Group (air force unit)

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Group is a term used by different air forces for a unit of command. The size of this unit varies considerably between different countries. The terms group and wing are used differently in different air forces, and this can cause confusion.

[edit] United States and French usage

In the French Armée de l'Air, a groupe equates a squadron. This is also the usage in the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps. In the U.S. forces, several groups form a wing.

[edit] RAF and Commonwealth usage

In the Royal Air Force and most other Commonwealth air forces, a group is a larger unit, made up of several wings, and directly subordinate to a command (or, historically, to a tactical air force). When the RAF was formed, an officer with the rank of Group Captain (equivalent to Colonel) commanded such a unit, although they have been commanded by Air Vice-Marshals since before the Second World War.