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
| Group | Headquarters | Commanding officer | Area of operations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Group | RAF Barton Hall, Preston, Lancashire | Not yet appointed | Not yet defined |
| 10 Group | RAF Box,[1] Box, Wiltshire | Air Vice-Marshal Sir C J Quintin Brand | South West England and South Wales |
| 11 Group | RAF Uxbridge,[2] Hillingdon, Middlesex | Keith Park | South East England and London |
| 12 Group | RAF Watnall,[3] Nottinghamshire | Trafford Leigh-Mallory | East Anglia, the Midlands, Mid Wales and North Wales |
| 13 Group | RAF Newcastle,[4] Kenton Bar, Newcastle upon Tyne | Richard Saul | North of England and Scotland |
| 14 Group | Drumossie Hotel, Inverness | Malcolm Henderson | Scotland |
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]
| Sector | Group | Sector station | Radio call sign | Satellite airfield or airfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 11 | Tangmere | SHORTJACK | Westhampnett |
| B | 11 | Kenley | TOPHAT | Croydon |
| C | 11 | Biggin Hill | SAPPER | West Malling, Gravesend[7] |
| D | 11 | Hornchurch | LUMBA | Gravesend, Rochford, Manston, Hawkinge |
| E | 11 | North Weald | COWSLIP | Stapleford Tawney, Martlesham Heath |
| F | 11 | Debden | GARTER | Martlesham Heath[8] |
| G | 12 | Duxford | Fowlmere | |
| K | 12 | Wittering | Coltishall | |
| L | 12 | Digby | Ternhill | |
| M | 12 | Kirton-in-Lindsey | ||
| N | 12 | Church Fenton | Leconfield | |
| O | 13 | Usworth | Catterick | |
| P | 13 | Acklington | ||
| Q | 13 | Turnhouse | Drem, Grangemouth | |
| R | 13 | Dyce | Grangemouth | |
| S | 13 | Wick | Grimsetter, Sumburgh | |
| W | 10 | Filton | Boscombe Down, Colerne, Pembrey | |
| Y | 10 | Middle Wallop | STARLIGHT | Boscombe Down, Warmwell, Exeter, some control over RNAS Roborough, St. Eval |
| Z | 11 | Northolt | Hendon |
Stations and squadrons
| Sector Station | Squadron | Aircraft type | Squadron code | Radio call sign | Aerodrome assigned to | Commanding officer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Group | ||||||
| RAF Middle Wallop | No. 238 Sqn | Hawker Hurricane | VK | RAF Middle Wallop | Sqn Ldr Harold Arthur Fenton | |
| RAF Middle Wallop | No. 609 Sqn | Supermarine Spitfire | PR | SORBO | RAF Warmwell | Sqn Ldr Horace Stanley Darley |
| RAF Middle Wallop | No. 604 (Night Fighter) Sqn | Bristol Blenheim & Bristol Beaufighter | NG | RAF Middle Wallop | Sqn Ldr Michael Frederick Anderson | |
| RAF Middle Wallop | No. 23 Sqn (part) | Bristol Blenheim | YP | RAF Middle Wallop | Sqn Ldr George Francis Wheaton Heycock | |
| RAF Middle Wallop | No. 152 Sqn | Supermarine Spitfire | UM | MAIDA | RAF Warmwell | Sqn Ldr Peter K Devitt |
| RAF Middle Wallop | No. 56 Sqn | Hawker Hurricane | US | BAFFIN | RAF Boscombe Down | Sqn Ldr Herbert Moreton Pinfold |
| RAF Filton | No. 79 Sqn | Hawker Hurricane | NV | PANSY | RAF Pembrey | Sqn Ldr J Hervey Heyworth |
| RAF Filton | No. 87 Sqn | Hawker Hurricane | LK | SUNCUP | RAF Exeter, RAF Bibury | Flt Lt R S Mills |
| RAF Filton | No. 601 Sqn | Hawker Hurricane | UF | WEAPON | RAF Filton | Flt Lt Sir Archibald Philip Hope (Acting CO) |
| RAF Filton | No. 234 Sqn | Supermarine Spitfire | AZ | CRESSY | RAF St Eval | Sqn Ldr Minden Vaughan Blake |
| RAF Filton | No. 236 (Coastal Command) Sqn | Bristol Blenheim | FA | RAF St Eval | Sqn Ldr G W Montagu | |
| RAF Filton | No. 247 Sqn | Gloster Gladiator | HP | RNAS Roborough | Flight Lieutenant Hugh Addison Chater | |
| 11 Group | ||||||
| RAF Biggin Hill | No. 72 Sqn | Supermarine Spitfire | RN | TENNIS | RAF Biggin Hill | Sqn Ldr A R Collins |
| RAF Biggin Hill | No. 92 Sqn | Supermarine Spitfire | QJ | GANNIC | RAF Biggin Hill | Sqn Ldr P J Sanders |
| RAF Biggin Hill | No. 141 Sqn (half) | Boulton Paul Defiant | TW | RAF Biggin Hill | Sqn Ldr W A Richardson | |
| RAF Biggin Hill | No. 66 Sqn | Supermarine Spitfire | LZ | FIBUS | RAF Gravesend | Sqn Ldr Rupert Leigh |
| RAF North Weald | No. 249 Sqn | Hawker Hurricane | GN | GANER | RAF Middle Wallop | Sqn Ldr John Grandy |
| RAF North Weald | No. 23 Sqn (part) | Bristol Blenheim | YP | RAF North Weald | Sqn Ldr George Francis Wheaton Heycock | |
| RAF North Weald | No. 46 Sqn | Hawker Hurricane | PO | ANGEL | RAF Stapleford | Sqn Ldr J R MacLachlan |
| RAF Kenley | No. 253 Sqn | Hawker Hurricane | SW | RAF Kenley | Sqn Ldr E R Bitmead | |
| RAF Kenley | No. 501 Sqn | Hawker Hurricane | SD | VICEROY | RAF Kenley | Sqn Ldr Harry A V Hogan |
| RAF Kenley | No. 605 Sqn | Hawker Hurricane | UP | TURKEY | RAF Croydon | Sqn Ldr Walter A Churchill |
| RAF Hornchurch | No. 603 Sqn | Supermarine Spitfire | XT | VIKEN | RAF Hornchurch | Sqn Ldr George Lovell Denholm |
| RAF Hornchurch | No. 600 (Night Fighter) Sqn | Bristol Blenheim & Bristol Beaufighter | BQ | RAF Hornchurch | Sqn Ldr H L Maxwell | |
| RAF Hornchurch | No. 41 Sqn | Supermarine Spitfire | EB | MITOR | RAF Hornchurch | Sqn Ldr Donald O. Finlay |
| RAF Hornchurch | No. 222 Sqn | Supermarine Spitfire | ZD | KOTEL | RAF Hornchurch | Sqn Ldr John H Hill |
| RAF Tangmere | No. 213 Sqn | Hawker Hurricane | AK | BEARSKIN | RAF Tangmere | Flt Lt D S Wilson-Macdonald |
| RAF Tangmere | No. 607 Sqn | Hawker Hurricane | AF | RAF Tangmere | Sqn Ldr James A Vick | |
| RAF Tangmere | No. 602 Sqn | Supermarine Spitfire | LO | VILLA | RAF Westhampnett | Sqn Ldr A V R "Sandy" Johnstone DFC |
| RAF Tangmere | No. 23 Sqn (part) | Bristol Blenheim & Bristol Beaufighter | YP | RAF Ford | Sqn Ldr George Francis Wheaton Heycock | |
| RAF Debden | No. 17 Sqn | Hawker Hurricane | YB | EDEY | RAF Debden | Sqn Ldr A G Miller |
| RAF Debden | No. 73 Sqn | Hawker Hurricane | TP | RAF Debden | Sqn Ldr Mike L Beytagh | |
| RAF Debden | No. 257 Sqn | Hawker Hurricane | DT | ALERT | RAF Martlesham Heath | Sqn Ldr Robert Stanford Tuck DFC |
| RAF Debden | No. 25 Sqn (part) | Bristol Blenheim | ZK | RAF Martlesham Heath | Sqn Ldr Wilfred William Loxton | |
| RAF Northolt | No. 1 Sqn RCAF | Hawker Hurricane | YO | CARIBOU | RAF Northolt | Sqn Ldr Ernest A McNab |
| RAF Northolt | No. 229 Sqn | Hawker Hurricane | RE | KETA | RAF Northolt | Sqn Ldr Harry J Maguire |
| RAF Northolt | No. 303 (Polish) Sqn | Hawker Hurricane | RF | APANY | RAF Northolt | Sqn Ldr Ronald Kellett DSO DFC |
| RAF Northolt | No. 264 Sqn (part) | Boulton Paul Defiant | PS | RAF Northolt | Sqn Ldr George Desmond Garvin | |
| RAF Northolt | No. 504 Sqn | Hawker Hurricane | TM | RAF Hendon | Sqn Ldr John Sample | |
| 12 Group | ||||||
| RAF Duxford | No. 242 Sqn | Hawker Hurricane | LE | LORAG | RAF Duxford | Sqn Ldr Douglas Bader |
| RAF Duxford | No. 302 (Polish) Sqn | Hawker Hurricane | WX | CALEB | RAF Duxford | Sqn Ldr W A Jack Satchell / Sqn Ldr M V M Mumler |
| RAF Duxford | No. 310 (Czech) Sqn | Hawker Hurricane, | NN | CALLA | RAF Duxford | Flt Lt G Douglas M Blackwood / Sqn Ldr A Sasha Hess |
| RAF Duxford | No. 19 Sqn | Supermarine Spitfire | QV | LUTON | RAF Fowlmere | Sqn Ldr Brian John Edward Lane DFC |
| RAF Coltishall | No. 74 Sqn | Supermarine Spitfire | ZP | DYSOE | RAF Wittering | Sqn Ldr Adolph G "Sailor" Malan |
| RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey | No. 616 Sqn | Supermarine Spitfire | QJ[10] | RADPOE | RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey | Flt Lt H F "Billy" Burton |
| RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey | No. 264 Sqn (part) | Boulton Paul Defiant | PS | RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey | Sqn Ldr George Desmond Garvin | |
| RAF Digby | No. 151 Sqn | Hawker Hurricane | DZ | RAF Digby | ||
| RAF Digby | No. 611 Sqn | Supermarine Spitfire | FY | CHARLIE | RAF Digby | Sqn Ldr Jim E McComb |
| RAF Digby | No. 29 (Night Fighter) Sqn | Bristol Blenheim & Bristol Beaufighter | RO | RAF Digby | Sqn Ldr Stan C Widdows | |
| RAF Wittering | No. 1 Sqn | Hawker Hurricane | JX | RAF Wittering | Sqn Ldr David A Pemberton DFC | |
| RAF Wittering | No. 266 Sqn | Supermarine Spitfire | UO | RAF Wittering | Flt Lt Patrick Geraint Jameson DFC | |
| RAF Church Fenton | No. 85 Sqn | Hawker Hurricane | VY | HYDRO | RAF Church Fenton | Sqn Ldr Peter Wooldridge Townsend DFC |
| RAF Church Fenton | No. 306 (Polish) Sqn (part) | Hawker Hurricane | UZ | RAF Church Fenton | Sqn Ldr D R Scott | |
| RAF Church Fenton | No. 64 Sqn | Supermarine Spitfire | SH | FREEMA | RAF Leconfield / RAF Ringway | Sqn Ldr Don McDonell |
| 13 Group | ||||||
| RAF Usworth | No. 54 Sqn | Supermarine Spitfire | KL | RABBIT | RAF Catterick | Flt Lt F P R Dunworth |
| RAF Usworth | No. 219 (Night Fighter) Sqn (part) | Bristol Blenheim & Bristol Beaufighter | FK | RAF Catterick | Sqn Ldr J H Little | |
| RAF Usworth | No. 43 Sqn | Hawker Hurricane | FT | RAF Usworth | Sqn Ldr Tom F Dalton Morgan DFC | |
| RAF Acklington | No. 32 Sqn | Hawker Hurricane | GZ | JACKO | RAF Acklington | Flt Lt Mike N Crossley |
| RAF Acklington | No. 219 (Night Fighter) Sqn (part) | Bristol Blenheim | FK | RAF Acklington | Sqn Ldr J H Little | |
| RAF Turnhouse | No. 3 Sqn | Hawker Hurricane | QO | RAF Turnhouse | Sqn Ldr S F Gooden | |
| RAF Turnhouse | No. 65 Sqn | Supermarine Spitfire | YT | RAF Turnhouse | Sqn Ldr A L Holland | |
| RAF Turnhouse | No. 141 Sqn | Boulton Paul Defiant | TW | RAF Turnhouse | Sqn Ldr W A Richardson | |
| RAF Turnhouse | No. 111 Sqn | Hawker Hurricane | JU | WAGON | RAF Drem | Sqn Ldr John M Thompson DFC |
| RAF Turnhouse | No. 263 Sqn | Hawker Hurricane & Westland Whirlwind | HE | RAF Drem | Fg Off T P Pugh | |
| RAF Dyce | No. 145 Sqn | Hawker Hurricane | SO | PATIN | RAF Roborough | Sqn Ldr John R A Peel |
| RAF Wick | No. 232 Sqn | Hawker Hurricane | EF | RAF Roborough | Fg Off M M Stephens DFC & Bar | |
| RAF Aldergrove | No. 245 Sqn | Hawker Hurricane | DX | RAF Roborough | Sqn Ldr E W Whitley DFC | |
| RAF Biggin Hill | No.610 Sqn | Supermarine Spitfire | DW | RAF Biggin Hill | Sqn Ldr J Ellis DFC & Bar | |
See also
References
Notes
- ↑ RAF Box
- ↑ RAF Uxbridge
- ↑ RAF Watnall
- ↑ RAF Newcastle
- ↑ "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) - ↑ Price, Alfred The Hardest Day, 1980, pp. 208-211.
- ↑ Note: Also used by Sector D
- ↑ Note: Also used by Sector E
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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
External links
- BattleofBritain.com - Retrieved: 4 August 2007.
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