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No. 9 Group RAF

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No. 9 (Fighter) Group RAF
No. 9 (Operations) Group RAF
Active1 April 1918 – 15 May 1919
9 August 1940 – 17 September 1944
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
TypeRoyal Air Force group
RoleFighter cover for North West England and Northern Ireland
Part ofRAF Fighter Command
Garrison/HQRAF Barton Hall
EngagementsWorld War II
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Air Vice Marshal Wilfred Ashton McClaughry CB, DSO, MC, DFC

No. 9 Group RAF (9 Gp) was a group of the Royal Air Force, which existed over two separate periods, initially at the end of the First World War, and latterly during the Second World War when its role was air defence.

History

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The group was first formed on 1 April 1918 in No. 2 Area. The next month it was transferred to South-Western Area and then disbanded on 15 May 1919.

Its next incarnation was as part of RAF Fighter Command. As 1940 wore on, the need for another Group headquarters to control fighter operations became more and more apparent. No. 9 Group was formed in September 1940 to cover North West England and Northern Ireland. It was based at RAF Barton Hall[1] and initially only controlled No. 308 Polish Fighter Squadron at RAF Speke,[2]

On 1 January 1941 the group was only using the Hawker Hurricane I fighter aircraft:[3]

No. 275 Squadron RAF was formed at RAF Valley on 15 October 1941[4] as No. 9 Group's Air Sea Rescue unit, to cover the Irish Sea.[5]

9 Group also supplied the staff that were trained by Robert Watson-Watt, the inventor of radar, to operate the Chain Home early warning system. The staff being RAF females (they were never WAAF members).

On 1 May 1942 it consisted of:[6]

On 1 March 1943 it consisted of:[7]

No. 9 Group itself had a relative short lifespan. By 1944 it was predominantly a training formation.

On 6 June 1944 it comprised:

It was absorbed into No. 12 Group RAF on 15 September 1944.

Commanders

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The following officers had command of No. 9 Group:

1918 to 1919

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1940 to 1944

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See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ "Langley Lane". Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  2. ^ Falconer 2012, p. 294.
  3. ^ Falconer 2012, p. 295.
  4. ^ Rawlings 1982, p. 250.
  5. ^ Halley 1988, p. 342.
  6. ^ Falconer 2012, p. 296.
  7. ^ Falconer 2012, p. 298.
  8. ^ Falconer 2012, p. 302.
  9. ^ Falconer 2012, p. 303.

Bibliography

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  • Falconer, J (2012). RAF Airfields of World War 2. UK: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85780-349-5.
  • Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Smith, David J., Action Stations 3: Wales and the North-West., Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd, 1981. ISBN 0-85059-485-5.
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