No. 10 Group RAF

No. 10 Group of the Royal Air Force is a disbanded group.

No. 10 Group RAF
Active1918 - 1945
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
TypeGroup Headquarters
RoleDefence of South western England and Southern Wales
Part ofRAF Fighter Command
Garrison/HQRAF Box, Wiltshire, England
Motto(s)Challenge

History

It was formed on 1 April 1918 in No. 2 Area. On 8 May of the next year it was transferred to South-Western Area. In 1919 it was transferred to Coastal Area where it remained until it was disbanded on 18 January 1932.

The group was re-formed on 1 June 1940 within Fighter Command to enable neighbouring No. 11 Group to function more efficiently. Its area of operation was the south-western region of England. Commanded by Air Vice Marshal Sir Quintin Brand, 10 Group supported 11 Group in the Battle of Britain by rotating squadrons, providing additional fighter support when needed, and supplying additional pilots. The Air Officer Commanding (AOC) of 11 Group, Air Vice Marshal Keith Park, had a far warmer relationship with Brand than with the AOC of 12 Group, Air Vice Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory, who regarded Park with jealousy.[1]

As well as providing support for 11 Group, 10 Group also had some squadrons of aircraft that could not be risked in the Battle of Britain (Gloster Gladiator, Boulton Paul Defiant).

The Middle Wallop operations room in use in 1943

Brown's Quarry, a small quarry north of Tunnel Quarry, was converted into an underground operations centre for HQ No. 10 Group, RAF Box.[2]

After the Battle of Britain, 10 Group also provided fighter cover missions for convoys approaching and leaving the British Isles. Pilots rotated into 10 Group from either 12 or 13 Group knew that soon they would go over to 11 Group, so the pilots took advantage of their comparatively safer area of operation to hone their skills.

No. 10 Group was reabsorbed into No. 11 Group on 2 May 1945.

Order of Battle 1 August 1940

On 1 August 1940 when air attacks began on the UK, the group was organised into several sectors:[3]

Commanders

The following officers have been in command of 10 Group:[4]

1918 to 1932

1940 to 1945

See also

References
  1. "The Battle of Britain Chronology: Sunday 25th – Thursday 29th August 1940". Battle of Britain Historical Society. 2007.
  2. McCamley, Nick. "RAF Rudloe Manor". Secret Underground Cities. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  3. Fighter Command - August 1940
  4. Barrass, M. B. (2017). "Group No.'s 10–19". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation.
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