RAF Fighter Command Order of Battle 1940
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This article lists the RAF Fighter Command order of battle at 15 September 1940, during the Battle of Britain.
Contents |
[edit] Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command Headquarters was located at RAF Bentley Priory, near Stanmore in North London. The Commanding Officer was Air Marshal Hugh C.T. Dowding.
[edit] Fighter Groups
| Group | Headquarters | Commanding Officer | Area of Operations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Group | RAF Box, Box, Wiltshire | Air Vice-Marshal Sir C J Quintin Brand | South West England and South Wales |
| 11 Group | RAF Uxbridge, Hillingdon, Middlesex | Air Vice-Marshal Keith Park | South East England and London |
| 12 Group | RAF Watnall, Nottinghamshire | Air Vice-Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory | East Anglia, the Midlands, Mid Wales and North Wales |
| 13 Group | RAF Newcastle, Kenton Bar, Newcastle-upon-Tyne | Air Vice-Marshal Richard Saul | North of England and Scotland |
[edit] Sector Stations and Satellite Aerodromes
Sector Stations had Sector Control Rooms as well as the usual features of RAF aerodromes; they were able to control RAF fighter formations during the battle. Sector stations were also able to disperse squadrons to satellite aerodromes, most of which were fully equipped.[1][2]
| Sector | Group | Sector Station | Satellite Airfield or airfields | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 11 | Tangmere | Westhampnett | ||
| B | 11 | Kenley | Croydon | ||
| C | 11 | Biggin Hill | West Malling, Gravesend[3] | ||
| D | 11 | Hornchurch | Gravesend, Rochford, Manston, Hawkinge | ||
| E | 11 | North Weald | Stapleford Tawney, Martlesham Heath | ||
| F | 11 | Debden | Martlesham Heath[4] | ||
| G | 12 | Duxford | Fowlmere | ||
| K | 12 | Wittering | Coltishall | ||
| L | 12 | Digby | Tern Hill | ||
| M | 12 | Kirton-in-Lindsey | |||
| N | 12 | Church Fenton | Leconfield | ||
| O | 13 | Usworth | Catterick | ||
| P | 13 | Acklington | |||
| Q | 13 | Turnhouse | Drem, Grangemouth | ||
| R | 13 | Dyce | Grangemouth | ||
| S | 13 | Wick | Kirkwall, Sumburgh | ||
| W | 10 | Filton | Boscombe Down, Colerne, Pembry | ||
| Y | 10 | Middle Wallop | Boscombe Down, Warmwell, Exeter, some control over RNAS Roborough, RAF St Eval | ||
| Z | 11 | Northolt | Hendon |
[edit] Bases and Squadrons
| Sector Station | Squadron | Aircraft Type | Squadron Code | Radio call sign | Aerodrome Assigned to | Commanding Officer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Group | ||||||
| RAF Middle Wallop | 238 | Hawker Hurricane | VK | RAF Middle Wallop | Squadron Leader Harold Fenton | |
| RAF Middle Wallop | 609 | Supermarine Spitfire | PR | SORBO | RAF Warmwell | Squadron Leader Horace Stanley Darley |
| RAF Middle Wallop | 604 (Night Fighter) | Bristol Blenheim & Bristol Beaufighter | NG | RAF Middle Wallop | Squadron Leader Michael Anderson | |
| RAF Middle Wallop | 23 (part) | Bristol Blenheim | YP | RAF Middle Wallop | Squadron Leader George Francis Wheaton Heycock | |
| RAF Middle Wallop | 152 | Supermarine Spitfire | UM | MAIDA | RAF Warmwell | Squadron Leader Peter Devitt |
| RAF Middle Wallop | 56 | Hawker Hurricane | US | BAFFIN | RAF Boscombe Down | Squadron Leader Herbert Moreton Pinfold |
| RAF Filton | 79 | Hawker Hurricane | NV | PANSY | RAF Pembrey | Squadron Leader Hervey Heyworth |
| RAF Filton | 87 | Hawker Hurricane | LK | SUNCUP | RAF Exeter, RAF Bibury | Squadron Leader R.S. Mills |
| RAF Filton | 601 | Hawker Hurricane | UF | WEAPON | RAF Filton | Squadron Leader Sir Archibald Philip Hope |
| RAF Filton | 234 | Supermarine Spitfire | AZ | CRESSY | RAF St Eval | Squadron Leader Minden Vaughan Blake |
| RAF Filton | 236 (Coastal Command) | Bristol Blenheim | FA | RAF St Eval | Squadron Leader G.W. Montague | |
| RAF Filton | 247 | Gloster Gladiator | HP | RNAS Roborough | Flight Lieutenant Hugh Addison Chater | |
| 11 Group | ||||||
| RAF Biggin Hill | 72 | Hawker Hurricane | RN | TENNIS | RAF Biggin Hill | Squadron Leader A.R. Collins |
| RAF Biggin Hill | 92 | Supermarine Spitfire | QJ | GANNIC | RAF Biggin Hill | Squadron Leader F.J. Sanders |
| RAF Biggin Hill | 141 (half) | Boulton Paul Defiant | TW | RAF Biggin Hill | Squadron Leader W.A. Richardson | |
| RAF Biggin Hill | 66 | Supermarine Spitfire | LZ | FIBUS | RAF Gravesend | Squadron Leader Rupert Leigh |
| RAF North Weald | 249 | Hawker Hurricane | GN | GANER | RAF Middle Wallop | Squadron Leader John Grandy |
| RAF North Weald | 23 (part) | Bristol Blenheim | YP | RAF North Weald | Squadron Leader G.F.W. Heycock | |
| RAF North Weald | 46 | Hawker Hurricane | PO | ANGEL | RAF Stapleford | Squadron Leader J.R. MacLachlan |
| RAF Kenley | 253 | Hawker Hurricane | SW | RAF Kenley | Squadron Leader E.R. Bitmead | |
| RAF Kenley | 501 | Hawker Hurricane | SD | VICEROY | RAF Kenley | Squadron Leader Harry Hogan |
| RAF Kenley | 605 | Hawker Hurricane | UP | TURKEY | RAF Croydon | Squadron Leader Walter Churchill |
| RAF Hornchurch | 603 | Supermarine Spitfire | XT | VIKEN | RAF Hornchurch | Squadron Leader George Lovell Denholm |
| RAF Hornchurch | 600 (Night Fighter) | Bristol Blenheim & Bristol Beaufighter | BQ | RAF Hornchurch | Squadron Leader H.L. Maxwell | |
| RAF Hornchurch | 41 | Supermarine Spitfire | EB | MITOR | RAF Hornchurch | Squadron Leader R.C. Lister |
| RAF Hornchurch | 222 | Supermarine Spitfire | ZD | KOTEL | RAF Hornchurch | Squadron Leader John Hill |
| RAF Tangmere | 213 | Hawker Hurricane | AK | BEARSKIN | RAF Tangmere | Squadron Leader D.S. Wilson-Macdonald |
| RAF Tangmere | 607 | Hawker Hurricane | AF | RAF Tangmere | Squadron Leader James Vick | |
| RAF Tangmere | 602 | Supermarine Spitfire | LO | VILLA | RAF Westhampnett | Squadron Leader Sandy Johnstone |
| RAF Tangmere | 23 (part) | Bristol Blenheim & Bristol Beaufighter | YP | RAF Ford | Squadron Leader G.F.W. Heycock | |
| RAF Debden | 17 | Hawker Hurricane | YB | EDEY | RAF Debden | Squadron Leader A.G. Miller |
| RAF Debden | 73 | Hawker Hurricane | TP | RAF Debden | Squadron Leader Mike Beytagh | |
| RAF Debden | 257 | Hawker Hurricane | DT | ALERT | RAF Martlesham Heath | Squadron Leader Robert Stanford Tuck |
| RAF Debden | 25 (part) | Bristol Blenheim | ZK | RAF Martlesham Heath | Squadron Leader Wilfred William Loxton | |
| RAF Northolt | 1 RCAF | Hawker Hurricane | YO | CARIBOU | RAF Northolt | Squadron Leader Ernest Mcnab |
| RAF Northolt | 229 | Hawker Hurricane | RE | KETA | RAF Northolt | Squadron Leader Harry J. Maguire |
| RAF Northolt | 303 (Polish) | Hawker Hurricane | RF | APANY | RAF Northolt | Squadron Leader Ronald Kellett |
| RAF Northolt | 264 (part) | Boulton Paul Defiant | PS | RAF Northolt | Squadron Leader George Desmond Garvin | |
| RAF Northolt | 504 | Hawker Hurricane | TM | RAF Hendon | Squadron Leader John Sample | |
| 12 Group | ||||||
| RAF Duxford | 242 | Hawker Hurricane | LE | LORAG | RAF Duxford | Squadron Leader Douglas Bader |
| RAF Duxford | 302 (Polish) | Hawker Hurricane | WX | CALEB | RAF Duxford | Squadron Leader Jack Satchell / Squadron Leader M. Mumler |
| RAF Duxford | 310 (Czech) | Hawker Hurricane, | NN | CALLA | RAF Duxford | Squadron Leader Douglas Blackwood / Squadron Leader Sasha Hess |
| RAF Duxford | 19 | Supermarine Spitfire | QV | LUTON | RAF Fowlmere | Squadron Leader Bryan Lane |
| RAF Coltishall | 74 | Supermarine Spitfire | ZP | DYSOE | RAF Wittering | Squadron Leader Adolph "Sailor" Malan |
| RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey | 616 | Supermarine Spitfire | QJ[5] | RADPOE | RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey | Squadron Leader Billy Burton |
| RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey | 264 (part) | Boulton Paul Defiant | PS | RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey | Squadron Leader Desmond Garvin | |
| RAF Digby | 151 | Hawker Hurricane | DZ | RAF Digby | ||
| RAF Digby | 611 | Supermarine Spitfire | FY | CHARLIE | RAF Digby | Squadron Leader Jim McComb |
| RAF Digby | 29 (Night Fighter) | Bristol Blenheim & Bristol Beaufighter | RO | RAF Digby | Squadron Leader Stan Widdows | |
| RAF Wittering | 1 | Hawker Hurricane | JX | RAF Wittering | Squadron Leader David Pemberton | |
| RAF Wittering | 266 | Supermarine Spitfire | UO | RAF Wittering | Squadron Leader P.G. Jamieson | |
| RAF Church Fenton | 85 | Hawker Hurricane | VY | HYDRO | RAF Church Fenton | Squadron Leader Peter Wooldridge Townsend DFC |
| RAF Church Fenton | 306 (Polish) (part) | Hawker Hurricane | UZ | RAF Church Fenton | Squadron Leader D.R. Scott | |
| RAF Church Fenton | 64 | Supermarine Spitfire | SH | FREEMA | RAF Leconfield / RAF Ringway | Squadron Leader Don McDonell |
| 13 Group | ||||||
| RAF Usworth | 54 | Supermarine Spitfire | KL | RABBIT | RAF Catterick | Flight Lieutenant F.P.L. Dunworth |
| RAF Usworth | 219 (Night Fighter) (part) | Bristol Blenheim & Bristol Beaufighter | FK | RAF Catterick | Squadron Leader J.H. Little | |
| RAF Usworth | 43 | Hawker Hurricane | FT | RAF Usworth | Squadron Leader Tom Dalton-Morgan | |
| RAF Acklington | 32 | Hawker Hurricane | GZ | JACKO | RAF Acklington | Squadron Leader Mike Crossley |
| RAF Acklington | 219 (Night Fighter) (part) | Bristol Blenheim | FK | RAF Acklington | Squadron Leader J.H. Little | |
| RAF Turnhouse | 3 | Hawker Hurricane | QO | RAF Turnhouse | Squadron Leader S.F. Godden | |
| RAF Turnhouse | 65 | Supermarine Spitfire | YT | RAF Turnhouse, | Squadron Leader A.L. Holland | |
| RAF Turnhouse | 141 | Boulton Paul Defiant | TW | RAF Turnhouse | Squadron Leader W.A. Richardson | |
| RAF Turnhouse | 111 | Hawker Hurricane | JU | WAGON | RAF Drem | Squadron Leader John Thompson |
| RAF Turnhouse | 263 | Hawker Hurricane & Westland Whirlwind | HE | RAF Drem | Flight Lieutenant T.P. Pugh | |
| RAF Dyce | 145 | Hawker Hurricane | SO | PATIN | RAF Roborough | Squadron Leader John Peel |
| RAF Wick | 232 | Hawker Hurricane | EF | RAF Roborough | Squadron Leader M.M. Stephens | |
| RAF Aldergrove | 245 | Hawker Hurricane | DX | RAF Roborough | Squadron Leader E.W. Whitley |
[edit] See also
- RAF Fighter Command
- List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons
- List of Officially Accredited Battle of Britain Squadrons
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
[edit] Bibliography
- Ramsay, Winston (editor). The Battle of Britain Then and Now Mk V. London: Battle of Britain Prints International Ltd, 1989. ISBN 0-900913-46-0
[edit] External Links
BattleofBritain.com - Retrieved: 4 August 2007.
