No. 1 Group RAF

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No. 1 Group
Group badge
Active
  • 1918–1926
  • 1927–1939
  • 1940–present
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
TypeGroup headquarters
RoleFrontline air operations
Part ofRAF Air Command
HeadquartersRAF High Wycombe
MottoSwift to attack
Commanders
Air Officer CommandingAir Vice-Marshal Mark Jackson

No. 1 Group of the Royal Air Force is one of the five operations groups in RAF Air Command. Today, the group is referred to as the Air Combat Group, as it controls the RAF's combat fast-jet aircraft and has airfields in the UK, as well as RAF Support Unit Goose Bay at CFB Goose Bay in Canada. The group headquarters is located alongside Headquarters Air Command at RAF High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. The other operational group is No. 2 Group RAF.

The current Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group is Air Vice-Marshal Mark Jackson, who took up the post in March 2025.

History

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First World War

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No. 1 Group was originally formed on Saturday 1 April 1918 in No. 1 Area, which was renamed the South-Eastern Area on 8 May 1918, Southern Area on 20 September 1919 and Inland Area on 1 April 1920.

The Group was renumbered as No. 6 Group on 19 May 1924 at RAF Kenley, and was reformed on the same day at RAF Kidbrooke. Two years later on 12 April 1926 the Group disappeared from the order of battle by being renumbered as No. 21 Group.

The next year the Group was reformed on 25 August 1927 by the renaming of Air Defence Group. This designation lasted until 1936 when it became No. 6 Group again. As in 1924 the Group was reformed the same day, this time as a bomber formation.

By this time the Group had shrunk to ten squadrons, all equipped with Fairey Battle aircraft and located in pairs at RAF Abingdon, RAF Harwell, RAF Benson, RAF Boscombe Down and RAF Bicester.

Second World War

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at the Headquarters of No. 71 Wing, Advanced Air Striking Force, Bétheniville.

On receipt of orders to move to France in 1939, Headquarters No. 1 Group became Headquarters Advanced Air Striking Force and the station headquarters and associated squadrons became Nos. 71, 72, 74, 75 and 76 Wings respectively.[1] The Group re-emerged a few days later within Bomber Command on 12 September, but only lasted just over three months, being dropped on 22 December 1939.

It was reformed at Hucknall in Nottinghamshire on 22 June 1940.[2] On 20 July the Group Headquarters moved to Bawtry Hall (RAF Bawtry) near Doncaster, where it was based for 44 years, until 1983. During the Second World War, the Group was primarily based at airfields in north Lincolnshire, like RAF Swinderby.[3]

During 1940–45, the group included substantial numbers of Polish and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) personnel. By the beginning of March 1943, the aircraft operated by its squadrons were:

All of the Wellington squadrons subsequently converted to Lancasters. No. 1 Group was later augmented with other units, including 304 Polish Squadron.

During Bomber Command's Second World War campaign, No. 1 Group dropped a higher tonnage of bombs per aircraft than any other group, this was mainly due to Air Commodore Edward Rice who was determined to maximise bomb loads, though it was a policy which contributed in no small measure to No. 1 Group having higher than average losses.[5] Rice would later be involved in the development of the Rose turret, sometimes known as the "Rose-Rice turret".

Battle of Normandy

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Although No.1 (B) Group wasn't directly involved in the Battle of Normandy, they did participate in the bombing of the shore and area. During this period, the group was organised as:[6][7]

Cold War

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By June 1948, 1 Group consisted of:[8]

During the Cold War, No. 1 Group also operated the Thor ballistic missile between 1958 and August 1963 ("Project Emily"), with ten squadrons each with three missiles being equipped with the weapon.[9] 1 Group had two sets of five stations, centred respectively on Hemswell and RAF Driffield. When Bomber Command was subsumed into the new Strike Command on 1 April 1968, No. 1 Group took on the old role of the command, directing the bomber and strike aircraft of Strike Command.

On 17 November 1983, No. 38 Group RAF was subsumed within Headquarters No. 1 Group.[10]

In around 1984, Headquarters No. 1 Group moved from RAF Bawtry in South Yorkshire to RAF Upavon in Wiltshire.[10] No. 207 Squadron RAF, part of 1 Group flying Devons from RAF Northolt alongside No. 32 Squadron RAF, was disbanded on retirement of the remaining Devons on 30 June 1984.[11]

After the end of the Cold War, RAF Germany was reduced in status to become No. 2 Group RAF. 2 Group was then disbanded by being absorbed into No. 1 Group on 1 April 1996. 2 Group was then reformed on 7 January 2000, splitting out of 1 Group. 1 Group transferred over the RAF's air transport, air-to-air refuelling and airborne early warning functions.

Post 2000

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In January 2000 the RAF was restructured and the Group took on its present role. The Group is responsible for UK air defence operations through QRA North at RAF Lossiemouth and QRA South at RAF Coningsby. However, since the disestablishment of Combined Air Operations Centre 9 at RAF High Wycombe, actual control of the fighters is now carried out from a NATO Combined Air Operations Centre in Denmark, CAOC 1 at Finderup. However, High Wycombe retains an air defence direction capability, and the UK Representative there could take back control over QRA South if it was necessary to respond to a terrorist threat from the air.[12] No. 1 Group also has responsibility for the UK's Carrier Strike capability, with the joint RN/RAF Lightning Force, eventually planned to consist of two squadrons from the RAF and two from the Fleet Air Arm, which will be based at RAF Marham when not operating from the UK's Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier.

Component units

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As of November 2025, No. 1 Group comprises the following elements and units. Unless indicated otherwise, subordinate units are located at the same location as the unit they report to.

Air and Space Warfare Centre

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The Thomson Building at RAF Waddington, headquarters of the RAF Air and Space Warfare Centre

The Air and Space Warfare Centre is based at RAF Waddington and provides advice to support current and future RAF operations, including in relation to electronic-warfare, cyber and information environments. It comprises the following units:[13][14]

Air Mobility Force

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The Airbus Voyager KC2 aircraft provides the RAF with transport and air-to-air refuelling capabilities

The Air Mobility Force is based at RAF Brize Norton and provides the RAF's airlift capability in support of overseas operations and exercises, as well as air-to-air refuelling for fast jets, both on operations and in support of UK homeland defence. It comprises the following units:[13][15]

Combat Air Force

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The Combat Air Force operates the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 and Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II

The Combat Air Force generates, operates and sustains combat air power in all tasked roles and environments to defend the UK and its interests globally. It also defends UK sovereign airspace 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. It comprises the following units:[13][14]

ISTAR Force

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The ISTAR Force's Boeing Poseidon MRA1 fleet is based at RAF Lossiemouth and provides a maritime patrol and reconnaissance capability

The Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) Force delivers near-real time information and intelligence in air and maritime domains. It comprises the following units:[13][14]

Heritage

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The group's badge features a black panther's head, erased. The badge was authorised in 1941 and the panther's head reflected the fact that Panther was the group's callsign in the early part of the Second World War.[21]

The group's motto is Swift to attack.[22]

Air Officer Commanding

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Air Officers Commanding have included:[23]

See also

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References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Operates Tranche 1 aircraft in aggressor role[16]
  2. ^ Fleet Air Arm unit but subordinate to No. 1 Group[17][18][19]

Citations

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  1. ^ Bomber Command Archived 7 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine, accessed November 2008
  2. ^ "Groups1-9_P". www.rafweb.org. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  3. ^ Airfields of Lincolnshire – Patrick Otter – p15).
  4. ^ Król, Wacław (1982). Polskie dywizjony lotnicze w Wielkiej Brytanii (in Polish). Warsaw: Wydawnictwo MON. pp. 86, 104, 191. ISBN 83-11-07695-2.
  5. ^ Airfield of Lincolnshire – Patrick Otter- p20/21.
  6. ^ "No. 1 Group, RAF, 06.06.1944". niehorster.org. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  7. ^ "Bomber Command - Jun 1944". www.rafweb.org. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  8. ^ Rawlings 1985, p. 187.
  9. ^ Martin Powell, "The Douglas Thor in Royal Air Force Service" Archived 20 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Rossendale Aviation Society – Article, accessed 2 June 2008
  10. ^ a b Horseman, Martin, ed. (January 1983). "RAF Groups HQ to Merge". Armed Forces. Shepperton: Ian Allan. p. 7. ISSN 0142-4696.
  11. ^ Burney, p411; Isby and Kamps, Armies of NATO's Central Front, 1985.
  12. ^ Andrew Brooks, UK AIR DEFENCE,Air Forces Monthly – October 2008
  13. ^ a b c d "No 1 Group". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  14. ^ a b c "RAF Waddington". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  15. ^ "RAF Brize Norton". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  16. ^ Newdick, Thomas (10 September 2020). "This Is The Royal Air Force's First Aggressor Eurofighter Typhoon". The Drive. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  17. ^ "The F-35 accident report – a reality check for UK Carrier Strike". Navy Lookout. 25 August 2023.
  18. ^ "Building up the Lightning Force – when will the UK get its F-35 jets? | Navy Lookout". 14 September 2022.
  19. ^ @NavyLookout (8 December 2023). "@NavyLookout F-35 with @809NAS 'phoenix from the flames' tail art on display at @RAF_Marham as the squadron recommissions today" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 December 2023 – via Twitter.
  20. ^ Hoyle, Craig (6 May 2025). "UK pushes delayed Wedgetail service entry target into 2026". Flight Global.
  21. ^ Delve, Ken (2005). Bomber Command 1939–1945 : a reference to the men – aircraft & operational history. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Aviation. p. 147. ISBN 1-84415-183-2.
  22. ^ Pine, L.G. (1983). A dictionary of mottoes (1 ed.). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. p. 227. ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
  23. ^ a b "Senior RAF Commanders" (PDF). Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  24. ^ "No. 63967". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 February 2023. p. 2707.

Bibliography

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  • Rawlings, J. D. R. (1985). The History of the Royal Air Force. Feltham: Temple Press. ISBN 978-0-60-034990-7.

Further reading

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  • Jefford, C. G. (1994). RAF Squadrons; A Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
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