No. 25 Group RAF is a former Royal Air Force group. It was initially active between 1918 and 1919. It reformed during 1937, remaining active throughout the Second World War, disbanding again in 1948. It reformed a second time during 1951 and disbanded for a third time in 1968.

History

First World War

No. 25 (Operations) Group formed on 12 August 1918 at Luce Bay, within North Western Area. It had No. 258 Squadron RAF and No. 273 Squadron RAF under its operational control, along with the Airship Stations at Luce Bay and Larne. The group disbanded on 12 June 1919.

Second World War

It reformed, known as No. 25 (Armament) Group RAF, on 1 December 1937 at RAF Eastchurch, within RAF Training Command, by renaming the Armament Group. On 28 June 1939 the HQ relocated to RAF Brize Norton. Six months later on 31 January 1940, it moved again, to Buntingsdale Hall, Market Drayton in Shropshire. On 27 May 1940, with the split of RAF Training Command, the group moved into RAF Flying Training Command. It had responsibility for all the armament training schools including No. 1 Air Armament School RAF, at RAF Manby, and the Central Gunnery School RAF, at RAF Sutton Bridge. On 7 July 1942, the Air Gunners Schools and the (Observers) Advanced Flying Units for Northern England, were moved into No. 29 Group RAF. The responsibility for the Air Gunners Schools and the (Observers) Advanced Flying Units in the Midlands and Wales, along with No. 1 Air Armament School RAF, the Central Gunnery School RAF and the Central Navigation School RAF remained within No. 25 Group. After the Second World War, on 26 April 1947, the group HQ moved to St Vincents Hall, Grantham, in Lincolnshire, however, it eventually disbanded on 15 April 1948.

Cold War

On 20 March 1951 it reformed as No. 25 (Flying Training) Group RAF at RAF Manby. It was tasked with administering the Flying Refresher Schools and the Advanced Flying Schools, using Jet aircraft. On 28 January 1961 the Group HQ moved to RAF White Waltham. The group was operational for a further seven years, before eventually disbanding on 1 June 1968, and was absorbed into No. 22 Group RAF.

Structure

November 1939 HQ at RAF Brize Norton

RAF Manby No. 1 Air Armament School RAF RAF Pembrey No. 2 Air Armament School RAF RAF Aldergrove No. 3 Air Observers School RAF RAF West Freugh No. 4 Air Observers School RAF RAF Jurby No. 5 Air Observers School RAF

RAF Porthcawl No. 7 Air Observers School RAF RAF Evanton No. 8 Air Observers School RAF RAF Penrhos No. 9 Air Observers School RAF RAF Warmwell No. 10 Air Observers School RAF

May 1941 HQ at Buntingsdale Hall, Market Drayton

RAF Dumfries No. 10 Bombing and Gunnery School RAF RAF Evanton No. 8 Bombing and Gunnery School RAF RAF Exeter Gunnery Research Unit RAF Det of Royal Aircraft Establishment RAF Jurby No. 5 Bombing and Gunnery School RAF RAF Manby No. 1 Air Armament School RAF

RAF Millom No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School RAF RAF Penrhos No. 9 Bombing and Gunnery School RAF RAF Stormy Down No. 7 Bombing and Gunnery School RAF RAF Warmwell Central Gunnery School RAF RAF West Freugh No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School RAF

April 1942 HQ at Buntingsdale Hall, Market Drayton

RAF Barrow No. 10 Air Gunners School RAF RAF Bobbington No. 3 Air Observers School RAF RAF Chelveston Central Gunnery School RAF RAF Dalcross No. 2 Air Gunners School RAF RAF Dumfries No. 10 Air Observers School RAF RAF Evanton No. 8 Air Gunnery School RAF RAF Exeter Gunnery Research School RAF RAF Jurby No. 5 Air Observers School RAF

RAF Llandwrog No. 9 Air Gunners School RAF RAF Manby No. 1 Air Armament School RAF RAF Millom No. 2 Air Observers School RAF RAF Pembrey No. 1 Air Gunners School RAF RAF Penrhos No. 9 Air Observers School RAF RAF Stormy Down No. 7 Air Gunners School RAF RAF West Freugh No. 4 Air Observers School RAF RAF Wigtown No. 1 Air Observers School RAF

April 1943 HQ at Buntingsdale Hall, Market Drayton

RAF Bobbington No. 3 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit RAF RAF Cranage Central Navigation School RAF RAF Exeter Gunnery Research Unit RAF RAF Manby No. 1 Air Armament School RAF RAF Mona No. 3 Air Gunners School RAF

RAF Pembrey No. 1 Air Gunners School RAF RAF Penrhos No. 9 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit RAF RAF Staverton No. 6 Air Observers School RAF RAF Stormy Down No. 7 Air Gunners School RAF RAF Sutton Bridge Central Gunnery School RAF

July 1944 HQ at Buntingsdale Hall, Market Drayton

RAF Barrow No. 10 Air Gunners School RAF RAF Blackpool School of Air Sea Rescue RAF RAF Cark Staff Pilots Training Unit RAF RAF Catfoss Central Gunnery School RAF RAF Halfpenny Green No. 3 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit RAF No. 1545 (Beam Approach Training) Flight RAF RAF Manby No. 1 Air Armament School RAF

RAF Millom No. 2 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit RAF RAF Mona No. 8 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit RAF RAF Pembrey No. 8 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit RAF No. 1 Air Gunners School RAF RAF Penrhos No. 9 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit RAF RAF Staverton No. 6 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit RAF RAF Stormy Down No. 7 Air Gunners School RAF

July 1945 HQ at Buntingsdale Hall, Market Drayton

RAF Barrow No. 10 Air Gunners School RAF RAF Cark Staff Pilots Training Unit RAF RAF Catfoss Central Gunnery School RAF RAF Halfpenny Green No. 3 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit RAF

RAF Manby Empire Air Armament School RAF RAF Penrhos No. 2 Air Crew Holding Unit RAF RAF Shawbury Empire Air Navigation School RAF

April 1962 HQ at RAF White Waltham

Brough Aerodrome Hull University Air Squadron Cambridge City Airport Cambridge University Air Squadron Aberdeen Airport (Dyce) Aberdeen University Air Squadron RAF Exeter No. 3/4 Civilian Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF RAF Hullavington No. 2 Air Navigation School RAF RAF Leuchars St Andrews University Air Squadron Perth Airport Glasgow University Air Squadron

RAF Shawbury Birmingham University Air Squadron RAF South Cerney No. 1 Initial Training School RAF RAF Stradishall No. 1 Air Navigation School RAF RAF Sydenham Queens University Air Squadron RAF Topcliffe No. 1 Air Electronics School RAF RAF Turnhouse Edinburgh University Air Squadron RAF White Waltham London University Air Squadron

Headquarters

No. 25 Group had various HQ during its three active periods:

Luce Bay - between 1918 and 1919 RAF Eastchurch - reformed in December 1937 RAF Brize Norton - from June 1939 Buntingsdale Hall - from January 1940 St Vincents Hall - from April 1947 until April 1948 RAF Manby - reformed in March 1951 RAF White Waltham - from January 1961 until June 1968

Air Officers Commanding

Note: The ranks shown are the ranks held at the time of holding the appointment of Air Officer Commanding, No. 25 Group Royal Air Force. +No. 25 Group commanding officers Ranknamefrom?June 1918Disbanded1920Air CommodoreLawrence PattinsonFebruary 1934Air CommodoreGuy GarrodFebruary 1937Air CommodoreGeorge Bentley Dacre1938Air Vice-MarshalHenry Cave-Browne-CaveAugust 1938Air CommodoreHugh Champion de CrespignyFebruary 1939Air CommodoreEdward Derek DavisJanuary 1942Air CommodoreChristopher Neil Hope BilneyDecember 1945Air CommodoreGordon Herbert Vasse1947 - 48DisbandedApril 1948Air Vice-MarshalRichard JordanMarch 1951Air Vice-MarshalHugh Hamilton BrookesFebruary 1953Air Vice-MarshalHugh ConstantineAugust 1954 Air Vice-MarshalHugh Hamilton BrookesApril 1956 Air Vice-MarshalJohn Forde HoblerOctober 1958 Air Vice-MarshalHerbert James KirkpatrickFebruary 1961 Air Vice-MarshalPaul HolderJanuary 1963Air Vice-MarshalRichard Ian JonesOctober 1964Air Vice-MarshalGraham Reese MagillMay 1967

References

Citations

Bibliography