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List of wings of the Royal Air Force

Wings within the Royal Air Force have both administrative and tactical applications. Over the years, the structure and role of wings has changed to meet the demands placed on the RAF. Many of the RAF's numbered wings were originally Royal Flying Corps (RFC) or Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) units.

Wings can be found at every station in the RAF and also abroad, deployed on operations.

Wings by number

No. 1 Wing – No. 99 Wing

No. 100 Wing – No. 199 Wing

No. 200 Wing – No. 299 Wing

No. 300 Wing – No. 499 Wing

No. 500 Wing – No. 999 Wing

Expeditionary Air Wings

Formed on 1 April 2006, Expeditionary Air Wings (EAW) are established at the following RAF Flying Stations:

Deployed EAWs

Disbanded EAWs

Force Protection wings

Formed from RAF Regiment field squadrons and RAF Police components, Force Protection (FP) Wings are responsible for defending aircraft and personnel whilst deployed on operations. the overarching Combat Readiness Force HQ is located at RAF Honington. Each Wing is parented by an RAF Station with whom it is usually deployed:

Disbanded FPWs

RAF Force Protection Wings were, until April 2004, known as Tactical Survive To Operate Headquarters (Tac STO HQs).

Miscellaneous wings

Station-based wings

A typical Royal Air Force flying station (not training) will have the following integrated wing-based structure:

  • Administrative Wing / Base (Station) Support Wing / Support Wing
  • Depth Support Wing
  • Forward Support Wing
  • Operations Wing

On a smaller RAF Station, these functions may be termed squadrons but their role is identical.

Specialised station-based wings

Some stations has Wings which are customised to their particular role with the RAF:

Tactical wings

Wings termed 'Tactical' within the Royal Air Force provide are cohesive, specialised teams.

Disbanded

Tactical Imagery-Intelligence Wing – RAF Marham – Disbanded, merged to become No. 1 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing RAF based at RAF Waddington

Airfield Headquarters

Airfield Headquarters were a temporary form of a wing formation used between 1943 & 1944.

See also

Royal Air Force

Army Air Corps

Fleet Air Arm

Others

Notes

References

  • David L. Bullock, Allenby's War: The Palestine-Arabian Campaigns 1916–1918, London: Blandford Press, 1988, .
  • Ken Delve, D-Day: The Air Battle, London: Arms & Armour Press, 1994, .
  • Appendix 1, 'British Forces Engaged', Major L.F. Ellis, History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: The War in France and Flanders 1939–1940, London: HM Stationery Office, 1954.
  • Major L.F. Ellis, History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: Victory in the West, Vol I: The Battle of Normandy, London: HM Stationery Office, 1962/Uckfield: Naval & Military, 2004, .
  • Major L.F. Ellis, History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: Victory in the West, Vol II: The Defeat of Germany, London: HM Stationery Office, 1968/Uckfield: Naval & Military, 2004, .
  • Jonathan Falconer, Bomber Command Handbook 1939–1945, Stroud: Sutton, 1998, .
  • Gen Sir William Jackson, History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: The Mediterranean and Middle East, Vol VI: Victory in the Mediterranean, Part III: November 1944 to May 1945, London: HMSO, 1988/Uckfield, Naval & Military Press, 2004, .
  • R.V. Jones, Most Secret War: British Scientific Intelligence 1939–1945, London: Hamish Hamilton 1978/Coronet 1979, .
  • Norman Macmillan, Offensive Patrol: The Story of the RNAS, RFC and RAF in Italy 1917–18, London: Jarrold, 1973.
  • Brig C.J.C. Molony, History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: The Mediterranean and Middle East, Vol V: The Campaign in Sicily 1943 and the Campaign in Italy 3rd September 1943 to 31st March 1944, London: HMSO, 1973/Uckfield, Naval & Military Press, 2004, .
  • Brig C.J.C. Molony (Revised by Gen Sir William Jackson), History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: The Mediterranean and Middle East, Vol VI: Victory in the Mediterranean, Part I: 1st April to 4th June 1944, London: HMSO, nd/Uckfield, Naval & Military Press, 2004, .
  • Maj-Gen I.S.O. Playfair, History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: The Mediterranean and Middle East, Vol III: (September 1941 to September 1942) British Fortunes reach their Lowest Ebb, London: HMSO, 1960 /Uckfield, Naval & Military Press, 2004, .
  • Maj-Gen I.S.O. Playfair & Brig C.J.C. Molony, History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: The Mediterranean and Middle East, Vol IV: The Destruction of the Axis forces in Africa, London: HMSO, 1966/Uckfield, Naval & Military Press, 2004, .
  • Keith Rennles, Independent Force; The War Diary of the Daylight Squadrons of the Independent Air Force June–November 1918, London: Grub Street, 2002, , pp. 6–7.
  • Maj-Gen S. Woodburn Kirby, History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: The War Against Japan Vol II, India's Most Dangerous Hour, London: HM Stationery Office, 1958.
  • Maj-Gen S. Woodburn Kirby, History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: The War Against Japan Vol IV, The Reconquest of Burma, London: HM Stationery Office, 1955.
  • Maj-Gen S. Woodburn Kirby, History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: The War Against Japan Vol V, The Surrender of Japan, London: HM Stationery Office, 1969.

External links