This is a List of Beam Approach beacon system Units of the Royal Air Force.

The first system to guide RAF aircraft safely down onto a runway was called the Standard Blind Approach (SBA) system and was trialled in the late 1930s. It was also being used by a few civil airports. By late 1941 the word 'Blind' was changed to 'Beam' as it was felt that blind did not give a reassuring feel to a system used when visibility was very low. The word Standard came from Standard Radio, the name of the company that made the equipment under license from the German company that designed it. However the equipment was also 'standard' fit on RAF aircraft. The change from Blind to Beam is evidenced in the two sets of Unit names in the tables below.

There were no physical beams in the system at all, rather it relied on a heavily distorted dipole radiation pattern using a single transmitter. Instead of 'beams' it used a single heavily distorted toroid that was flipped left and right with a periodicity that simulated a morse code letter, the plane of equal field strength in this arrangement being mathematically equal to a line of zero width - a perfect 'beam' from an imperfect, cheaper, and simple radio transmitter. SBA was not automatic, the pilot flew the aircraft at all times.

The Beam Approach Beacon System (BABS) is an automatic radar landing system developed in the early 1940s but not used until much later when it replaced the SBA system.

Blind Approach Training flights

Name[1][2]FormedLocationAircraftDisbanded atDisbandedUnit became
1 Blind Approach Training Flight12 January 1941AbingdonArmstrong Whitworth WhitleyAbingdon8 November 19411501 (Beam Approach Training) Flight
2 Blind Approach Training FlightFebruary 1941Linton-on-OuseArmstrong Whitworth WhitleyDriffield8 November 19411502 (Beam Approach Training) Flight
3 Blind Approach Training Flight27 January 1941MildenhallVickers WellingtonMildenhall8 November 19411503 (Beam Approach Training) Flight
4 Blind Approach Training Flight17 December 1940WytonVickers WellingtonWyton8 November 19411504 (Beam Approach Training) Flight
5 Blind Approach Training Flight1 January 1941HoningtonVickers Wellington
Airspeed Oxford
Honington8 November 19411505 (Beam Approach Training) Flight
6 Blind Approach Training Flight6 January 1941WaddingtonBristol Blenheim
Handley Page Hampden
Airspeed Oxford
Douglas Boston
Waddington8 November 19411506 (Beam Approach Training) Flight
7 Blind Approach Training Flight18 January 1941FinningleyBristol Blenheim
Handley Page Hampden
Airspeed Oxford
Finningley8 November 19411507 (Beam Approach Training) Flight
8 Blind Approach Training FlightJanuary 1941WattishamBristol BlenheimHorsham St Faith8 November 19411508 (Beam Approach Training) Flight
9 Blind Approach Training FlightJanuary 1941ThornabyVickers Wellington
Airspeed Oxford
Dyce8 November 19411509 (Beam Approach Training) Flight
10 Blind Approach Training FlightJanuary 1941LeucharsVickers Wellington
Airspeed Oxford
Leuchars8 November 19411510 (Beam Approach Training) Flight
11 Blind Approach Training Flight22 September 1941UpwoodAirspeed OxfordUpwoodOctober 19411511 (Beam Approach Training) Flight
12 Blind Approach Training Flight22 September 1941DishforthAirspeed OxfordDishforthOctober 19411512 (Beam Approach Training) Flight
13 Blind Approach Training Flight22 September 1941HoningtonHoningtonOctober 19411513 (Beam Approach Training) Flight
14 Blind Approach Training Flight22 September 1941ConingsbyConingsbyOctober 19411514 (Beam Approach Training) Flight
15 Blind Approach Training Flight22 September 1941Swanton MorleyAirspeed OxfordSwanton MorleyOctober 19411515 (Beam Approach Training) Flight
16 Blind Approach Training Flight22 September 1941TopcliffeLlanbedrOctober 19411516 (Beam Approach Training) Flight
17 Blind Approach Training FlightOctober 1941WattishamAirspeed Oxford
de Havilland Tiger Moth
IpswichOctober 19411517 (Beam Approach Training) Flight
20 Blind Approach Training Flight10 October 1941BreightonAirspeed Oxford
de Havilland Tiger Moth
RAF HolmeOctober 19411520 (Beam Approach Training) Flight
21 Blind Approach Training FlightOctober 1941StradishallAirspeed OxfordStradishallOctober 19411521 (Beam Approach Training) Flight
22 Blind Approach Training FlightOctober 1941DockingAirspeed OxfordDockingOctober 19411522 (Beam Approach Training) Flight
23 Blind Approach Training FlightOctober 1941Little RissingtonLittle RissingtonOctober 19411523 (Beam Approach Training) Flight
24 Blind Approach Training FlightOctober 1941BottesfordAirspeed OxfordBottesfordOctober 19411524 (Beam Approach Training) Flight
25 Blind Approach Training FlightOctober 1941Brize NortonBrize NortonOctober 19411525 (Beam Approach Training) Flight
26 Blind Approach Training Flight3 October 1941AndoverAirspeed OxfordThruxtonOctober 19411526 (Beam Approach Training) Flight

Beam Approach Training flights

Name[3][4][5]FormedLocationAircraftDisbanded atDisbandedUnit became
1501 (Beam Approach Training) Flight8 November 1941AbingdonStanton Harcourt15 November 1943Disbanded
1502 (Beam Approach Training) Flight8 November 1941DriffieldLeconfield15 August 1943Disbanded
1503 (Beam Approach Training) Flight8 November 1941MildenhallLindholme6 August 1943Disbanded
1504 (Beam Approach Training) Flight8 November 1941WytonNewmarket21 August 1943Disbanded
1505 (Beam Approach Training) Flight8 November 1941HoningtonUpper Heyford3 February 1943Disbanded
1506 (Beam Approach Training) Flight8 November 1941WaddingtonSkellingthorpe21 October 1943Disbanded
1507 (Beam Approach Training) Flight8 November 1941FinnigleyGransden Lodge27 November 1943Disbanded
1508 (Beam Approach Training) Flight8 November 1941Swanton MorleyUnk1 March 1944Became 1508 (Radio Aids Training) Flight
1509 (Beam Approach Training) Flight8 November 1941ThornabyDyce14 August 1944Absorbed
1510 (Beam Approach Training) Flight8 November 1941LeucharsUnkMarch 1943Became 1510 (BABS) Flight
1511 (Beam Approach Training) FlightOctober 1941UpwoodUnk15 September 1945Became 1511 (Radio Aids Training) Flight
1512 (Beam Approach Training) FlightOctober 1941DishforthBanff30 August 1944Disbanded
1513 (Beam Approach Training) FlightOctober 1941HoningtonAirspeed Oxford
Avro Anson
Bramcote1 December 1946Became 1513 (Radio Aids Training) Flight
1514 (Beam Approach Training) FlightOctober 1941ConingsbyFiskerton9 January 1945Disbanded
1515 (Beam Approach Training) FlightOctober 1941Swanton MorleyAirspeed OxfordColby Grange1 June 1945Disbanded
1516 (Beam Approach Training) FlightOctober 1941LlanbedrUnk15 September 1945Became 1516 (Radio Aids Training) Flight
1517 (Beam Approach Training) FlightOctober 1941WattishamWheaton Aston17 December 1945Disbanded
1518 (Beam Approach Training) Flight3 November 1941ScamptonEdzell30 August 1944Disbanded
1519 (Beam Approach Training) FlightNovember 1941South CerneyFeltwell3 July 1945Disbanded
1520 (Beam Approach Training) FlightOctober 1941Holme-on-Spalding-MoorSturgate29 May 1945Disbanded
1521 (Beam Approach Training) FlightOctober 1941StradishallUnk15 September 1945Became 1521 (Radio Aids Training) Flight
1522 (Beam Approach Training) FlightOctober 1941DockingWatchfieldApril 1942Absorbed
1523 (Beam Approach Training) FlightOctober 1941Little RissingtonLittle Rissington17 December 1945Disbanded
1524 (Beam Approach Training) FlightOctober 1941BottesfordTollerton9 January 1945Disbanded
1525 (Beam Approach Training) FlightOctober 1941Brize NortonDocking26 June 1945Disbanded
1526 (Beam Approach Training) FlightOctober 1941ThruxtonHampstead Norris9 November 1944Disbanded
1527 (Beam Approach Training) Flight29 October 1941PrestwickUnk15 September 1945Became 1527 (Radio Aids Training) Flight
1528 (Beam Approach Training) Flight22 November 1941West MallingUnk15 September 1945Became 1528 (Radio Aids Training) Flight
1529 (Beam Approach Training) Flight22 November 1941WitteringFairford16 February 1946Disbanded
1530 (Beam Approach Training) Flight14 August 1942HunsdonWittering1 August 1944Disbanded
1531 (Beam Approach Training) Flight20 July 1942CranageCranage29 May 1945Disbanded
1532 (Beam Approach Training) Flight15 October 1942HullavingtonBabdown Farm15 June 1942Disbanded
1533 (Beam Approach Training) Flight27 October 1942Church LawfordChurch Lawford3 April 1945Disbanded
1534 (Beam Approach Training) Flight7 December 1942ShawburyShawbury29 May 1945Disbanded
1535 (RCAF Beam Approach Training) Flight15 December 1942Middleton St GeorgeTopcliffe30 August 1943Disbanded
1536 (Beam Approach Training) FlightMarch 1943GranthamAirspeed OxfordSpitalgate8 May 1945Disbanded
1537 (Beam Approach Training) Flight4 May 1943UpavonLittle Rissington4 April 1947Disbanded
1538 (Beam Approach Training) Flight15 April 1943CroughtonCroughton18 October 1944Disbanded
1539 (Beam Approach Training) Flight15 April 1943South CerneySouth Cerney1 June 1945Disbanded
1540 (Beam Approach Training) Flight15 April 1943Lulsgate BottomWeston Zoyland17 December 1945Disbanded
1541 (Beam Approach Training) Flight17 May 1943StracathroStracathro11 July 1945Disbanded
1542 (Beam Approach Training) FlightJuly 1943DallachyDallachy30 August 1944Disbanded
1544 (Beam Approach Training) Flight24 January 1944ErrolErrol30 August 1944Disbanded
1545 (Beam Approach Training) FlightMarch 1945Wheaton AstonHalfpenny Green17 December 1945Disbanded
1546 (Beam Approach Training) Flight8 May 1944FaldingworthFaldingworth9 January 1945Disbanded
1547 (Beam Approach Training) Flight1 June 1945WatchfieldWatchfield1 January 1947Disbanded
1551 (Beam Approach Calibration) Flight20 November 1942BicesterBicester15 April 1943Merged

Radio Aids Training flights

Name[3][4][5]FormedLocationAircraftDisbanded atDisbandedUnit became
1508 (Radio Aids Training) Flight20 September 1945UnkUnk20 November 19451508 (Acclimatisation) Flight
1510 (Radio Aids Training) Flight9 August 1947UnkBircham Newton15 September 1948Absorbed
1511 (Radio Aids Training) Flight15 September 1945UnkWheaton Aston1 August 1946Disbanded
1513 (Radio Aids Training) Flight15 September 1945UnkBramcote1 December 1946Disbanded
1516 (Radio Aids Training) Flight15 September 1945UnkSnaith11 April 1946Disbanded
1521 (Radio Aids Training) Flight15 September 1945UnkLongtown1 April 1946Disbanded
1527 (Radio Aids Training) Flight15 September 1945UnkPrestwick28 February 1946Disbanded
1528 (Radio Aids Training) Flight15 September 1945UnkFairford4 March 19461555 (Radio Aids Training) Flight
1552 (Radio Aids Training) Flight15 September 1945MelbourneFull Sutton26 October 1946Disbanded
1553 (Radio Aids Training) Flight15 September 1945MelbourneMelbourne1 October 1945Disbanded
1554 (Radio Aids Training) Flight15 September 1945MelbourneMelbourne1 October 1945Disbanded
1555 (Radio Aids Training) Flight15 September 1945FairfordBircham Newton31 August 1947Disbanded
1556 (Radio Aids Training) Flight15 September 1945StradishallFairford1 April 1946Disbanded
1559 (Radio Aids Training) Flight1 October 1946OakingtonBircham Newton9 August 1947Disbanded

Other units

NameFormedLocationAircraftDisbanded atDisbandedUnit became
No. 1508 (GEE Training) Flight RAF1 March 1944UnkUnkOuston8 August 1944'C' Flight of No. 62 OTU[3]
No. 1510 (BABS) Flight RAFMarch 1943Anson9 August 19471510 (Radio Aids Training) Flight[3]
Blind Approach Training and Development Unit RAF22 September 1939Boscombe DownAnson, WhitleyBoscombe Down14 October 1940Wireless Intelligence Development Unit[1]
Beam Approach Calibration Flight RAFOctober 1941Oxford, AnsonBicester20 November 19421551 (Beam Approach Calibration) Flight[1]
Beam Approach Training Flight, Church Lawford RAFMarch 1942Church LawfordChurch Lawford27 October 19421533 (Beam Approach Training) Flight[6]
Beam Approach Training Flight, Nanyuki RAFNanyukiNanyuki26 June 1942Absorbed by No. 70 OTU[6]
Blind Approach Calibration Flight RAF12 July 1941WatchfieldOxford, AnsonOctober 1941Beam Approach Calibration Flight[1]
Beam Approach Development Unit RAF4 October 1942WatchfieldAnson, Oxford, MasterHinton-in-the-Hedges15 April 1943'A' Flight, Signals Development Unit RAF[6]
Blind Landing Experimental Unit1 October 1945WoodbridgeAnsonMartlesham Heath1 November 1949[2]

See also

References

Citations

Bibliography

  • Lake, A (1999). Flying units of the RAF. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
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