This is a List of Royal Air Force ferry units.

Ferry

Flights

Unit Formed at Formed on Disbanded at Disbanded on Notes
1 Ferry Training Flight Lyneham March 1942 Lyneham 3 November 1942 [1]
2 Ferry Training Flight Lyneham March 1942 Filton 17 July 1942 [1]
3 Ferry Training Flight Lyneham March 1942 Lyneham 20 May 1942 [1]
10 (Polish) Ferry Flight Kington
Langley		 27 March 1941 Kington
Langley		 27 July 1941 Absorbed by the Headquarters, Service Ferry Training Squadron.[2]
1427 (Ferry Training) Flight Thruxton 13 December 1941 Stradishall 1 April 1943 Absorbed by No. 1657 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF.[3]
1428 (Ferry Training) Flight Horsham St. Faith
and Oulton		 29 December 1941 Oulton 6 June 1942 The Ferry Training section being absorbed by No. 1444 (Ferry Training) Flight.[3]
1442 (Ferry Training) Flight Bicester 21 January 1942 Bicester 1 August 1942 [4]
1443 (Ferry Training) Flight Harwell 21 January 1942 Harwell 30 April 1943 Became No. 310 Ferry Training Unit.[4]
1444 (Ferry Training) Flight Horsham St. Faith 21 January 1942 Lyneham 3 November 1942 Merged with No. 1445 Flight and the Ferry Training Unit to become 'B' Flight of No. 301 Ferry Training Unit.[4]
1445 Flight Lyneham 27 February 1942 Lyneham 3 November 1942 Merged with No. 1444 (Ferry Training) Flight and the Ferry Training Unit to become 'C' Flight of No. 301 Ferry Training Unit.[4]
1446 (Ferry Training) Flight Bassingbourn 23 March 1942 Moreton-in-Marsh 1 May 1943 Became No. 311 Ferry Training Unit.[4]
1689 (Ferry Pool Pilot Training) Flight
Catalina Ferry Flight Dar es Salaam,
Tanganyika		 June 1945 Mombasa,
Kenya		 July 1946 [5]
East African Ferry Flight Mombasa,
Kenya		 ? Mombasa,
Kenya		 31 May 1946 [6]
Ferry Convoy Flight Allahabad,
India		 21 June 1944 Mauripur,
India		 25 December 1944 [7]
Ferry Flight, Cardington Cardington January 1939 Cardington 16 January 1939 Became No. 1 Ferry Pilot Pool and No. 2 Ferry Pilot Pool;[8] eventually incorporated into Ferry Squadron RAF.
Ferry Flight, Santa Cruz Santa Cruz,
India		 7 May 1944 Santa Cruz,
India		 29 June 1945 [8]
Ferry Flight, Trichinopoly Trichinopoly,
India		 27 April 1944 Trichinopoly,
India		 28 February 1946 [8]
Ferry Training Flight, Bicester Bicester 24 October 1941 Bicester 21 January 1942 Became No. 1442 (Ferry Training) Flight.[1]
Ferry Training Flight, Docking Docking August 1943 [1]
Ferry Training Flight, Dorval Dorval,
Canada		 5 November 1941 Dorval,
Canada		 5 July 1944 Merged with No. 2 Ferry Crew Pool, the Civilian Aircrew Pool and the Allied Aircrew Pool to become No.6 Ferry Unit.[1]
Ferry Training Flight, Harwell Harwell November 1941 Harwell 21 January 1942 Became No. 1443 (Ferry Training) Flight.[1]
Ferry Training Flight, Horsham St. Faith Horsham St. Faith December 1941 Horsham St. Faith 21 January 1942 Became No. 1444 (Ferry Training) Flight.[1]
Ferry Training Flight, Nassau Nassau ? Nassau 3 August 1943 Merged with part of the Service Aircrew Pool, Dorval to become No. 3 Ferry Crew Pool.[1]
Ferry Transport Flight Benson 30 December 1954 Benson 16 April 1956 [9]

Units

Unit Formed at Formed on Disbanded at Disbanded on Notes
1 Ferry Unit Pershore 16 March 1944 Manston 17 May 1948 Became No. 1 (Overseas) Ferry Unit.[9]
1 (Overseas) Ferry Unit Pershore 17 May 1948 Abingdon 17 November 1952 Became No. 1 (Long-Range) Ferry Unit
and No. 3 (Long-Range) Ferry Unit.[10]
1 (Long-Range) Ferry Unit Abingdon 17 November 1952 Benson 1 February 1953 Became No. 147 Squadron RAF.[11]
2 Ferry Unit LG.237 23 September 1944 Cairo West 1 December 1945 Absorbed by No. 5 Ferry Unit.[9]
2 (Home) Ferry Unit Aston Down 7 February 1952 Aston Down 1 February 1953 Became No. 187 Squadron RAF.[12]
3 Ferry Unit Oujda,
Morocco		 23 September 1944 Blida 14 January 1946 [9]
3 (Long-Range) Ferry Unit Abingdon 17 November 1952 Abingdon 1 February 1953 Became No. 167 Squadron RAF.[11]
4 Ferry Unit Catania,
Sicily		 23 September 1944 Capodichino,
Italy		 14 January 1946 [9]
4 (Home) Ferry Unit Hawarden 7 February 1952 Hawarden 1 February 1953 Became No. 173 Squadron RAF.[12]
5 Ferry Unit Heliopolis,
Egypt		 23 September 1944 Cairo West,
Egypt		 15 March 1946 [9]
6 Ferry Unit Dorval,
Canada		 5 July 1944 Dorval,
Canada		 30 November 1945 [9]
7 Ferry Unit Nassau,
Bahamas		 5 July 1944 Nassau,
Bahamas		 1 October 1945 [9]
8 Ferry Unit Mauripur,
India		 1 September 1944 Drigh Road,
India		 18 June 1945 [9]
9 Ferry Unit Bamhrauli,
India		 1 September 1944 Bamhrauli,
India		 20 June 1945 [13]
10 Ferry Unit Nagpur,
India		 1 September 1944 Trichinopoly,
India		 16 June 1945 [13]
11 Ferry Unit Talbenny 8 September 1944 Dunkeswell 15 August 1945 Merged No. 3 Aircraft Preparation Unit
to become No. 16 Ferry Unit.[13]
12 Ferry Unit Melton
Mowbray		 9 October 1944 Melton
Mowbray		 7 November 1945 [13]
14 Ferry Unit Agartala,
India		 20 March 1945 Hathazari,
India		 13 July 1945 Absorbed by No. 209 Staging Post.[13]
15 Ferry Unit Filton 1 July 1945 Filton 10 October 1945 [13]
16 Ferry Unit Dunkeswell 15 August 1945 St Mawgan 15 November 1946 [13]

Crew pools

Unit Formed at Formed on Disbanded at Disbanded on Notes
1 Ferry Crew Pool Lyneham 3 August 1943 Lyneham 16 March 1944 Merged with 301 Ferry Training Unit to become 1 Ferry Unit.[8]
2 Ferry Crew Pool Dorval, Canada 3 August 1943 Dorval 5 July 1944 Merged with the Civilian Aircrew Pool, Allied Aircrew Pool and Ferry Training Flight, Dorval to become 6 Ferry Unit.[8]
3 Ferry Crew Pool Nassau, Bahamas 3 August 1943 Nassau 5 July 1944 Became 7 Ferry Unit.[8]

Pilots pools

Unit Formed at Formed on Disbanded at Disbanded on Notes
1 Ferry Pilots Pool Hucknall 16 January 1939 Hucknall 10 May 1940 [8]
2 Ferry Pilots Pool Filton 16 January 1939 Cardiff April 1940 Disbanded to become
4 Ferry Pilots Pool.[8]
4 Ferry Pilots Pool
No. 4 (Continental) Ferry Pilots Pool		 Cardiff April 1940 Kemble 7 November 1940 Disbanded to become
Headquarters Service Ferry Pools.[8]
7 (Service) Ferry Pilots Pool Kemble 5 November 1940 Kemble 20 February 1941 Absorbed by
Headquarters Service Ferry Pools.[14]
8 (Service) Ferry Pilots Pool Hullavington 5 November 1940 Kington Langley 27 March 1941 Absorbed by
No. 10 (Polish) Ferry Flight.[15]
9 (Service) Ferry Pilots Pool Hawarden 1 November 1940 Hawarden 20 February 1941 Absorbed by
Headquarters Service Ferry Pools.[14]
11 (Service) Ferry Pilots Pool Dumfries 4 April 1941 Dumfries June 1941 Absorbed by
Headquarters Service Ferry Squadron.[15]

Pools

Unit Formed at Formed on Disbanded at Disbanded on Notes
1 Ferry Pool White
Waltham		 3 December 1945 White
Waltham		 31 March 1946 [8]
2 Ferry Pool Aston
Down		 1 December 1945 Aston
Down		 7 February 1952 Became 2 (Home) Ferry Unit.[8]
3 Ferry Pool Lichfield 30 November 1945 Henlow 10 September 1947 [8]
4 Ferry Pool Hawarden 30 November 1945 Hawarden 7 February 1952 Became 4 (Home) Ferry Unit.[8]
5 Ferry Pool Silloth 15 October 1945 Silloth 25 May 1950 [8]
8 (Service) Ferry Pool Kington
Langley		 1 November 1940 Kington
Langley		 27 March 1941 Became 10 (Polish) Ferry Flight.[14]

Training units

Unit Formed at Formed on Disbanded at Disbanded on Notes
301 Ferry Training Unit Lyneham 3 November 1942 Lyneham 16 March 1944 Merged with No. 1 Ferry Crew Pool to become No. 1 Ferry Unit.[1]
302 Ferry Training Unit Loch Erne 30 September 1942 Alness 1 April 1946 [1]
303 Ferry Training Unit Stornoway 30 September 1942 Talbenny 8 September 1944 Became No. 11 Ferry Unit.[1]
304 Ferry Training Unit Port Ellen 31 December 1942 Melton
Mowbray		 9 October 1944 Merged with No. 4 Aircraft Preparation Unit to become No. 12 Ferry Unit.[1]
305 Ferry Training Unit Errol 14 December 1942 Errol 30 April 1944 [1]
306 Ferry Training Unit Templeton 31 December 1942 Melton
Mowbray		 15 January 1944 Absorbed by No. 304 Ferry Training Unit.[9]
307 Ferry Training Unit Bicester 24 December 1942 Melton
Mowbray		 15 January 1944 Absorbed by No. 304 Ferry Training Unit.[9]
308 Ferry Training Unit Pembroke
Dock		 22 March 1943 Oban 12 January 1944 Absorbed by No. 302 Ferry Training Unit.[9]
309 Ferry Training Unit Benson 21 April 1943 Benson 17 September 1945 [9]
310 Ferry Training Unit Harwell 30 April 1943 Harwell 17 December 1943 Absorbed by No. 311 Ferry Training Unit.[9]
311 Ferry Training Unit Moreton-in-Marsh 1 May 1943 Moreton-in-Marsh 1 May 1944 [9]
312 Ferry Training Unit Wellesbourne
Mountford		 24 April 1943 Wellesbourne
Mountford		 17 December 1943 [9]
313 Ferry Training Unit North Bay,
Canada		 1 March 1944 North Bay,
Canada		 18 October 1945 [9]

Other units

Aircraft

Unit Formed at Formed on Disbanded at Disbanded on Notes
Overseas Aircraft Despatch Flight RAF Kemble 9 September 1940 Kemble 15 August 1941 Became Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit[16]
Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit, Kemble and Portreath Kemble 15 August 1941 Portreath 26 January 1942 Became 1 Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit[16]
No. 1 Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit RAF Portreath 26 February 1942 Portreath 10 October 1945 Disbanded[16]
No. 2 Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit RAF St Mawgan 26 November 1942 St Mawgan 15 November 1946 Disbanded[16]
No. 3 Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit RAF Hurn 15 January 1943 Talbenny 17 May 1945 Disbanded[16]
No. 4 Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit RAF Redhill 22 May 1944 Bognor Regis 31 January 1945 Disbanded[16]
No. 5 Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit RAF Aston Down 5 June 1944 Aston Down 31 January 1945 Disbanded[16]
Overseas Aircraft Preparation Flight RAF Kemble 5 November 1941 Kemble 1 January 1942 Became[16]
Overseas Aircraft Preparation Unit RAF Kemble 1 January 1942 Kemble
Filton		 1 December 1942 Became 1 Overseas Aircraft Preparation Unit
and 2 Overseas Aircraft Preparation Unit[16]
No. 1 Overseas Aircraft Preparation Unit RAF Kemble 1 December 1942 Unk 5 July 1944 Became 1 Aircraft Preparation Unit[16]
No. 2 Overseas Aircraft Preparation Unit RAF Filton 1 December 1942 Unk 5 July 1944 Became 2 Aircraft Preparation Unit[16]
No. 3 Overseas Aircraft Preparation Unit RAF Llandow 1 July 1943 Unk 5 July 1944 Became 3 Aircraft Preparation Unit[16]
No. 4 Overseas Aircraft Preparation Unit RAF Melton Mowbray August 1943 Unk 5 July 1944 Became 4 Aircraft Preparation Unit[16]
No. 1 Aircraft Preparation Unit RAF Unk 5 July 1944 Kemble 10 October 1944 Absorbed by 1 Ferry Unit[16]
No. 2 Aircraft Preparation Unit RAF Unk 5 July 1944 Filton 1 July 1945 Became 15 Ferry Unit[16]
No. 3 Aircraft Preparation Unit RAF Unk 5 July 1944 Kirton-in-Lindsey 15 August 1945 Became 16 Ferry Unit[16]
No. 4 Aircraft Preparation Unit RAF Unk 5 July 1944 Melton Mowbray 9 October 1944 Became 12 Ferry Unit[16]
No. 5 Aircraft Preparation Unit RAF Dorval, Canada 5 July 1944 Dorval, Canada 1 October 1945 Disbanded[17]
No. 6 Aircraft Preparation Unit RAF Bermuda 5 July 1944 Bermuda 1 October 1945 Disbanded[17]
No. 7 Aircraft Preparation Unit RAF Nassau, Bahamas 5 July 1944 Nassau 1 October 1945 Disbanded[17]
No. 11 (Landplane) Preparation and Modification Unit RAF Thornaby 1 September 1945 Thornaby 25 May 1946 Disbanded[18]
No. 12 (Flying Boat) Preparation and Modification Unit RAF RAF Calshot 1 September 1945 Calshot 25 April 1946 Disbanded[19]
No. 1 Aircraft Delivery Flight RAF Hendon 3 March 1941 Andrews Field 9 October 1945 Disbanded[20]
No. 2 Aircraft Delivery Flight RAF Colerne 18 March 1941 Cranfield 31 July 1944 Disbanded[20]
No. 3 Aircraft Delivery Flight RAF Hawarden 10 March 1941 Catterick 22 November 1944 Disbanded[20]
No. 4 Aircraft Delivery Flight RAF Grangemouth 10 March 1941 Hutton Cranswick 31 October 1945 Disbanded[20]
No. 1 Aircraft Delivery Unit RAF Hendon 22 March 1941 Andrews Field 9 October 1945 Disbanded[20]
No. 2 Aircraft Delivery Unit RAF Colerne 22 March 1941 Cranfield 31 July 1944 Disbanded[20]
No. 3 Aircraft Delivery Unit RAF Hawarden 10 March 1941 Catterick 22 November 1944 Disbanded[20]
No. 4 Aircraft Delivery Unit RAF Grangemouth 10 March 1941 Hutton Cranswick 31 October 1945 Disbanded[20]

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Lake 1999, p. 68.
  2. ^ Lake 1999, p. 158.
  3. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 88.
  4. ^ a b c d e Lake 1999, p. 89.
  5. ^ Lake 1999, p. 42.
  6. ^ Lake 1999, p. 58.
  7. ^ Lake 1999, p. 66.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Lake 1999, p. 67.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Lake 1999, p. 69.
  10. ^ Lake 1999, p. 154.
  11. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 135.
  12. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 131.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g Lake 1999, p. 70.
  14. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 184.
  15. ^ a b Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 110.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Lake 1999, p. 153.
  17. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 27.
  18. ^ Lake 1999, p. 134.
  19. ^ Lake 1999, p. 102.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h Lake 1999, p. 26.

Bibliography

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