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No. 2 Group RAF

Royal Air Force operations group From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

No. 2 Group RAF
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No. 2 Group is a group of the Royal Air Force which was first activated in 1918, served from 1918–20, from 1936 through the Second World War to 1947, from 1948 to 1958, from 1993 to 1996, was reactivated in 2000, and is today part of Air Command.

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The group is sometimes referred to as the Air Combat Support Group, as it controls the aircraft used to support the Royal Navy and RAF's front line combat force. Assets under command includes the Strategic and Tactical Air Transport aircraft (including VIP/Communication), the RAF Police, field squadrons of the RAF Regiment, and Air-to-Air Refuelling aircraft. The group headquarters is located alongside Headquarters Air Command at RAF High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire.

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History

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No. 2 Group was originally formed as No. 2 (Training) Group on 1 April 1918 at Oxford. The unit was disbanded at RAF Uxbridge on 31 March 1920 as the need for training had lessened following the armistice.[1]

The Group was reformed as No. 2 (Bombing) Group on 20 March 1936, with its headquarters base at Abingdon in Oxfordshire. By the outbreak of war Group Headquarters were at RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire and composed of the following squadrons and Wings; Nos. 18 and 57 Squadrons (composing 70 Wing at RAF Upper Heyford Oxfordshire); Nos. 21 and 82 Squadrons (79 Wing, RAF Watton, Norfolk) Nos. 90 and 101 Squadrons (81 Wing, RAF West Raynham Norfolk), Nos. 114 and 139 Squadrons (82 Wing, Wyton) and Nos. 107 and 110 Squadrons (83 Wing, RAF Wattisham Suffolk)

79, 81, 82 and 83 Wings formed part of the Advanced Air Striking Force, and 70 Wing was earmarked for service with the Field Force in France. The force consisted of Bristol Blenheim Mk. IVs and the Blenheim Mk. I. On 3 September 1939, the day war broke out, a Blenheim from 2 Group made the first British operational sortie to cross the German frontier in the Second World War. The following day saw the Group's Blenheims make the first British bombing attack of the war. In April 1940, Norway was invaded by the Germans. In response to a request for air support two Blenheim squadrons, Nos. 110 and 107, were placed on temporary detachment to RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, from where they could attack shipping and the German held airfield at Stavanger in southern Norway.

The Group carried out intensive operations against the advancing Germans in the Battle of France following their breakthrough of 10 May 1940, suffering heavy losses. On 17 May, twelve crews of No. 82 Squadron left Watton to attack enemy columns near Gembloux. A severe flak barrage split the formation up, allowing Messerschmitt Bf 109s to attack. Only one Blenheim managed to return to Watton, the rest being shot down; 82 Squadron was operational three days later. During June, Blenheims began a new phase by bombing Luftwaffe airfields in France. In July the twelve Blenheim squadrons of 2 Group lost 31 aircraft, along with three wing commanders. During the summer the light bomber force also supported defensive operations during the Battle of Britain, bombing German invasion barges being concentrated in the Channel ports.

As Bomber Command commenced on its night offensive against Germany, 2 Group was set aside to engage in daylight raids on shipping, coastal ports and other targets across the channel in Occupied Europe. At that stage of the war the Group's Blenheims were near obsolete and suffering many casualties. Operations continued unabated under Air Vice-Marshal D. F. Stevenson, a man who was infamous throughout the RAF at the time for his ruthless aggression, his ambition and his lack of concern for the losses suffered by his crews. Even Churchill was greatly disturbed by the losses on the attacks Stevenson was ordering his crews to fly. Upon his removal as Air Officer Commanding (AOC) in December 1941 his crews were greatly relieved.[2]

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Operation Oyster on Philips Eindhoven, 1942

No. 2 Group carried out a low-level attack on Bremen on 2 July 1941 in which the leader, Wing Commander Hughie Edwards of No. 105 Squadron, won the Victoria Cross. 2 Group supported the ill-fated Dieppe Raid in August 1942. Mosquito B Mk IVs also made the first daylight attack on Berlin.

On 6 December 1942 James Pelly-Fry led 2 Group's Operation Oyster daylight raid on the Philips electrical works at Eindhoven in the Netherlands. Eight of 2 Group's squadrons were committed to the raid, which was complicated by the need to use three types of bomber aircraft to get an adequate bomb load to the target. The raid involved the use of de Havilland Mosquitos, Douglas Bostons and Lockheed Venturas. Losses to 2 Group were severe, with 14 aircraft brought down by flak and enemy fighters, a 20 per cent loss rate. Three more aircraft crash-landed on returning to England; fifty-seven aircraft had been damaged and needed repairs. The raid wrought great destruction the Philips works, which did not return to production of radio tubes and other electronic equipment for six months. Casualties suffered by the Dutch workers and civilian population, though substantial, were significantly less than what would have occurred if the mission had been attempted by the heavy bombers in a night raid.

At the end of May 1943 the Group left RAF Bomber Command to join the new Second Tactical Air Force, and came under Fighter Command control until the formation of the Allied Expeditionary Air Force five months later. 2 Group Mosquitos also made Operation Jericho the famous wall-breaching operation against Amiens gaol in early 1944 which cost Group Captain Charles Pickard (of Target for Tonight film fame) his life. By the Normandy landings on D-day, No. 2 Group consisted of four wings of Douglas Bostons, North American Mitchells, and Mosquito light and medium bombers. During Operation Market Garden in September 1944 the Group included 136, 138, and 140 Wings, flying Mosquitos. and 137 & 139 Wings, flying the Mitchell. No. 2 Group flew just over 57,000 operational sorties at a cost of 2,671 men killed or missing and 396 wounded.

The group was disbanded on 1 May 1947 and reformed on 1 December 1948 within the British Air Force of Occupation. It was transferred again to Second Tactical Air Force on 1 September 1951. On 1 July 1956, No. 2 Group appeared to encompass wings at RAF Ahlhorn (No. 125 Wing RAF), RAF Fassberg (No. 121 Wing RAF), RAF Gutersloh (No. 551 Wing RAF, under the control of Bomber Command), Jever (No. 122 Wing RAF), RAF Laarbruch (No. 34 Wing RAF), RAF Oldenburg (No. 124 Wing RAF), and RAF Wunstorf (No. 123 Wing RAF).[3] No. 2 Group was disbanded on 15 November 1958.

The group was reformed 1 April 1993 by renaming RAF Germany and was then disbanded on 1 April 1996 with absorption into No. 1 Group RAF. It was reformed on 7 January 2000 to take control of air transport, air-to-air refuelling and airborne early warning within the RAF. The AOC's two principal subordinates were Air Commodore AT/AAR & C3I (directing air transport, AAR, and C3I) and Air Commodore Royal Air Force Regiment & Survive to Operate. On 1 April 2006 it took over the responsibilities of No. 3 Group RAF, which was disbanded.

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Component units

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As of November 2025, No. 2 Group comprises the following elements and units. Unless indicated otherwise, subordinate units are located at the same location as the unit they report to.

Air bases

Main article: List of Royal Air Force stations

No. 2 Group manages the Air Base Wings at each of the RAF stations which provide the support structures and services required to operate them. Aircraft squadrons are controlled by separate Air Wings at each station.[4]

Global Enablement

The Global Enablement element of No. 2 Group comprises six elements which support RAF operations:

  • No. 90 Signals Unit
  • Air Command and Control Force
  • Air Security Force
  • Combat Readiness Force
  • Medical Force
  • Support Force

No. 90 Signals Unit

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US Air Force and RAF personnel assigned to No. 90 Signals Unit

No. 90 Signals Unit is based at RAF Leeming and provide communications support to the RAF. It comprises the following units:[5]

  • Central Pillar
    • Headquarters Squadron
    • Operational Enablement Squadron
  • Tactical Communications Wing
    • No. 1 Engineering Support Squadron
    • No. 2 Field Communications Squadron
    • No. 3 Field Communications Squadron
  • Operational Information Services Wing
    • No. 4 Capability and Innovation Squadron
    • No. 5 (Information Services) Squadron
    • No. 6 Cyber Reserve Squadron
    • No. 591 Signals Unit (RAF Digby)
    • Capability and Innovation Squadron

Air Command and Control Force

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Remote Radar Head Saxa Vord, operated by the RAF's Air Command and Control Force

The Air Command and Control (C2) Force conducts continuous oversight and control of UK air space.[6] It comprises the following units:[6][7]

Air Security Force

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RAF Police personnel, part of the RAF's Air Security Force, guarding the main entry point at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan during Operation Herrick

The Air Security Force comprises the RAF Police, Military Provost Guard Service and civilians who provide policing and security to the RAF.[8] It comprises the following units:[8][9]

Combat Readiness Force

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An Air Commodore reviews RAF Regiment graduates following a training course at RAF Honington in 2021

The Combat Readiness Force is responsible for providing protection to the RAF’s personnel, assets and operating environments.[10] It comprises the following units:[10][11][12]

Medical Force

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Personnel assigned to No. 612 Squadron of the RAF Medical Force loads a simulated patient into a military ambulance during an exercise at Leuchars Station in 2024

The Medical Force provides an aeromedical evacuation capability, undertakes medical planning and prepares regular and reserve RAF Medical Services personnel and capabilities for deployment. It comprises the following units:[13][14]

Support Force

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Vehicles of the RAF Mountain Rescue Service, part of the RAF's Support Force

The Support Force provides deployable logistics, engineering and enabling capabilities required to conduct operations and exercises. It is responsible for expeditionary engineering and logistics, supporting reserve capabilities and RAF Music Services.[15] It comprises the following units:[16][17]

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Heritage

The group's badge features an eagle perched on a helmet, with wings expanded. It is symbolic of the group's historic co-operation and close alliance with the army. The badge was awarded in May 1952.[18]

The group's motto is Vincemus (Latin for 'We will conquer').[19]

Commanders

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1918 to 1920

1936 to 1947

[19][20]

1948 to 1958

[19][20]

1993 to 1996

2000 to present

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See also

References

External links

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