No. 21 Group RAF (21 Gp) is a former Royal Air Force group that existed from AprilâÂÂJuly 1918; 1926âÂÂ1934, a redesignation of No. 1 Group RAF; after which it was merged into Inland Area; and from 1938 to 1955.
First World War
No. 21 Group formed on 1 April 1918 at RAF Montrose within No 5 Area; the following month, on 8 May, it transferred into the North-Western Area. Shortly after, on 1 July, the group disbanded into No. 20 Group RAF.
On 12 April 1926, it reformed as No. 21 (Training) Group, within Inland Area. The group HQ was at RAF West Drayton and it had the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment and Nos 15 and 22 Squadrons at RAF Martlesham Heath under its command. The group also had control over RAF stores, repair depots, and schools. It disbanded on 1 February 1934 and reformed at RAF Cranwell, within RAF Training Command, again as No. 21 (Training) Group, on 1 December 1938.
The group was transferred to RAF Flying Training Command on 27 May 1940, responsible for the RAF College and the Service Flying Training Schools from the Midlands northwards. The group HQ relocated to RAF Spitalgate on 28 July 1944.
The group's headquarters moved to the former No. 5 Group's HQ, St Vincents Hall, in Grantham, on 7 March 1946 and the following year, on 1 May 1947, the Group absorbed No. 91 Group RAF, from RAF Bomber Command, taking over HQ for No. 91 Group, Morton Hall, Swinderby in Lincolnshire. On 24 June 1953 the Group absorbed No. 54 Group RAF, which had been reformed 22 months earlier within RAF Flying Training Command to control the Initial Training Wings and Grading Schools. No. 21 Group disbanded on 1 March 1955.
The orders of battle for No. 21 (Training) Group changed several times
HQ at RAF Cranwell
HQ at RAF Cranwell
HQ at RAF Cranwell
HQ at RAF Cranwell
HQ at RAF Cranwell
HQ at RAF Spitalgate
HQ at Morton Hall, Swinderby
No. 21 Group had various headquarters across its three active periods