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List of Royal Air Force units & establishments

(Redirected from No. 1490 (Target Towing) Flight RAF)

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

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Aircraft units

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Main article: List of Royal Air Force ferry units

Overseas aircraft despatch

Overseas aircraft preparation

Aircraft preparation

Other

Airfields

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airfield HQ formed on formed at disbanded on disbanded at became notes
121 No. 121 Wing RAF [10]
122 No. 122 Wing RAF [10]
123 No. 123 Wing RAF [10]
124 No. 124 Wing RAF [10]
125 No. 125 Wing RAF [11]
126 No. 126 Wing RAF [11]
127 No. 127 Wing RAF [11]
128 No. 128 Wing RAF [11]
129 No. 129 Wing RAF [11]
130 No. 130 Wing RAF [11]
131 No. 131 Wing RAF [11]
132 No. 132 Wing RAF [11]
133 No. 133 Wing RAF [11]
134 No. 134 Wing RAF [11]
135 No. 135 Wing RAF [11]
136 No. 136 Wing RAF [11]
137 No. 137 Wing RAF [11]
138 No. 138 Wing RAF [11]
139 No. 139 Wing RAF [11]
140 No. 140 Wing RAF [11]
141 No. 141 Wing RAF [11]
142 No. 142 Wing RAF [11]
143 No. 143 Wing RAF [11]
144 No. 144 Wing RAF [11]
145 No. 145 Wing RAF [11]
146 No. 146 Wing RAF [11]
147 No. 147 Wing RAF [12]
148 No. 148 Wing RAF [12]
149 No. 149 Wing RAF [12]
150 No. 150 Wing RAF [12]

Advanced flying units

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Observers[13][14]

Pilots[15][16]

Anti-aircraft units

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Main article: List of Anti-Aircraft units of the Royal Air Force

Armament practice and training units

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

Armament practice camp

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
  • 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

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Base Formed On Formed At Disbanded On Disbanded At Became Notes
11 71 Base [17]
12 Disbanded [17]
13 Disbanded [17]
14 Disbanded [17]
15 Disbanded [17]
31 73 Base [17]
32 Disbanded [17]
33 Disbanded [18]
41 74 Base [18]
42 Disbanded [18]
43 Disbanded [18]
44 Disbanded [18]
51 75 Base [18]
52 15 Base [18]
53 Disbanded [18]
54 Disbanded [18]
55 Disbanded [18]
56 Disbanded [18]
61 (RCAF) 76 Base [18]
62 (RCAF) (Beaver) RCAF Control [18]
63 (RCAF) Disbanded [18]
64 (RCAF) RCAF Control [18]
71 Disbanded [18]
72 Disbanded [18]
73 Disbanded [18]
74 Disbanded [18]
75 Disbanded [18]
76 (RCAF) Disbanded [18]

Beach units

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Further information: Beach groups
 
Memorial to 1, 2 and 4 Beach Sqns RAF at Arromanches, Normandy.

Beam approach beacon system

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Main article: List of Beam approach beacon system units

Command level units

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Communications

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Main article: List of Royal Air Force Communication units

Conversion units

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Main article: List of Royal Air Force Conversion Units

The RAF have now granted all OCUs Reserve squadron status.[26]

Operational conversion units (OCU)

Numbered operational conversion units (OCU)

Numbered conversion units
Other conversion units

Establishments

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Ferry units

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Further information: List of Royal Air Force Ferry units

Foreign air arms

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In Rhodesia, the Rhodesian Air Unit of the Territorial Forces, active 1935-39, became the Rhodesian Air Unit,[52] and then the Southern Rhodesian Air Force (1939-40).[52] 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 [52] was created.

Maintenance units

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Main article: List of Royal Air Force Maintenance units

Operational Training Units (OTU)

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Main article: List of Royal Air Force Operational Training Units

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

Other

Other units

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Numbered other units

Other units

Pools

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Photographic reconnaissance

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Refresher flying units

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Sectors

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sector formed on formed at disbanded on disbanded at became notes
11 (Northern) April 1963 RAF Leconfield April 1968 RAF Boulmer Sector South [107]
12 (East Anglia) April 1963 RAF Horsham St Faith April 1968 Neatishead Sector North [107]
13 (Scotland) April 1963 RAF Boulmer March 1965 RAF Boulmer Disbanded into 11 Sector [107]
15 May 1944 RAF Ford July 1944 Martragny Disbanded [107]
17 (Fighter) May 1944 RAF Kenley July 1944 Crepon Disbanded [107]
18 (Fighter) May 1944 RAF Chailey July 1944 RAF Chailey Disbanded [108]
19 (Fighter) May 1944 RAF Appledram July 1944 RAF Appledram Disbanded [108]
20 (Fighter) May 1944 RAF Thorney Island July 1944 RAF Thorney Island Disbanded [108]
21 (Base Defence) May 1944 RAF Sopley Park July 1944 RAF Ibsley Disbanded [108]
22 (Fighter) May 1944 RAF Hurn July 1944 Le Fresnoy Disbanded [108]
24 (Base Defence) May 1944 RAF Wartling March 1945 St Denis Westrem Disbanded into 85 Group Unit [108]
25 (Base Defence) May 1944 RAF Hornchurch March 1945 Everburg Disbanded into 85 Group Operations Room [108]
North April 1968 RAF Neatishead January 1992 RAF Neatishead Disbanded [107]
South April 1968 RAF Boulmer January 1992 RAF Boulmer Disbanded [107]
Caledonian Sector HQ RAF October 1951 RAF Barnton Quarry November 1957 RAF Barnton Quarry Disbanded [109]
Eastern Sector HQ RAF July 1946 RAF Horsham St Faith July 1958 RAF Coltishall Disbanded [110]
Essex Sector HQ RAF October 1945 RAF North Weald June 1946 RAF North Weald Metropolitan Sector HQ [111]
Fighter Sector Z RAF September 1943 Amriya October 1943 Amriya No. 335 Wing [112]
Fighter Sector HQ Digby RAF July 1945 RAF Blankney November 1945 RAF Blankney Lincolnshire Sector HQ [113]
Fighter Sector HQ Exeter RAF January 1945 RAF Exeter November 1945 RAF Exeter Western Sector HQ [114]
Lincolnshire Sector HQ RAF November 1945 RAF Blankney July 1946 RAF Blankney Eastern Sector HQ [113]
Metropolitan Sector HQ RAF May 1946 RAF North Weald November 1957 RAF North Weald Disbanded [115]
Norfolk Sector HQ RAF August 1945 RAF Horsham St Faith July 1946 RAF Horsham St Faith Eastern Sector HQ [116]
Northern Sector HQ RAF December 1950 RAF Linton-On-Ouse November 1957 RAF Church Fenton Disbanded [116]
Scottish Sector HQ RAF November 1949 RAF Turnhouse October 1951 RAF Leuchars Station Flight, Caledonian Sector [107]
Southern Sector HQ RAF January 1946 RAF Nether Wallop November 1957 RAF Rudloe Manor Disbanded [117]
South Eastern Sector HQ RAF November 1945 RAF Biggin Hill June 1946 RAF North Weald Metropolitan Sector [117]
Western Sector HQ RAF November 1945 RAF Exeter July 1946 RAF Exeter Southern Sector HQ [114]
Yorkshire Sector HQ RAF November 1945 RAF Church Fenton December 1950 RAF Patrington Northern Sector HQ [118]

Signals units

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Main article: List of communications units and formations of the Royal Air Force

Training wings

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See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 31.
  2. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 36.
  3. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 42.
  4. ^ Lake 1999, p. 53.
  5. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 128.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Lake 1999, p. 133.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Lake 1999, p. 282.
  8. ^ a b c d e Lake 1999, p. 289.
  9. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 290.
  10. ^ a b c d Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 53.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 54.
  12. ^ a b c d Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 55.
  13. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 141.
  14. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 142.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i Lake 1999, p. 156.
  16. ^ a b c d Lake 1999, p. 157.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 78.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 79.
  19. ^ a b c d Lake 1999, p. 39.
  20. ^ a b c d e Lake 1999, p. 40.
  21. ^ Lake 1999, p. 49.
  22. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 50.
  23. ^ a b c d Lake 1999, p. 71.
  24. ^ Lake 1999, p. 130.
  25. ^ a b c d e f Lake 1999, p. 288.
  26. ^ "RAF - Operational Conversion Units". Archived from the original on 22 February 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  27. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 13.
  28. ^ a b c d e Lake 1999, p. 26.
  29. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 15.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g Lake 1999, p. 25.
  31. ^ Lake 1999, p. 44.
  32. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 90.
  33. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 47.
  34. ^ a b c d e f "Ministry of Defence | About Defence | What we do | Health and Safety | Porton Down Volunteers | Porton Down - A Brief History". Archived from the original on 8 December 2010. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
  35. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 192.
  36. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 194.
  37. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 132.
  38. ^ Lake 1999, p. 182.
  39. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 135.
  40. ^ Lake 1999, p. 136.
  41. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 161.
  42. ^ a b c d e f Lake 1999, p. 174.
  43. ^ a b c d e f g Lake 1999, p. 175.
  44. ^ Lake 1999, p. 176.
  45. ^ Lake 1999, p. 181.
  46. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 177.
  47. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 278.
  48. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 308.
  49. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 291.
  50. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 292.
  51. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 41.
  52. ^ a b c d e Lake 1999, p. 173.
  53. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 131.
  54. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 134.
  55. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Lake 1999, p. 158.
  56. ^ Lake 1999, p. 136, 278.
  57. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 293.
  58. ^ a b c d Lake 1999, p. 23.
  59. ^ a b c d e Lake 1999, p. 48.
  60. ^ a b c d Lake 1999, p. 65.
  61. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 72.
  62. ^ a b c d Lake 1999, p. 109.
  63. ^ a b c d e Lake 1999, p. 118.
  64. ^ a b c d e f g h i Lake 1999, p. 280.
  65. ^ Lake 1999, p. 283.
  66. ^ a b c d Lake 1999, p. 119.
  67. ^ Lake 1999, p. 124.
  68. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 125.
  69. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 102.
  70. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 56.
  71. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 279.
  72. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 11.
  73. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 14.
  74. ^ Lake 1999, p. 16.
  75. ^ Lake 1999, p. 17.
  76. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 19.
  77. ^ Lake 1999, p. 22.
  78. ^ a b c d Lake 1999, p. 27.
  79. ^ Lake 1999, p. 28.
  80. ^ Lake 1999, p. 34.
  81. ^ Lake 1999, p. 37.
  82. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 38.
  83. ^ Lake 1999, p. 58.
  84. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 66.
  85. ^ Lake 1999, p. 70.
  86. ^ Lake 1999, p. 101.
  87. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 110.
  88. ^ Lake 1999, p. 111.
  89. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 140.
  90. ^ "Flight 6 December 1945 p612". flightglobal.com. Archived from the original on 30 April 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  91. ^ Lake 1999, p. 127.
  92. ^ Lake 1999, p. 238.
  93. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 137.
  94. ^ Lake 1999, p. 138.
  95. ^ Hadaway, Stuart (January 2021). "Identification methods of the Royal Air Force Missing Research and Enquiry Service, 1944-52". Forensic Science International. 318. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science: 1–7. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110487. ISSN 0379-0738. OCLC 643724208.
  96. ^ Lake 1999, p. 154.
  97. ^ a b c d e Lake 1999, p. 155.
  98. ^ Lake 1999, p. 159.
  99. ^ Lake 1999, p. 186.
  100. ^ Lake 1999, p. 187.
  101. ^ Lake 1999, p. 188.
  102. ^ Lake 1999, p. 277.
  103. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 281.
  104. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 139.
  105. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 120.
  106. ^ Lake 1999, p. 121.
  107. ^ a b c d e f g h Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 270.
  108. ^ a b c d e f g Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 271.
  109. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 86.
  110. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 104.
  111. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 113.
  112. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 120.
  113. ^ a b Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 201.
  114. ^ a b Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 309.
  115. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 223.
  116. ^ a b Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 228.
  117. ^ a b Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 273.
  118. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 339.
  119. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 51.

Bibliography

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  • 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.
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