RAF Support Command

RAF Support Command. It was a short-lived but significant formation within the Royal Air Force, established to consolidate training, transport, and support functions. The command existed from 1968 until 1973, when a major reorganization of RAF commands led to its dissolution and the redistribution of its responsibilities. Its creation and brief history reflect a period of strategic reassessment and contraction for the RAF during the late Cold War.

History

The command was formed on 31 August 1968 through the merger of two existing commands: RAF Flying Training Command and RAF Maintenance Command. This reorganization, driven by the 1966 Defence White Paper and the subsequent Mason Review, aimed to streamline support services and reduce overheads as the RAF adjusted to post-Empire commitments. The new headquarters was established at RAF Andover, previously the home of RAF Maintenance Command. The command's existence coincided with the final withdrawal of forces from East of Suez and increasing focus on NATO commitments in Europe. It was disbanded on 31 August 1973, exactly five years after its formation, as part of a further restructuring that saw its units absorbed into the newly created RAF Strike Command and RAF Training Command.

Structure and organization

The command brought together a diverse range of units under a single administrative and operational umbrella. Its core components were the training schools formerly under RAF Flying Training Command, including Central Flying School at RAF Little Rissington and numerous University Air Squadrons. It also controlled all transport and tanker aircraft, primarily operated by No. 38 Group RAF and elements of No. 46 Group RAF. Key support formations included the RAF Air Cadets organization, the Queen's Flight, and communication squadrons flying aircraft like the Hawker Siddeley Andover. Key stations under its control were RAF Brize Norton, a major transport hub, RAF Lyneham, and RAF Valley for pilot training.

Aircraft and equipment

The command operated a wide variety of aircraft types, reflecting its multi-role nature. The strategic and tactical transport fleet was dominated by the Lockheed C-130 Hercules and the older Handley Page Hastings. The Vickers VC10 and Handley Page Victor were used in the strategic transport and air-to-air refuelling roles. Training aircraft were numerous, ranging from the BAC Jet Provost for basic fast-jet instruction to the Scottish Aviation Bulldog for elementary training. Specialist aircraft included the Hawker Siddeley Andover for communications and transport duties, and the Westland Whirlwind and Westland Wessex helicopters for support tasks. The Queen's Flight operated the Westland Wessex and the Hawker Siddeley HS 748.

Major operations and deployments

Throughout its brief existence, the command's assets were continuously engaged in global operations. Its transport and tanker fleet was pivotal during the final stages of the British withdrawal from Aden and the Persian Gulf. It provided critical airbridge support to remaining garrisons in Hong Kong, Cyprus, and Gibraltar. The command also played a key role in humanitarian and disaster relief, such as airlifting supplies in the aftermath of the 1970 Bhola cyclone. Furthermore, its tanker aircraft, particularly the Handley Page Victor, routinely supported deployments of RAF Germany aircraft and Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm units across the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.

Commanders and key personnel

The only officer to hold the post of Commander-in-Chief was Air Chief Marshal Sir John Barraclough, who assumed command upon its formation in 1968. A decorated World War II pilot with experience in RAF Bomber Command, Barraclough had previously served as Commandant of the Royal College of Defence Studies. His tenure involved managing the complex integration of the two former commands and overseeing the contraction of capabilities. Other senior officers within the command's structure included later prominent figures such as David Evans, who commanded No. 38 Group RAF.

Legacy and successor units

The dissolution of the command in 1973 did not end its functions but redistributed them. The majority of its operational units, including all transport, tanker, and tactical support aircraft, were transferred to the newly expanded RAF Strike Command, forming a key component of its 38 Group and 46 Group. All flying training schools and training policy were moved to the reactivated RAF Training Command. This structure, with RAF Strike Command as the single operational command, remained largely intact for decades until the formation of Air Command in 2007. The headquarters at RAF Andover was subsequently closed. Category:Royal Air Force commands