No. 25 Group RAF is a former Royal Air Force group. It was initially active between 1918 and 1919. It reformed during 1937, remaining active throughout the Second World War, disbanding again in 1948. It reformed a second time during 1951 and disbanded for a third time in 1968.
| No. 25 (Flying Training) Group RAF | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 12 August 1918 - 12 June 1919 1 December 1937 - 15 April 1948 20 March 1951 - 1 June 1968 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Type | Royal Air Force group |
| Role | Military aviation training |
| Part of | RAF Training Command RAF Flying Training Command |
| Last HQ | RAF White Waltham |
| Motto(s) | Instate[1] |
History
editFirst World War
editNo. 25 (Operations) Group formed on 12 August 1918 at Luce Bay, within North Western Area. It had No. 258 Squadron RAF and No. 273 Squadron RAF under its operational control, along with the Airship Stations at Luce Bay and Larne. The group disbanded on 12 June 1919.[2]
Second World War
editIt reformed, known as No. 25 (Armament) Group RAF, on 1 December 1937 at RAF Eastchurch, within RAF Training Command, by renaming the Armament Group. On 28 June 1939 the HQ relocated to RAF Brize Norton. Six months later on 31 January 1940, it moved again, to Buntingsdale Hall, Market Drayton in Shropshire. On 27 May 1940, with the split of RAF Training Command, the group moved into RAF Flying Training Command. It had responsibility for all the armament training schools including No. 1 Air Armament School RAF, at RAF Manby, and the Central Gunnery School RAF, at RAF Sutton Bridge. On 7 July 1942, the Air Gunners Schools and the (Observers) Advanced Flying Units for Northern England, were moved into No. 29 Group RAF. The responsibility for the Air Gunners Schools and the (Observers) Advanced Flying Units in the Midlands and Wales, along with No. 1 Air Armament School RAF, the Central Gunnery School RAF and the Central Navigation School RAF remained within No. 25 Group. After the Second World War, on 26 April 1947, the group HQ moved to St Vincents Hall, Grantham, in Lincolnshire, however, it eventually disbanded on 15 April 1948.[2]
Cold War
editOn 20 March 1951 it reformed as No. 25 (Flying Training) Group RAF at RAF Manby. It was tasked with administering the Flying Refresher Schools and the Advanced Flying Schools, using Jet aircraft. On 28 January 1961 the Group HQ moved to RAF White Waltham. The group was operational for a further seven years, before eventually disbanding on 1 June 1968, and was absorbed into No. 22 Group RAF.[2]
Structure
editNovember 1939[3] HQ at RAF Brize Norton
May 1941[4] HQ at Buntingsdale Hall, Market Drayton
April 1942[5] HQ at Buntingsdale Hall, Market Drayton
|
April 1943[6] HQ at Buntingsdale Hall, Market Drayton
July 1944[7] HQ at Buntingsdale Hall, Market Drayton
|
|
July 1945[8] HQ at Buntingsdale Hall, Market Drayton
April 1962[9] HQ at RAF White Waltham
Headquarters
editNo. 25 Group had various HQ during its three active periods:[2]
- Luce Bay - between 1918 and 1919
- RAF Eastchurch - reformed in December 1937
- RAF Brize Norton - from June 1939
- Buntingsdale Hall - from January 1940
- St Vincents Hall - from April 1947 until April 1948
- RAF Manby - reformed in March 1951
- RAF White Waltham - from January 1961 until June 1968
Air Officers Commanding
edit- Note: The ranks shown are the ranks held at the time of holding the appointment of Air Officer Commanding, No. 25 Group Royal Air Force.[2]
| Rank | name | from |
|---|---|---|
| ? | June 1918 | |
| Disbanded | 1920 | |
| Air Commodore | Lawrence Pattinson | February 1934 |
| Air Commodore | Guy Garrod | February 1937 |
| Air Commodore | George Bentley Dacre | 1938 |
| Air Vice-Marshal | Henry Cave-Browne-Cave | August 1938 |
| Air Commodore | Hugh Champion de Crespigny | February 1939 |
| Air Commodore | Edward Derek Davis | January 1942 |
| Air Commodore | Christopher Neil Hope Bilney | December 1945 |
| Air Commodore | Gordon Herbert Vasse | 1947 - 48 |
| Disbanded | April 1948 | |
| Air Vice-Marshal | Richard Jordan | March 1951 |
| Air Vice-Marshal | Hugh Hamilton Brookes | February 1953 |
| Air Vice-Marshal | Hugh Constantine | August 1954 |
| Air Vice-Marshal | Hugh Hamilton Brookes | April 1956 |
| Air Vice-Marshal | John Forde Hobler | October 1958 |
| Air Vice-Marshal | Herbert James Kirkpatrick | February 1961 |
| Air Vice-Marshal | Paul Holder | January 1963 |
| Air Vice-Marshal | Richard Ian Jones | October 1964 |
| Air Vice-Marshal | Graham Reese Magill | May 1967 |
References
editCitations
edit- ^ Delve 1994, p. 51.
- ^ Delve 1994, p. 54.
- ^ Delve 1994, p. 59.
- ^ Delve 1994, p. 65.
- ^ Delve 1994, p. 73.
- ^ Delve 1994, p. 80.
- ^ Delve 1994, p. 89.
Bibliography
edit- Delve, Ken (1994). The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
- Lake, Alan (1999). Flying Units of the RAF. Shrewsbury UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.