No. 81 Group RAF

No. 81 Group (81 Gp) was a group within the Royal Air Force's Fighter Command during the Second World War and the post-war era, which disbanded at the end of March 1958. It was initially formed during December 1940, lasting almost two and a half years before disbanding in April 1943. It reformed at the start of 1952.^[1][2]

No. 81 (Training) Group
Royal Air Force Ensign
Active	16 December 1940 – 15 April 1943 1 January 1952 – 31 March 1958
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Type	Royal Air Force group
Role	Fighter Command Operational Training Units and Operational Conversion Units
Part of	RAF Fighter Command
Motto(s)	Latin: Fulmina Ex Igne Politiora ("Lightning is cleaner than fire")
Commanders
Notable commanders	Air Commodore Colin Campbell McMullen CBE, AFC

History

No. 81 Group was formed on 16 December 1940 at RAF Sealand, as part of Fighter Command, to control the Operational Training Units. On 19 February 1941 the group headquarters moved to Tallow Hall in Worcester, and then on 22 December 1941 it was based at Avening Court in Gloucestershire. It was disbanded on 15 April 1943 when all controlled units were moved to No. 9 Group.^[2]

The group was reformed on 1 January 1952 at RAF Watnall, in Nottinghamshire to control all training units within Fighter Command. On 16 May 1952 it moved to RAF Rudloe Manor, in Wiltshire. It was finally disbanded on 31 March 1958.^[2]

Organisation

Main article: List of Royal Air Force Operational Training Units

1 January 1941

The group was organised as follows;^[3]

• Group Headquarters at Antumn Avenue, Worcester
  • No. 54 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Church Fenton with Bristol Blenheim light bomber & Bristol Beaufighter multi-role aircraft
  • No. 55 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Aston Down with Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft, Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft & Bristol Blenheim light bomber
  • No. 56 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Sutton Bridge with Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft
  • No. 57 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Hawarden with Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft
  • No. 58 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Grangemouth with Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft

1 May 1942

The group was organised as follows;^[3]

• Group Headquarters, RAF Avening Court, Stroud, Gloucestershire
  • No. 51 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Cranfield with Bristol Blenheim light bomber & Bristol Beaufighter multi-role aircraft
  • No. 52 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Aston Down with Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft
  • No. 53 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Llandow and RAF Rhoose with Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft
  • No. 54 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Charterhall and RAF Winfield with Bristol Blenheim light bomber & Bristol Beaufighter multi-role aircraft
  • No. 55 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Annan and RAF Longtown with Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft
  • No. 56 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Tealing and RAF Kinnell with Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft
  • No. 57 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Hawarden with Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft
  • No. 58 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Grangemouth and RAF Balado Bridge with Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft
  • No. 59 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Crosby on Eden and RAF Longtown with Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft
  • No. 60 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF East Fortune and RAF Macmerry with Bristol Blenheim light bomber & Bristol Beaufighter multi-role aircraft
  • No. 61 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Rednal and RAF Montford Bridge with Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft

1 March 1943

The group was organised as follows;^[3]

• Group Headquarters, RAF Avening Court, Stroud, Gloucestershire
  • No. 41 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Hawarden and RAF Poulton with North American Mustang fighter and fighter-bomber & Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft
  • No. 51 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Cranfield and RAF Twinwood Farm with Bristol Blenheim light bomber & Bristol Beaufighter multi-role aircraft
  • No. 52 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Aston Down with Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft
  • No. 53 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Llandow and RAF Rhoose with Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft
  • No. 54 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Charterhall and RAF Winfield with Bristol Blenheim light bomber & Bristol Beaufighter multi-role aircraft
  • No. 55 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Annan and RAF Longtown with Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft
  • No. 56 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Tealing and RAF Kinnell with Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft and Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft
  • No. 57 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Eshott and RAF Boulmer with Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft
  • No. 58 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Grangemouth and RAF Balado Bridge with Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft
  • No. 59 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Milfield, RAF Brunton and RAF Boulmer with Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft
  • No. 61 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Rednal and RAF Montford Bridge with Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft
  • No. 62 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Usworth with Avro Anson multi-role aircraft

1 April 1953

The group was organised as follows;^[4]

• Group Headquarters, RAF Pembrey, Wales
  • No. 229 Operational Conversion Unit RAF at RAF Chivenor with de Havilland Vampire jet fighter
  • No. 238 Operational Conversion Unit RAF at RAF Colerne with de Havilland Vampire jet fighter
  • No. 228 Operational Conversion Unit RAF at RAF Leeming with Gloster Meteor jet fighter
  • No. 233 Operational Conversion Unit RAF at RAF Middle Wallop with de Havilland Vampire jet fighter
  • No. 1906 Air Observation Post Flight RAF at RAF Middle Wallop with Hoverfly helicopter
  • School of Control and Reporting RAF at RAF Middle Wallop with Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft
  • No. 226 Operational Conversion Unit RAF at RAF Stradishall with Gloster Meteor jet fighter

Air Officers Commanding

1940 to 1943

• 16 December 1940 – Air Commodore F J Vincent^[1]
• 29 July 1942 – Air Commodore W H Dunn^[1]

1952 to 1958

• 1 January 1952 – Air Commodore L W C Bower^[1]
• January 1954 – Air Commodore C C McMullen^[1]
• 19 February 1954 – Vacant^[1]
• 2 April 1954 – Air Commodore H A V Hogan^[1]
• 15 August 1955 – Air Commodore R C Mead^[1]

References

Citations

1. "Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Group 70 – 106". www.rafweb.org. 10 October 2009. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
2. Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 152.
3. Falconer 2012, p. 302.
4. Delve 1994, p. 85.

Bibliography

• Delve, Ken (1994). The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
• Falconer, Jonathan (2012). RAF Airfields of World War 2. UK: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85780-349-5.
• Sturtivant, Ray; Hamlin, John (2007). Royal Air Force flying training and support units since 1912. UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 978-0851-3036-59.