Summary
No. 61 Group RAF is former Royal Air Force group which was operational initially between July and August 1940 then between May 1946 and March 1959.
| No. 61 Group RAF No. 61 (Southern Reserve) Group RAF No. 61 (Eastern) Group RAF No. 61 (Eastern Reserve) Group RAF  | |
|---|---|
| Active | 6 July 1940 – 1 August 1940 2 May 1946 – 31 March 1959 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Type | Group |
| Part of | RAF Home Command |
| Garrison/HQ | RAF Kenley |
61 Group had three other groups amalgamated into it, these were: No. 62 Group RAF on 1 February 1957 and No. 65 Group RAF on 1 February 1951.
History of No. 61 Group RAF edit
No. 61 Group RAF was formed on 1 July 1940 at Aldergrove before moving on 7 July 1940 to Dunlambert Hotel, Fort William Park, Belfast. It was redesignated to RAF NI on 1 August 1940. It was reformed on 2 May 1946 as No. 61 (Eastern Reserve) Group within Rickmansworth, moving to RAF Kenley on 1 August 1946. It was renamed to No. 61 (Eastern) Group on 1 August 1950, on 1 January 1957 it was renamed to No. 61 (Southern Reserve) Group and was disbanded on 31 March 1959.[1]
During April 1953 the group controlled:[2]
- RAF Booker
- Cambridge City Airport
- RAF Fairoaks
- RAF Farnborough
- Meteorological Research Flight RAF
- RAF Hendon
- RAF Henlow
- RAF Hornchurch
- RAF Kenley
- RAF Little Snoring
- RAF Redhill
History of No. 62 Group RAF edit
No. 62 (Southern Reserve) Group RAF was operational between 15 May 1946 and 31 and 1 February 1957. It was initially based within Exeter but moved to RAF Middle Wallop on 2 July 1946 then to RAF Rudloe Manor on 26 January 1948. Tt was renamed to No. 62 (Southern) Group RAF on 1 August 1950 then moved to RAF Pucklechurch on 16 June 1952 and was disbanded into No. 61 Group on 1 February 1957.[1]
During April 1953 the group controlled:[2]
- RAF Blackbushe
- RAF Booker
- No. 622 Squadron RAF
- No. 1 (Basic) Flying Training School RAF
- RAF Colerne
- RAF Exeter
- RAF Filton
- RAF Hamble
- No. 14 Reserve Flying School RAF
- No. 1 Basic Air Navigation School RAF
- RAF Kidlington
- RAF Middle Wallop
- Southampton Airport
History of No. 65 Group RAF edit
No. 65 (London Reserve) Group was operational between 2 May 1946 and 1 February 1951. It was renamed to No. 65 (London) Group on 1 August 1950 and was disbanded into No. 61 Group on 1 February 1951.[1]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 152.
- ^ a b Delve 1994, p. 86.