RAF Fighter Command Badge
As tension in Europe continued to rise in the mid 1930s the RAF realised that it would have to modernise the organisation of its duties. As such, it was split into Fighter Command, headquartered at Bentley Priory, Bomber Command and Coastal Command
Organisation[]
Overall control was from HQ at Bentley Priory. The level underneath this was Group level. Groups were organised as follows
| Group | Commander and Area |
|---|---|
| 10 Group | Air Vice-Marshall Sir Quintin Brand. Covered Wales and South-West England |
| 11 Group | Air Vice-Marshall Keith Park. London and South-East England |
| 12 Group | Air Vice-Marshall Trafford Leigh-Mallory. Midlands, East Anglia and up as far as Yorkshire and Lancashire |
| 13 Group | Air Vice-Marshall Richard Saul. North England, South Scotland and Northern Ireland |
| 14 Group | Air Vice-Marshall Malcolm Henderson. Covered Central and Northern Scotland. |
Each Group was then divided into Sectors. Each Sector had a main Airbase and a number of auxiliary Airbases.
10 Group[]
Pembrey Sector
- No.92 Squadron flying Supermarine Spitfire.
Filton Sector
- No.87 Squadron and No.213 Squadron flying Hawker Hurricane.
St Eval Sector
- No.234 Squadron flying Supermarine Spitfire.
- No.247 Squadron flying Gloster Gladiator.
Middle Wallop Sector
- No.152 Squadron flying Supermarine Spitfire.
- No,238 Squadron flying Hawker Hurricane.
- No.604 Squadron flying Bristol Blenheim.
- No.609 Squadron flying Supermarine Spitfire.
11 Group[]
Organised on the Dowding system. 11 Group was, owing to it's location, the largest wartime Group.
Sector A
- RAF Tangmere.
- RAF Westhampnett
Sector B
- RAF Kenley
- RAF Redhill
Sector C
- RAF Biggin Hill
- RAF Friston
- RAF Hawkinge
Sector D
- RAF Hornchurch,
- RAF Rochford
- RAF Manston
Sector E
- RAF North Weald
- RAF Stapleford Tawney
Sector F
- RAF Debden
- RAF Wimbish
Sector Y
- RAF Middle Wallop
- RAF Oldham
Sector Z
- RAF Northolt
- RAF Hendon.
12 Group[]
13 Group[]
Catterick Sector
- No.219 Squadron flying Bristol Blenheim
- No. 41 Squadron flying Supermarine Spitfire
Dyce Sector
- No.603 Squadron flying Supermarine Spitfire.
Turnhouse Sector
- No.253 Squadron, No.602 Squadron and No.605 Squadron flying Hawker Hurricane.
- No.245 Squadron flying Boulton Paul Defiant
Wick Sector
- No.3 Squadron, No.232 Squadron and No.504 Squadron flying Hawker Hurricane.