List of Royal Air Force units & establishments

There have been many Units with various tasks in the Royal Air Force and they are listed here. A unit is an administrative 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

2

Refresher Flying Units

2

Advanced Flying Units

2

Anti-aircraft units

No. 3 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
No. 4 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
No. 5 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
No. 6 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
No. 7 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
No. 8 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
No. 9 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
No. 21 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
No. 22 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
No. 23 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
No. 24 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF. Planned but cancelled.
No. 25 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
No. 26 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF

Beach units

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 68, 69, 70, 71, 76 & 77

Command level units

Ferry units

Ferry Units

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,15 & 16.
1 (Long-Range) & 3 (Long-Range).
1 (Overseas).
2 (Home) & 4 (Home).

Ferry Crew Pools

1, 2 & 3.

Ferry Pilots Pools

1, 2, 3, 7 (Service), 9 (Service).

Ferry Pools

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 8 (Service).

Ferry Training Units

301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312 & 313.
308 Ferry Training and Test Flying Unit.
309 Ferry Training and Aircraft Despatch Unit.
313 Ferry Training and Conversion Unit.

Other Ferry Units

Maintenance Units

Signals Units

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

2

Operational Training Units (OTU)

OTUs were created during WW2 to take the pressure off Operational squadrons, which previously would have had training Flights. Post war they became OCUs

2

Conversion Units

The RAF have now granted all OCUs Reserve squadron status.^[1]

2

Aircraft units

Overseas Aircraft Despatch

Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit, Kemble and Portreath
1, 2, 3, 4 & 5.

Overseas Aircraft Preparation

1, 2, 3 & 4.

Aircraft Preparation

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12 & 13.

Other

Other Units

2

Communications

Units

Wings

2nd Tactical Air Force Communication Wing

Armament Practice and Training Units

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

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

Training Wings

No. 1 Combat Training Wing

No. 2 Combat Training Wing

Establishments

Foreign Air Arms

Polish Fighting Team (Skalski's Circus), attached to 145 Squadron
Polish Training Unit
Rhodesian Air Unit
Rhodesian Air Unit of the Territorial Forces
Southern Rhodesian Air Force
Straits Settlements Volunteer Air force
WAAF (Polish) Holding Unit
Yugoslav Holding Unit

References

Citations

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Bibliography

Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988 (second edition 2001). ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
Lake, Alan. "Flying Units of the RAF".Airlife Publishing. Shrewsbury. 1999. ISBN 1-84037-086-6

External links

[1] ttp://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/operationalconversion.cfm

[2] Flight 6 December 1945 p612

[Porton-3] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 ^3.4 ^3.5 ^3.6 ^3.7 ^3.8 http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/HealthandSafety/PortonDownVolunteers/

[1]

[3]

v t e Royal Air Force Training Establishments
Flying schools and units	Royal Air Force College Service Flying Training School Royal Navy Elementary Flying Training School Defence Helicopter Flying School Empire Flying School Advanced Flying Schools 201 AFS 202 AFS 203 AFS 204 AFS 205 AFS 206 AFS 207 AFS 208 AFS 209 AFS 210 AFS 211 AFS 215 AFS AFS (India) Basic Flying Training Schools 1 BFTS 2 BFTS 3 BFTS 4 BFTS 5 BFTS (Basic) Flying Training Schools 2 (B)FTS 3 (B)FTS 7 (B)FTS (Advanced) Flying Training Schools 4 (Advanced) FTS 5 (Advanced) FTS 6 (Advanced) FTS 8 (Advanced) FTS 9 (Advanced) FTS 10 (Advanced) FTS 14 (Advanced) FTS British Flying Training Schools 1 British FTS 2 British FTS 3 British FTS 4 British FTS 5 British FTS 6 British FTS Central Flying Schools CFS 2 CFS 3 CFS CFS (India) CFS (Southern Rhodesia) Chinese EFTS Elementary Flying Training Schools 1 E & RFTS 2 E & RFTS 3 E & RFTS 4 E & RFTS 5 E & RFTS 6 E & RFTS 7 E & RFTS 8 E & RFTS 9 E & RFTS 10 E & RFTS 11 E & RFTS 12 E & RFTS 13 E & RFTS 14 E & RFTS 15 E & RFTS 16 E & RFTS 17 E & RFTS 18 E & RFTS 19 E & RFTS 20 E & RFTS 21 E & RFTS 22 E & RFTS 23 E & RFTS 24 E & RFTS 25 E & RFTS 26 E & RFTS 27 E & RFTS 28 E & RFTS 29 E & RFTS 30 E & RFTS 31 E & RFTS 32 E & RFTS 33 E & RFTS 34 E & RFTS 35 E & RFTS 36 E & RFTS 37 E & RFTS 38 E & RFTS 39 E & RFTS 40 E & RFTS 41 E & RFTS 42 E & RFTS 43 E & RFTS 44 E & RFTS 45 E & RFTS 46 E & RFTS 47 E & RFTS 48 E & RFTS 49 E & RFTS 50 E & RFTS 51 E & RFTS 52 E & RFTS 53 E & RFTS 54 E & RFTS 55 E & RFTS 56 E & RFTS 57 E & RFTS 58 E & RFTS 59 E & RFTS E & RFTS (Kenya) 1 EFTS 2 EFTS 3 EFTS 4 EFTS 5 EFTS 6 EFTS 7 EFTS 8 EFTS 9 EFTS 10 EFTS 11 EFTS 12 EFTS 13 EFTS 14 EFTS 15 EFTS 16 EFTS 17 EFTS 18 EFTS 19 EFTS 20 EFTS 21 EFTS 22 EFTS 23 EFTS 24 EFTS 25 EFTS 26 EFTS 27 EFTS 28 EFTS 29 EFTS 30 EFTS 31 EFTS 32 EFTS 34 EFTS (Canada) 35 EFTS (Canada) 36 EFTS (Canada) No 1 EFTS (India) 30 EFTS (Kenya) 25 EFTS (Southern Rhodesia) 26 EFTS (Southern Rhodesia) 27 EFTS (Southern Rhodesia) Instructor schools Southeastern Area Southwestern Area Flying Boat Instructors School, El Khanka RAF 1 FIS 2 FIS 4 FIS 5 FIS 6 FIS 7 FIS 11 FIS 1 FIS (Advanced) 2 FIS (Advanced) 3 FIS (Advanced) 7 FIS (Advanced) 4 FIS (Elementary) 5 FIS (Elementary) 6 FIS (Elementary) 10 FIS (Elementary) FIS (India) 12 FIS (Operational) 33 FIS, Southern Rhodesia 4 FIS (Supplementary) 5 FIS (Supplementary) 6 FIS (Supplementary) FIS, The Curragh FIS, Upavon FITS Flying Refresher Schools School of Refresher Flying RAF Flying Refresher School RAF 101 FRS 102 FRS 103 FRS 104 FRS Flying Training Schools 1 FTS 2 FTS 3 FTS 4 FTS 5 FTS 6 FTS 7 FTS 8 FTS 9 FTS 10 FTS 11 FTS 12 FTS 13 FTS 14 FTS 15 FTS 16 FTS 17 FTS 19 FTS 20 FTS 21 FTS 22 FTS 23 FTS 30 FTS 31 FTS 32 FTS 33 FTS 34 FTS 207 FTS 211 FTS 1 (Indian) FTS 16 (Polish) FTS Instructors School RAF JEFTS MAFIS MAS of SF Netheravon Flying School NEAFIS NWAFIS NAFIS 1RFTS RFTS 1 RS Reserve Flying Schools 1 RFS 2 RFS 3 RFS 4 RFS 5 RFS 6 RFS 7 RFS 8 RFS 9 RFS 10 RFS 11 RFS 12 RFS 13 RFS 14 RFS 15 RFS 16 RFS 17 RFS 18 RFS 19 RFS 20 RFS 21 RFS 22 RFS 23 RFS 24 RFS 25 RFS RFS, Brough RFS, Coventry RFS, Hamble RFS, Filton RFS, Renfrew RFS, Stag lane Service Flying Schools 1 SFTS 2 SFTS 3 SFTS 4 SFTS 5 SFTS 6 SFTS 7 SFTS 8 SFTS 9 SFTS 10 SFTS 11 SFTS 12 SFTS 13 SFTS 14 SFTS 15 SFTS 16 SFTS 17 SFTS 20 SFTS 21 SFTS 22 SFTS 23 SFTS 1 (Indian) SFTS Special Flying Schools No. 1 School of Special Flying RAF No. 2 School of Special Flying RAF School of Special Flying (Canada) RAF School of Special Flying, Gosport RAF
Officer training establishments	RAF Staff College, Andover RAF College Cranwell RAF Staff College, Bulstrode Park RAF Staff College, Bracknell Officers Advanced Training School College of Air warfare
Other training establishments	No. 1 Radio School RAF No. 1 Parachute Training School RAF Search and Rescue Training Unit Advanced Air Firing School Advanced Bombing and Gunnery School (Middle East) Aerial Fighting and Gunnery School Aerial Fighting School, Heliopolis Airborne Interception School Air Armament School No. 1 Air Armament School RAF No. 2 Air Armament School RAF Air Electronics and Air Engineers School Air Electronics, Engineer and Loadmaster School No. 1 Air Electronics School RAF Air Electronics School Air Fighting School (Middle East) Air Landing School Air Navigation and Bombing School Air Navigation School Air Navigation School, India Air Observation Post School Air Observers School, North Coates Air Pilotage School No. 1 Air Signallers School RAF No. 2 Air Signallers School RAF Airborne Interception/Air-to-Surface Vessel School No. 2 Aircrew Grading School RAF Aircrew Officers Training School Airborne Interception School Airfield Controllers School All-Waether Fighter Leaders School Anti U-Boat Devices School Armament and gunnery School Army Co-operation School Artillery and Infantry Co-operationSchool Artillery Observation School Artillery Observation School, Egypt No. 1 Basic Air Navigation School RAF No. 2 Basic Air Navigation School RAF No. 1 Beam Approach School RAF Belgian Training School Blind Approach School No. 1 Blind Approach School RAF Bomber Command Bombing School No. 24 Bombing, Gunnery and Air Navigation School RAF Central Air Traffic Control School Central Gunnery School No. 1 (Middle East) Central Gunnery School RAF Central Gunnery School (Middle East) Central Landing School Central Navigation and Control School Central Navigation School Central Squadron and Flight Commanders School Chinese Air Force Cadet School Coastal Command Anti U-Boat Devices School Coastal Command Flying Instructors School Coastal Command Gunnery School Coastal Command Instructors School Coastal Command Landplane Pilots Pool Coastal Command Tactical Development Unit Coastal Defence Development Unit No. 1 Coastal Defence Training Unit RAF No. 24 Combined Air Observers School RAF Control and Reporting School Electrical and Wireless School No. 1 Electrical and Wireless School RAF No. 2 Electrical and Wireless School RAF No. 3 Electrical and Wireless School RAF No. 1 Elementary Gliding Training School RAF No. 2 Elementary Gliding Training School RAF No. 3 Elementary Gliding Training School RAF No. 29 Elementary Navigation and Air Gunnery School (Southern Rhodesia) RAF Empire Air Armament School Empire Air Navigation School Empire Central Flying School Empire Radio School Empire Test Pilots School No. 1 (Coastal) Engine Control Demonstration Unit RAF Fighter Command Control and Reporting School Fighter Leaders School Fighter Weapons School Fleet School of Aerial Fighting and Gunnery Franco-Belgium Air Training School General Reconnaissance and Air Navigation School (India) General Reconnaissance School No. 1 Grading School RAF No. 2 Grading School RAF Grand Fleet School of Aerial Fighting and Gunnery Fleet School of Aerial Fighting and Gunnery Ground Defence Gunners School No. 1 Ground Defence Gunners School RAF No. 93 Group Screened Pilots School RAF India Detachment, Chinese Air Force Cadet School No. 1 Initial Training School RAF No. 50 Initial Training School RAF Light Aircraft School Machine Gun School Marine Observers School, Aldeburgh Marine Observers School, Leysdown No. 1 Marine Observers School RAF No. 2 Marine Observers School RAF Navigation School Navigation Training School No. 1 Observers School RAF No. 2 Observers School RAF Observers School of Reconnaissance and Aerial Photography Officers Advanced Training School No. 1 Officers Advanced Training School RAF No. 2 Officers Advanced Training School RAF The Officers Advanced Training School No. 1 Parachute and Glider Training School RAF No. 1 Parachute School RAF Parachute Training Centre No. 1 Parachute Training School RAF No. 3 Parachute Training School RAF No. 4 Parachute Training School RAF Parachute Training School (India) Pilots and Observers Aerial Gunnery and Aerial Fighting School No. 3 Radio Direction Finding School RAF Rhodesian Central Flying School Royal Air Force and Army Co-operation School Royal Air Force and Navy Co-operation School Royal Air Force (Middle East) Central Gunnery School Royal Air Force (Middle East) Gunnery School Royal Air Force School, India Royal Air Force School of Aviation Medicine Royal Air Force (Belgian) Training School Royal Naval Air Service Gunnery School School for Anti-Submarine Inshore Patrol Observers School for Marine Operational Pilots School for Wireless Operators School of Aerial Co-operation with Coastal Artillery No. 1 School of Aerial Fighting RAF No. 2 School of Aerial Fighting RAF School of Aerial Fighting (Canada) School of Aerial Fighting, Heliopolis School of Aerial Fighting and Bomb Dropping No. 1 (Auxiliary) School of Aerial Gunnery RAF No. 2 (Auxiliary) School of Aerial Gunnery RAF No. 3 (Auxiliary) School of Aerial Gunnery RAF No. 4 (Auxiliary) School of Aerial Gunnery RAF No. 1 (Observers) School of Aerial Gunnery RAF School of Aerial Gunnery, Aboukir School of Aerial Gunnery, (Canada) School of Aerial Gunnery, Hythe School of Aerial Gunnery, Loch Doon School of Aerial Gunnery, Marske School of Aerial Gunnery, New Romney School of Aerial Gunnery, Turnberry School of Aerial Gunnery and Bombing School of Aerial Navigation School of Air Navigation No. 1 School of Air Navigation RAF No. 2 School of Air Navigation RAF School of Air Pilotage School of Air Sea Rescue School of Air Support School of Air Traffic Control School of Air Transport School of Army Co-operation No. 1 School of Army Co-operation RAF Royal Air Force School of Army Co-operation No. 2 School of Army Co-operation RAF School of Artillery Co-operation (Canada) School of Aviation Medicine School of Control and Reporting School of Fighter Control School of General Reconnaissance No. 1 School of General Reconnaissance RAF No. 2 School of General Reconnaissance RAF No. 3 School of General Reconnaissance RAF School of Land/Air Warfare School of Naval Co-operation School of Naval Co-operation and Aerial Navigation School of Photography No. 1 School of Photography RAF School of Photography, Maps and Reconnaissance Seaplane Training Squadron No. 1 Signals School RAF No. 2 Signals School RAF No. 3 Signals School RAF No. 3 Signals School (India) RAF No. 4 Signals School RAF Specialised Low Attack Instructors School Specialised Low Attack Instructors School (India) Staff Navigators School (Middle East) Strike Command Bombing School Temporary Air Observer's School Test Piots School Torpedo Aeroplane School Torpedo Bombing School No. 1 Torpedo Refresher School RAF No. 2 Torpedo Refresher School RAF Torpedo Training School No. 44 Training School RAF Wireless and Observers School Wireless School Wireless School, Brooklands Wireless School, Egypt No. 1 (Training) Wireless School RAF No. 2 Wireless School RAF Wireless Telephony School
Operational Conversion Units	226 OCU 227 OCU 227 (AOP) CU 228 OCU 229 OCU 230 OCU 231 OCU 232 OCU 233 OCU 235 OCU 236 OCU 237 OCU 238 OCU 240 OCU 241 OCU 242 OCU 1330 CU 1331 CU 1331 HTCU 1332 (T)HCU 1332 HTCU 1333 (TS)CU 1333 TSCU 1334 (TS)CU 1335 (M)CU 1336 (TS)CU 1336 TCU 1380 (TS)CU 1380 TCU 1381 (T)CU 1382 (T)CU 1383 (T)CU 1384 (HT)CU 1385 (HTS)CU 1584 (HB)CU 1651 CU 1651 HCU 1652 CU 1652 HCU 1653 CU 1653 HCU 1654 CU 1654 HCU 1655 MCU 1656 HCU 1657 HCU 1658 HCU 1659 HCU 1660 HCU 1661 HCU 1662 HCU 1663 HCU 1664 HCU 1664 (RCAF)HCU 1665 HCU 1665 (HT)CU 1666 HCU 1666 (RCAF)HCU 1667 HCU 1668 HCU 1669 HCU 1670 (T)CU 1670 CU 1670 (M)CU 1673 HCU 1674 HCU 1675 HCU 1678 HCU 1699 (BS)CU 1699 HCU All-Weather OCU Argosy CU Belvedere CU Short-Range CU Jaguar OCU 5 HBCU, Lydda HBCU, Salbani HGCU 21 HGCU 22 HGCU 23 HGCU
Operational Training Units	1 (Coastal) OTU 2 (Coastal) OTU 3 (Coastal) OTU 4 (Coastal) OTU 5 OTU 6 OTU 7 OTU 8 (Coastal) OTU 9 (Coastal) OTU 10 OTU 11 OTU 12 OTU 13 OTU 14 OTU 15 OTU 16 OTU 17 OTU 18 OTU 19 OTU 20 OTU 21 OTU 22 OTU 23 OTU 24 OTU 25 OTU 26 OTU 27 OTU 28 OTU 29 OTU 30 OTU 31 OTU 32 OTU 34 OTU 36 OTU 41 OTU 42 OTU 43 OTU 51 OTU 52 OTU 53 OTU 54 OTU 55 OTU 56 OTU 57 OTU 58 OTU 59 OTU 60 OTU 61 OTU 62 OTU 63 OTU 70 (Middle East) OTU 71 OTU 72 OTU 73 OTU 74 OTU 75 OTU 76 OTU 77 OTU 78 OTU 79 OTU 80 (French) OTU 81 OTU 82 OTU 83 OTU 84 OTU 85 OTU 86 OTU 101 (Glider) OTU 102 (Glider) OTU 104 (Transport) OTU 105 (Transport) OTU 107 (Transport) OTU 108 (Transport) OTU 109 (Transport) OTU 111 (Coastal) OTU 131 (Coastal) OTU 132 (Coastal) OTU 151 (Fighter) OTU 152 (Bomber) OTU 1 OTU (I)
Gliding schools	Central Gliding School Glider Instructors School 1 GTS 2 GTS 3 GTS 4 GTS 5 GTS 1 GC 2 GC 1 GS 2 GS 3 GS 4 GS 5 GS 6 GS 7 GS 8 GS 9 GS 10 GS 21 GS 22 GS 23 GS 24 GS 25 GS 26 GS 27 GS 28 GS 29 GS 30 GS 31 GS 41 GS 42 GS 43 GS 44 GS 45 GS 47 GS 48 GS 49 GS 50 GS 51 GS 52 GS 53 GS 54 GS 55 GS 56 GS 57 GS 58 GS 59 GS 61 GS 62 GS 63 GS 64 GS 65 GS 66 GS 67 GS 68 GS 69 GS 70 GS 72 GS 74 GS 80 GS 81 GS 82 GS 83 GS 84 GS 86 GS 87 GS 88 GS 89 GS 92 GS 94 GS 95 GS 102 GS 103 GS 104 GS 105 GS 106 GS 107 GS 108 GS 121 GS 122 GS 123 GS 124 GS 125 GS 126 GS 127 GS 128 GS 129 GS 130 GS 141 GS 142 GS 143 GS 144 GS 145 GS 146 GS 147 GS 148 GS 149 GS 161 GS 162 GS 163 GS 166 GS 167 GS 168 GS 180 GS 181 GS 182 GS 183 GS 184 GS 185 GS 186 GS 187 GS 188 GS 189 GS 190 GS 192 GS 201 GS 202 GS 203 GS 611 GS 612 GS 613 GS 614 GS 615 GS 616 GS 617 GS 618 GS 621 GS 622 GS 623 GS 624 GS 625 GS 626 GS 631 GS 632 GS 633 GS 634 GS 635 GS 636 GS 637 GS 641 GS 642 GS 643 GS 644 GS 645 GS 661 GS 662 GS 663 GS 671 GS 611 VGS 612 VGS 613 VGS 614 VGS 615 VGS 616 VGS 617 VGS 618 VGS 621 VGS 622 VGS 624 VGS 625 VGS 626 VGS 631 VGS 632 VGS 633 VGS 634 VGS 635 VGS 636 VGS 637 VGS 642 VGS 643 VGS 644 VGS 645 VGS 661 VGS 662 VGS 663 VGS 664 VGS Home Command Gliding Centre No. 1 Home Command Gliding Centre RAF No. 2 Home Command Gliding Centre RAF Home Command Gliding Instructors School Reserve Command Gliding Instructors School Air Cadet Central Gliding School

List of Royal Air Force units & establishments

Contents

Aircraft training units

Refresher Flying Units

Advanced Flying Units

Anti-aircraft units

Beach units

Command level units

Ferry units

Maintenance Units

Signals Units

Operational Training Units (OTU)

Conversion Units

Aircraft units

Other Units

Communications

Armament Practice and Training Units

Training Wings

Establishments

Foreign Air Arms

See also

References

Citations

Bibliography

External links

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