No. 81 Group RAF

No. 81 Group
No. 81 Group
Active	1940 - 1943; 1952 - 1958
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Motto(s)	Fulmina Ex Igne Politiora

No. 81 (Training) Group was a group within the Royal Air Force's Fighter Command during the Second World War and the post-war era.^[1]^[2]

History

The group was formed on 16 December 1940 at RAF Sealand as part of Fighter Command to control the Operational Training Unit.^[2] On 19 February 1941 it moved to Tallow Hall in Worcester and then on 22 December 1941 it was based at Avening Court in Gloucestershire.^[2] It was disbanded on 15 April 1943 when all controlled units were moved to No. 9 Group.^[2]

The group was reformed on 1 Jan 1952 at RAF Watnall to control all training units within Fighter Command, on 16 May 1952 it moved to RAF Rudloe Manor.^[2] It was finally disbanded on 31 Mar 1958.^[2]

Organisation in 1942

In July 1942, the group was organised as follows;^[3]

Group Headquarters, RAF Avening Court, Gloucestershire
No.51 Operational Training Unit RAF, RAF Cranfield
No.52 Operation Training Unit RAF, RAF Aston Down
No.53 Operational Training Unit RAF, RAF Llandow
No.54 Operational Training Unit RAF, RAF Charterhall
No.55 Operational Training Unit RAF, RAF Annan
No.56 Operational Training Unit RAF, RAF Tealing
No.57 Operational Training Unit RAF, RAF Hawarden
No.58 Operational Training Unit RAF, RAF Grangemouth (RAF Central Scotland)
No.59 Operational Training Unit RAF, RAF Crosby on Eden
No.60 Operational Training Unit RAF, RAF East Fortune
No.61 Operational Training Unit RAF, RAF Rendal
No.62 Operational Training Unit RAF, RAF Usworth

Commanders

1940 to 1943

16 December 1940 - Air Commodore F J Vincent^[1]
29 July 1942 - Air Commodore W H Dunn^[1]

1952 to 1958

1 January 1952 - Air Commodore L W C Bower^[1]
January 1954 - Air Commodore C C McMullen^[1]
19 February 1954 - Vacant^[1]
2 April 1954 - Air Commodore H A V Hogan^[1]
15 August 1955 - Air Commodore R C Mead^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h "Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Group 70 - 106". www.rafweb.org. 10 October 2009. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Sturtivant 2007, p. 152
^ "Fighter Command - Jul 1942". www.rafweb.org. Retrieved 1 March 2020.

Sturtivant, Ray (2007). RAF Flying Training and Support Units since 1912. Air-Britain. ISBN 0-85130-365-X.

[rafweb-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h "Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Group 70 - 106". www.rafweb.org. 10 October 2009. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 27 February 2010.

[ab-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Sturtivant 2007, p. 152

[3] "Fighter Command - Jul 1942". www.rafweb.org. Retrieved 1 March 2020.

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