List of Royal Air Force Communication units

This is a List of Royal Air Force Communication units. "Communication" in the Royal Air Force sense meant units of light transport/liaison aircraft, very frequently supporting a command headquarters.

To allow rapid transport of air officers, staff and other important people many units and Headquarters operated communication Sections, Flights, Squadrons or wings.

A single wing of this type, the 2nd Tactical Air Force Communication Wing RAF, was established on 31 March 1945, and disbanded only three and a half months later at RAF Buckeburg on 15 July 1945, by being reduced to the British Air Forces of Occupation Communication Squadron.[1]

Squadrons

UnitFormed onFormed atDisbanded onDisbanded atNotes
Aden Communication Squadron RAF1 December 1951RAF Khormaksar31 August 1955RAF KhormaksarBecame Aden Protectorate Communication and Support Squadron RAF[2]
Aden Protectorate Communication and Support Squadron RAF1 September 1955RAF Khormaksar31 December 1956RAF KhormaksarBecame No. 84 Squadron RAF[2]
Air Command Far East and Air Headquarters Malaya Communication Squadron RAF21 August 1946RAF Changi15 January 1947RAF ChangiDisbanded[3]
Air Component Field Force Communication Squadron RAF25 August 1939RAF Andover27 November 1939RAF Mont JoisBecame No. 81 Squadron RAF[3]
Air Defence of Great Britain Communication Squadron RAF1 May 1944RAF Northolt16 October 1944RAF NortholtBecame Fighter Command Communication Squadron RAF[3]
Air Division Communication Squadron RAF18 December 1945RAF Lubeck8 August 1946RAF DetmoldDisbanded[3]
Air Forces Gulf Communication Squadron RAF15 September 1967RAF Muharraq8 August 1969RAF MuharraqDisbanded[4]
Air Headquarters Burma Communication Squadron RAF20 September 1945RAF Baigachi14 November 1945RAF MingaladonBecame Air Headquarters Burma Communication Flight RAF[5]
Air Headquarters East Africa Communication Squadron RAF1 November 1940RAF Nairobi15 December 1941RAF EastleighDisbanded[6]
Air Headquarters Hong Kong Communication Squadron RAF12 September 1945RAF Kai Tak15 January 1947RAF Kai TakDisbanded[6]
Air Headquarters India Communication Squadron RAF1 March 1946RAF Willingdon15 August 1947RAF PalamBecame Supreme Commanders Headquarters (Air) Communication Squadron RAF[7]
Air Headquarters Italy Communication Squadron RAF10 November 1945RAF Marcianise15 August 1946RAF MarcianiseBecame Air Headquarters Italy Communication Flight RAF[7]
Air Headquarters Malaya Communication Squadron RAF1 November 1945RAF Kallang15 January 1947RAF ChangiDisbanded[7]
Air Headquarters Malta Communication Squadron RAF31 May 1946RAF Hal Far1 July 1954RAF LuqaBecame Malta Communication and Target Towing Squadron RAF[7]
Air Headquarters Netherlands East Indies Communication Squadron RAF1 November 1945RAF Mingaladon21 August 1946UnknownDisbanded[7]
Allied Air Forces Central Europe Communication Squadron RAFApril 1951RAF Melun-Villaroche1966RAF Melun-VillarocheDisbanded[8]
Allied Expeditionary Air Force Communication Squadron RAF6 April 1944RAF Heston15 October 1944RAF HestonBecame Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (RAF) Communication Squadron RAF[8]
2nd Allied Tactical Air Force Communication Squadron RAFFebruary 1952Unknown1 January 1959RAF WildenrathBecame Royal Air Force Germany Communication Squadron RAF[1]
Base Air Forces, Southeast Asia Communication Squadron RAF1 October 1944RAF Willingdon1 March 1946RAF PalamBecame Air Headquarters India Communication Squadron RAF[9] National Archives record
Bomber Command Communication Squadron RAF1 February 1956RAF Halton30 June 1963RAF Bovingdon[10][11]Became Bomber/Fighter/Coastal Commands Communication Squadron RAF
Bomber/Fighter/Coastal Command Communication Squadron RAF1 July 1963RAF Bovingdon1 August 1963RAF BovingdonBecame Southern Communication Squadron RAF[12]
British Air Forces of Occupation Communication Squadron RAF15 July 1945RAF Bückeburg1 September 1951RAF BückeburgBecame 2nd Tactical Air Force Communication Squadron[13]
British Commonwealth Air Communication Squadron RAFAfter 1945Unknown31 March 1948RAF IwakuniDisbanded[14]
Coastal Command Communication Squadron RAF7 April 1945RAF Leavesden1 May 1946RAF LeavesdenBecame Bomber/Fighter/Coastal Command Communication Squadron RAF[15]
Colerne Communication Squadron RAF30 July 1952RAF Colerne1 July 1957RAF ColerneAbsorbed by No. 81 Group Communication Squadron RAF[16]
Communication Squadron, GHQ Royal Air Force, France RAF1 April 1918RAF Berck-sur-MerNovember 1918RAF BickendorfDisbanded[17]
Communication Squadron, Hendon RAF23 July 1918RAF Hendon27 July 1918RAF HendonBecame No. 1 (Communication) Squadron RAF[17]
Far East Communication Squadron RAF16 October 1947RAF ChangiJanuary 1960RAF ChangiBecame part of No. 52 Squadron RAF[18]
Fighter Command Communication Squadron RAF16 October 1944RAF Northolt30 June 1963RAF BovingdonBecame Bomber/Fighter/Coastal Command Communication Squadron RAF[19]
Flying Training Command Communication Squadron RAF1 April 1959RAF White Waltham1 April 1964RAF White WalthamDisbanded[20]
No. 2 Group Communication Squadron RAF1 December 1948Unknown4 October 1956RAF GüterslohDisbanded[21]
No. 83 Group Communication Squadron RAF1 March 1944Unknown30 April 1946RAF SchleswiglandDisbanded[22]
No. 84 Group Communication Squadron (Air 29/2354) RAF1 March 1944Unknown30 November 1947RAF CelleDisbanded[23]
No. 85 Group Communication Squadron RAF1 May 1944RAF Castle Camps1 July 1946UnknownBecame No. 85 Wing Communication Squadron RAF[23]
No. 88 Group Communication Squadron RAF10 May 1945RAF Turnhouse30 September 1945RAF GardermoenDisbanded[23]
No. 221 Group Communication Squadron RAF1 January 1945RAF Kalemyo1 November 1945RAF MingaladonBecame Air Headquarters Netherlands East Indies Communication Squadron RAF[24]
No. 232 Group Communication Squadron RAF27 February 1945RAF Comilla31 March 1946RAF RangoonDisbanded[25]
No. 238 Group Communication Squadron RAF20 April 1945RAF Bilaspur15 October 1945RAF BilaspurDisbanded[25]
Headquarters Air Command Southeast Asia (Communication) Squadron RAF31 January 1944RAF Willingdon30 September 1946RAF ChangiAir Command Far East and Air Headquarters Malaya Communication Squadron RAF[26]
Headquarters British Forces Aden Communication Squadron RAF21 March 1943RAF Khormaksar1 December 1951RAF KhormaksarBecame Aden Communication Squadron RAF[26]
Headquarters Middle East Air Force Communication Squadron RAF1 December 1954RAF Nicosia1 February 1946RAF NicosiaBecame Middle East Command Communication Squadron RAF[5]
Headquarters Middle East Communication Squadron RAF1 June 1949RAF Kabrit30 November 1949RAF KabritDisbanded[5]
Headquarters Royal Air Force Burma Communication Squadron RAF21 April 1945RAF Baigachi20 September 1945UnknownBecame Air Headquarters Burma Communication Squadron RAF[5]
Headquarters Royal Air Force Northern Ireland Communication Squadron RAF19 November 1942RAF Sydenham31 March 1950RAF AldergroveBecame No. 67 Group Communication Flight RAF[5]
Home Command Communication Squadron RAF1 August 1950RAF White Waltham1 April 1959RAF White WalthamBecame Flying Training Command Communication Squadron RAF[27]
Maintenance Command Communication Squadron RAF1 May 1944
1 August 1949
RAF AndoverUnknown
1 November 1960
UnknownBecame Maintenance Command Communication and Ferry Squadron RAF[28]
Maintenance Command Communication and Ferry Squadron RAF1 November 1960Unknown1 April 1964RAF AndoverBecame Western Communication Squadron RAF[28]
Malta Communication and Target Towing Squadron RAF1 July 1954RAF Luqa1 August 1963RAF Ta KaliBecame Malta Communication Flight RAF[29]
Mediterranean and Middle East Communication Squadron RAF1 February 1944RAF Maison Blanche1 June 1949RAF KabritBecame Headquarters Middle East Communication Squadron RAF[30]
Metropolitan Communication Squadron RAF8 April 1944RAF Hendon3 February 1969RAF NortholtBecame No. 32 Squadron RAF[31]
Middle East Communication Squadron RAF29 February 1944RAF Heliopolis10 November 1945RAF HeliopolisBecame Mediterranean and Middle East Communication Squadron RAF[32]
Northern Communication Squadron RAF1 October 1964RAF Topcliffe1 January 1967RAF TopcliffeBecame Training Commands Communication Squadron RAF[33]
Reserve Command Communication Squadron RAF10 September 1946RAF White Waltham1 August 1950RAF White WalthamBecame Home Command Communication Squadron RAF[34]
Royal Air Force Bengal/Burma Communication Squadron RAF4 December 1944RAF Baigachi21 April 1945RAF BaigachiBecame Headquarters Royal Air Force Burma Communication Squadron RAF[35]
Royal Air Force Germany Communication Squadron RAF1 January 1959RAF Wildenrath3 February 1969RAF WildenrathBecame No. 60 Squadron RAF[36]
Southern Communication Squadron RAF1 August 1963RAF Bovingdon1 January 1969UnknownBecame Strike Command Communication Squadron RAf[37]
Strike Command Communication Squadron RAF1 January 1969Unknown3 February 1969RAF NortholtBecame No. 207 Squadron RAF[37]
Special Communication Squadron RAF1 January 1951RAF Kabrit1 September 1952RAF FayidBecame Middle East Air Force Special Communication Flight RAF[37]
No. 1 (Communication) Squadron RAF27 July 1918Unknown8 October 1919RAF KenleyDisbanded[17]
No. 2 (Communication) Squadron RAF1 March 1919RAF Buc8 October 1919RAF KenleyDisbanded[17]
No. 3 (Communication) Squadron RAFFebruary 1919RAF HounslowMarch 1919RAF HounslowAbsorbed by No. 86 Wing Headquarters Flight RAF[17]
No. 4 (Communication) Squadron RAF5 January 1919RAF Felixstowe31 December 1919RAF FelixstoweAbsorbed by No. 230 Squadron RAF[17]
No. 5 (Communication) Squadron RAFMarch 1919RAF Bircham Newton15 June 1919RAF Bircham NewtonBecame No. 274 Squadron RAF[17]
No. 6 (Communication) Squadron RAFMarch 1919RAF Bircham Newton1 October 1919RAF Bircham NewtonDisbanded[17]
No. 7 (Communication) Squadron RAFMarch 1919RAF Bircham Newton1 October 1919RAF Bircham NewtonDisbanded[17]
No. 8 (Communication) Squadron RAFMarch 1919RAF Bircham NewtonSeptember 1919RAF Bircham NewtonDisbanded[17]
Supreme Commander's Headquarters (Air) Communication Squadron RAF15 August 1947RAF Palam17 December 1947RAF PalamBecame Royal Air Force Communication Flight RAF[1]
Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (RAF) Communication Squadron RAF15 October 1944RAF Heston31 July 1945RAF DetmoldDisbanded[1]
Tactical Air Force (Burma) Communication Squadron RAF1 December 1943RAF Comilla28 December 1943UnknownBecame 3rd Tactical Air Force Communication Squadron RAF[1]
2nd Tactical Air Force Communication Squadron RAF1 April 1944
1 September 1951
RAF Buckeburg31 March 1945
February 1952
UnknownBecame 2nd Allied Tactical Air Force Communication Squadron RAF[1]
3rd Tactical Air Force Communication Squadron RAF28 December 1943Unknown4 December 1944RAF ComillaBecame Royal Air Force Bengal/Burma Communication Squadron RAF[1]
Training Commands Communication Squadron RAF1 January 1967RAF Topcliffe3 February 1969RAF WytonBecame No. 26 Squadron RAF[38]
Transport Command Communication Squadron RAFUnknownUnknown1 April 1964RAF UpavonAbsorbed by the Western Communication Squadron RAF[39]
Turnhouse Communication Squadron RAF1 October 1952RAF Turnhouse28 February 1958RAF TurnhouseDisbanded[40]
West Africa Command Communication Squadron RAFJuly 1945Unknown1 November 1945UnknownBecame West Africa Communication Squadron RAF[41]
West Africa Communication Squadron RAF31 May 1944
1 October 1946
RAF Waterloo, SAJuly 1945
25 September 1947
UnknownDisbanded[41]
West Africa Transport and Communication Squadron RAF1 November 1945RAF Accra, Gold Coast1 October 1946RAF Takoradi, Gold CoastBecame West Africa Communication Squadron[41]
Western Communication Squadron RAF1 April 1964RAF Andover3 February 1969RAF AndoverBecame No. 21 Squadron RAF[41]
No. 85 Wing Communication Squadron RAF1 July 1946UnknownNovember 1948UnknownBecame No. 85 Wing Communication Flight RAF[23]

Units

UnitFormed onFormed atDisbanded onDisbanded atNotes
Aden Communication Unit RAF1 January 1944KhormaksarJanuary 1946KhormaksarBecame Headquarters British Forces Aden Communication Flight[2]
Air Command Southeast Asia Communication Unit RAF1 November 1943Willingdon, India31 January 1944Willingdon, IndiaBecame Headquarters Air Command Southeast Asia Communication Squadron[3]
Air Headquarters Bengal Communication Unit RAF24 March 1943Barrackpore, Bengal1 December 1943Comilla, IndiaBecame Tactical Air Force (Burma) Communication Squadron[6]
Communication Unit, Desert Air Force RAF1 July 1943Sorman, Libya1 June 1944Orvieto, ItalyBecame Desert Air Force Communication Flight[17]
Communication Unit, Heliopolis RAF18 January 1940Heliopolis19 August 1940HeliopolisBecame No. 267 Squadron RAF[42]
Communication Unit, Western Desert RAF27 April 1942Ma'aten Bagush, Egypt1 July 1943Sorman, LibyaBecame Communication Unit, Desert Air Force[17]
Mediterranean Air Command Communication Unit RAF2 August 1943Maison Blanche, Algeria1 February 1944Maison Blanche, AlgeriaDisbanded[30]

Flights

UnitFormed onFormed atDisbanded onDisbanded atNotes
No. 1 (Communication) Flight (Kenya Auxiliary Air Unit) RAF
No. 1 (Indian) Group Communication Flight RAF
No. 2 (Indian) Group Communication Flight RAF
No. 3 (Indian) Group Communication Flight RAF
No. 85 Wing Communication Flight RAF
No. 87 Wing Communication Flight RAF
No. 87 Group Communication Flight RAF
2nd Tactical Air Force Communication Flight RAF
Air Defence of Great Britain Communication Flight RAF
Air Headquarters Austria Communication Flight RAF / Austria Commission Flight RAF
Air Headquarters Burma Communication Flight RAF
Air Headquarters Ceylon Communication Flight RAF
Air Headquarters Communication Flight Iraq and Persia RAF
Air Headquarters East Africa Communication Flight RAF
Air Headquarters Eastern Mediterranean Communication Flight RAF
Air Headquarters Egypt Communication Flight RAF
Air Headquarters Greece Communication Flight RAF
Air Headquarters India Communication Flight RAF
Air Headquarters Austria Communication Flight RAF
Air Headquarters Burma Communication Flight RAF
Air Headquarters Ceylon Communication Flight RAF
Air Headquarters Communication Flight Iraq and Persia RAF
Air Headquarters East Africa Communication Flight RAF
Air Headquarters Iraq Communication Flight RAF
Air Headquarters Italy Communication Flight RAF
Air Headquarters Malaya Communication Flight RAF
Air Headquarters Malta Communication Flight RAF
Air Headquarters Middle East Communication Flight RAF
Air Headquarters Western Desert Communication Flight RAF
Allied Expeditionary Force Communication Flight RAF
Andover Communication Flight RAF
Army Co-Operation Command Communication Flight RAF
Austria Commission Flight RAF
Austria Communication Flight RAF
Balkan Air force Communication Flight RAF
Berlin Air Command (RAF) Communication Flight RAF
Bomber Command Communication Flight RAF1942RAF Halton1956RAF Halton[43] Became Bomber Command Communication Squadron.
British Air Command Berlin Communication Flight RAF
British Commonwealth Air Communication Flight RAF
Burma Communication Flight RAF
Central Air Communication Section Training Flight RAF
Civil Aircraft Flight, National Air Communications RAF
Coastal Command Communication Flight RAF
Communication Flight, Aden RAF
Communication Flight, Air Headquarters New Delhi RAF
Communication Flight, Aldermaston RAF
Communication Flight, Dar es Salaam (Air Defence Unit, Tanganyika) RAF
Communication Flight, Dum Dum RAF
Communication Flight, Eastleigh RAF
Communication Flight, GHQ Royal Flying Corps, France RAF
Communication Flight, Heliopolis RAF
Communication Flight, Iraq RAF
Communication Flight, Iraq and Persia RAF
Communication Flight, Khartoum RAF (see 117 Squadron)
Communication Flight, Lydda RAF
Communication Flight, Nicosia RAF
Communication Flight, Ramleh RAF
Communication Flight, Takoradi RAF
Desert Air force Communication Flight RAF
East Africa Communication Flight RAF
Eastleigh Communication Flight RAF
Far East Communication Flight RAF
Flying Training Command Communication Flight RAF
Free French Communication Flight RAF
Headquarters British Forces Aden Communication Flight RAF
Headquarters Combat Cargo Task Force Communication Flight RAF
Headquarters Far East Communication Flight RAF
Headquarters Middle East Air Force Communication Flight RAF
Headquarters Middle East Air Force Flight RAF
Headquarters Rhodesian Air Training Wing Communication Flight RAF
Headquarters Rhodesian Air Training Wing Communication Flight RAF
Headquarters Royal Air Air Force Northern Ireland Communication Flight RAF
Helicopter Communication Flight RAF
Home Communication Flight RAF
India Communication Flight RAF
Inland Area Communication Flight RAF
Iraq Communication Flight RAF
Kuala Lumpur Communication Flight RAF
Light Communication Trial Flight RAF
Maintenance Command Communication Flight RAF
Malta Air Sea Rescue and Communication Flight RAF
Malta Communication, Ferry Unit and Air Sea Rescue Flight RAF
Malta Communication Flight RAF
Mediterranean Allied Coastal Air Forces Communication Flight RAF
Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Forces Communication Flight RAF
Mediterranean Tactical Air Forces Communication Flight RAF
Middle East Air Force Communication Flight RAF
Middle East Air Force Flight RAF
Middle East Air Force Special Communication Flight RAF
Middle East Command Communication Flight RAF
Middle East Communication Flight RAF
Northern Ireland Communication Flight RAF
Northwest African Air Forces Communication Flight RAF
Northwest African Coastal Air Force Communication Flight RAF
Northwest African Tactical Air Force Communication Flight RAF
Overseas Staff College Communication Flight RAF
Reserve Command Communication Flight RAF
Rhodesian Air Group Communication Flight RAF
Rhodesian Air Training Wing Communication Flight RAF
Royal Air Force Communication Flight RAF
Royal Air Force Delegation (Belgium) Communication Flight RAF
Royal Air Force Delegation (Denmark) Communication Flight RAF
Royal Air Force Delegation (France) Communication Flight RAF
Royal Air Force Delegation (Greece) Communication Flight RAF
Royal Air Force Delegation (Washington) Communication Flight RAF
Royal Air Force Staff College Communication Flight RAF
Royal Air Force Staff College (Overseas) Communication Flight RAF
Royal Hellenic Air Force Communication Flight RAF
Southeastern Area Communications Flight RAF
Southern Rhodesia Communications Flight RAF
Special Communication Flight RAF
Technical Training Command Communication Flight RAF
Training Command Communication Flight RAF
Transport Command Communication Flight RAF
Wessex Bombing Area Communication Flight RAF
Western Desert Communication Flight RAF

References

Citations

  1. Lake 1999, p. 279.
  2. Lake 1999, p. 9.
  3. Lake 1999, p. 14.
  4. Lake 1999, p. 16.
  5. Lake 1999, p. 129.
  6. Lake 1999, p. 17.
  7. Lake 1999, p. 18.
  8. Lake 1999, p. 27.
  9. Lake 1999, p. 35.
  10. "Bovingdon". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  11. Lake 1999, p. 38.
  12. Lake 1999, p. 39.
  13. Lake 1999, p. 40.
  14. Lake 1999, p. 41.
  15. Lake 1999, p. 49.
  16. Lake 1999, p. 50.
  17. Lake 1999, p. 52.
  18. Lake 1999, p. 66.
  19. Lake 1999, p. 70.
  20. Lake 1999, p. 103.
  21. Lake 1999, p. 119.
  22. Lake 1999, p. 124.
  23. Lake 1999, p. 125.
  24. Lake 1999, p. 126.
  25. Lake 1999, p. 127.
  26. Lake 1999, p. 128.
  27. Lake 1999, p. 130.
  28. Lake 1999, p. 135.
  29. Lake 1999, p. 136.
  30. Lake 1999, p. 137.
  31. Lake 1999, p. 138.
  32. Lake 1999, p. 139.
  33. Lake 1999, p. 141.
  34. Lake 1999, p. 171.
  35. Lake 1999, p. 174.
  36. Lake 1999, p. 176.
  37. Lake 1999, p. 187.
  38. Lake 1999, p. 283.
  39. Lake 1999, p. 288.
  40. Lake 1999, p. 289.
  41. Lake 1999, p. 290.
  42. Lake 1999, p. 51.
  43. "Halton". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 29 April 2020.

Bibliography

  • Lake, A (1999). Flying units of the RAF. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.