No. 81 Group (81 Gp) was a group within the Royal Air Force's Fighter Command during the Second World War and the post-war era, which disbanded at the end of March 1958. It was initially formed during December 1940, lasting almost two and a half years before disbanding in April 1943. It reformed at the start of 1952.[1][2]

No. 81 (Training) Group
Active16 December 1940 – 15 April 1943
1 January 1952 – 31 March 1958
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
TypeRoyal Air Force group
RoleFighter Command Operational Training Units and Operational Conversion Units
Part ofRAF Fighter Command
Motto(s)Latin: Fulmina Ex Igne Politiora
("Lightning is cleaner than fire")
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Air Commodore Colin Campbell McMullen CBE, AFC

History

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No. 81 Group was formed on 16 December 1940 at RAF Sealand, as part of Fighter Command, to control the Operational Training Units. On 19 February 1941 the group headquarters moved to Tallow Hall in Worcester, and then on 22 December 1941 it was based at Avening Court in Gloucestershire. It was disbanded on 15 April 1943 when all controlled units were moved to No. 9 Group.[2]

The group was reformed on 1 January 1952 at RAF Watnall, in Nottinghamshire to control all training units within Fighter Command. On 16 May 1952 it moved to RAF Rudloe Manor, in Wiltshire. It was finally disbanded on 31 March 1958.[2]

Organisation

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1 January 1941

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The group was organised as follows;[3]

1 May 1942

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The group was organised as follows;[3]

1 March 1943

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The group was organised as follows;[3]

1 April 1953

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The group was organised as follows;[4]

Air Officers Commanding

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1940 to 1943

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1952 to 1958

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  • 1 January 1952 – Air Commodore L W C Bower[1]
  • January 1954 – Air Commodore C C McMullen[1]
  • 19 February 1954 – Vacant[1]
  • 2 April 1954 – Air Commodore H A V Hogan[1]
  • 15 August 1955 – Air Commodore R C Mead[1]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Group 70 – 106". www.rafweb.org. 10 October 2009. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  2. ^ a b c Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 152.
  3. ^ a b c Falconer 2012, p. 302.
  4. ^ Delve 1994, p. 85.

Bibliography

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  • Delve, Ken (1994). The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
  • Falconer, Jonathan (2012). RAF Airfields of World War 2. UK: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85780-349-5.
  • Sturtivant, Ray; Hamlin, John (2007). Royal Air Force flying training and support units since 1912. UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 978-0851-3036-59.