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No. 25 Group RAF

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No. 25 (Flying Training) Group RAF
No. 25 (Armament) Group RAF
No. 25 (Operations) Group RAF
Royal Air Force Ensign
Active12 August 1918 - 12 June 1919
1 December 1937 - 15 April 1948
20 March 1951 - 1 June 1968
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
TypeRoyal Air Force group
RoleMilitary aviation training
Part ofRAF Training Command
RAF Flying Training Command
Last HQRAF White Waltham
Motto(s)Instate[1]

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.

History

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First World War

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No. 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

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It 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

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On 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

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November 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

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No. 25 Group had various HQ during its three active periods:[2]

Air Officers Commanding

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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]
No. 25 Group commanding officers
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

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Citations

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  1. ^ "RAF Badges - Groups". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Group No's 20 - 29". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  3. ^ Delve 1994, p. 51.
  4. ^ Delve 1994, p. 54.
  5. ^ Delve 1994, p. 59.
  6. ^ Delve 1994, p. 65.
  7. ^ Delve 1994, p. 73.
  8. ^ Delve 1994, p. 80.
  9. ^ Delve 1994, p. 89.

Bibliography

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