No. 81 Group RAF

No. 81 Group
No. 81 Group
Active	1940 - 1943; 1952 - 1958
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Motto(s)	Fulmina Ex Igne Politiora

No. 81 (OTU) Group was a group within the Royal Air Force's Fighter Command during the Second World War and the post-war era.[1][2]

The group was formed on 16 December 1940 at RAF Sealand as part of Fighter Command to control Operational Training Units.[2] On 19 February 1941 it moved to Tallow Hall in Worcester and then on 22 December 1941 it was based at Avening Court in Gloucestershire.[2] It was disbanded on 15 April 1943 when all controlled units were moved to No. 9 Group.[2]

The group was reformed on 1 Jan 1952 at RAF Watnall to control all training units within Fighter Command, on 16 May 1952 it moved to RAF Rudloe Manor.[2] It was finally disbanded on 31 March 1958.[2]

Organisation

1 January 1941

The group was organised as follows;[3]

Group Headquarters at Antumn Avenue, Worcester
- No. 54 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Church Fenton with Blenheim & Beaufighter
- No. 55 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Aston Down with Spitfire, Hurricane & Blenheim
- No. 56 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Sutton Bridge with Hurricane
- No. 57 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Hawarden with Spitfire
- No. 58 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Grangemouth with Spitfire

1 May 1942

The group was organised as follows;[3]

Group Headquarters, RAF Avening Court, Stroud, Gloucestershire
- No. 51 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Cranfield with Blenheim & Beaufighter
- No. 52 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Aston Down with Spitfire
- No. 53 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Llandow and RAF Rhoose with Spitfire
- No. 54 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Charterhall and RAF Winfield with Blenheim & Beaufighter
- No. 55 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Annan and RAF Longtown with Hurricane
- No. 56 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Tealing and RAF Kinnell with Hurricane
- No. 57 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Hawarden with Spitfire
- No. 58 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Grangemouth and RAF Balado Bridge with Spitfire
- No. 59 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Crosby on Eden and RAF Longtown with Hurricane
- No. 60 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF East Fortune and RAF Macmerry with Blenheim & Beaufighter
- No. 61 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Rednal and RAF Montford Bridge with Spitfire

1 March 1943

The group was organised as follows;[3]

Group Headquarters, RAF Avening Court, Stroud, Gloucestershire
- No. 41 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Hawarden and RAF Poulton with Mustang & Hurricane
- No. 51 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Cranfield and RAF Twinwood Farm with Blenheim & Beaufighter
- No. 52 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Aston Down with Spitfire
- No. 53 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Llandow and RAF Rhoose with Spitfire
- No. 54 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Charterhall and RAF Winfield with Blenheim & Beaufighter
- No. 55 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Annan and RAF Longtown with Hurricane
- No. 56 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Tealing and RAF Kinnell with Hurricane and Spitfire
- No. 57 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Eshott and RAF Boulmer with Spitfire
- No. 58 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Grangemouth and RAF Balado Bridge with Spitfire
- No. 59 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Milfield, RAF Brunton and RAF Boulmer with Hurricane
- No. 61 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Rednal and RAF Montford Bridge with Spitfire
- No. 62 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Usworth with Anson

Commanders

1940 to 1943

16 December 1940 - Air Commodore F J Vincent[1]
29 July 1942 - Air Commodore W H Dunn[1]

1952 to 1958

1 January 1952 - Air Commodore L W C Bower[1]
January 1954 - Air Commodore C C McMullen[1]
19 February 1954 - Vacant[1]
2 April 1954 - Air Commodore H A V Hogan[1]
15 August 1955 - Air Commodore R C Mead[1]

References

Citations

"Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Group 70 - 106". www.rafweb.org. 10 October 2009. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
Sturtivant 2007, p. 152
Falconer 2012, p. 302.

Bibliography

Falconer, J (2012). RAF Airfields of World War 2. UK: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85780-349-5.
Sturtivant, Ray (2007). RAF Flying Training and Support Units since 1912. Air-Britain. ISBN 0-85130-365-X.

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[rafweb-1] "Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Group 70 - 106". www.rafweb.org. 10 October 2009. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 27 February 2010.

[ab-2] Sturtivant 2007, p. 152

[FOOTNOTEFalconer2012302-3] Falconer 2012, p. 302.