Royal Air Force operations group
Military unit
No. 22 Group Royal Air Force (22 Gp) is one of six groups currently active in the Royal Air Force (RAF), falling under the responsibility of Deputy Commander-in-Chief (Personnel) in Air Command. Its previous title up until 2018 was No. 22 (Training) Group. The group is responsible for RAF training policy and controlling the Royal Air Force College and the RAF's training stations. As such, it is the direct successor to Training Group. 22 Group provides training to all three service branches of the British Armed Forces; namely the Royal Air Force, the Royal Navy, and the British Army.[1]
History
Although No. 22 Group was due to be formed on 1 April 1918, the same day as the Royal Air Force was established, it was not activated until 1 July 1918; 105 years ago (1918-07-01), in the RAF's North-Western Area. It was activated at RAF East Fortune, but moved its headquarters to the Station Hotel, Stirling.[3] The next month, on 8 August 1918, it received the designation 'Operations', or possibly 'Marine Operational', making its full title No. 22 (Operations) Group, or possibly No. 22 (Marine Operational) Group. It controlled No. 78 Wing RAF, and stations at Auldbar, Chathill (airship station), Dundee, East Fortune, Kirkwall / Orkney, Longside (airship station), Luce Bay, RAF Machrihanish, Peterhead, and Strathberg. With the post First World War Royal Air Force force reductions, No. 22 Group was disbanded on 30 May 1919; 104 years ago (1919-05-30).
The next creation of No. 22 Group came on 12 April 1926; 97 years ago (1926-04-12), when the group was re-formed from No 7 Group within Inland Area. The group's designation was No. 22 (Army Co-operation) Group, and its headquarters was at South Farnborough. On 17 February 1936, No. 22 Group was transferred from the control of Inland Area to that of the Air Defence of Great Britain. Later that same year, on 1 May, the group was raised to command status. However, only just over two months later, on 14 July, the newly created command was reduced back to group status,[3] becoming part of Fighter Command on the day of Fighter Command's creation. In 1938, the group comprised 26 Squadron at RAF Catterick; RAF Hawkinge with 2 Squadron; RAF Odiham and No. 50 (Army Cooperation) Wing, with 4, 13, and 53 Squadrons; RAF Old Sarum with the School of Army Co-operation and 16 and No. 59 Squadron RAFs; and group headquarters and No. 1 Anti-Aircraft Cooperation Unit at South Farnborough.[4]
On 24 June 1940, No. 22 Group was once again raised to command status and later that year, on 1 December, the new command was expanded to become RAF Army Cooperation Command.
On 1 August 1943, the group was re-established as No. 22 (Training) Group in Technical Training Command, responsible for all training in ground trades, from electronics to cooking. The group continued in its training function for nearly thirty years, until it was disbanded 31 January 1972.
The current creation of No. 22 Group was established on 30 October 2006, once again as No. 22 (Training) Group.[3] This creation was a renaming of Training Group which ceased to exist as No 22 Group was re-established.[1]
Organisation and responsibilities
22 Group is responsible for:[1]
- Youth engagement across the UK;
- Recruiting, selection and basic training;
- Defence technical training – communications & engineering;
- UK Military Flying Training System;
- RAF Force Development, adventurous training, survival and specialist training;
- RAF-wide training assurance;
- Accreditation and resettlement;
- All RAF sport.[1]
The areas of responsibility are:[1]
- Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC)
- RAF College Cranwell and Directorate of Recruiting & Individual Training
- The Directorate of Flying Training (DFT)
- The Directorate of Ground Training (DGT)
- The Defence College of Technical Training (DCTT) consisting of:
- The Directorate of RAF Sport (DRS).
Commanders
As of May 2023[update], No. 22 Group is led by Air Vice-Marshal Ian Townsend,[1] who is Chief of Staff Training RAF and Air Officer Commanding No. 22 Group. Townsend is responsible to his superior commander, the Air Member for Personnel, who is also deputy commander-in-chief personnel in Air Command.
1918 to 1919
1926 to 1940
1943 to 1972
- 1 August 1943 Air Vice-Marshal C E V Porter
- 1946 to 1948 Air Vice-Marshal Alick Stevens
- 19 January 1948 Air Vice-Marshal P E Maitland
- 15 June 1950 Air Vice-Marshal Brian Reynolds
- 25 August 1952 Air Vice-Marshal Walter Merton
- 1 December 1953 Air Vice-Marshal James Fuller-Good
- 15 January 1957 Air Vice-Marshal Roy Faville
- 12 September 1960 Air Vice-Marshal Bernard Chacksfield
- 12 November 1962 Air Vice-Marshal A A Case
- 15 January 1966 Air Vice-Marshal Bill Crawford-Crompton
- 1 July 1968 Air Vice-Marshal G R Magill
- 1 January 1970 Air Vice-Marshal E Plumtree
2006 onwards
United Kingdom
Royal Air Force
