No. 7 Group RAF
Encyclopedia
Number 7 Group of the Royal Air Force
was an RAF group
active in the latter part of World War I
, during the 1920s and also in World War II
.
' Southern Training Brigade. Initially the Group was subordinate to No. 2 Area and on 8 August the designation "Training" was added making the Group's title Number 7 (Training) Group. With the post war reductions, the Group was disbanded on 16 Aug 1919.
The following month on 20 September 1919, No. 7 Group was reformed when South-Western Area was downgraded to group status. On 1 April 1920, the Group was transferred to Inland Area's control. The Group was disbanded for the second time on 12 April 1926.
Following the outbreak of World War II
, the Group was reformed on 15 July 1940 as No. 7 (Operational Training) Group under Bomber Command
control. It was disestablished by its renaming to No. 92 Group on 11 May 1942. The Group's final incaration was from 1 November 1944 to 21 December 1945. Its function was the control of heavy conversion units.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
was an RAF group
Group (air force unit)
A group is a military aviation unit, a component of military organization and a military formation. Usage of the terms group and wing differ from one country to another, as well as different branches of a defence force, in some cases...
active in the latter part of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, during the 1920s and also in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Organizational history
No. 7 Group was created on the day that the RAF officially came into being. On 1 April 1918 it was created by renaming the Royal Flying CorpsRoyal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
' Southern Training Brigade. Initially the Group was subordinate to No. 2 Area and on 8 August the designation "Training" was added making the Group's title Number 7 (Training) Group. With the post war reductions, the Group was disbanded on 16 Aug 1919.
The following month on 20 September 1919, No. 7 Group was reformed when South-Western Area was downgraded to group status. On 1 April 1920, the Group was transferred to Inland Area's control. The Group was disbanded for the second time on 12 April 1926.
Following the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Group was reformed on 15 July 1940 as No. 7 (Operational Training) Group under Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...
control. It was disestablished by its renaming to No. 92 Group on 11 May 1942. The Group's final incaration was from 1 November 1944 to 21 December 1945. Its function was the control of heavy conversion units.
April 1918 to August 1919
- Unknown
- 1 July 1919 Group CaptainGroup CaptainGroup captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
T C R Higgins
September 1919 to April 1926
- 20 September 1919 Group Captain (later Air CommodoreAir CommodoreAir commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
) T C R Higgins - 1 September 1922 Air Commodore L E O CharltonLionel CharltonAir Commodore Lionel Evelyn Oswald Charlton CB, CMG, DSO, RAF was a British infantry officer who served in the Second Boer War. During World War I, Charlton held several command and staff posts in the Royal Flying Corps, finishing the war as a brigadier-general...
- 1 January 1923 Air Commodore E A D MastermanEdward MastermanAir Commodore Edward Alexander Dimsdale Masterman CB CMG CBE AFC RAF was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force in the first half of the 20th century...
- 26 November 1924 Air Commodore A M LongmoreArthur LongmoreAir Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Murray Longmore GCB, DSO was an early naval aviator, before reaching high rank in the Royal Air Force.-Biography:...
- 1 April 1925 Air Commodore D Le G PitcherDuncan PitcherAir Commodore Duncan le Geyt Pitcher CMG, CBE, DSO, RAF was an infantry and cavalry officer in the British Indian Army...
July 1940 to May 1942
- 15 July 1940 Air Commodore The Hon R A CochraneRalph CochraneAir Chief Marshal Sir Ralph Alexander Cochrane, GBE, KCB, AFC, RAF was a British pilot and Royal Air Force officer, perhaps best known for his role in Operation Chastise, the famous "Dambusters" raid....
- 2 November 1940 Air Commodore L H Cockey
November 1944 to December 1945
- 1 November 1944 Air Vice-MarshalAir Vice-MarshalAir vice-marshal is a two-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in...
G S HodsonGeorge HodsonGeorge S. Hodson was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the Boston Beaneaters in 1894 and the Philadelphia Phillies in 1895. He also pitched in the minor leagues for 17 seasons and won 20 or more games six times. Hodson was 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighed 150 pounds.-Career:Hodson... - 23 February 1945 Air Vice-Marshal E A B Rice