| Royal Air Force Commandos | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1942–1946 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Type | Commando |
| Size | 18 units |
| Part of | Combined Operations |
| Engagements | Second World War |
| Insignia | |
| Combined Operations Shoulder Patch | |
Royal Air Force Commandos were formed from units of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. They were formed in 1942 and served in the European and Far Eastern theatres of war before being disbanded in 1946.
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The commandos were formed in 1940, by the order of Winston Churchill the British Prime Minister. He called for specially trained troops that would "develop a reign of terror down the enemy coast".[1] At first they were a small force of volunteers who carried out small raids against enemy occupied territory, [2] but by 1943 there role had changed into lightly equipped assault Infantry which specialised in spearheading amphibious landings.[3]
The man initially selected as the overall commander of the force was Admiral Sir Roger Keyes himself a veteran of the landings at Galipoli and the Zeebrugge raid in the First World War.[4] Keyes resigned in October 1941 and was replaced by Admiral Louis Mountbatten.[5] All volunteers for Commando training went through the six week intensive commando course at Achnacarry. The course in the Scottish Highlands concentrated on fitness, speed marches, weapons training, map reading, climbing, small boat operations and demolitions both by day and by night.[6]
As the commander of Combined Operations Louis Mountbatten on the 22 January 1942, recommended that the Royal Air Force create a number of Commando units. These units called Servicing Commandos would accompany the Allied Armies when they invaded the continent of Europe either to make German airfields serviceable, or to make operational the new airstrips built by the Army Airfield Construction Units. Eventually 12 Servicing Commandos were formed in the United Kingdom and three in the Middle East. The force consisted of 2,400 officers and men skilled in aircraft maintenance and armaments and were capable of working on all types of aircraft to keep them flying under all kinds of conditions.[7]
These Commando Units were trained on similar lines to the British Army and Royal Marine Commandos. Each Commando unit comprised two or three officers and between 150 and 170 other ranks. They were equipped with jeeps, motorcycles and up to 15 three ton trucks. Commando units were involved in the major seaborne landings, either going in with the initial invasion forces or giving active support in other ways to keep the aircraft flying.[7]
As well as the 15 Servicing Commandos in Europe and the Middle East three smaller units were formed in India, and called Servicing Parties. Each Servicing Party comprised one officer and 30 men. These units were part of the R.A.F. Support Group and supported the Chindits during Operation Thursday. After the surrender of the Japanese Forces in August 1945 they took over Japanese held airfields, assisted in the evacuation of Allied prisoners of war and undertook other peace keeping duties in Java, Thailand and French Indo China.[7]
In the Mediterranean Servicing Commandos took part in operations in North Africa, landings in Sicily, landings in Italy and landing in the South of France. Servicing Commando units also took part in the Normandy landings and afterwards some units were withdrawn for service in the Far East.[7]
The following Battle honours were awarded to the British Commandos during the Second World War.[8]
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