No. 9 Group RAF (9 Gp) was a group of the Royal Air Force, which existed over two separate periods, initially at the end of the First World War, and latterly during the Second World War when its role was air defence.
| No. 9 (Fighter) Group RAF | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1 April 1918 – 15 May 1919 9 August 1940 – 17 September 1944 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Type | Royal Air Force group |
| Role | Fighter cover for North West England and Northern Ireland |
| Part of | RAF Fighter Command |
| Garrison/HQ | RAF Barton Hall |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Air Vice Marshal Wilfred Ashton McClaughry CB, DSO, MC, DFC |
History
editThe group was first formed on 1 April 1918 in No. 2 Area. The next month it was transferred to South-Western Area and then disbanded on 15 May 1919.
Its next incarnation was as part of RAF Fighter Command. As 1940 wore on, the need for another Group headquarters to control fighter operations became more and more apparent. No. 9 Group was formed in September 1940 to cover North West England and Northern Ireland. It was based at RAF Barton Hall[1] and initially only controlled No. 308 Polish Fighter Squadron at RAF Speke,[2]
On 1 January 1941 the group was only using the Hawker Hurricane I fighter aircraft:[3]
- No. 96 Squadron RAF at RAF Cranage
- No. 229 Squadron RAF at RAF Speke
- No. 306 Polish Fighter Squadron at RAF Tern Hill
- No. 308 Polish Fighter Squadron at RAF Baginton
- No. 312 (Czechoslovak) Squadron RAF at RAF Speke
No. 275 Squadron RAF was formed at RAF Valley on 15 October 1941[4] as No. 9 Group's Air Sea Rescue unit, to cover the Irish Sea.[5]
9 Group also supplied the staff that were trained by Robert Watson-Watt, the inventor of radar, to operate the Chain Home early warning system. The staff being RAF females (they were never WAAF members).
On 1 May 1942 it consisted of:[6]
- No. 131 Squadron RAF at RAF Llanbedr with Spitfire
- No. 232 Squadron RAF at RAF Atcham with Spitfire
- No. 255 Squadron RAF at RAF High Ercall with Beaufighter
- No. 257 Squadron RAF at RAF Honiley with Hurricane & Spitfire
- No. 315 Polish Fighter Squadron at RAF Woodvale with Spitfire
On 1 March 1943 it consisted of:[7]
- No. 41 Squadron RAF at RAF High Ercall with Spitfire
- No. 96 Squadron RAF at RAF Honiley with Beaufighter
- No. 195 Squadron RAF at RAF Woodvale with Typhoon
- No. 219 Squadron RAF at RAF Scorton with Beaufighter
- No. 256 Squadron RAF at RAF Woodvale with Beaufighter
- No. 456 Squadron RAAF at RAF Valley with Beaufighter & Mosquito
No. 9 Group itself had a relative short lifespan. By 1944 it was predominantly a training formation.
On 6 June 1944 it comprised:
- two sector stations, RAF Honiley and RAF Woodvale,
- eight Operational Training Units:[8]
- No. 13 Operational Training Unit at RAF Bicester and RAF Finmere with Mosquito & Boston
- No. 41 Operational Training Unit at RAF Hawarden and RAF Poulton with Mustang & Hurricane
- No. 42 Operational Training Unit at RAF Ashbourne and RAF Darley Moor with Whitley, Oxford, Anson & Albemarle
- No. 51 Operational Training Unit at RAF Cranfield and RAF Twinwood Farm with Mosquito
- No. 53 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey, RAF Hibaldstow and RAF Caistor with Spitfire
- No. 54 Operational Training Unit at RAF Charterhall and RAF Winfield with Beaufighter
- No. 57 Operational Training Unit at RAF Eshott and RAF Boulmer with Spitfire
- No. 59 Operational Training Unit at RAF Boulmer with Hurricane & Typhoon
- No. 60 Operational Training Unit at RAF High Ercall with Mosquito
- No. 61 Operational Training Unit at RAF Rednal and RAF Montford Bridge with Spitfire
- No. 62 Operational Training Unit at RAF Ouston with Anson & Wellington
- three Tactical Exercise Units:[9]
- No. 1 Tactical Exercise Unit at RAF Kinnell with Hurricane & Spitfire
- No. 2 Tactical Exercise Unit at RAF Grangemouth and RAF Balado Bridge with Spitfire
- No. 3 Tactical Exercise Unit at RAF Annan with Typhoon & Spitfire
- AI Conversion Unit
- Fighter Leaders School RAF
- No. 2 Aircraft Delivery Flight
- No. 58 Repair and Salvage Unit
- three other support/supply units
- 9 Group Communications Flight flying Hawker Hurricanes and Airspeed Oxfords from Samlesbury Aerodrome.
It was absorbed into No. 12 Group RAF on 15 September 1944.
Commanders
editThe following officers had command of No. 9 Group:
1918 to 1919
edit- 1 April 1918 Brigadier-General H D Briggs
1940 to 1944
edit- 16 September 1940 Air Vice-Marshal W A McClaughry
- April 1942 Air Vice-Marshal L H Slatter
- 26 June 1942 Air Vice-Marshal W F Dickson
- 1942 Air Commodore C R Steele (Temporary appointment)
- 10 November 1942 Air Vice-Marshal J W Jones
- 2 July 1943 Air Vice-Marshal L N Hollinghurst
- 6 November 1943 Air Commodore C A Stevens (Temporary appointment)
- 7 December 1943 Air Vice-Marshal D F Stevenson
See also
editReferences
editCitations
edit- ^ "Langley Lane". Retrieved 1 May 2017.
- ^ Falconer 2012, p. 294.
- ^ Falconer 2012, p. 295.
- ^ Rawlings 1982, p. 250.
- ^ Halley 1988, p. 342.
- ^ Falconer 2012, p. 296.
- ^ Falconer 2012, p. 298.
- ^ Falconer 2012, p. 302.
- ^ Falconer 2012, p. 303.
Bibliography
edit- Falconer, J (2012). RAF Airfields of World War 2. UK: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85780-349-5.
- Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
- Smith, David J., Action Stations 3: Wales and the North-West., Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd, 1981. ISBN 0-85059-485-5.