The structure of the British Royal Air Force in 1989/1990 is outlined below.

Background

Role and any changes since the 1982 reforms here.

In 1989 and 1990, the Royal Air Force was quickly replacing its ageing McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantoms with the new Panavia Tornado, and therefore several units listed below were mixed in their equipment because of their conversion.

Abbreviations:

• ASW: Anti-Submarine Warfare – tasked with hunting and destroying submarines
• SAR: Search and Rescue – tasked with Search and Rescue duties

Air Staff of the Royal Air Force

• Air Staff of the Royal Air Force
  • Chief of the Air Staff () Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Peter R. Harding
    • Assistant Chief of the Air Staff () Air Vice Marshal Michael G. Simmons (to March 1989) Air Vice Marshal C. John Thomson (from March)
    • Air Member for Personnel ( (to October 1989) (from then)) Air Marshal Sir Laurence A. Jones (to October 1989) Air Chief Marshal Sir David Parry-Evans (from October)
    • Air Member for Supply and Organisation () Air Chief Marshal Sir Brendan J. Jackson
    • Air Secretary () Air Vice Marshal Richard A. Mason (to February 1989) Air Vice Marshal Robert J. honey (from February)
      • Director of Personnel Management (Policy & Plans) () Air Commodore Colin H. Reineck
      • Director of Flight Safety () Air Commodore G. Richard Profit
      • Director of Plans () Air Commodore Peter G. Beer
      • Director of Air Staff Duties () Air Commodore Timothy Garden
    • Director-General of Training () Air Vice Marshal Michael J. Pilkington (to February 1989) Air Vice Marshal Eric H. Macey (from February)
      • Director-General of Ground Training () Air Commodore Richard H. Kyle
      • Director of Recruiting () Air Commodore Peter D. Oulton
    • Director-General of Personnel Services () Air Vice Marshal Derek W. Hann (to September 1989) Air Vice Marshal David O. Crwys-Williams (from September)
      • Director of Personnel (Air) () Air Commodore R. D. Arnott
      • Director of Personnel (Ground) () Air Commodore Terence B. Sherrington
      • Director of Flying Training () Air Commodore Brian B. Batt
      • Director of Organisation and Quartering () Air Commodore John Delafield
      • Director of Movements () Air Commodore J. H. Tossell (to November 1989) Air Commodore John G. Hargreaves (from November)
      • 1st Director of Personnel Services () Air Commodore J. E. Nevill (to March 1989) Air Commodore David R. Hawkins (from March)
      • 2nd Director of Personnel Services () Air Commodore G. H. E. Mitchell
      • 1st Director of Personnel Management (Airmen) () Air Commodore J. B. Thorne (to October 1989) Air Commodore D. J. Harrison (from October)
      • 2nd Director of Personnel Management (Ground) () Air Commodore J. F. Boon
    • Director, Air Offensive () Air Commodore David Cousins (to July 1989) Air Commodore Peter T. Squire (from July)
    • Director Overseas Operations () Air Commodore B. C. Farmer (to April 1989) Air Commodore Ian A. D. McBride (from April)
    • 1st Director of Operational Requirements () Air Commodore Peter C. Norriss
    • 2nd Director of Operational Requirements () Air Commodore F. W. Mitchell

RAF Strike Command

• Headquarters, RAF Strike Command
  • Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Strike Command () Air Chief Marshal Sir Patrick Bardon Hine GCB GBE
    • Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Strike Command () Air Marshal Sir Kenneth William Hayr KCB KBE AFC (to November 1989), Air Marshal Sir Richard John Kemball KCB CBE DL (from November)
    • Senior Air Staff Officer, Strike Command () Air Vice Marshal Ronald Andrew Fellowes Wilson KCB AFC FRAeS (to January 1989), Air Vice Marshal Richard Edward Johns GCB KCVO CBE (from January)
    • Air Officer Administration () Air Vice Marshal Anthony A. G. Woodford (to January 1989) Air Vice Marshal Brian L. Robinson (from January)
    • Air Commodore, Plans () Air Commodore Nigel B. Baldwin

No. 1 Group RAF

Following the 1981 Defence White Paper, No. 38 Group RAF was absorbed by No. 1 Group RAF, and the headquarters of No. 1 Group moved from RAF Bawtry to RAF Upavon. At the same time, those squadrons and states assigned to the group (supporting the Army) joined No. 1 Group. No. 1 and No. 2 Tactical Weapons Units were each organised into two squadrons and tasked with advanced operational training.

No. 1 Group was commanded by Air Vice-Marshal Charles John Thomson (till Feb 1989) then Ronald Andrew Fellowes Wilson (from Feb 1989) based at RAF Upavon. The group contained varied aircraft, with the majority being strike aircraft. The group's main focus would have been bombing raids on advancing Soviet ground forces in Northern Germany as directed by NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe. The group fielded six squadrons, which could be armed with WE.177 tactical nuclear weapons, and tanker aircraft to ensure that it could deliver nuclear strikes deep inside enemy territory. ^{[1] [2]}

• Headquarters, No. 1 Group RAF, at RAF Upavon
  • No. 226 Operational Conversion Unit RAF, at RAF Lossiemouth ^[a] (OCU; 16 x SEPECAT Jaguar GR.1A ^[b])
  • RAF Aldergrove ^[3]
    • No. 72 (Basutoland) Squadron RAF (Army Support; 8 x Westland Wessex HC.2)
  • RAF Benson ^[3]
    • No. 115 Squadron RAF (Communications Calibration; 6 x Hawker Siddeley Andover E.3/E3.A/C.1)
    • Queen's Flight RAF (Royal Family Transport; Westland Wessex HC.2 and 3 x British Aerospace 146)
  • RAF Brawdy ^[3]
    • No. 1 Tactical Weapons Unit RAF
      • No. 79 (Reserve) Squadron RAF (6 x Hawk T.1A)
      • No. 234 (Reserve) Squadron RAF (6 x Hawk T.1A)
  • RAF Brize Norton ^[3]
    • No. 10 Squadron RAF (Aerial refuelling; 13 x Vickers VC10 C.1)
    • No. 101 Squadron RAF (Aerial refuelling; 13 x Vickers VC10 K.3)
    • No. 216 Squadron RAF (Aerial refuelling and cargo; 13 x Tristar 500 K.1/KC.1)
    • Andover Training Squadron RAF (training crews on the Hawker Siddeley Andover) ^[3]
    • No. 241 Operational Conversion Unit RAF (training crews on the Vickers VC10 & Tristar 500)
    • Joint Air Transport Establishment ^[3]
    • Air Movements Training School ^[3]
    • No. 1 Parachute Training School ^[3]
    • Movements Training School ^[3]
    • Air to Air Refuelling School ^[3]
  • RAF Chivenor ^[3]
    • No. 2 Tactical Weapons Unit RAF
      • No. 63 (Reserve) Squadron RAF (6 x Hawk T.1A)
      • No. 151 (Reserve) Squadron RAF (6 x Hawk T.1A)
  • RAF Coltishall ^[3]
    • Headquarters, United Kingdom Jaguar Force
    • No. 41 Squadron RAF (Reconnaissance; 16 x SEPECAT Jaguar FGR.2)
    • No. 6 Squadron RAF (Attack/Strike; 16 x SEPECAT Jaguar FGR.2 ^[b])
    • No. 54 Squadron RAF (Attack/Strike; 16 x SEPECAT Jaguar FGR.2 ^[b])
  • RAF Cottesmore ^[3]
    • Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment, (24 x Tornado GR.1 (UK), 6 x Tornado IDS (Italy), 23 x Tornado IDS (West Germany); 12x per flying squadron)
      • A-Squadron ( German Air Force squadron commander)
      • B-Squadron ( Royal Air Force squadron commander)
      • C-Squadron ( Italian Air Force squadron commander)
      • S-Squadron (Follow-on and instructor pilot training)
      • Ground School (Theory lessons and simulator training)
  • RAF Honington ^[3]
    • No. 13 Squadron RAF (Attack/Strike; 16 x Panavia Tornado GR.1 ^[b])
    • No. 45 (Reserve) Squadron RAF (Tornado Weapons Conversion Unit ^[3]; 16 x Panavia Tornado GR.1 ^[b])
  • RAF Lyneham ^[3]
    • No. 24 (Commonwealth) Squadron RAF (Transport; 12 x Lockheed C-130 Hercules C.3)
    • No. 30 Squadron RAF (Transport; 12 x Lockheed C-130 Hercules C.3)
    • No. 47 Squadron RAF (Transport; 12 x Lockheed C-130 Hercules C.3)
      • Special Forces Flight (3 x Lockheed C-130 Hercules C.3) – tasked with supporting United Kingdom Special Forces
    • No. 70 Squadron RAF (Transport; 12 x Lockheed C-130 Hercules C.3)
    • No. 242 Operational Conversion Unit RAF (Transport; 12 x Lockheed C-130 Hercules)
    • Air Engineering Squadron RAF ^[3]
    • United Kingdom Mobile Air Movements Squadron RAF ^[3]
  • RAF Marham ^[3]
    • Headquarters, Tornado Force
    • No. 27 Squadron RAF (Attack/Strike; 12 x Panavia Tornado GR.1)
    • No. 617 Squadron RAF "Dambusters" (Attack/Strike; 12 x Panavia Tornado GR.1) – maritime strike capabilities
    • No. 55 Squadron RAF (Aerial refuelling; 14 x Handley Page Victor K.2)
  • RAF Northolt ^[3]
    • No. 32 Squadron RAF (VIP Transport; Hawker Siddeley 125-700, Hawker Siddeley Andover CC.2, and Aérospatiale Gazelle)
  • RAF Odiham ^[3]
    • No. 33 Squadron RAF (8 x Aérospatiale SA330 Puma)
    • No. 7 Squadron RAF (6 x Boeing CH-47 Chinook)
    • No. 240 Operational Conversion Unit RAF (6 x Aérospatiale SA330 Puma & 2 x Boeing CH-47 Chinook)
  • RAF Wittering ^[3]
    • Headquarters, Harrier Force
    • No. 1 Squadron RAF (Attack/Strike; 16 x Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.3) – became operational in early 1989
    • No. 233 Operational Conversion Unit RAF (Attack/Strike; 16 x Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.3)
    • Harrier Conversion Team
  • RAF Belize ^[3] – under operational command of British Forces Belize
    • No. 1417 Flight RAF (2 x Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.3)
    • No. 1563 Flight RAF (2 x Aérospatiale SA330 Puma HU.1)
  • RAF Mount Pleasant ^[3] – under operational command of British Forces South Atlantic Islands
    • No. 78 Squadron RAF (Westland Sea King and Boeing CH-47 Chinook HC.1)
    • No. 1435 Flight RAF (Fighter/Interceptor; 4 x McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom FGR.2)
    • No. 1312 Flight RAF (Aerial refuelling and Transport; 1 x Vickers VC-10 and 1 x Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules C.1K)

No. 11 (Air Defence) Group RAF

No. 11 (Air Defence) Group was commanded by Air Vice-Marshal Roger Hewlett Palin (till March) then William John Wratten (from March) based at RAF Bentley Priory. The group was to defend the United Kingdom against all aerial threats and fielded exclusively fighter aircraft and one air defence missile squadron. In 1989 the Royal Air Force was speedily replacing its aging Phantom fighters with the more modern and more capable Tornado F3, whose superior supersonic acceleration, powerful radar and beyond-visual-range missiles made it the ideal platform to intercept and destroy Soviet bombers attacking the UK. In case of war, No. 11 (Air Defence) Group would have taken command of the five UK-based Hawk T.1 training squadrons, which, armed with AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles would have become the last line of defence against Soviet air attacks. ^{[4] [5] [6]}

• Headquarters, No. 11 (Air Defence) Group, at RAF Bentley Priory
  • No. 8 Squadron RAF, at RAF Lossiemouth ^[a], ( Airborne early warning and control, 6 x Avro Shackleton AEW.2, being replaced by 7 x Sentry AEW.1 aircraft,)
  • RAF Coningsby ^[3]
    • No. 5 Squadron RAF (Fighter/Interceptor; 12 x Panavia Tornado F.2)
    • No. 29 Squadron RAF (Fighter/Interceptor; 15 x Panavia Tornado F.2)
    • No. 229 Operational Conversion Unit RAF (Fighter/Interceptor; 6 x Panavia Tornado F.2)
    • Panavia Tornado F.3 Operational Evaluation Unit (OCU; 6 x Panavia Tornado F.3)
    • Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
  • RAF Leeming ^[3]
    • No. 11 Squadron RAF (Fighter/Interceptor; 15 x Panavia Tornado F.2)
    • No. 23 Squadron RAF (Fighter/Interceptor; 12 x Panavia Tornado F.2)
    • No. 25 Squadron RAF (Fighter/Interceptor; 12 x McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom FGR.1) – reformed on 1 October 1989 in process of converting to new Panavia Tornado F.3
  • RAF Leuchars ^[3]
    • No. 43 (China-British) Squadron RAF (Fighter/Interceptor; 6 x McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom FG.1) – converting to Panavia Tornado F.3 Interceptors, completed by September 1989
    • No. 111 Squadron RAF (Fighter/Interceptor; 6 x McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom FGR.2)
    • No. 228 Operational Conversion Unit RAF (Fighter/Interceptor; 6 x McDonnel Douglas F-4 Phantom FGR.2)
  • RAF Wattisham ^[3]
    • No. 56 (Punjab) Squadron RAF (Fighter/Interceptor; 12 x McDonnel Douglas F-4 Phantom FGR.2)
    • No. 74 (Trinidad) Squadron RAF (Fighter/Interceptor; 12 x McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom F.3)
  • RAF West Raynham ^[3]
    • No. 85 Squadron RAF (Air Defence; Bloodhound Mark II surface-to-air missiles; D, E and F flights joined the squadron when No. 25 Squadron converted to Tornado F3 on 1 August 1989.) ^[3]
      • A Flight at RAF West Raynham
      • B Flight at RAF North Coates
      • C Flight at RAF Bawdsey
      • D Flight at RAF Barkston Heath
      • E Flight at RAF Wattisham
      • F Flight at RAF Wyton

No. 18 (Maritime) Group RAF

No. 18 (Maritime) Group was commanded by Air Marshal Andrew L. Roberts (till August) then David Emmerson (from August) based at the Northwood Headquarters. During war the Commander of No. 18 Group would also assume the titles of Commander Maritime Air Eastern Atlantic (COMAIREASTLANT) and Commander Allied Maritime Air Force Channel (COMAIRCHAN). In case of war No. 18 Group's Maritime Air Region North would have assumed the titles of NATO Commander Maritime Air Northern Sub-Area (COMMAIRNORLANT) and NATO Commander Maritime Air Nore Sub-Area Channel (COMAIRNORECHAN) and taken command of Norwegian Air Force and US Navy P-3 Orion anti-submarine aircraft at Andøya Air Station and Naval Air Station Keflavik respectively, as well as the Keflavik-based US Air Force F-15C/D Eagles to prevent vessels of the Soviet Navy's Northern Fleet from passing through the GIUK gap. ^{[7] [8] [9] [10]}

In 1969, as a result of the 1966 Defence White Paper, RAF Coastal Command was reduced to No. 18 (Maritime) Group RAF. However, because of the group's important role, No. 18 Group maintained an Air Marshal as its commander-in-chief. As confusing it might seem, No. 18 Group still reported to Strike Command, was an integral part, and indeed not independent. ^[11]

• Headquarters, No. 18 (Maritime) Group, at Northwood Headquarters
  • Headquarters Staff, No. 18 (Maritime) Group RAF
    • Air Officer Commanding, No. 18 (Maritime) Group RAF () Air Marshal Sir J. Barry Duxbury (to October 1989) Air Marshal Sir Michael J. D. Stear (from October 1989) – doubled as NATO Commander Maritime Air Eastern Atlantic (COMAIREASTLANT) and Commander Allied Maritime Air Force Channel (COMAIRCHAN) ^{[12] [13] [14]}
    • Chief of Staff, No. 18 (Maritime) Group RAF () Air Vice Marshal Andrew L. Roberts (to August 1989) Air Vice Marshal David Emmerson (from August)
  • No. 1 (County of Hertford) Maritime Headquarters Unit, at RAF Northwood (augments CINCEASTLANT and MHQ)
  • No. 2 (City of Edinburgh) Maritime Headquarters Unit, in Edinburgh (provides Intelligence, Communications, Mission Support, Operational, Medical, Air Traffic Control, and Motor Transport Support to RAF Kinloss, RAF Lossiemouth, RAF Machrihanish, and RAF Turnhouse, also provided intelligence support to the NATO/National Joint Intelligence Centre at the Faslane Naval Base)
  • No. 3 ( County of Devon) Maritime Headquarters Unit, at RAF Mount Batten (supports RAF Saint Mawgan, RAF Gibraltar, RAF Mount Wise, and RAF Chivenor)
  • RAF Akrotiri
    • Air Headquarters, Cyrus
    • No. 84 Squadron RAF (SAR; 6 x Westland Wessex HC.2)
  • RAF Sek Kong
    • No. 28 Squadron RAF (ASW & SAR; 6 x Westland Wessex HC.1)
  • Search and Rescue Wing, at RAF Finningley ^[15]
    • No. 22 Squadron RAF, HQ at RAF Chivenor, (SAR, Flights each have 2 x Westland Wessex HC.2 at RAF Chivenor, RAF Leuchars, and RAF Valley)
      • A Flight, at RAF Chivenor ^[3]
      • B Flight, at RAF Leuchars
      • C Flight, at RAF Valley
      • F Flight, at RAF Coltishall ^[3]
    • No. 202 Squadron RAF, HQ at RAF Valley (SAR; Flights each have 2 x Westland Sea King HAR.3 each)
      • A Flight, at RAF Boulmer
      • B Flight, at RAF Brawdy ^[3]
      • C Flight, at RAF Manston
      • D Flight, at RAF Lossiemouth
      • E Flight, at RAF Leconfield
    • Search and Rescue Training Unit
    • Search and Rescue Engineering
  • Maritime Air Region North, at RAF Pitreavie Castle, Rosyth, commanded by an Air Vice-Marshal, who doubled as RAF Air Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland, ^[16] and NATO Commander Maritime Air Northern Sub-Area (COMMAIRNORLANT) and Commander Maritime Air Nore Sub-Area Channel (COMAIRNORECHAN)
    • RAF Kinloss
      • No. 120 Squadron RAF (ASW & SAR; 6 x Hawker Siddeley Nimrod MR.2)
      • No. 201 Squadron RAF (ASW & SAR; 6 x Hawker Siddeley Nimrod MR.2)
      • No. 206 Squadron RAF (ASW & SAR; 6 x Hawker Siddeley Nimrod MR.2)
      • Nimrod Major Servicing Unit
    • RAF Lossiemouth
      • No. 12 Squadron RAF (Maritime Strike; 16 x Blackburn Buccaneer S.2B ^[b])
      • No. 208 Squadron RAF (Maritime Strike; 16 x Blackburn Buccaneer S.2B ^[b])
      • No. 237 Operational Conversion Unit RAF (Maritime Strike; 16 x Blackburn Buccaneer S.2B ^[b]) – laser designation support sqn for RAF Germany
  • Maritime Air Region South, at RAF Mount Wise, Plymouth, commanded by an Air Vice-Marshal, who doubled as NATO Commander Maritime Air Central Sub-Area (COMMAIRCENTLANT) and Commander Maritime Air Plymouth Sub-Area Channel (COMAIRPLYMCHAN)
    • RAF Saint Mawgan
      • No. 42 Squadron RAF (ASW & SAR; 6 x Hawker Siddeley Nimrod MR.2)
      • No. 236 Operational Conversion Unit RAF – No. 38 (Reserve) Squadron RAF (OCU; 6 x Hawker Siddeley Nimrod MR.2)
    • RAF Wyton
      • No. 51 Squadron RAF (Electronic Intelligence; 3 x Hawker Siddeley Nimrod R.1)
      • No. 100 Squadron RAF (Target Training; 5 x English Electric Canberra T.17)
      • No. 360 Squadron RAF (Electronic Countermeasures; 5 x English Electric Canberra T.17)
      • No. 231 Operational Conversion Unit RAF (OCU; 5 x English Electric Canberra T.17)
      • No. 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit RAF (5 x English Electric Canberra PR.9)
      • Electronic Warfare and Avionic Unit RAF

RAF Germany

Royal Air Force Germany (RAFG) consisted of air force units located in Germany as part of the UK's commitment to the defence of Western Europe during the Cold War. In wartime the Air Marshal in command of RAFG would also have assumed the command of NATO's Second Allied Tactical Air Force. RAFG's main missions were to protect the British Army of the Rhine from Warsaw Pact air attacks and bomb hostile armor formation. In case Soviet spearheads would have breached the Weser-line on the Western side of the Upper Weser Valley the RAFG was trained and equipped to attack enemy troop concentrations to the East of the Weser with tactical nuclear weapons. ^{[17] [18]}

To fulfil its mission RAFG had a varied mix of aircraft under its command: Phantom FGR.2 fighters, Tornado GR.1 fighter-bombers, helicopters, and Harrier GR.3 vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) jet aircraft. As the most forward deployed units the Harriers would have dispersed to auxiliary airfields and highway strips during the transition to war to protect them from Soviet air attacks. The Army's 38th Engineer Regiment and the Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment's No. 2624 (County of Oxford) Field Squadron would have supported the Harrier Force at these airfields.

• Royal Air Force Germany, RAF Rheindahlen, doubles as commander of NATO's Second Allied Tactical Air Force ^{[19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26]}
  • British Element, Headquarters 2nd Allied Tactical Air Force, at RAF Rheindahlen
  • No. 54 Signals Unit RAF, in Celle (Flight sized)
  • RAF National Support Unit Tongeren, in Tongeren, Kingdom of Belgium
  • RAF Brüggen
    • No. IX (Bomber) Squadron RAF (Attack/Strike; 12 x Panavia Tornado GR.1 ^[b])
    • No. 14 Squadron RAF (Attack/Strike; 12 x Panavia Tornado GR.1 ^[b])
    • No. 17 Squadron RAF (Attack/Strike; 12 x Panavia Tornado GR.1 ^[b])
    • No. 31 Squadron RAF (Attack/Strike; 12 x Panavia Tornado GR.1 ^[b])
  • RAF Gatow, West Berlin
    • No. 26 Signals Unit RAF (Flight sized)
    • RAF Gatow Station Flight (2 x Chipmunk T.10)
  • RAF Gütersloh
    • RAF Germany Support Helicopter Force
      • No. 230 Squadron RAF (Medium Utility Lift; 16 x AérospatialeSA 330 Puma)
      • No. 18 (Bomber) Squadron RAF (Heavy Utility Lift; 18 x Boeing CH-47 Chinook HC.2)
    • RAF Germany Harrier Force
      • No. 3 Squadron RAF (Attack/Strike; 16 x Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.3)
      • No. 4 Squadron RAF (Attack/Strike; 16 x Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.3)
  • RAF Laarbruch
    • No. 2 (Army Co-Operation) Squadron RAF (Reconnaissance; 12 x Panavia Tornado GR.1A) – reformed in January 1989
    • No. 15 Squadron RAF (Attack/Strike; 12 x Panavia Tornado GR.1 ^[b])
    • No. 16 Squadron RAF (Attack/Strike; 12 x Panavia Tornado GR.1 ^[b])
    • No. 20 Squadron RAF (Attack/Strike; 12 x Panavia Tornado GR.1 ^[b])
  • RAF Nordhorn
    • RAF Nordhorn Air Weapons Range (Section sized)
  • RAF Rheindahlen
    • Photographic Reproduction Unit (Germany)
    • No. 11 Signals Unit
      • Detachment Hehn, in Mönchengladbach
      • Detachment Krefeld, in Krefeld
  • RAF Wegberg
    • RAF Hospital Wegberg
  • RAF Wildenrath
    • No. 19 Squadron RAF (Interceptor; 12 x McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom FGR.2)
    • No. 92 (East India) Squadron RAF (Fighter/Interceptor; 12 x McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom FGR.2)
    • No. 60 Squadron RAF (Liaison & VIP Transport; 4 x Hawker Siddeley Andover C.1/CC.2 and 2 x Percival Pembroke C.1)
  • No. 4 Wing, Royal Air Force Regiment, HQ at RAF Brüggen ^[27]
    • No. 16 Squadron, RAF Regiment, at RAF Wildenrath (Air Defence; 8 x Rapier SAM systems)
    • No. 26 Squadron, RAF Regiment, at RAF Laarbruch (Air Defence; 8 x Rapier SAM systems)
    • No. 37 Squadron, RAF Regiment, at RAF Brüggen (Air Defence; 8 x Rapier SAM systems)
    • No. 63 Squadron (Queen's Colour Squadron), RAF Regiment, at RAF Gütersloh (Air Defence; 8 x Rapier SAM systems)
  • No. 33 Wing, Royal Air Force Regiment, HQ at RAF Gütersloh ^[27]
    • No. 1 Squadron, RAF Regiment (Airfield Defence; 6 x FV101 Scorpions Light Tanks, 15 x FV103 Spartan APCs)
    • No. 34 Squadron, RAF Regiment (Airfield Defence; 6 x FV101 Scorpions Light Tanks, 15 x FV103 Spartan APCs) – subordinate to British Forces Cyprus in peacetime
    • No. 51 Squadron, RAF Regiment (Airfield Defence; 6 x FV101 Scorpions Light Tanks, 15 x FV103 Spartan APCs)

RAF Support Command

• Headquarters, RAF Support Command
  • Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Support Command () Air Marshal Sir John Matthias Dobson Sutton CBE (to 5 April 1989), Air Marshal Sir Michael James Graydon KCB (from 5 April) ^[28]
    • Air Officer Administration & Air Officer Directly Administered Units () David Whittaker MBE
    • Air Officer Commanding Maintenance Units and Air Officer Maintenance ()
  • Stations known to be part of Support Command:
    • RAF Abingdon ^[29]

Air Officer Administration & Air Officer Directly Administered Units

• Air Officer Administration & Air Officer Directly Administered Units () Air Vice Marshal David Whittaker MBE (to April 1989) Air Vice Marshal Michael C. W. Dicken (from April)

Air Officer Commanding Signals Units and Air Officer Signals

• Air Officer Commanding Signals Units & Air Officer Signals () Air Vice Marshal
  • No. 7 Signals Unit RAF, at RAF Mount Pleasant, Falkland Islands – under operational command of British Forces South Atlantic ^[27]
  • No. 9 Signals Unit RAF, at RAF Boddington ^[27]
  • No. 26 Signals Unit RAF, at RAF Gatow (Signals Intelligence) ^[27]
  • No. 33 Signals Unit RAF, at Ayios Nikolaos Station, Cyprus ^[27]
  • No. 54 Signals Unit RAF, at RAF Celle ^[27]
  • No. 81 Signals Unit RAF, at RAF Saxa Vord ^[27]
  • No. 280 Signals Unit RAF, at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus ^[27]
  • No. 336 Signals Unit RAF, at RAF Mount Pleasant, Falkland Islands – under operational command of British Forces South Atlantic ^[27]
  • No. 399 Signals Unit RAF, at RAF Digby ^[27]
  • No. 591 Signals Unit RAF, at RAF Digby ^[27]
  • No. 751 Signals Unit RAF, in Port Stanley, Falkland Islands – under operational command of British Forces South Atlantic ^[27]
  • No. 1001 Signals Unit RAF, at RAF Oakhanger ^[27]
    • Signals Detachment, at RAF Rudloe Manor
    • Signals Detachment, at RAF Colerne
    • Signals Detachment, at RAF Defford
  • RAF Signals Engineering Establishment, at RAF Henlow ^[30]
  • RAF Support Command Signals Staff, at RAF Henlow ^[30]
  • Tactical Communications Wing RAF, at RAF Brize Norton ^{[3] [27] [30]}
    • No. 1 Field Communications Squadron
    • No. 2 Field Communications Squadron
    • No. 3 Field Communications Squadron
    • No. 4 Field Communications Squadron
    • No. 5 Support Squadron

Senior Air Staff Officer & Air Officer Training

• Senior Air Staff Officer & Air Officer, Training () James Donald Spottiswood CB CVO AFC (till March 1989), Air Vice Marshal Michael J. Pilkington (from March)
  • Commandant, Central Trials & Tactics Organisation () Air Commodore J. E. Houghton
  • Commandant, Officer & Aircrew Selection Centre () Air Commodore John A. Bell (to August 1989) Air Commodore Graham R. Pitchfork (from August)
  • Commandant, Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment () Air Commodore David L. Bywater

Air Officer Air Cadets & Commandant Air Training Corps

• Air Cadet Organisation
  • University Air Squadrons ^[31] (all with Bulldog T.1) ^[31]
    • East Lowlands Universities Air Squadron
    • Aberdeen, Dundee and Saint Andrews Universities Air Squadron, at RAF Leuchars ^[3]
    • University of Birmingham Air Squadron
    • Bristol University Air Squadron
    • Cambridge University Air Squadron
    • Northumbrian Universities Air Squadron, at RAF Leeming ^[3]
    • East Midlands Universities Air Squadron
    • Edinburgh University Air Squadron
    • Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde Air Squadron
    • Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron
    • Liverpool University Air Squadron
    • University of London Air Squadron, at RAF Abingdon ^[3]
    • Manchester and Salford Universities Air Squadron
    • Northern Ireland Universities Air Squadron, at RAF Aldergrove ^[3]
    • Oxford University Air Squadron, at RAF Abingdon ^[3]
    • Southampton University Air Squadron
    • Universities of Wales Air Squadron
  • Volunteer Gliding Squadrons
    • No. 611 Volunteer Gliding School, at RAF Watton
    • No. 612 Volunteer Gliding School, at RAF Benson ^[3]
    • No. 613 Volunteer Gliding School, at RAF Halton
    • No. 614 Volunteer Gliding School, at RAF Wethersfield
    • No. 615 Volunteer Gliding School, at RAF Kenley
    • No. 616 Volunteer Gliding School, at RAF Henlow
    • No. 617 Volunteer Gliding School, at RAF Manston
    • No. 618 Volunteer Gliding School, at RAF Odiham
    • No. 621 Volunteer Gliding School, at RAF Little Rissington
    • No. 622 Volunteer Gliding School, at RAF Upavon
    • No. 623 Volunteer Gliding School, at RAF Tangmere
    • No. 624 Volunteer Gliding School, at RAF Chivenor ^[3]
    • No. 625 Volunteer Gliding School, at RAF Hullavington
    • No. 626 Volunteer Gliding School, at RAF Predannack
    • No. 631 Volunteer Gliding School, at RAF Woodvale
    • No. 632 Volunteer Gliding School, at RAF Ternhill
    • No. 633 Volunteer Gliding School, at RAF Cosford
    • No. 634 Volunteer Gliding School, at RAF Saint Athan
    • No. 635 Volunteer Gliding School, at RAF Topcliffe
    • No. 636 Volunteer Gliding School, at Swansea Airport
    • No. 637 Volunteer Gliding School, at RAF Little Rissington
    • No. 642 Volunteer Gliding School, at RAF Linton-on-Ouse
    • No. 643 Volunteer Gliding School, at RAF Syerston
    • No. 644 Volunteer Gliding School, at RAF Syerston
    • No. 645 Volunteer Gliding School, at RAF Leeming
    • No. 661 Volunteer Gliding School, at RAF Kirknewton
    • No. 662 Volunteer Gliding School, at Royal Marine Barracks Condor
    • No. 663 Volunteer Gliding School, at RAF Kinloss
    • No. 664 Volunteer Gliding School, at Newtownards Airport
  • Air Experience Flights
    • No. 1 Air Experience Flight RAF, RAF Manston
    • No. 2 Air Experience Flight RAF, RAF Hurn
    • No. 3 Air Experience Flight RAF, RAF Filton (moved to RAF Hullavington in June 1989)
    • No. 4 Air Experience Flight RAF, RAF Exeter
    • No. 5 Air Experience Flight RAF, Cambridge Airport
    • No. 6 Air Experience Flight RAF, RAF Abingdon ^[3]
    • No. 7 Air Experience Flight RAF, RAF Newton
    • No. 8 Air Experience Flight RAF, RAF Shawbury
    • No. 9 Air Experience Flight RAF, RAF Finningley
    • No. 10 Air Experience Flight RAF, RAF Woodvale
    • No. 11 Air Experience Flight RAF, RAF Leeming ^[3]
    • No. 12 Air Experience Flight RAF, RAF Turnhouse
    • No. 13 Air Experience Flight RAF, RAF Aldergrove ^[3]

Air Officer Commanding Maintenance Units & Air Officer Maintenance

• Air Officer Commanding Maintenance Units and Air Officer Maintenance () K. A. Campbell CEng ^[32]
  • No. 5 Maintenance Unit RAF, at RAF Kemble ^[3]
  • No. 7 Maintenance Unit RAF, at RAF Quedgeley ^[3]
  • No. 11 Maintenance Unit RAF, at RAF Chilmark ^[3]
  • No. 14 Maintenance Unit RAF, at RAF Carlisle – RAF Equipment Supply Dépôt ^[3]
  • No. 16 Maintenance Unit RAF, at RAF Stafford ^[3]
  • No. 30 Maintenance Unit RAF, at RAF Sealand – Aircraft Salvage & Repair ^[3]
  • No. 49 Maintenance Unit RAF, at RAF Sealand – Packing Dépôt ^[3]
  • No. 217 Maintenance Unit RAF, at RAF Cardington – Compressed Gas Supply Dépôt ^[33]

Royal Air Force Regiment

The RAF Regiment was headed by the Commandant-General, RAF Regiment and Director-General of Security with the rank of Air Vice-Marshal, ^{[34] [35]} who was responsible for security at all RAF installations. The RAF Regiment served as the Royal Air Force's airfield defence corps. The regiment administered, trained and maintained its squadron, which operationally were under the commanders of the airfields they were assigned to. There were four types of squadron: Field (Light Infantry) and Light Armour squadrons as airfield ground defence forces, Air Defence squadrons, and one Light Armour / Paratroopers Squadron to seize and secure enemy airfields. The regiment fielded 16 squadrons and the Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment (RAuxAF) fielded eight reserve squadrons. The Regiment also provided the RAF Fire Service sections at all RAF airfields and trained firefighters and rescue personnel at its main base RAF Catterick.

• Commandant-General, RAF Regiment and Director-General of Security, at RAF Catterick
  • Commandant-General, RAF Regiment and Director-General of Security () Air Vice Marshal John H. Harris
  • No. 3 Wing, Royal Air Force Regiment, at RAF Catterick ^[27]
    • No. 3 Squadron, Royal Air Force Regiment, at RAF Aldergrove ^{[3] [30]} (Field Airfield Defence; 6 x Land Rover Defences)
    • No. 27 Squadron, Royal Air Force Regiment, at RAF Leuchars ^[30] (Air Defence; 8 x Rapier SAM systems)
    • No. 48 Squadron, Royal Air Force Regiment, at RAF Catterick ^[30] (Air Defence; 8 x Rapier SAM systems)
    • No. 58 Squadron, Royal Air Force Regiment, at RAF Catterick ^[30] (Airfield Light Armour Defence; 6 x FV101 Scorpions Light Tanks, 15 x FV103 Spartan APCs)
  • No. 5 Wing, Royal Air Force Regiment, at RAF Hullavington ^[27] – tasked with supporting the Harrier Force
    • No. 2 (Parachute) Squadron, Royal Air Force Regiment, at RAF Hullavington ^[30] (Airfield Light Armour Defence; 6 x FV101 Scorpions Light Tanks, 15 x FV103 Spartan APCs) – parachute trained
    • No. 15 Squadron, Royal Air Force Regiment, at RAF Leeming ^[30] (Airfield Light Armour Defence; 6 x FV101 Scorpions Light Tanks, 15 x FV103 Spartan APCs)
  • No. 6 Wing, Royal Air Force Regiment, at RAF West Raynham ^[27] – tasked with air defence for United States Air Force bases in the UK
    • No. 19 Squadron, Royal Air Force Regiment, at RAF Brize Norton ^[30] (Air Defence; 8 x Rapier SAM systems)
    • No. 20 Squadron, Royal Air Force Regiment, at RAF Honington (Air Defence; 8 x Rapier SAM systems)
    • No. 66 Squadron, Royal Air Force Regiment, at RAF West Raynham ^[30] (Air Defence; 8 x Rapier SAM systems)

Royal Auxiliary Air Force

The Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF) was commanded by an Air Vice-Marshal and provided reinforcements to the Royal Air Force, which were manned by civilians and called upon in times of need or war. Although all RAuxAF units had been disbanded in 1957 it lived on in three Maritime Headquarter Units, which provided augmentation personnel for No. 18 (Maritime) Group. In 1979 three Field Squadrons were formed to provide ground airfield defence. During the 1980s additional squadrons and flights were raised and by 1989 the RAuxAF fielded three Maritime Headquarter Units, two administrative wings, seven RAuxAF Regiment squadrons, two support squadrons and three airfield defence flights. ^[36]

• Commandant-General, Royal Auxiliary Air Force??
  • Commandant-General, Royal Auxiliary Air Force?? ()
  • No. 2623 Training Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment (V), at RAF Honington
  • No. 4624 (County of Oxford) Movements Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, at RAF Brize Norton
  • No. 4626 (County of Wiltshire) Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, at RAF Hullavington
  • Mobile Meteorological Unit, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, at RAF Benson ^[3]
  • No. 1310 Wing, Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment (V), at RAF Catterick – wing formed in June 1989
    • No. 2503 (County of Lincoln) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment (V), at RAF Scampton (Field Airfield Defence; 6 x Land Rover Defences)
    • No. 2620 (County of Norfolk) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment (V), at RAF Marham (Field Airfield Defence; 6 x Land Rover Defences)
    • No. 2622 (Highland) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force (V), at RAF Lossiemouth (Field Airfield Defence; 6 x Land Rover Defences)
    • No. 2623 (East Anglian) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment (V), at RAF Honington (Field Airfield Defence; 6 x Land Rover Defences)
    • No. 2624 (County of Oxford) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force (V), at RAF Brize Norton (Field Airfield Defence; 6 x Land Rover Defences)
    • No. 2625 (County of Cornwall) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force (V), at RAF Saint Mawgan (Field Airfield Defence; 6 x Land Rover Defences)
  • No. 1339 Wing, Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment (V), at RAF Waddington – wing formed in October 1989
    • No. 2729 (City of Lincoln) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force (V), at RAF Waddington (SHORAD; 12 x Oerlikon 35mm twin cannons)
    • No. 2890 Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force (V), at RAF Waddington (SHORAD; 12 x Oerlikon 35mm twin cannons) – formed on 1 October 1989

Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

The RAF Volunteer Reserve was a volunteer organization providing the RAF with specialists for a limited number of positions. ^[37]

• Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve ^[38]
  • No. 7006 (Intelligence) Flight, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
  • No. 7644 (Public Relations) Flight, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Royal Observer Corps

The Royal Observer Corps (ROC) was commanded by the Commandant Royal Observer Corps with the rank of Air Commodore and had its headquarter at RAF Bentley Priory. The corps was tasked with detecting and reporting nuclear explosions and associated fall-out as the field force for the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation, (UKWMO). By the late 1980s the ROC comprised 69 professional full-time officers, approximately 10,500 civilian spare-time volunteers, and over 100 Ministry of Defence (MoD) civilian support staff.

• Royal Observer Corps
  • Commandant, Royal Observer Corps () Air Commodore Ian Horrocks (to September 1989) Air Commodore George M. Boddy (from September)
    • Metropolitan Sector – responsible for covering South East England and the southern part of the East of England ( Essex and Hertfordshire)
      • Headquarters, Metropolitan Sector, in Horsham
      • No. 1 Group, Royal Observer Corps, at Ashmore House, Maidstone – covering Southern London and Kent
      • No. 2 Group, Royal Observer Corps, in Horsham – covering East Sussex and West Sussex
      • No. 3 Group, Royal Observer Corps, in Oxford – covering the Thames Valley ( Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire)
      • No. 4 Group, Royal Observer Corps, in Colchester – covering Essex and Hertfordshire
      • No. 14 Group, Royal Observer Corps, in Winchester – covering Hampshire (and the Isle of Wight) and Surrey
    • Midlands Sector – responsible for North East England, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, the East of England, and part of the West Midlands.
      • Headquarters, Midlands Sector, at RAF Fiskerton
      • No. 6 Group, Royal Observer Corps, in Old Catton, Norwich – covering Norfolk and Suffolk
      • No. 7 Group, Royal Observer Corps, in Bedford – covering Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Northamptonshire
      • No. 8 Group, Royal Observer Corps, in Lawford Heath, Coventry – covering Leicestershire, Warwickshire, and West Midlands County
      • No. 15 Group, Royal Observer Corps, at RAF Fiskerton, Lincoln – covering Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Rutland
      • No. 20 Group, Royal Observer Corps, in Acomb, York – covering North East England ( County Durham, Northumberland, and Tyne and Wear) and Yorkshire and the Humber ( North Yorkshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, and South Yorkshire)
    • Southern Sector – responsible for South West England and South Wales & Mid Wales
      • Headquarters, Southern Sector, in Bath
      • No. 9 Group, Royal Observer Corps, in Yeovil – covering Dorset, Somerset, and Wiltshire
      • No. 10 Group, Royal Observer Corps, in Poltimore Park, Exeter – covering Cornwall and Devon
      • No. 12 Group, Royal Observer Corps, in Bristol – covering City and County of Bristol and Gloucestershire
      • No. 13 Group, Royal Observer Corps, in Carmarthen – covering South Wales and Mid Wales
    • Western Sector – responsible for North Wales & Montgomeryshire, North West England, and western North Midlands (also parts of the West Midlands)
      • Headquarters, Western Sector, in Preston
      • No. 16 Group, Royal Observer Corps, in Shrewsbury – covering Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, and Worcestershire
      • No. 17 Group, Royal Observer Corps, at RAF Wrexham – covering North Wales and Montgomeryshire
      • No. 21 Group, Royal Observer Corps, in Preston – covering Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, and Lancashire
      • No. 22 Group, Royal Observer Corps, at RAF Carlisle – covering Cumbria and the Isle of Man
      • No. 31 Group, Royal Observer Corps, at Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn – covering Northern Ireland
    • Caledonian Sector – responsible for Scotland
      • No. 24 Group, Royal Observer Corps, at RAF Turnhouse, Edinburgh – covering the Scottish Borders ( Berwickshire, Peeblesshire, Roxburghshire, and Selkirkshire) and Lothian ( Midlothian, East Lothian, and West Lothian)
      • No. 25 Group, Royal Observer Corps, in Ayr – covering Strathclyde ( Ayrshire, Buteshire, Dunbartonshire, Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, and Argyllshire) and Dumfries and Galloway ( Dumfriesshire, Kirkcudbrightshire, and Wigtownshire)
      • No. 28 Group, Royal Observer Corps, in Craigiebarns, Dundee – covering Central Scotland ( Clackmannanshire, Falkirk, and Stirlingshire), Kingdom of Fife, and Tayside ( Dundee, Angus, Kinross-shire, and Perthshire)
      • No. 29 Group, Royal Observer Corps, in Northfield, Aberdeen – covering Grampian ( Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen, Banffshire, Kincardineshire, and Morayshire)
      • No. 30 Group, Royal Observer Corps, in Raigmore, Inverness – covering Highland ( Caithness, Inverness-shire, Nairnshire, Ross and Cromarty, and Sutherland), Orkney, Shetland, and the West Isles

Unknown assignments

See also

• Structure of the British Armed Forces in 1989
• Structure of the British Army in 1989
• Structure of the Royal Navy in 1989

Footnotes

Notes

Citations

References

• Oliver, Kingsley M. (1997). Through Adversity: The History of the Royal Air Force Regiment. Rushden, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom: Forces & Corporate Publishing Ltd. ISBN  978-0952959700. OCLC  39678168.

External links

• Royal Air Force Website: Historic Squadrons
• Senior Royal Air Force Appointments