No. 40 Group RAF is a former Royal Air Force Maintenance group that was operational from 1 January 1939, throughout the Second World War and into the Cold War until 28 July 1961 within RAF Maintenance Command that dealt with equipment, barracks stores and motor transport storage.[1]
| No. 40 (Maintenance) Group RAF | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1 January 1939 – 28 July 1961 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Type | Royal Air Force group |
| Part of | RAF Maintenance Command |
No. 40 Group Communication Flight was operational until 1 May 1944 with duties taken over by the Maintenance Command Communication Squadron RAF.[2]
Structure
editNovember 1939 – HQ at Abingdon[3]
May 1941 – HQ at Andover[4]
- 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 27, 29, 33, 37, 38, 39, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 51 & No. 52 Maintenance Unit RAF
- RAF Hamble = No. 15 Ferry Pilots Pool ATA
- Hatfield Aerodrome = No. 5 Ferry Pilots Pool ATA
- RAF Hawarden = No. 3 Ferry Pilots Pool ATA
- RAF Hullavington = No. 8 (Service) Ferry Pilots Pool RAF
- RAF Prestwick = No. 4 Ferry Pilots Pool ATA
- RAF Ratcliffe = No. 6 Ferry Pilots Pool ATA
- RAF Ringway = No. 14 Ferry Pilots Pool ATA
- Bristol (Whitchurch) Airport = No. 2 Ferry Pilots Pool ATA
- RAF White Waltham = No. 1 Ferry Pilots Pool ATA
April 1942 – HQ at Andover[5]
- 3, 7, 14, 16, 17, 25, 35, 55, 61, 62, 66, 69, 70, 72, 74, 79, 82, 201, 204, 99, 203, 217, A, B, E, F, L, R & S Maintenance Unit RAF
April 1943 – HQ at Andover[6]
- 3, 5, 7, 14, 16, 17, 25, 35, 55, 61, 62, 66, 68, 69, 70, 72, 73, 74, 79, 87, 89, 99, 201, 203, 204, 205, 207, 208, 210, 211, 216, 228, 229, 232, 236, A, E, H & T Maintenance Unit RAF
July 1944 – HQ at Andover[7]
- 3, 7, 14, 16, 17, 25, 35, 61, 62, 66, 68, 69, 70, 72, 73, 74, 79, 87, 89, 99, 203, 204, 205, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 214, 216, 217, 220, 221, 225, 227, 230, 232, 236, 238, 239, 240 & No. 241 Maintenance Unit RAF
July 1945 – HQ at Andover[8]
- No. 56 Wing RAF – HQ at Annan:
- No. 55 (Midland) Wing RAF – HQ at Eggington:
April 1953 – HQ at Bicester[9]
- 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 33, 35, 38, 39, 44, 45, 47, 48, 51, 61, 66, 72, 90, 99, 216, 225, 236 7 No. 248 Maintenance Unit RAF
- RAF Defford = Telecommunications Flying Unit RAF
- RAF Felixstowe = Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment
- RAF Gosport = Aircraft Torpedo Development Unit
- RAF Henlow = Parachute Test Unit
- RAF Martlesham Heath = Armament and Instrument Experimental Unit RAF
- RAF West Freugh = Bombing Trials Unit RAF
No. 42 (Maintenance) Group RAF
editNo. 42 (Maintenance) Group RAF was formed on 1 January 1939 as an Ammunition and Fuel group, it was disbanded into No. 40 Group RAF on 2 January 1956 while 42 Group was at RAF Kidlington.[2]
November 1939 - HQ at Burghfield Common, Reading[3]
May 1941 - HQ at Burghfield Common, Reading[4]
April 1942 - Burghfield Common, Reading[5]
April 1943 - HQ at Burghfield Common, Reading[6]
- 2, 11, 21, 28, 31, 36, 53, 59, 64, 77, 80, 81, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 98, 100, 202, 219 & No. 224 Maintenance Unit RAF
July 1944 - HQ at Burghfield Common, Reading[7]
- 2, 11, 21, 28, 31, 36, 53, 59, 64, 77, 80, 81, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 98, 100, 202, 219, 231, 233, 224, 243 & No. 244 Maintenance Unit RAF
July 1945 - HQ at Burghfield Common, Reading[8]
- 2, 11, 21, 28, 31, 36, 53, 59, 64, 77, 80, 81, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 98, 100, 202, 219, 224, 231, 233, 243, 244, 245 & No. 249 Maintenance Unit RAF
April 1953 - HQ at RAF Kidlington[9]
References
editCitations
edit- ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 151.
- ^ a b Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 156.
- ^ a b Delve 1994, p. 51.
- ^ a b Delve 1994, p. 55.
- ^ a b Delve 1994, p. 60.
- ^ a b Delve 1994, p. 66.
- ^ a b Delve 1994, p. 74.
- ^ a b Delve 1994, p. 81.
- ^ a b Delve 1994, p. 86.
Bibliography
edit- Delve, Ken (1994). The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
- Sturtivant, Ray; Hamlin, John (2007). Royal Air Force flying training and support units since 1912. Tonbridge, UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 978-0851-3036-59.