Former Royal Air Force flying training group
Military unit
No. 23 Group RAF (23 Gp) was a group of the Royal Air Force, first established in 1918. It disbanded the same year but reformed during 1926 and finally disbanded for the second time in 1975.
History
First World War
On the 1 April 1918, at the Adelphi Hotel, located on the corner of Union Street and Argyle Street, in the Scottish city of Glasgow, No. 23 (Equipment) Group was formed. The group was initially within No. 5 Area, but this changed on 8 May to become North-Western Area. However, two days later, on 10 May 1918, the group disbanded.[1]
Interwar period
The group was reformed as No. 23 (Training) Group in RAF Inland Area on 12 April 1926, at RAF Spitalgate, by re-numbering No. 3 Group RAF. Its stations were RAF Digby, RAF Eastchurch, RAF Flowerdown, RAF Manston, and RAF Sealand, while it commanded Nos. 1 (Netheravon), 2, and 5 FTSs; the Armament and Gunnery School RAF at RAF Eastchurch; the School of Technical Training (Airmen) at RAF Manston; the Central Flying School at RAF Upavon, and finally the Electrical and Wireless School at RAF Flowerdown.[2]
The Group was transferred to RAF Training Command on 1 May 1936. The RAF List for 1938 records that it comprised the Central Flying School RAF; Nos. 1-3 and Nos. 5-11 Flying Training Schools; the Packing Depot at RAF Sealand; the School of Air Navigation and No. 48 Squadron RAF at RAF Manston; the Station Flight and No. 24 MU at RAF Ternhill; and No. 27 MU at RAF Shawbury.[3]
Second World War
In September 1939 it controlled Nos 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, and 12 Service Flying Training Schools, the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment at RAF Martlesham Heath, in Suffolk and the group communications flight, co-located with Group Headquarters, at RAF Spitalgate, in Lincolnshire.[4]
It was then transferred again, this time to RAF Flying Training Command on 27 May 1940. In December 1940, after his successful leadership of No. 11 Group RAF during the Battle of Britain, Air Vice-Marshal Keith Park was transferred into RAF Training Command. He become Air Officer Commanding of No. 23 Group on 27 December 1940.[5]
Cold War
After 1 January 1957, No. 23 Group was responsible for Nos 1 - 5, No. 6 Flying Training School RAF (1957-68), No. 7 (from 1957-60) and No. 8 Flying Training School RAF (from 1957-64). The Group Headquarters moved to RAF Church Fenton in Yorkshire during 1959, and then to RAF Dishforth in Yorkshire during 1962. It was reabsorbed into RAF Training Command in 1968;[1] it disbanded at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire, on 2 May 1975.[1]
RAF Training Command itself disbanded in 1977, and by 1982 flying training units were being directed by Air Officer Training and AOC Training Units at Headquarters RAF Support Command.[6]
Headquarters
No. 23 Group had various Headquarters across its two active periods:[1]
Interbellum and World War II Air Officers Commanding
Air Officer Commanding, No. 23 Group Royal Air Force, from reformation to the end of World War II.[1]
United Kingdom
Royal Air Force
