No. 24 Group (RAF)

No. 24 Group (RAF)
Unit name	No. 24 Group
Branch	Royal Air Force
Type	Training and Support Command
Dates	1918–1919, 1936–1968, 1972–1996
Role	Flying Training, Technical Training, Logistics
Garrison	RAF Andover, RAF Uxbridge, RAF Rudloe Manor
Notable commanders	Air Vice-Marshal John Tremayne Babington, Air Vice-Marshal Roderic Hill

No. 24 Group (RAF). It was a significant command within the Royal Air Force with a long and varied history, primarily focused on training and logistical support. First formed in the closing stages of the First World War, it was disbanded and reformed multiple times, most notably serving as a major training organization during the Second World War. Its final incarnation was as a key support command within RAF Support Command until its eventual disbandment in the late 20th century.

History

No. 24 Group was initially established on 1 April 1918, shortly after the formation of the Royal Air Force itself, as part of the Midland Area. Its early existence was brief, being disbanded in 1919 following the post-war drawdown. The group was reformed on 15 March 1936 within RAF Training Command, taking on a critical role in expanding the RAF's pilot training capacity in the pre-war years. After the war, it was absorbed into RAF Technical Training Command in 1946 before being disbanded again in 1968. A final reformation occurred in 1972 under RAF Support Command, where it managed a wide range of logistical and engineering units until its final disbandment on 1 April 1996.

Structure and organization

Throughout its existence, the group's structure evolved to meet the demands of its training and support missions. During the Second World War, it controlled numerous Initial Training Wings, Elementary Flying Training Schools, and Service Flying Training Schools across the United Kingdom, often utilizing aircraft and personnel from the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. In its post-war guise under RAF Technical Training Command, it oversaw schools for trades such as engine fitters and aircraft electricians. As part of RAF Support Command, its organization expanded to include Movements Squadrons, supply units, and major engineering depots like RAF St Athan.

Operational history

The group's primary operational contribution was the mass production of trained aircrew and ground crew for the RAF. During the Battle of Britain and the subsequent Combined Bomber Offensive, the pipelines established by No. 24 Group were vital in sustaining frontline squadrons. Its schools trained thousands of pilots, navigators, and air gunners, with many graduates going on to serve in famous formations like No. 617 Squadron RAF and RAF Bomber Command. In its later support role, the group was instrumental in managing the RAF's global logistics, supporting operations from the Falklands War to the Gulf War, and maintaining the service's diverse fleet of aircraft including the Hawker Siddeley Harrier and Panavia Tornado.

Commanding officers

The group was led by a series of senior officers, typically holding the rank of Air Vice-Marshal. Notable commanders included Air Vice-Marshal John Tremayne Babington, a veteran of the Royal Flying Corps, who commanded in the late 1930s. During the war, it was led by officers such as Air Vice-Marshal Roderic Hill, later Air Marshal Air Marshal Sir Roderic Hill. Other post-war commanders included Air Vice-Marshal John Howe, who had previously served with RAF Fighter Command, and Air Vice-Marshal Peter Terry, a former V bomber pilot.

Aircraft operated

While not a frontline operational group, it operated a vast array of training and support aircraft. In the training role, these included primary trainers like the de Havilland Tiger Moth and the Miles Magister, advanced trainers such as the North American Harvard and the Airspeed Oxford, and even twin-engine types like the Avro Anson. For technical training, airframes of operational types like the Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane were used for ground instruction. In its support command era, the group was responsible for maintaining transport aircraft including the Lockheed C-130 Hercules and British Aerospace 125.

Bases

The group's headquarters moved several times, reflecting its changing roles. Early locations included RAF Andover and later RAF Uxbridge. During the war, it was based at RAF Reading and RAF Euston Hall. Its final headquarters from 1977 was at RAF Rudloe Manor in Wiltshire, a former Royal Observer Corps centre. The group controlled stations and schools across the country, from RAF Sywell and RAF Desford for elementary flying training to major technical training establishments at RAF Halton and RAF Cosford. Key support bases included the major maintenance units at RAF Sealand and RAF Stafford.

Category:Royal Air Force groups