 1987, was an auxiliary element (The Grampian Troop) formed within a regular RAF Regiment Rapier Air Defence Squadron. Another step forward was taken in 1986, with the raising of four Defence Force Flights with the role of ground defence of key points on air bases. In 1984, the RAuxAF's Diamond Jubilee was marked by the award to the Service of its own badge, which forms the basic motif of the Sovereign's Colour for the Royal Auxiliary Force presented by Her Majesty the Queen in 1989. The words of the badge motto COMITAMUR AD ASTRA - Latin "We go with them to the stars".

Gulf War and beyond

During the Gulf War in 1991 the Aeromedical and Movements Squadrons performed with great distinction in theatre and at other locations in the UK and overseas.

2623sqn RAuxAF Regiment Shooting GPMG on range

On 5 April 1997, all of the four war-appointable flights of the then Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve were fully amalgamated into the RAuxAF, each with squadron status. In recognition of their origins, and in the absence of direct county or city territorial affiliations, they were each given the honour of retaining the letters "VR" within their squadron titles. The remaining non-active support elements of the RAFVR were and remain unaffected by this amalgamation, namely the RAFVR(T), the RAFVR(UAS), and at its point of formation, the RAFVR(DTUS) (being the branches for Training, University Air Squadron, and the Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme, respectively).

The 2622sqn RAuxAF Regiment standard is presented to an officer on 30 September 2006

During 2003 the RAuxAF was involved in the first large-scale mobilisation for over 50 years. More than 900 people, over 70% of its trained strength, were called into full-time service and were deployed to support RAF operations in Cyprus, Kuwait, Iraq and the Falkland Islands, as well as those in the UK. The RAuxAF enjoyed its 80th anniversary during 2004 and Lord Trenchard's vision has been amply vindicated by its achievements spanning the years. While the Auxiliary concept has moved away from the provision of Flying Squadrons, the professional skill, enthusiasm and esprit-de-corps of his young men of the twenties and thirties are matched by the men and women who constitute the RAuxAF of today.

The Royal Auxiliary Air Force establishment (liability) is set at 2,920 - though recruitment difficulties mean the RAuxAF is currently at a strength well below that; indeed, the RAuxAF's compromises 1,510 personnel as of April 2014.[3]

On 19 July 2007 Senior Aircraftman Chris Dunsmore, aged 29, of 504 (County of Nottingham) Sqn RAuxAF was one of three men killed by a rocket attack on the RAF base at Basrah Airport, Iraq. He was the first serving RAuxAF member killed by enemy action since the Second World War.[4]

On 13 April 2008 Senior Aircraftman Gary Thompson, aged 51, of 504 (County of Nottingham) Sqn RAuxAF was killed by a roadside bomb while on patrol in Kandahar. SAC Thompson is the oldest British serviceman killed in Afghanistan.[5]

In November 2014 the Ministry of Defence announced the creation of three new RAuxAF units: No. 505 Squadron - to be based at RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall, No. 605 Squadron - to be based at RAF Cosford in Shropshire, and No. 607 Squadron - to be based at RAF Leeming.[6]

Structure of the RAuxAF

Current RAuxAF Units

3 (TPW)
501, 622, 2624, 4624, 4626
502
504
600
602
603
605
606
607, 609
612
7006, 7630, 7644, 7010, 2503
7644
2620
2622
2623
611
614
505
RAuxAF squadron locations in the United Kingdom

(Note: none of the squadrons listed below are flying units with their own allocated aircraft)

List of former RAuxAF Squadrons

Flying Squadrons formed 1925-1939

Air Observation Post flying Squadrons formed in 1949

Disbanded Units

Barrage Balloon Organisation of the Auxiliary Air Force

Barrage Balloon Groups and Centres

data from:-[7]

No 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF
17 Mar 1937 - 7 Jan 1945
No 1 Balloon Centre
Kidbrooke, London SE3
4 Oct 1937 - 1960
No 2 Balloon Centre
Hook, Surrey
1937 - pre Jun 1944
No 3 Balloon Centre
Stanmore, Middlesex
1937 - Current
No 4 Balloon Centre
Chigwell, Essex
2 Aug 1938 - 1 Apr 1943
No 22 Balloon Centre
Biggin Hill, Kent
19 Feb 1944 - 20 Nov 1944
No 23 Balloon Centre
Gravesend, Kent
1 Feb 1944 - 15 Jan 1945
No 24 Balloon Centre
Redhill, Surrey
1 Jul 1944 - 15 Jan 1945
No 31 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF
Birmingham
1 Apr 1939 - 13 Nov 1941
No 5 Balloon Centre
Whitehouse Common, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham
Unknown - pre Jun 1944
No 6 Balloon Centre
Wythall, Birmingham
Transferred to No 32 Group13 Nov 1941
No 7 Balloon Centre
Curzon Lane, Alvaston, Derbyshire
Unknown - pre Jun 1944
No 8 Balloon Centre
Fazakerley, Liverpool
Unknown - pre Jun 1944
No 9 Balloon Centre
Houghton Green, Warrington
Unknown - pre Jun 1944
No 10 Balloon Centre
Bowlee, Middleton, Greater Manchester
Unknown - pre Jun 1944
No 32 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF
Romsey / Bath
1 Mar 1939 - 15 Nov 1944
No 11 Balloon Centre
Pucklechurch, Bristol
No 12 Balloon Centre
Southampton Road, Titchfield, Fareham, Hants
Transferred to No 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF - pre Jun 1944
No 13 Balloon Centre
Collaton Cross, Yealhampton, Plymouth
No 14 Balloon Centre
Caerau, Ely, Cardiff
Unknown - pre Jun 1944
No 21 Balloon Centre
Pembroke Dock, Wales
27 Aug 1940 - 31 Dec 1941
No 33 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF
Long Benton / Sheffield (1940)
1 Mar 1939 - 4 Sep 1944
No 15 Balloon Centre
Long Benton, Forest Hall, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
No 16 Balloon Centre
Hemsworth, Norton, Sheffield
15 Aug 1939 - pre Jun 1944
No 17 Balloon Centre
Sutton-on-Hull, Hull
17 May 1939 - 15 Oct 1942
No 34 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF
Edinburgh
1 Jul 1940 - 4 Sep 1944
No 18 Balloon Centre
Bishopbriggs, Glasgow
Aug 1939 - Unknown
No 19 Balloon Centre
Rosyth, Fife
21 Oct 1939 - 6 May 1940
No 18 Balloon Centre
Lyness, Orkney
2 Jun 1940 - 27 Dec 1941

Barrage Balloon Squadrons

No. 901 (County of London) Balloon Squadron AAF
16 May 1938
5 Flights of 9 balloons
Woolwich, Abbey Wood, Kidbrooke
No. 902 (County of London) Balloon Squadron AAF
16 May 1938
5 Flights of 9 balloons
Kidbrooke, Brixton
No. 903 (County of London) Balloon Squadron AAF
16 May 1938 - Unknown 1944
5 Flights of 9 balloons.
Amalgamated with 902 Sqn.
Brixton / Forest Hill
No. 904 (County of Surrey) Balloon Squadron AAF
16 May 1938
5 Flights of 9 balloons
Clapham
No. 905 (County of Surrey) Balloon Squadron AAF
16 May 1938 - Unknown 1944
5 Flights of 9 balloons. Amalgamated with 901 Sqn
Kensington, Clapham
No. 906 (County of Middlesex) Balloon Squadron AAF
7 Jul 1938
5 Flights of 9 balloons
Hampstead, Kensington
No. 907 (County of Middlesex) Balloon Squadron AAF
16 May 1938
5 Flights of 9 balloons
Harringay / Woodberry Down
No. 908 (County of Essex) Balloon Squadron AAF
5 Jul 1938
5 Flights of 9 balloons
Wanstead, Harringay
No. 909 (County of Essex) Balloon Squadron AAF
16 May 1938
5 Flights of 9 balloons
West Ham, East Ham
No. 910 (County of Essex) Balloon Squadron AAF
5 Jul 1938
5 Flights of 9 balloons, (3 Water-borne (Aug 1940))
Dagenham, East Ham.
No. 911 (County of Warwick) Balloon Squadron AAF
Jan 1939 – Unknown
4 Flights of 8 balloons (48 balloons in Aug 1940)
West Bromwich, Chelmsford, Erdington (Dec 1943).
No. 912 (County of Warwick) Balloon Squadron AAF
Jan 1939 -Unknown
4 Flights of 8 balloons (24 balloons in Aug 1940)
Brockworth, Gloucester.
No. 913 (County of Warwick) Balloon Squadron AAF
Jan 1939 -Unknown
3 Flights of 8 balloons
Erdington / Sutton Coldfield, Chelmsford
No. 914 (County of Warwick) Balloon Squadron AAF
Jan 1939 - pre Jun 1944
4 Flights of 8 balloons (40 balloons in Aug 1940)
Wythall / Northfield.
No. 915 (County of Warwick) Balloon Squadron AAF
Jan 1939 -Unknown
4 Flights of 8 balloons (40 balloons in Aug 1940)
Bourneville / Rowkeath, Chelmsford.
No. 916 (County of Warwick) Balloon Squadron AAF
Jan 1939 – Unknown, Jun 1944 - Unknown
3 Flights of 8 balloons (32 balloons in Aug 1940)
Coventry
Reformed for Anti-'Diver' duties
No. 917 (County of Warwick) Balloon Squadron AAF
Jan 1939 - pre Jun 1944
3 Flights of 8 balloons
Coventry
No. 918 (County of Derby) Balloon Squadron AAF
Jan 1939 - pre Jun 1944
3 Flights of 8 balloons ( 32 balloons in Aug 1940)
Derby / Alveston.
No. 919 (West Lancashire) Balloon Squadron AAF
Jan 1939 - pre Jun 1944
4 Flights of 8 balloons. (52 balloons (12 Water-borne) in Aug 1940)
Birkenhead.
No. 920 Balloon Squadron AAF
Jan 1939 - pre Dec 1943
4 Flights of 8 balloons (A & B Flights later 12 balloons each, C & D retained 8 each)
Derry
No. 921 (West Lancashire) Balloon Squadron AAF
Jan 1939 - 20 Feb 1943
3 Flights of 8 balloons (48 balloons in Aug 1940)
Liverpool / Fazakerley.
No. 922 (West Lancashire) Balloon Squadron AAF
Jan 1939 - pre Dec 1943
4 Flights of 8 balloons
Warrington / Curerdley
No. 923 (West Lancashire) Balloon Squadron AAF
Jan 1939 - Unknown, Jun 1944 - Unknown
4 Flights of 8 balloons
Runcorn / Birkenhead
Reformed for Anti-'Diver' duties
No. 924 Balloon Squadron AAF
Jan 1939 Unknown
4 Flights of 8 balloons (24 balloons in Aug 1940)
Southampton / Eastleigh.
No. 925 (East Lancashire) Balloon Squadron AAF
Jan 1939 - pre Jun 1944
3 Flights of 8 balloons (40 balloons in Aug 1940)
Manchester
No. 926 (East Lancashire) Balloon Squadron AAF
Unknown - pre Jun 1944
3 Flights of 8 balloons (40 balloons in Aug 1940)
Bowlee / Manchester
No. 927 (County of Gloucester) Balloon Squadron AAF
Jan 1939 Unknown
3 Flights of 8 balloons (32 balloons in Aug 1940)
Bristol.
No. 928 Balloon Squadron AAF
Jan 1939 Unknown
3 Flights of 8 balloons (10 Water-borne Aug 1940)
Felixstowe / Harwich
No. 929 Balloon Squadron AAF
Jan 1939 Unknown
3 Flights of 8 balloons (7 Water-borneAug 1940)
South Queensferry
No. 930 (Hampshire) Balloon Squadron AAF
Jan 1939 - pre Dec 1943
3 Flights of 8 balloons (50 balloons (10 Water-borne ) in Aug 1940)
Southampton.
No. 931 (Hampshire) Balloon Squadron AAF
Jan 1939 - pre Dec 1943
3 Flights of 8 balloons
No. 932 (Hampshire) Balloon Squadron AAF
Jan 1939 Unknown
3 Flights of 8 balloons (32 balloons in Aug 1940)
Portsmouth
No. 933 (Hampshire) Balloon Squadron AAF
Jan 1939 Unknown
3 Flights of 8 balloons
Portsmouth / Gosport
No. 934 (County of Devon) Balloon Squadron AAF
Jan 1939 Unknown
5 Flights of 8 balloons (24 balloons in Aug 1940)
Plymouth.
No. 935 (County of Glamorgan) Balloon Squadron AAF
Jan 1939 Unknown
2 Flights of 8 balloons (24 balloons in Aug 1940)
Plymouth/Filton.
No. 936 (County of Northumberland) Balloon Squadron AAF
20 Feb 1939 - 4 Jun 1943
4 Flights of 8 balloons (4 Water-borne Aug 1940)
Newcastle upon Tyne
Amalgamated with No 937 on 4 Jun 1943
No. 937 (County of Northumberland) Balloon Squadron AAF
20 Feb 1939 - 4 Jun 1943
4 Flights of 8 balloons (40 balloons (3 Water-borne) in Aug 1940)
Newcastle upon Tyne
Amalgamated with No 936 on 4 Jun 1943
No. 936/937 Balloon Squadron AAF
4 Jun 1943 - 1 Dec 1944
No. 938 (County of Northumberland) Balloon Squadron AAF
20 Feb 1939 - 1 Dec 1944
3 Flights of 8 balloons (48 balloons in Aug 1940)
Stockton on Tees / Billingham
No. 939 (West Riding) Balloon Squadron AAF
Jan 1939 Unknown
3 Flights of 8 balloons
Sheffield
No. 940 (West Riding) Balloon Squadron AAF
Unknown - pre Jun 1944
Sheffield
3 Flights of 8 balloons
No. 941 (West Riding) Balloon Squadron AAF
Jan 1939 Unknown
3 Flights of 8 balloons (40 balloons in Aug 1940)
Sheffield / Sunderland (May 1943)
Amalgamated with 939 due to lack of volunteers
No. 942 (East Riding) Balloon Squadron AAF
25 Jan 1939 - 1 Jan 1942
3 Flights of 8 balloons 42 balloons (24 Water-borne) in Aug 1940
Sutton on Hull
Amalgamated with 943 - 1 Jan 1942
No. 943 (East Riding) Balloon Squadron AAF
25 Jan 1939 - 1 Jan 1942
3 Flights of 8 balloons (32 balloons in Aug 1940)
Sutton on Hull
Amalgamated with 942 - 1 Jan 1942
No. 942/943 (East Riding) Balloon Squadron AAF
1 Jan 1942 - 31 Aug 1944
Anti-'Diver- duties from 31 Jul 1944
No. 944 (East Riding) Balloon Squadron AAF
25 Jan 1939 -26 Apr 1942
3 Flights of 8 balloons
Sutton on Hull
No. 945 (City of Glasgow) Balloon Squadron AAF
Jan 1939 - Unknown, Jun 1944 - Unknown
4 Flights of 8 balloons (40 balloons in Aug 1940)
Glasgow
Reformed in 22 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties
No. 946 (City of Glasgow) Balloon Squadron AAF
Jan 1939 - pre Jun 1944
4 Flights of 8 balloons (48 balloons in Aug 1940)
Renfrew
No. 947 (City of Glasgow) Balloon Squadron AAF
Jan 1939 - pre Jun 1944, Jun 1944 - Unknown
3 Flights of 8 balloons (32 balloons in Aug 1940)
Glasgow
Reformed in 22 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties
No. 948 Balloon Squadron AAF
Oct 1939 - pre Dec 1943
24 balloons in Aug 1940
Rosyth
No. 949 Balloon Squadron AAF
Oct 1949 - Unknown, Jun 1944 - Unknown
32 balloons in Aug 1940
Crewe
Reformed in 23 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties
No. 950 Balloon Squadron AAF
Unknown – Unknown
Lyness, Orkney – Feb 1940, Kirkwall, Orkney - 1944
32 balloons in Aug 1940
No. 951 Balloon Squadron AAF
Unknown - pre Dec 1943
40 balloons in Aug 1940
Bristol until 19 Jun 1944 (Norwich) and then Anti-'Diver' duties
No. 952 Balloon Squadron AAF
Nov 1939
Sheerness
40 balloons (32 Water-borne) in Aug 1940
No. 953 Balloon Squadron AAF
Unknown
Cardiff 1943/44
39 balloons (7 Water-borne) in Aug 1940
1943/44 -, Anti-'Diver' duties from Jun 1944
No. 954 Balloon Squadron AAF
Cobham
No. 955 Balloon Squadron AAF
1943/44
Weston-super-Mare
No. 956 Balloon Squadron AAF
Colnbrook
24 balloons in Aug 1940
No. 957 Balloon Squadron AAF
Jul 1940 – Unknown
Yeovil
24 balloons in Aug 1940
No. 958 Balloon Squadron AAF

Jul 1940 - Unknown

Swansea
25 balloons (3 Water-borne) in Aug 1940
Reformed in 23 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties
No. 959 Balloon Squadron AAF
27 Aug 1940 Unknown
Falmouth
24 balloons (8 Water-borne) in Aug 1940
No. 960 Balloon Squadron AAF
Feb 1940 - Unknown
Lyness, Orkney to Dec 1943, Canterbury 1944 on
24 balloons (16 Water-borne) in Aug 1940
No. 961 Balloon Squadron AAF
Jul 1940 – Unknown
Dover
8 Water-borne balloons (Aug 1940)
No. 962 Balloon Squadron AAF
Sep 1940 - pre Dec 1943
Milford Haven
24balloons (9 Water-borne) in Aug 1940
No. 963 Balloon Squadron AAF
Unknown - pre Dec 1943
No. 964 Balloon Squadron AAF
Aug 1940 - Unknown
Torpoint, Plymouth 1944 on
24 balloons (6 Water-borne) in Aug 1940
No. 965 Balloon Squadron AAF
Jul 1940 - Unknown
Port Talbot
16 balloons in Aug 1940
Reformed in 23 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties
No. 966 Balloon Squadron AAF
Sep 1940 - Unknown
Newport, Monmouthshire, moved to RAF Seal south of London from Jun 1944
40 balloons in Aug 1940
Reformed in 23 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties
No. 967 Balloon Squadron AAF
Unknown - pre Dec 1943
Ardrossan
48 balloons in Aug 1940
No. 968 Balloon Squadron AAF
Unknown - pre Dec 1943
Belfast
16 balloons (8 Water-borne) in Aug 1940
No. 969 Balloon Squadron AAF
Jul 1940 – Unknown , - Unknown
Barry pre Dec 1943, Great Yarmouth from Jun 1944
16 balloons in Aug 1940
Reformed in 23 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties
No. 970 Balloon Squadron AAF
Unknown - pre Dec 1943
No. 971 Balloon Squadron AAF
1944
AHQ Eastern Mediterranean
No. 972 Balloon Squadron AAF
Egypt
No. 973 Balloon Squadron AAF
1944
AHQ Eastern Mediterranean
No. 974 Balloon Squadron AAF
Egypt
2nd Tactical Air Force (2nd TAF or 2 TAF)
No. 975 Balloon Squadron AAF
1944
No. 242 Group AAF
No. 976 Balloon Squadron AAF
1944
2nd TAF
No. 977 Balloon Squadron AAF
1944
Mediterranean Coastal Air Forces
No. 978 Balloon Squadron AAF
1941 1944
3rd TAF
No. 979 Balloon Squadron AAF
1944
3rd TAF
No. 980 Balloon Squadron AAF
Unknown - 6 Jun 1945
2nd TAF (1944 on)
980 Sqn defended Abadan from 1942 and Khosrowabad before being moved via Jordan to the Suez Canal and then Italy
No. 981 Balloon Squadron AAF
1941-Unknown
Mediterranean Coastal Air Forces
Reformed in UK for Anti-'Diver' duties - 1944
No. 982 Balloon Squadron AAF
1944
Mediterranean Coastal Air Forces
No. 983 Balloon Squadron AAF
1944
Mediterranean Coastal Air Forces
No. 984 Balloon Squadron AAF
1944
No. 222 Group AAF
No. 985 Balloon Squadron AAF
1944
No. 242 Group AAF
No. 986 Balloon Squadron AAF
1944
Malta
No. 987 Balloon Squadron AAF
1 Sep 1943-Unknown
No. 224 Group AAF (1944 on)
No. 988 Balloon Squadron AAF
No. 989 Balloon Squadron AAF
No. 990 Balloon Squadron AAF
1944
No. 222 Group AAF
No. 991 Balloon Squadron AAF
2nd TAF
No. 992 (Mobile) Balloon Squadron AAF
Dec 1943 -
No 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF, Great Yarmouth
Jun 1944 to 85 Group, for the defence of ports.
No. 993 (Mobile) Balloon Squadron AAF
Dec 1943
No 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF, Chelmsford
No. 994 (Mobile) Balloon Squadron AAF
Dec 1943
No 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF, Canterbury
Jun 1944 to 85 Group,
No. 995 (Mobile) Balloon Squadron AAF
Dec 1943
No 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF, Titchfield
No. 996 Balloon Squadron AAF
No. 85 Group AAF
Mobile Unit for the defence of ports
No. 997 Balloon Squadron AAF
Weymouth (1944)
Mobile Unit for the defence of ports
No. 998 Balloon Squadron AAF
Brighton (1944)
Mobile Unit for the defence of ports
No. 999 Balloon Squadron AAF
Paignton (1944)
Mobile Unit for the defence of ports

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Auxiliary Air Force". Flight XVII (876): 663–664. 8 October 1925. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  2. Bishop, Patrick (2003). Fighter Boys. London: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780002571692.
  3. "UK Reserve Forces and Cadets" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. 29 May 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  4. "Funeral for airman killed in Iraq". BBC News. 8 August 2007. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  5. "Tributes paid to veteran airman". BBC News. 16 April 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  6. "RAF Cosford to get new reserve squadron". BBC News. 25 November 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  7. Barrass, M. B. (2015). "RAF Squadrons 901–980". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 24 April 2015.

Bibliography

  • Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1980. ISBN 0-85130-083-9.
  • Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1981-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Hunt, Leslie. Twenty-one Squadrons: History of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, 1925-57. London: Garnstone Press, 1972. ISBN 0-85511-110-0. (New edition in 1992 by Crécy Publishing, ISBN 0-947554-26-2.)
  • Jefford, C.G., Wing Commander MBE, BA, RAF (Retd). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 1998 (second edition 2001). ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
  • Moyes, Philip J.R. Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1964 (Second edition 1976). ISBN 0-354-01027-1.
  • Rawlings, John D.R. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1969 (Second edition 1976). ISBN 0-354-01028-X.

External links

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