No. 2 Group RAF
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| No. 2 Group | |
|---|---|
 No. 2 Group badge |
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| Active | 1918-19?, 1936-1947, 1948-58, 1993-96, 2000-present |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Part of | RAF Bomber Command, RAF Air Command |
| Garrison/HQ | RAF High Wycombe (present) |
| Motto | Vincemus |
Number 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.
The group is currently referred to as the Air Combat Support Group, as it controls the aircraft used to support the RAF's front line combat force. Assets under command includes the Strategic and Tactical Air Transport aircraft (including VIP/Communication), the RAF Regiment (including Force Protection assets), the Air-to-Air Refuelling aircraft. As from 1 April 2006, with the disbandment of No. 3 Group RAF, it controls also the Airborne Early Warning aircraft, ground based radar installations, Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft and the Search & Rescue helicopters for six UK coastal bases. The group is based alongside Air Command at RAF High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.
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[edit] Subordinate stations
As of 1 April 2006, the following stations and squadrons are under the command of 2 Group.
- RAF Brize Norton: 99, 101 and 216 Squadrons
- RAF Lyneham: 24, 30, 47 and 70 Squadrons
- RAF Northolt: 32 Squadron
- RAF Waddington: 5, 8, 23 and 51 Squadrons
- RAF Kinloss: 120, 201 and 42(R) Squadrons
- RAF St. Mawgan SARF / 203(R) Squadron
- RMB Chivenor A Flt 22 & HQ
- RAF Wattisham B Flt 22
- RAF Valley C Flt 22
- RAF Boulmer A Flt 202 & HQ
- RAF Lossiemouth D Flt 202
- RAF Leconfield E Flt 202
- RAF Honington: RAF Regiment HQ. Squadrons and Flights at various stations.
- Defence NBC Centre Winterbourne Gunner
- RAF Wittering and RAF Scampton based Air Combat Service Support Units.
[edit] History
No. 2 Group came under the control of Bomber Command on 14 July 1936. It transferred to Second Tactical Air Force on 1 June 1943 for the campaign in North-West Europe. During Operation Market Garden it included 136, 138, & 140 Wings, flying Mosquitos. and 137 & 139 Wings, flying the B-25 Mitchell. It was disbanded on 1 May 1947 and reformed on 1 Dec 1948 within the British Air Force of Occupation. It was transferred again to Second Tactical Air Force on 1 September 1951.
No. 2 Group was disbanded on 15 November 1958.
It 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, and on 1 April 2006 it took over the responsibilities of No. 3 Group RAF, which was disbanded.
[edit] Commanders
 |
| Components |
|---|
| Royal Air Force |
| History |
| History of the Royal Air Force |
| Timeline of the Royal Air Force |
| Aircraft |
| List of RAF aircraft |
| Structure |
| Air Command |
| No. 1 Group |
| No. 2 Group |
| JFACHQ |
| No. 22 Group |
| List of stations |
| Personnel |
| Officer ranks |
| Other ranks |
[edit] 1918 to 1920
[edit] 1936 to 1947
- 1936 Air Commodore B E Sutton
- 1 September 1936 Air Commodore S J Goble (RAAF)
- 2 December 1937 Air Commodore C H B Blount
- 16 May 1938 Air Vice-Marshal C T Maclean
- 17 April 1940 Air Vice-Marshal J M Robb
- 12 February 1941 Air Vice-Marshal D F Stevenson
- 17 December 1941 Air Vice-Marshal A Lees
- 29 December 1942 Air Vice-Marshal J H D'Albiac
- 1 June 1943 Air Vice-Marshal B E Embry
- 8 August 1945 Air Vice-Marshal P E Maitland
- 18 March 1946 Air Commodore L W Cannon
- 3 June 1946 Air Vice-Marshal A L Paxton
[edit] 1948 to 1958
- 1 December 1948 Air Commodore L F Sinclair
- 16 January 1950 Air Commodore The Earl of Bandon
- 18 June 1951 Air Commodore H D McGregor
- 9 November 1953 Air Vice-Marshal J R Hallings-Pott
- 1 July 1955 Air Vice-Marshal S R Ubee
[edit] 1993 to 1996
- 1 April 1993 Air Vice-Marshal G A Robertson
- 17 January 1994 Air Vice-Marshal R H Goodall
[edit] 2000 to present
- 1 April 2000 Air Vice-Marshal K D Filbey
- 2 August 2002 Air Vice-Marshal N D A Maddox
- January 2005 Air Vice-Marshal I W McNicoll
- 9 February 2007 Air Vice-Marshal A D Pulford
