Title
Type
Official Document
Unit History: Group
Group is a term used by different air forces for an element of military organization. The size of a group varies considerably between different countries. The terms group and wing are used differently in different air forces and this can cause confusion.
In the Royal Air Force (RAF) and most other Commonwealth air forces, a group is usually a formation of several wings, which in turn control two or more squadrons.
At the present time, groups control stations, although expeditionary air groups control expeditionary air wings directly. Groups are directly subordinate to a command (or, historically, to a tactical air force).
When the RAF was formed, an officer with the rank of Group Captain (equivalent to Colonel) commanded such a unit, although they have been commanded by Air Vice-Marshals since before the Second World War.
By contrast, in the French Armee de l’Air, a groupe may comprise only one squadron (escadron). Similarly, In the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, a group is a formation consisting of as few as two squadrons. Two or more groups form a wing.
Therefore a British group is equivalent to a US wing, which is in turn equivalent to an army regiment, whereas one step down the nomenclature, a British wing is equivalent to a US group.
In the Royal Air Force (RAF) and most other Commonwealth air forces, a group is usually a formation of several wings, which in turn control two or more squadrons.
At the present time, groups control stations, although expeditionary air groups control expeditionary air wings directly. Groups are directly subordinate to a command (or, historically, to a tactical air force).
When the RAF was formed, an officer with the rank of Group Captain (equivalent to Colonel) commanded such a unit, although they have been commanded by Air Vice-Marshals since before the Second World War.
By contrast, in the French Armee de l’Air, a groupe may comprise only one squadron (escadron). Similarly, In the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, a group is a formation consisting of as few as two squadrons. Two or more groups form a wing.
Therefore a British group is equivalent to a US wing, which is in turn equivalent to an army regiment, whereas one step down the nomenclature, a British wing is equivalent to a US group.
Related Historic Documents
Title
Type
Official Document
Title
Type
Official Document
Memories of Group
(Memories written by members of Forces Reunited)
RAF HQ 42 GROUP KIDLINGTON in 1949
Written by WI'LLILAM KNOWLES
Remember the hockey matches which we played weekly and the devastating results. The evening meal was perhaps the high light of the day. Johnny Oakes in goal. Remember also the comradeship in A6 BILLETT of the *P* staff lads. We made the best of being national service lads. Early morning cleaning, lighting the stoves etc and then a leisurely breakfast whilst the late risers (THE NON CLEANERS) hadto attend morning parade. Remember Flt Lt.Mc.Donough , P2 officer well I have traced him and been in touch with him by post. He was so pleased to be rememberedL.A.D. REME 5 Inf. Bde. Group, Iserlohn in 1958
Written by Maurice Broadhurst
I remember making some great friends, notably, Roy Waters (Vasser) from Isle of Man; Bill Williams from Bradford; Emo Emmett from Halifax and Geordie Mufford from Newcastle. I would love to hear from any of them.RAF KIDLINGTON,. HQ 42 GROUP; MAINT.COMM, in 1949
Written by WILLIAM KNOWLES
REFERRING TO MY MEMORY ITEM ALREADY RECORDED. SAD TO SAY THAT FLT.LT. JOHN PASSED AWAY LATE 2004. WE DO EXCHANGE CARDS WITH GREETINGS FOR CHRISTMAS WITH HIS WIFE AND FAMILY. LIFE SEEMS TOO SHORT TO SAY ALL THE THINGS WE OUGHT.Comacchio Group in 1979
Written by Gordon Gillies
Birthed in HMS Neptune after a morning briefing we were divided into two groups, smokers and non smokers. Smokers stayed in Neptune non smokers off to Coulport. Happy days if you were a smoker, the novelty of Coulport soon wore off, with midgies in summer and cold wind and rain (most days) that would rival Elvagee on a bad day, from end of Sept. right through to the following May. Numbers were boosted,sections were formed and we rotated between both locations.No 1 Vehicle Group, R A O C in 1956
Written by John Carnell
In October 1956 I was sent to Iraq with a group of others both R E M E and R A O C. Our job was to re commission 12 Centurion tanks that had been shipped from Millwall docks to Basra docks. In the group was John Reed , Robert Meek , Jim Cuthbertson , Jim Robertson. Brian Stenning and a few more Whose names escape at the moment. The group was commanded by a Captain Spittal and his 2 i/c was a R E M E W/O 1 A S M Osbourne.We arrived by B A O C Argonaut at Basra and were initially billed at R A F Maquil, before travelling by rail up to Baghdad. The tanks were off loaded by a massive German floating crane and placed in to barges which were towed by tugs up to Baghdad where they were offloaded at a nearby Iraqui army base. We were billeted in hotels around Baghdad and travelled by taxi to the army based each day. Where the vehicles we serviced and recommissioned. the R E M E carried out the more technical work.
While ther we had a good time around the soukhs (markets) and night clubs. We were there for about 6 months . The vehicles were handed over to the Iraqui army at a big handing over parade . It was the only time that we wore battledress during our stay . There quite a bit more to tell but I do not have the time.
