No. 25 Group RAF


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 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 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 Advanced Flying Units for Northern England, were moved into No. 29 Group RAF. The responsibility for the Air Gunners Schools and the 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 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
May 1941
HQ at Buntingsdale Hall, Market Drayton
April 1942
HQ at Buntingsdale Hall, Market Drayton
April 1943
HQ at Buntingsdale Hall, Market Drayton
July 1944
HQ at Buntingsdale Hall, Market Drayton
July 1945
HQ at Buntingsdale Hall, Market Drayton
April 1962
HQ at RAF White Waltham

Headquarters

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

Air Officers Commanding

Ranknamefrom
?June 1918
Disbanded1920
Air CommodoreLawrence PattinsonFebruary 1934
Air CommodoreGuy GarrodFebruary 1937
Air CommodoreGeorge Bentley Dacre1938
Air Vice-MarshalHenry Cave-Browne-CaveAugust 1938
Air CommodoreHugh Champion de CrespignyFebruary 1939
Air CommodoreEdward Derek DavisJanuary 1942
Air CommodoreChristopher Neil Hope BilneyDecember 1945
Air CommodoreGordon Herbert Vasse1947 - 48
DisbandedApril 1948
Air Vice-MarshalRichard JordanMarch 1951
Air Vice-MarshalHugh Hamilton BrookesFebruary 1953
Air 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 1963
Air Vice-MarshalRichard Ian JonesOctober 1964
Air Vice-MarshalGraham Reese MagillMay 1967