No. 7 Group RAF

No. 7 (Operational Training) Group RAF
No. 7 (Training) Group RAF
No. 7 Group RAF
Royal Air Force Ensign
Active1 April 1918 - 16 Aug 1919
20 September 1919 - 12 April 1926
15 July 1940 - 11 May 1942
1 November 1944 - 21 December 1945
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
TypeRoyal Air Force group
RoleBomber aircrew training
Part ofNo. 2 Area
South-Western Area
Inland Area
RAF Bomber Command

No. 7 Group RAF (7 Gp) of the Royal Air Force was an RAF group active in the latter part of the First World War, during the 1920s and also in the Second World War.

Organisational history

No. 7 Group was created on the day that the RAF officially came into being. On 1 April 1918 it was created by renaming the Royal Flying Corps' Southern Training Brigade. Initially the Group was subordinate to No. 2 Area and on 8 August the designation "Training" was added making the Group's title No. 7 (Training) Group. With the post war reductions, the Group was disbanded on 16 Aug 1919.

The following month on 20 September 1919, No. 7 Group was reformed when South-Western Area was downgraded to group status. On 1 April 1920, the Group was transferred to Inland Area's control. The Group was disbanded for the second time on 12 April 1926.

Following the outbreak of the Second World War, the Group was reformed on 15 July 1940 as No. 7 (Operational Training) Group under Bomber Command control. It was disestablished by its renaming to No. 92 Group RAF on 11 May 1942.

The Group's final incarnation was from 1 November 1944 to 21 December 1945. Its function was the control of heavy conversion units.[1]

[2]
No. 71 Base No. 72 Base No. 73 Base No. 74 Base No. 75 Base No. 76 (RCAF) Base
RAF Lindholme (HQ) RAF Bottesford (HQ) RAF North Luffenham (HQ) RAF Marston Moor (HQ) RAF Swinderby (HQ) RAF Topcliffe (HQ)
RAF Blyton RAF Langar RAF Bottesford RAF Acaster Malbis RAF Wigsley RAF Dalton
RAF Sandtoft RAF Saltby RAF Langar RAF Riccall RAF Winthorpe RAF Dishforth
RAF Sturgate RAF Woolfox Lodge RAF Rufforth RAF Wombleton
RAF Stradishall

Commanders

April 1918 to August 1919

September 1919 to April 1926

July 1940 to May 1942

November 1944 to December 1945

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ Richards, Denis; Saunders, Hilary St George (1975). Royal Air Force, 1939-1945; The Fight is Won. London: H.M.S.O. p. 19. ISBN 0117715921.
  2. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 77.

Bibliography

  • Sturtivant, R.; Hamlin, J. (2007). Royal Air Force flying training and support units since 1912. UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 978-0851-3036-59.