This article lists the RAF Fighter Command order of battle at 15 September 1940, during the Battle of Britain.

Fighter Command

RAF Fighter Command Headquarters was located at RAF Bentley Priory, near Stanmore in North London. The commanding officer was Air Chief Marshal Hugh C.T. Dowding.

Fighter groups

GroupHeadquartersCommanding officerArea of operations
9 GroupRAF Barton Hall, Preston, LancashireNot yet appointedNot yet defined
10 GroupRAF Box,[1] Box, WiltshireAir Vice-Marshal Sir C J Quintin BrandSouth West England and South Wales
11 GroupRAF Uxbridge,[2] Hillingdon, MiddlesexKeith ParkSouth East England and London
12 GroupRAF Watnall,[3] NottinghamshireTrafford Leigh-MalloryEast Anglia, the Midlands, Mid Wales and North Wales
13 GroupRAF Newcastle,[4] Kenton Bar, Newcastle upon TyneRichard SaulNorth of England and Scotland
14 GroupDrumossie Hotel, InvernessMalcolm HendersonScotland

Sector stations and satellite aerodromes

Sector stations had sector control rooms as well as the usual features of RAF aerodromes; they were able to control RAF fighter formations during the battle. Sector stations were also able to disperse squadrons to satellite aerodromes, most of which were fully equipped.[5][6]

SectorGroupSector stationRadio call signSatellite airfield or airfields
A11TangmereSHORTJACKWesthampnett
B11KenleyTOPHATCroydon
C11Biggin HillSAPPERWest Malling, Gravesend[7]
D11HornchurchLUMBAGravesend, Rochford, Manston, Hawkinge
E11North WealdCOWSLIPStapleford Tawney, Martlesham Heath
F11DebdenGARTERMartlesham Heath[8]
G12DuxfordFowlmere
K12WitteringColtishall
L12DigbyTernhill
M12Kirton-in-Lindsey
N12Church FentonLeconfield
O13UsworthCatterick
P13Acklington
Q13TurnhouseDrem, Grangemouth
R13DyceGrangemouth
S13WickGrimsetter, Sumburgh
W10FiltonBoscombe Down, Colerne, Pembrey
Y10Middle WallopSTARLIGHTBoscombe Down, Warmwell, Exeter, some control over RNAS Roborough, St. Eval
Z11NortholtHendon

Stations and squadrons

Table of stations and squadrons[9]
Sector StationSquadronAircraft typeSquadron codeRadio call signAerodrome assigned toCommanding officer
10 Group
RAF Middle WallopNo. 238 SqnHawker HurricaneVKRAF Middle WallopSqn Ldr Harold Arthur Fenton
RAF Middle WallopNo. 609 SqnSupermarine SpitfirePRSORBORAF WarmwellSqn Ldr Horace Stanley Darley
RAF Middle WallopNo. 604 (Night Fighter) SqnBristol Blenheim & Bristol BeaufighterNGRAF Middle WallopSqn Ldr Michael Frederick Anderson
RAF Middle WallopNo. 23 Sqn (part)Bristol BlenheimYPRAF Middle WallopSqn Ldr George Francis Wheaton Heycock
RAF Middle WallopNo. 152 SqnSupermarine SpitfireUMMAIDARAF WarmwellSqn Ldr Peter K Devitt
RAF Middle WallopNo. 56 SqnHawker HurricaneUSBAFFINRAF Boscombe DownSqn Ldr Herbert Moreton Pinfold
RAF FiltonNo. 79 SqnHawker HurricaneNVPANSYRAF PembreySqn Ldr J Hervey Heyworth
RAF FiltonNo. 87 SqnHawker HurricaneLKSUNCUPRAF Exeter, RAF BiburyFlt Lt R S Mills
RAF FiltonNo. 601 SqnHawker HurricaneUFWEAPONRAF FiltonFlt Lt Sir Archibald Philip Hope (Acting CO)
RAF FiltonNo. 234 SqnSupermarine SpitfireAZCRESSYRAF St EvalSqn Ldr Minden Vaughan Blake
RAF FiltonNo. 236 (Coastal Command) SqnBristol BlenheimFARAF St EvalSqn Ldr G W Montagu
RAF FiltonNo. 247 SqnGloster GladiatorHPRNAS RoboroughFlight Lieutenant Hugh Addison Chater
11 Group
RAF Biggin HillNo. 72 SqnSupermarine SpitfireRNTENNISRAF Biggin HillSqn Ldr A R Collins
RAF Biggin HillNo. 92 SqnSupermarine SpitfireQJGANNICRAF Biggin HillSqn Ldr P J Sanders
RAF Biggin HillNo. 141 Sqn (half)Boulton Paul DefiantTWRAF Biggin HillSqn Ldr W A Richardson
RAF Biggin HillNo. 66 SqnSupermarine SpitfireLZFIBUSRAF GravesendSqn Ldr Rupert Leigh
RAF North WealdNo. 249 SqnHawker HurricaneGNGANERRAF Middle WallopSqn Ldr John Grandy
RAF North WealdNo. 23 Sqn (part)Bristol BlenheimYPRAF North WealdSqn Ldr George Francis Wheaton Heycock
RAF North WealdNo. 46 SqnHawker HurricanePOANGELRAF StaplefordSqn Ldr J R MacLachlan
RAF KenleyNo. 253 SqnHawker HurricaneSWRAF KenleySqn Ldr E R Bitmead
RAF KenleyNo. 501 SqnHawker HurricaneSDVICEROYRAF KenleySqn Ldr Harry A V Hogan
RAF KenleyNo. 605 SqnHawker HurricaneUPTURKEYRAF CroydonSqn Ldr Walter A Churchill
RAF HornchurchNo. 603 SqnSupermarine SpitfireXTVIKENRAF HornchurchSqn Ldr George Lovell Denholm
RAF HornchurchNo. 600 (Night Fighter) SqnBristol Blenheim & Bristol BeaufighterBQRAF HornchurchSqn Ldr H L Maxwell
RAF HornchurchNo. 41 SqnSupermarine SpitfireEBMITORRAF HornchurchSqn Ldr Donald O. Finlay
RAF HornchurchNo. 222 SqnSupermarine SpitfireZDKOTELRAF HornchurchSqn Ldr John H Hill
RAF TangmereNo. 213 SqnHawker HurricaneAKBEARSKINRAF TangmereFlt Lt D S Wilson-Macdonald
RAF TangmereNo. 607 SqnHawker HurricaneAFRAF TangmereSqn Ldr James A Vick
RAF TangmereNo. 602 SqnSupermarine SpitfireLOVILLARAF WesthampnettSqn Ldr A V R "Sandy" Johnstone DFC
RAF TangmereNo. 23 Sqn (part)Bristol Blenheim & Bristol BeaufighterYPRAF FordSqn Ldr George Francis Wheaton Heycock
RAF DebdenNo. 17 SqnHawker HurricaneYBEDEYRAF DebdenSqn Ldr A G Miller
RAF DebdenNo. 73 SqnHawker HurricaneTPRAF DebdenSqn Ldr Mike L Beytagh
RAF DebdenNo. 257 SqnHawker HurricaneDTALERTRAF Martlesham HeathSqn Ldr Robert Stanford Tuck DFC
RAF DebdenNo. 25 Sqn (part)Bristol BlenheimZKRAF Martlesham HeathSqn Ldr Wilfred William Loxton
RAF NortholtNo. 1 Sqn RCAFHawker HurricaneYOCARIBOURAF NortholtSqn Ldr Ernest A McNab
RAF NortholtNo. 229 SqnHawker HurricaneREKETARAF NortholtSqn Ldr Harry J Maguire
RAF NortholtNo. 303 (Polish) SqnHawker HurricaneRFAPANYRAF NortholtSqn Ldr Ronald Kellett DSO DFC
RAF NortholtNo. 264 Sqn (part)Boulton Paul DefiantPSRAF NortholtSqn Ldr George Desmond Garvin
RAF NortholtNo. 504 SqnHawker HurricaneTMRAF HendonSqn Ldr John Sample
12 Group
RAF DuxfordNo. 242 SqnHawker HurricaneLELORAGRAF DuxfordSqn Ldr Douglas Bader
RAF DuxfordNo. 302 (Polish) SqnHawker HurricaneWXCALEBRAF DuxfordSqn Ldr W A Jack Satchell / Sqn Ldr M V M Mumler
RAF DuxfordNo. 310 (Czech) SqnHawker Hurricane,NNCALLARAF DuxfordFlt Lt G Douglas M Blackwood / Sqn Ldr A Sasha Hess
RAF DuxfordNo. 19 SqnSupermarine SpitfireQVLUTONRAF FowlmereSqn Ldr Brian John Edward Lane DFC
RAF ColtishallNo. 74 SqnSupermarine SpitfireZPDYSOERAF WitteringSqn Ldr Adolph G "Sailor" Malan
RAF Kirton-in-LindseyNo. 616 SqnSupermarine SpitfireQJ[10]RADPOERAF Kirton-in-LindseyFlt Lt H F "Billy" Burton
RAF Kirton-in-LindseyNo. 264 Sqn (part)Boulton Paul DefiantPSRAF Kirton-in-LindseySqn Ldr George Desmond Garvin
RAF DigbyNo. 151 SqnHawker HurricaneDZRAF Digby
RAF DigbyNo. 611 SqnSupermarine SpitfireFYCHARLIERAF DigbySqn Ldr Jim E McComb
RAF DigbyNo. 29 (Night Fighter) SqnBristol Blenheim & Bristol BeaufighterRORAF DigbySqn Ldr Stan C Widdows
RAF WitteringNo. 1 SqnHawker HurricaneJXRAF WitteringSqn Ldr David A Pemberton DFC
RAF WitteringNo. 266 SqnSupermarine SpitfireUORAF WitteringFlt Lt Patrick Geraint Jameson DFC
RAF Church FentonNo. 85 SqnHawker HurricaneVYHYDRORAF Church FentonSqn Ldr Peter Wooldridge Townsend DFC
RAF Church FentonNo. 306 (Polish) Sqn (part)Hawker HurricaneUZRAF Church FentonSqn Ldr D R Scott
RAF Church FentonNo. 64 SqnSupermarine SpitfireSHFREEMARAF Leconfield / RAF RingwaySqn Ldr Don McDonell
13 Group
RAF UsworthNo. 54 SqnSupermarine SpitfireKLRABBITRAF CatterickFlt Lt F P R Dunworth
RAF UsworthNo. 219 (Night Fighter) Sqn (part)Bristol Blenheim & Bristol BeaufighterFKRAF CatterickSqn Ldr J H Little
RAF UsworthNo. 43 SqnHawker HurricaneFTRAF UsworthSqn Ldr Tom F Dalton Morgan DFC
RAF AcklingtonNo. 32 SqnHawker HurricaneGZJACKORAF AcklingtonFlt Lt Mike N Crossley
RAF AcklingtonNo. 219 (Night Fighter) Sqn (part)Bristol BlenheimFKRAF AcklingtonSqn Ldr J H Little
RAF TurnhouseNo. 3 SqnHawker HurricaneQORAF TurnhouseSqn Ldr S F Gooden
RAF TurnhouseNo. 65 SqnSupermarine SpitfireYTRAF TurnhouseSqn Ldr A L Holland
RAF TurnhouseNo. 141 SqnBoulton Paul DefiantTWRAF TurnhouseSqn Ldr W A Richardson
RAF TurnhouseNo. 111 SqnHawker HurricaneJUWAGONRAF DremSqn Ldr John M Thompson DFC
RAF TurnhouseNo. 263 SqnHawker Hurricane & Westland WhirlwindHERAF DremFg Off T P Pugh
RAF DyceNo. 145 SqnHawker HurricaneSOPATINRAF RoboroughSqn Ldr John R A Peel
RAF WickNo. 232 SqnHawker HurricaneEFRAF RoboroughFg Off M M Stephens DFC & Bar
RAF AldergroveNo. 245 SqnHawker HurricaneDXRAF RoboroughSqn Ldr E W Whitley DFC
RAF Biggin HillNo.610 SqnSupermarine SpitfireDWRAF Biggin HillSqn Ldr J Ellis DFC & Bar

See also

References

Notes

  1. RAF Box
  2. RAF Uxbridge
  3. RAF Watnall
  4. RAF Newcastle
  5. "The Royal Air Force - Stations Pages". Royal Air Force. Archived from Fighter Command Aerodromes and Sectors the original on 4 June 2004. Retrieved 28 May 2008. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  6. Price, Alfred The Hardest Day, 1980, pp. 208-211.
  7. Note: Also used by Sector D
  8. Note: Also used by Sector E
  9. The primary source used to list the squadron names (e.g.; 152 "Hyderabad" Sqn.), unit code letters, radio call signs and aircraft types of the 71 officially accredited Battle of Britain Fighter Command squadrons and other units which served under Fighter Command is Ramsay 1989, p.255.
  10. Note: The squadron code letters QJ were the same as those of 92 Squadron. The codes changed to YQ in 1941

Bibliography

  • Ramsay, Winston (editor). The Battle of Britain Then and Now Mk V. London: Battle of Britain Prints International Ltd, 1989. ISBN 0-900913-46-0
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