No. 21 Group RAF


No. 21 Group RAF is a former Royal Air Force group that existed from April–July 1918; 1926–1934, a redesignation of No. 1 Group RAF; after which it was merged into Inland Area; and from 1938 to 1955.

History

First World War
No. 21 Group formed on 1 April 1918 at RAF Montrose within No 5 Area; the following month, on 8 May, it transferred into the North-Western Area. Shortly after, on 1 July, the group disbanded into No. 20 Group RAF.

Interwar period

On 12 April 1926, it reformed as No. 21 Group, within Inland Area. The group HQ was at RAF West Drayton and it had the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment and Nos 15 and [No. No. 22 Squadron RAF|22 Squadron RAF|22] Squadrons at RAF Martlesham Heath under its command. The group also had control over RAF stores, repair depots, and schools. It disbanded on 1 February 1934 and reformed at RAF Cranwell, within RAF Training Command, again as No. 21 Group, on 1 December 1938.

Second World War

The group was transferred to RAF Flying Training Command on 27 May 1940, responsible for the RAF College and the Service Flying Training Schools from the Midlands northwards. The group HQ relocated to RAF Spitalgate on 28 July 1944.

Cold War

The group's headquarters moved to the former No. 5 Group's HQ, St Vincents Hall, in Grantham, on 7 March 1946 and the following year, on 1 May 1947, the Group absorbed No. 91 Group RAF, from RAF Bomber Command, taking over HQ for No. 91 Group, Morton Hall, Swinderby in Lincolnshire. On 24 June 1953 the Group absorbed No. 54 Group RAF, which had been reformed 22 months earlier within RAF Flying Training Command to control the Initial Training Wings and Grading Schools. No. 21 Group disbanded on 1 March 1955.

Structure

The orders of battle for No. 21 Group changed several times

November 1939

HQ at RAF Cranwell

May 1941

HQ at RAF Cranwell

April 1942

HQ at RAF Cranwell

April 1943

HQ at RAF Cranwell

July 1944

HQ at RAF Cranwell

July 1945

HQ at RAF Spitalgate

April 1953

HQ at Morton Hall, Swinderby

Headquarters

No. 21 Group had various headquarters across its three active periods

Air Officer Commanding

Ranknamefrom
UnknownApril 1918
DisbandedJuly 1918
Group CaptainAndrew George BoardAugust 1926
Unknown1927
Group CaptainA B BurdettFebruary 1928
Group CaptainLionel Rees VCDecember 1929
Group CaptainCharles EdmondsAugust 1931
Group CaptainG P GrenfellJanuary 1932
DisbandedFebruary 1934
Air Vice-MarshalJack BaldwinDecember 1938
Air Vice-MarshalBertine SuttonJuly 1939
Air CommodoreHugh Champion de CrespignyAugust 1939
Air Vice-MarshalRobert WillockJune 1940
Air Vice-MarshalHugh Champion de CrespignyOctober 1943
Air CommodoreJohn Gosset HawtreyJuly 1945
Air CommodoreGordon Herbert Vasse1946 - 47
Air Vice-MarshalFrancis Mellersh1947 - 48
Air Vice-MarshalCecil Bouchier1948 - 49
Air Vice-MarshalG G BantingMarch 1949
Air Vice-MarshalJohn Denis BreakeyMarch 1951
Air Vice-MarshalAndrew McKeeJuly 1951
Air Vice-MarshalGilbert NicholettsNovember 1953