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 |   |
Template:RAF 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 £7,000 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
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:
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.
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).
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
(Note: none of the squadrons listed below are flying units with their own allocated aircraft)
- No. 3 Squadron Tactical Police Squadron (RAF Honington)
- No. 501 (County of Gloucester) Squadron RAF (RAF Brize Norton)
- No. 502 (Ulster) Squadron RAF (RAF Aldergrove)
- No. 504 (County of Nottingham) Squadron RAF (RAF Wittering)
- No. 505 (Wessex) Squadron RAF (RAF St Mawgan)
- No. 600 (City of London) Squadron RAF (RAF Northolt)
- No. 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron RAF (Glasgow)
- No. 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron RAF (Edinburgh)
- No. 605 (County of Warwick) Squadron RAF (RAF Cosford)
- No. 606 (Chilterns) Squadron RAF (RAF Benson)
- No. 607 (County of Durham) Squadron RAF (RAF Leeming)
- No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron RAF (RAF Leeming)
- No. 611 (West Lancashire) Squadron RAF (RAF Woodvale)
- No. 612 (County of Aberdeen) Squadron RAF (Leuchars Station)
- No. 614 (County of Glamorgan) Squadron RAF (Cardiff)
- No. 622 Squadron RAF (Hercules Reservist Aircrew) (RAF Brize Norton)
- No. 4624 (County of Oxford) Movements Squadron RAF (RAF Brize Norton)
- No. 4626 (County of Wiltshire) Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron RAF (RAF Brize Norton)
- No. 7006 (VR) Intelligence Squadron RAF (RAF Waddington)
- No. 7010 (VR) Photographic Interpretation Squadron RAF (RAF Waddington)
- No. 7630 (VR) Intelligence Squadron RAF (RAF Waddington)
- No. 7644 (VR) Media Ops Squadron RAF (RAF Halton)
- No. 2503 (City of Lincoln) Squadron RAF Regiment (RAF Waddington)
- No. 2620 (County of Norfolk) Squadron RAF Regiment (RAF Marham)
- No. 2622 (Highland) Squadron RAF Regiment (RAF Lossiemouth)
- No. 2623 (East Anglian) Squadron RAF Regiment (RAF Honington)
- No. 2624 (County of Oxford) Squadron RAF Regiment (RAF Brize Norton)
List of former RAuxAF Squadrons
Flying Squadrons formed 1925-1939
- No. 500 (County of Kent) Squadron RAF
- No. 501 (County of Gloucester) Squadron RAF
- No. 502 (Ulster) Squadron RAF
- No. 503 (County of Lincoln) Squadron RAF (disbanded 1 November 1938 - not reformed postwar)
- No. 504 (County of Nottingham) Squadron RAF
- No. 600 (City of London) Squadron RAF (Reformed from Nos 1 & 3 MHUs 1999)
- No. 601 (County of London) Squadron RAF
- No. 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron RAF
- No. 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron RAF (Reformed from No 2 MHU 1999)
- No. 604 (County of Middlesex) Squadron RAF
- No. 605 (County of Warwick) Squadron RAF
- No. 607 (County of Durham) Squadron RAF
- No. 608 (North Riding) Squadron RAF (originally 'County of York')
- No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron RAF
- No. 610 (County of Chester) Squadron RAF
- No. 611 (West Lancashire) Squadron RAF
- No. 612 (County of Aberdeen) Squadron RAF
- No. 613 (City of Manchester) Squadron RAF
- No. 614 (County of Glamorgan) Squadron RAF
- No. 615 (County of Surrey) Squadron RAF
- No. 616 (South Yorkshire) Squadron RAF
Air Observation Post flying Squadrons formed in 1949
Disbanded Units
- Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force 1949-1993
- No. 2625 (County of Cornwall) Sqn RAF Regiment (RAF St Mawgan) 1982-2006
Barrage Balloon Organisation of the Auxiliary Air Force
Barrage Balloon Groups and Centres
data from:-[7] Template:Multicol
- No 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF
- 17 Mar 1937 - 7 Jan 1945
- No 22 Balloon Centre
- Biggin Hill, Kent
- 19 Feb 1944 - 20 Nov 1944
- 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
Barrage Balloon Squadrons
- No. 901 (County of London) Balloon Squadron AAF
-
- 16 May 1938
- 5 Flights of 9 balloons
- 16 May 1938
- No. 903 (County of London) Balloon Squadron AAF
- 16 May 1938 - Unknown 1944
- 5 Flights of 9 balloons.
- Amalgamated with 902 Sqn.
- 5 Flights of 9 balloons.
- No. 904 (County of Surrey) Balloon Squadron AAF
- 16 May 1938
- 5 Flights of 9 balloons
- No. 905 (County of Surrey) Balloon Squadron AAF
- 16 May 1938 - Unknown 1944
- 5 Flights of 9 balloons. Amalgamated with 901 Sqn
- No. 906 (County of Middlesex) Balloon Squadron AAF
- 7 Jul 1938
- 5 Flights of 9 balloons
- No. 907 (County of Middlesex) Balloon Squadron AAF
- 16 May 1938
- 5 Flights of 9 balloons
- No. 909 (County of Essex) Balloon Squadron AAF
- 16 May 1938
- 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).
- 4 Flights of 8 balloons (48 balloons in Aug 1940)
- No. 912 (County of Warwick) Balloon Squadron AAF
- Jan 1939 -Unknown
- 4 Flights of 8 balloons (24 balloons in Aug 1940)
- No. 913 (County of Warwick) Balloon Squadron AAF
- Jan 1939 -Unknown
- 3 Flights of 8 balloons
- No. 914 (County of Warwick) Balloon Squadron AAF
- Jan 1939 - pre Jun 1944
- 4 Flights of 8 balloons (40 balloons in Aug 1940)
- No. 915 (County of Warwick) Balloon Squadron AAF
- Jan 1939 -Unknown
- 4 Flights of 8 balloons (40 balloons in Aug 1940)
- 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
- Coventry
- 3 Flights of 8 balloons (32 balloons in Aug 1940)
- No. 917 (County of Warwick) Balloon Squadron AAF
- Jan 1939 - pre Jun 1944
- 3 Flights of 8 balloons
- No. 918 (County of Derby) Balloon Squadron AAF
- Jan 1939 - pre Jun 1944
- 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)
- 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)
- No. 921 (West Lancashire) Balloon Squadron AAF
- Jan 1939 - 20 Feb 1943
- 3 Flights of 8 balloons (48 balloons in Aug 1940)
- No. 922 (West Lancashire) Balloon Squadron AAF
- Jan 1939 - pre Dec 1943
- 4 Flights of 8 balloons
- 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)
- No. 925 (East Lancashire) Balloon Squadron AAF
- Jan 1939 - pre Jun 1944
- 3 Flights of 8 balloons (40 balloons in Aug 1940)
- No. 926 (East Lancashire) Balloon Squadron AAF
- Unknown - pre Jun 1944
- 3 Flights of 8 balloons (40 balloons in Aug 1940)
- No. 927 (County of Gloucester) Balloon Squadron AAF
- Jan 1939 Unknown
- 3 Flights of 8 balloons (32 balloons in Aug 1940)
- No. 928 Balloon Squadron AAF
- Jan 1939 Unknown
- 3 Flights of 8 balloons (10 Water-borne Aug 1940)
- No. 929 Balloon Squadron AAF
- Jan 1939 Unknown
- 3 Flights of 8 balloons (7 Water-borneAug 1940)
- No. 930 (Hampshire) Balloon Squadron AAF
- Jan 1939 - pre Dec 1943
- 3 Flights of 8 balloons (50 balloons (10 Water-borne ) in Aug 1940)
- 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)
- No. 933 (Hampshire) Balloon Squadron AAF
- Jan 1939 Unknown
- 3 Flights of 8 balloons
- No. 934 (County of Devon) Balloon Squadron AAF
- Jan 1939 Unknown
- 5 Flights of 8 balloons (24 balloons in Aug 1940)
- No. 935 (County of Glamorgan) Balloon Squadron AAF
- Jan 1939 Unknown
- 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
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- 4 Flights of 8 balloons (4 Water-borne Aug 1940)
- 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
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- 4 Flights of 8 balloons (40 balloons (3 Water-borne) in Aug 1940)
- 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)
- No. 939 (West Riding) Balloon Squadron AAF
- Jan 1939 Unknown
- 3 Flights of 8 balloons
- No. 940 (West Riding) Balloon Squadron AAF
- Unknown - pre Jun 1944
- Sheffield
- 3 Flights of 8 balloons
- Sheffield
- 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
- Sheffield / Sunderland (May 1943)
- 3 Flights of 8 balloons (40 balloons in Aug 1940)
- 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
- Sutton on Hull
- 3 Flights of 8 balloons 42 balloons (24 Water-borne) in Aug 1940
- 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
- Sutton on Hull
- 3 Flights of 8 balloons (32 balloons in Aug 1940)
- 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
- 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
- Glasgow
- 4 Flights of 8 balloons (40 balloons in Aug 1940)
- No. 946 (City of Glasgow) Balloon Squadron AAF
- Jan 1939 - pre Jun 1944
- 4 Flights of 8 balloons (48 balloons in Aug 1940)
- 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
- Glasgow
- 3 Flights of 8 balloons (32 balloons in Aug 1940)
- No. 948 Balloon Squadron AAF
- Oct 1939 - pre Dec 1943
- 24 balloons in Aug 1940
- 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
- Crewe
- 32 balloons in Aug 1940
- No. 950 Balloon Squadron AAF
- Unknown – Unknown
- 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
- 40 balloons in Aug 1940
- No. 952 Balloon Squadron AAF
- Nov 1939
- Sheerness
- 40 balloons (32 Water-borne) in Aug 1940
- Sheerness
- 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
- 39 balloons (7 Water-borne) in Aug 1940
- Cardiff 1943/44
- 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
- Yeovil
Jul 1940 - Unknown
- Swansea
- 25 balloons (3 Water-borne) in Aug 1940
- Reformed in 23 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties
- 25 balloons (3 Water-borne) in Aug 1940
- Swansea
- No. 959 Balloon Squadron AAF
- 27 Aug 1940 Unknown
- Falmouth
- 24 balloons (8 Water-borne) in Aug 1940
- Falmouth
- No. 960 Balloon Squadron AAF
- Feb 1940 - Unknown
- Lyness, Orkney to Dec 1943, Canterbury 1944 on
- 24 balloons (16 Water-borne) in Aug 1940
- Lyness, Orkney to Dec 1943, Canterbury 1944 on
- No. 961 Balloon Squadron AAF
- Jul 1940 – Unknown
- Dover
- 8 Water-borne balloons (Aug 1940)
- Dover
- No. 962 Balloon Squadron AAF
- Sep 1940 - pre Dec 1943
- Milford Haven
- 24balloons (9 Water-borne) in Aug 1940
- Milford Haven
- No. 963 Balloon Squadron AAF
- Unknown - pre Dec 1943
- No. 964 Balloon Squadron AAF
- Aug 1940 - Unknown
- No. 965 Balloon Squadron AAF
- Jul 1940 - Unknown
- Port Talbot
- 16 balloons in Aug 1940
- Reformed in 23 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties
- 16 balloons in Aug 1940
- Port Talbot
- No. 966 Balloon Squadron AAF
- Sep 1940 - Unknown
- No. 967 Balloon Squadron AAF
- Unknown - pre Dec 1943
- Ardrossan
- 48 balloons in Aug 1940
- Ardrossan
- No. 968 Balloon Squadron AAF
- Unknown - pre Dec 1943
- Belfast
- 16 balloons (8 Water-borne) in Aug 1940
- Belfast
- 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
- 16 balloons in Aug 1940
- Barry pre Dec 1943, Great Yarmouth from Jun 1944
- No. 970 Balloon Squadron AAF
- Unknown - pre Dec 1943
- No. 971 Balloon Squadron AAF
- 1944
- No. 974 Balloon Squadron AAF
- Egypt
- 2nd Tactical Air Force (2nd TAF or 2 TAF)
- No. 976 Balloon Squadron AAF
- 1944
- 2nd TAF
- 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[disambiguation needed] before being moved via Jordan to the Suez Canal and then Italy
- 2nd TAF (1944 on)
- No. 981 Balloon Squadron AAF
- 1941-Unknown
- Mediterranean Coastal Air Forces
- Reformed in UK for Anti-'Diver' duties - 1944
- Mediterranean Coastal Air Forces
- No. 986 Balloon Squadron AAF
- 1944
- Malta
- No. 987 Balloon Squadron AAF
- 1 Sep 1943-Unknown
- No. 224 Group AAF (1944 on)
- 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 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF, Great Yarmouth
- No. 994 (Mobile) Balloon Squadron AAF
- Dec 1943
- No 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF, Canterbury
- Jun 1944 to 85 Group,
- No 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF, Canterbury
- 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
- ^ a b "Auxiliary Air Force". Flight. XVII (876): 663–664. 8 October 1925. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ^ Bishop, Patrick (2003). Fighter Boys. London: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780002571692.
- ^ "UK Reserve Forces and Cadets" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. 29 May 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ^ "Funeral for airman killed in Iraq". BBC News. 8 August 2007. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ^ "Tributes paid to veteran airman". BBC News. 16 April 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ^ "RAF Cosford to get new reserve squadron". BBC News. 25 November 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ^ 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.
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