33k in the air
Staff Sergeant
- 1,288
- Jan 31, 2021
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No, as far as I am are there is no such reference. From memory books like Royal Air Force Handbook by Bowyer lists the wings and groups but not the subordinate units. The many published histories have "snapshot" orders of battle, but not for example a day by day listing of Fighter Command July to October 1940. Is there anything specific you were after?Does anyone have a suggestion for an online site or printed reference which lists the Groups to which RAF squadrons were assigned to during WWII? As well as the Wings squadrons were assigned to, if any, and the Commands to which the Groups were assigned?
HiDoes anyone have a suggestion for an online site or printed reference which lists the Groups to which RAF squadrons were assigned to during WWII? As well as the Wings squadrons were assigned to, if any, and the Commands to which the Groups were assigned?
The publication Air Combat Units of World War II lists this sort of information for USAAF groups during the war (although it does so only with the year and not the exact date), but I haven't come across a similar publication that does so for RAF aircraft units.
If anyone can point me in a good direction for a consolidated source for this information, it would be appreciated.
Careful with that source. It is RAF squadrons / units only. It doesn't include RAAF, RCAF and SAAF squadrons operating under RAF control. For example 3 RAAF and various SAAF bomber and fighter units operating in the Mediterranean theatre.Hi
'The Source Book of the RAF' by Ken Delve (Airlife 1994), has ORBATs for Nov. 1939, May 1941, Apr. 1942, Apr. 1943, July 1944 and July 1945 (plus pre and post war ORBATs). Sample page:
HiCareful with that source. It is RAF squadrons / units only. It doesn't include RAAF, RCAF and SAAF squadrons operating under RAF control. For example 3 RAAF and various SAAF bomber and fighter units operating in the Mediterranean theatre.
Yes, but the 400 series squadrons were Article 15 squadrons i.e RAF squadrons intended to be manned by personnel from the Commonwealth countries.Hi
Some are missing but those that use the RAF numbering system in the 400 series do appear in the ORBATs .
Another useful book is 'The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918-1988' by James J Halley (Air-Britain, 1988).
Mike
Try googling "raf groups WW2 orders of battle" (but without the inverted commas). You should get returns for each of the Commands (Fighter, Coastal, Bomber etc) that are listed by Group and by year. Alas, it doesn't detail down to the Wing level…but it's a start.
No, as far as I am are there is no such reference. From memory books like Royal Air Force Handbook by Bowyer lists the wings and groups but not the subordinate units. The many published histories have "snapshot" orders of battle, but not for example a day by day listing of Fighter Command July to October 1940. Is there anything specific you were after?
Hi
'The Source Book of the RAF' by Ken Delve (Airlife 1994), has ORBATs for Nov. 1939, May 1941, Apr. 1942, Apr. 1943, July 1944 and July 1945 (plus pre and post war ORBATs).Also 'RAF Flying Training and Support Units since 1912' by Sturtivant & Hamlin is also informative.
Mike
Hi
'The Source Book of the RAF' by Ken Delve (Airlife 1994), has ORBATs for Nov. 1939, May 1941, Apr. 1942, Apr. 1943, July 1944 and July 1945 (plus pre and post war ORBATs). Sample page:
Mike
HiIt turns out I've seen that book and made notes from it, but had forgotten I had done so. Thanks for the reminder.
I'm also realizing that it seems for Groups in the U.K., these were mostly geographic arrangements. So if a squadron transferred to an airfield in another Group's designated geographic area, it became part of that Group.
Lastly, the website RAf Commands — which I had been aware of previously — does have some information on the Commands. I had missed the link to that section in previous visits.
Hi
Also for the 2nd TAF, the airfield number in UK became the Wing number, eg. 140 Airfield became 140 Wing. Chapter 16 in Volume Four of '2nd Tactical Air Force' by Shores & Thomas, give the movements of the squadrons between Wings in most cases.
Another source is the three volume WW2 RAF Official History 'Royal Air Force 1939-1945', Richards & Saunders, the appendices give various detailed ORBATs. For example Volume III 'The Fight is Won' has:
There is a lot of information around just not necessarily in one place.
Mike
HiI've gone through Shore's book specifically on 2TAF from 1970, which I presume is a different, though similar, book.
Hi
Yes, the new '2TAF book is enlarged into four volumes and updated. Volume Four was published in 2008. Sample page from Chapter 16:
Mike