RAF Fighter Command Order of Battle 1940

This article lists the RAF Fighter Command order of battle at 15 September 1940, during the Battle of Britain.

Fighter Command

RAF Fighter Command Headquarters was located at RAF Bentley Priory, near Stanmore in North London. The commanding officer was Air Chief Marshal Hugh C.T. Dowding.

Fighter Groups

Group	Headquarters	Commanding Officer	Area of Operations
9 Group	RAF Barton Hall, Preston, Lancashire	Not yet appointed	Not yet defined
10 Group	RAF Box,^[1] Box, Wiltshire	Air Vice-Marshal Sir C J Quintin Brand	South West England and South Wales
11 Group	RAF Uxbridge,^[2] Hillingdon, Middlesex	Keith Park	South East England and London
12 Group	RAF Watnall,^[3] Nottinghamshire	Trafford Leigh-Mallory	East Anglia, the Midlands, Mid Wales and North Wales
13 Group	RAF Newcastle,^[4] Kenton Bar, Newcastle upon Tyne	Richard Saul	North of England and Scotland
14 Group	Drumossie Hotel, Inverness	Malcolm Henderson	Scotland

Sector Stations and Satellite Aerodromes

Sector Stations had Sector Control Rooms as well as the usual features of RAF aerodromes; they were able to control RAF fighter formations during the battle. Sector stations were also able to disperse squadrons to satellite aerodromes, most of which were fully equipped.^[5]^[6]

Sector	Group	Sector Station	Radio call sign	Satellite Airfield or airfields
A	11	Tangmere	SHORTJACK	Westhampnett
B	11	Kenley	TOPHAT	Croydon
C	11	Biggin Hill	SAPPER	West Malling, Gravesend^[7]
D	11	Hornchurch	LUMBA	Gravesend, Rochford, Manston, Hawkinge
E	11	North Weald	COWSLIP	Stapleford Tawney, Martlesham Heath
F	11	Debden	GARTER	Martlesham Heath^[8]
G	12	Duxford		Fowlmere
K	12	Wittering		Coltishall
L	12	Digby		Ternhill
M	12	Kirton-in-Lindsey
N	12	Church Fenton		Leconfield
O	13	Usworth		Catterick
P	13	Acklington
Q	13	Turnhouse		Drem, Grangemouth
R	13	Dyce		Grangemouth
S	13	Wick		Grimsetter, Sumburgh
W	10	Filton		Boscombe Down, Colerne, Pembrey
Y	10	Middle Wallop	STARLIGHT	Boscombe Down, Warmwell, Exeter, some control over RNAS Roborough, St. Eval
Z	11	Northolt		Hendon

Stations and squadrons

^[9]

Sector Station	Squadron	Aircraft Type	Squadron Code	Radio call sign	Aerodrome Assigned to	Commanding Officer
10 Group
RAF Middle Wallop	No. 238 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	VK		RAF Middle Wallop	Sqn Ldr Harold Arthur Fenton
RAF Middle Wallop	No. 609 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	PR	SORBO	RAF Warmwell	Sqn Ldr Horace Stanley Darley
RAF Middle Wallop	No. 604 (Night Fighter) Sqn	Bristol Blenheim & Bristol Beaufighter	NG		RAF Middle Wallop	Sqn Ldr Michael Frederick Anderson
RAF Middle Wallop	No. 23 Sqn (part)	Bristol Blenheim	YP		RAF Middle Wallop	Sqn Ldr George Francis Wheaton Heycock
RAF Middle Wallop	No. 152 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	UM	MAIDA	RAF Warmwell	Sqn Ldr Peter K Devitt
RAF Middle Wallop	No. 56 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	US	BAFFIN	RAF Boscombe Down	Sqn Ldr Herbert Moreton Pinfold
RAF Filton	No. 79 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	NV	PANSY	RAF Pembrey	Sqn Ldr J Hervey Heyworth
RAF Filton	No. 87 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	LK	SUNCUP	RAF Exeter, RAF Bibury	Flt Lt R S Mills
RAF Filton	No. 601 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	UF	WEAPON	RAF Filton	Flt Lt Sir Archibald Philip Hope (Acting CO)
RAF Filton	No. 234 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	AZ	CRESSY	RAF St Eval	Sqn Ldr Minden Vaughan Blake
RAF Filton	No. 236 (Coastal Command) Sqn	Bristol Blenheim	FA		RAF St Eval	Sqn Ldr G W Montagu
RAF Filton	No. 247 Sqn	Gloster Gladiator	HP		RNAS Roborough	Flight Lieutenant Hugh Addison Chater
11 Group
RAF Biggin Hill	No. 72 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	RN	TENNIS	RAF Biggin Hill	Sqn Ldr A R Collins
RAF Biggin Hill	No. 92 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	QJ	GANNIC	RAF Biggin Hill	Sqn Ldr P J Sanders
RAF Biggin Hill	No. 141 Sqn (half)	Boulton Paul Defiant	TW		RAF Biggin Hill	Sqn Ldr W A Richardson
RAF Biggin Hill	No. 66 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	LZ	FIBUS	RAF Gravesend	Sqn Ldr Rupert Leigh
RAF North Weald	No. 249 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	GN	GANER	RAF Middle Wallop	Sqn Ldr John Grandy
RAF North Weald	No. 23 Sqn (part)	Bristol Blenheim	YP		RAF North Weald	Sqn Ldr George Francis Wheaton Heycock
RAF North Weald	No. 46 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	PO	ANGEL	RAF Stapleford	Sqn Ldr J R MacLachlan
RAF Kenley	No. 253 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	SW		RAF Kenley	Sqn Ldr E R Bitmead
RAF Kenley	No. 501 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	SD	VICEROY	RAF Kenley	Sqn Ldr Harry A V Hogan
RAF Kenley	No. 605 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	UP	TURKEY	RAF Croydon	Sqn Ldr Walter A Churchill
RAF Hornchurch	No. 603 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	XT	VIKEN	RAF Hornchurch	Sqn Ldr George Lovell Denholm
RAF Hornchurch	No. 600 (Night Fighter) Sqn	Bristol Blenheim & Bristol Beaufighter	BQ		RAF Hornchurch	Sqn Ldr H L Maxwell
RAF Hornchurch	No. 41 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	EB	MITOR	RAF Hornchurch	Sqn Ldr Donald O. Finlay
RAF Hornchurch	No. 222 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	ZD	KOTEL	RAF Hornchurch	Sqn Ldr John H Hill
RAF Tangmere	No. 213 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	AK	BEARSKIN	RAF Tangmere	Flt Lt D S Wilson-Macdonald
RAF Tangmere	No. 607 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	AF		RAF Tangmere	Sqn Ldr James A Vick
RAF Tangmere	No. 602 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	LO	VILLA	RAF Westhampnett	Sqn Ldr A V R "Sandy" Johnstone DFC
RAF Tangmere	No. 23 Sqn (part)	Bristol Blenheim & Bristol Beaufighter	YP		RAF Ford	Sqn Ldr George Francis Wheaton Heycock
RAF Debden	No. 17 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	YB	EDEY	RAF Debden	Sqn Ldr A G Miller
RAF Debden	No. 73 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	TP		RAF Debden	Sqn Ldr Mike L Beytagh
RAF Debden	No. 257 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	DT	ALERT	RAF Martlesham Heath	Sqn Ldr Robert Stanford Tuck DFC
RAF Debden	No. 25 Sqn (part)	Bristol Blenheim	ZK		RAF Martlesham Heath	Sqn Ldr Wilfred William Loxton
RAF Northolt	No. 1 Sqn RCAF	Hawker Hurricane	YO	CARIBOU	RAF Northolt	Sqn Ldr Ernest A McNab
RAF Northolt	No. 229 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	RE	KETA	RAF Northolt	Sqn Ldr Harry J Maguire
RAF Northolt	No. 303 (Polish) Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	RF	APANY	RAF Northolt	Sqn Ldr Ronald Kellett DSO DFC
RAF Northolt	No. 264 Sqn (part)	Boulton Paul Defiant	PS		RAF Northolt	Sqn Ldr George Desmond Garvin
RAF Northolt	No. 504 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	TM		RAF Hendon	Sqn Ldr John Sample
12 Group
RAF Duxford	No. 242 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	LE	LORAG	RAF Duxford	Sqn Ldr Douglas Bader
RAF Duxford	No. 302 (Polish) Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	WX	CALEB	RAF Duxford	Sqn Ldr W A Jack Satchell / Sqn Ldr M V M Mumler
RAF Duxford	No. 310 (Czech) Sqn	Hawker Hurricane,	NN	CALLA	RAF Duxford	Flt Lt G Douglas M Blackwood / Sqn Ldr A Sasha Hess
RAF Duxford	No. 19 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	QV	LUTON	RAF Fowlmere	Sqn Ldr Brian John Edward Lane DFC
RAF Coltishall	No. 74 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	ZP	DYSOE	RAF Wittering	Sqn Ldr Adolph G "Sailor" Malan
RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey	No. 616 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	QJ^[10]	RADPOE	RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey	Flt Lt H F "Billy" Burton
RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey	No. 264 Sqn (part)	Boulton Paul Defiant	PS		RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey	Sqn Ldr George Desmond Garvin
RAF Digby	No. 151 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	DZ		RAF Digby
RAF Digby	No. 611 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	FY	CHARLIE	RAF Digby	Sqn Ldr Jim E McComb
RAF Digby	No. 29 (Night Fighter) Sqn	Bristol Blenheim & Bristol Beaufighter	RO		RAF Digby	Sqn Ldr Stan C Widdows
RAF Wittering	No. 1 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	JX		RAF Wittering	Sqn Ldr David A Pemberton DFC
RAF Wittering	No. 266 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	UO		RAF Wittering	Flt Lt Patrick Geraint Jameson DFC
RAF Church Fenton	No. 85 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	VY	HYDRO	RAF Church Fenton	Sqn Ldr Peter Wooldridge Townsend DFC
RAF Church Fenton	No. 306 (Polish) Sqn (part)	Hawker Hurricane	UZ		RAF Church Fenton	Sqn Ldr D R Scott
RAF Church Fenton	No. 64 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	SH	FREEMA	RAF Leconfield / RAF Ringway	Sqn Ldr Don McDonell
13 Group
RAF Usworth	No. 54 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	KL	RABBIT	RAF Catterick	Flt Lt F P R Dunworth
RAF Usworth	No. 219 (Night Fighter) Sqn (part)	Bristol Blenheim & Bristol Beaufighter	FK		RAF Catterick	Sqn Ldr J H Little
RAF Usworth	No. 43 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	FT		RAF Usworth	Sqn Ldr Tom F Dalton Morgan DFC
RAF Acklington	No. 32 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	GZ	JACKO	RAF Acklington	Flt Lt Mike N Crossley
RAF Acklington	No. 219 (Night Fighter) Sqn (part)	Bristol Blenheim	FK		RAF Acklington	Sqn Ldr J H Little
RAF Turnhouse	No. 3 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	QO		RAF Turnhouse	Sqn Ldr S F Gooden
RAF Turnhouse	No. 65 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	YT		RAF Turnhouse,	Sqn Ldr A L Holland
RAF Turnhouse	No. 141 Sqn	Boulton Paul Defiant	TW		RAF Turnhouse	Sqn Ldr W A Richardson
RAF Turnhouse	No. 111 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	JU	WAGON	RAF Drem	Sqn Ldr John M Thompson DFC
RAF Turnhouse	No. 263 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane & Westland Whirlwind	HE		RAF Drem	Fg Off T P Pugh
RAF Dyce	No. 145 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	SO	PATIN	RAF Roborough	Sqn Ldr John R A Peel
RAF Wick	No. 232 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	EF		RAF Roborough	Fg Off M M Stephens DFC & Bar
RAF Aldergrove	No. 245 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	DX		RAF Roborough	Sqn Ldr E W Whitley DFC
RAF Biggin Hill	No.610 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	DW		RAF Biggin Hill	Sqn ldr J Ellis DFC & Bar

References

Notes

↑ RAF Box
↑ RAF Uxbridge
↑ RAF Watnall
↑ RAF Newcastle
↑ Fighter Command Aerodromes and Sectors. Retrieved: 28 May 2008
↑ Price, Alfred The Hardest Day, 1980, pp. 208-211.
↑ Note: Also used by Sector D
↑ Note: Also used by Sector E
↑ Note: The primary source used to list the Squadron names (e.g.; 152 "Hyderabad" Sqn.), unit code letters, radio call signs and aircraft types of the 71 Officially Accredited Battle of Britain Fighter Command Squadrons and other units which served under Fighter Command is Ramsay 1989, p.255.
↑ Note: The squadron code letters QJ were the same as those of 92 Squadron. The codes changed to YQ in 1941

Bibliography

Ramsay, Winston (editor). The Battle of Britain Then and Now Mk V. London: Battle of Britain Prints International Ltd, 1989. ISBN 0-900913-46-0

External links

BattleofBritain.com - Retrieved: 4 August 2007.

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[1] RAF Box

[2] RAF Uxbridge

[3] RAF Watnall

[4] RAF Newcastle

[5] Fighter Command Aerodromes and Sectors. Retrieved: 28 May 2008

[6] Price, Alfred The Hardest Day, 1980, pp. 208-211.

[7] Note: Also used by Sector D

[8] Note: Also used by Sector E

[9] Note: The primary source used to list the Squadron names (e.g.; 152 "Hyderabad" Sqn.), unit code letters, radio call signs and aircraft types of the 71 Officially Accredited Battle of Britain Fighter Command Squadrons and other units which served under Fighter Command is Ramsay 1989, p.255.

[Note:_The_squadron_code_letters_QJ_were_the_same_as_those_of_92_Squadron._The_codes_changed_to_YQ_in_1941-10] Note: The squadron code letters QJ were the same as those of 92 Squadron. The codes changed to YQ in 1941