No. 11 Group RAF
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| No. 11 Group RAF | |
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 Group Crest |
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| Active | 1918 - 1996 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Type | Group Headquarters |
| Role | Defence of London & South East Engand, Fighter Offensive |
| Part of | Fighter Command |
| Garrison/HQ | RAF Uxbridge, Middlesex, England |
| Royal Air Force Ensign |  |
No. 11 Group was a group in the Royal Air Force for various periods in the 20th century.
Contents |
[edit] Origins
[edit] World War 1
No. 11 Group was first formed on 1 April 1918 in No. 2 Area, and was transferred to South-Western Area the next month on 8 May.
[edit] Interwar years
11 Group's short first existence came to an end on 17 May 1918, when it was disbanded. Its next incarnation was later the same year when it was formed in North-Western Area on 22 August. Two years later, in May 1920, No. 11 Group was reduced to No. 11 Wing.
On 14 July 1936, 11 Group became the first RAF Fighter Command group formed, with the responsibility for the air defence of southern England, including London.
[edit] World War 2
[edit] Organisation
11 Group was organised using the Dowding System of fighter control. Group Headquarters was at RAF Uxbridge; from here commands were passed to the sector airfields, each of which was in charge of several airfields and fighter squadrons. The sector airfields were:
- Sector A: RAF Tangmere
- Sector B: RAF Kenley
- Sector C: RAF Biggin Hill
- Sector D: RAF Hornchurch
- Sector E: RAF North Weald
- Sector F: RAF Debden
- Sector Y: RAF Middle Wallop
- Sector Z: RAF Northolt
[edit] The Battle of Britain
11 Group's most famous period was during the Battle of Britain when, due to its position, 11 Group bore the brunt of the German aerial assault. Pilots posted to squadrons in 11 Group knew that they would be sent into certain action while pilots and squadrons transferring out of 11 Group knew that they were going to comparatively safer duty.
[edit] WW2 Commanders
During the Battle of Britain, 11 Group was commanded by Air Vice Marshal Keith Park.
While fully supported by the commanders (AOCs) of 10 Group and 13 Group, he only received lukewarm support from the AOC of 12 Group, Air Vice Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory, who disagreed with Park's tactics and wanted the 11 Group AOC position. This controversy caused problems for Park, and when the Battle of Britain was finally over, Leigh-Mallory, acting with Air Marshal Sholto Douglas, managed to have Park removed from his position (along with the Commander-in-Chief of Fighter Command, Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding). Leigh-Mallory then took over 11 Group.
[edit] Postwar
Following the war, 11 Group continued to be a key formation within Fighter Command. In December 1951 it consisted of two sectors, the Southern and Metropolitan. The Southern Sector had Nos 1 and 29/22 Squadrons at RAF Tangmere and 54 and 247 Squadrons at RAF Odiham. The Metropolitan Sector had 25 Squadron at RAF West Malling, 41/253 at RAF Biggin Hill, 56/87 and 63 at RAF Waterbeach, 64 and 65 at Duxford, 72 at North Weald, 85/145 at West Malling with Meteor NF.11s, and 257 and 263 Squadrons at Wattisham.[1] (The '/' denotes a short-lived RAF postwar scheme in which some squadrons were linked, and two squadron numbers' heritage was carried on within one single unit.)
However, in 1960 there was a rationalisation of Fighter Command, and 11 Group was disbanded. However, it reformed later the same year when No. 13 Group was renamed to No. 11 Group. On 1 April 1963 the Group was renamed No. 11 (Northern) Sector. This incarnation lasted until Fighter Command was absorbed into the new Strike Command in 1968.
No. 11 Group lasted until 1996, when it was amalgamated with No. 18 Group to form No. 11/18 Group.
[edit] Commanders
[edit] April to May 1918
[edit] August 1918 to 1920
- August 1918 unknown
- 6 February 1920 Group Captain I M Bonham-Carter
[edit] 1936 to 1963
- 14 July 1936 Air Vice-Marshal P B Joubert de la Ferté
- 7 September 1936 Air Vice-Marshal E L Gossage
- January 1940 Air Vice-Marshal W L Welsh
- 20 April 1940 Air Vice-Marshal K R Park
- 18 December 1940 Air Vice-Marshal T L Leigh-Mallory
- 28 November 1942 Air Vice-Marshal H W L Saunders
- 1 November 1944 Air Vice-Marshal J B Cole-Hamilton
- 20 July 1945 Air Vice-Marshal D A Boyle
- 24 April 1946 Air Vice-Marshal S D Macdonald
- 1 June 1948 Air Vice-Marshal S F Vincent
- 9 January 1950 Air Vice-Marshal T G Pike
- 5 July 1951 Air Vice-Marshal The Earl of Bandon
- 1 November 1953 Air Vice-Marshal H L Patch
- 16 January 1956 Air Vice-Marshal V S Bowling
- 12 January 1959 Air Vice-Marshal A Foord Kelcey
- 1 January 1961 Air Vice-Marshal H J Maguire
- 13 January 1962 Air Vice-Marshal G T B Clayton
[edit] 1968 to 1996
Commanders not yet added
[edit] References
- ^ John D. R. Reynolds et al, 'The History of the Royal Air Force,' Temple Press Aerospace, 1984, p.204
[edit] See Also
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| Overview Documents |
| Royal Air Force | Royal Canadian Air Force | Strategic bombing | Night fighter |
| Prominent People |
| Air Marshal Hugh Dowding | Sir Charles Portal | Cyril Newall |
| Trafford Leigh-Mallory | Keith Park | R V Jones |
| Organization and units |
| No. 10 Group RAF | No. 11 Group RAF | No. 12 Group RAF | No. 13 Group RAF RAF Fighter Command | RAF Balloon Command | AA Command Women's Auxiliary Air Force | Royal Observer Corps | Eagle Squadrons | Battle of Britain Airfields |
| Campaigns and Operations |
| Kanalkampf | Battle of Britain | The Blitz | Baedeker raids | Operation Crossbow |
| Aircraft, Technology and Tactics |
| Hurricane | Spitfire | Bolton-Paul Defiant | Mosquito NF | Bristol Beaufighter | Hawker Tempest | Gloster Meteor |
| Chain Home | AI radar | "Battle of the Beams" | Barrage balloon | German V weapons |
| Big Wing |
| Other |
| RAF strategic bombing offensive | USAAF | Luftwaffe | Hermann Göring |
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