No. 9 Group RAF (9 Gp) was a group of the Royal Air Force, which existed for periods, at the end of the First World War, and during the Second World War when its role was air defence.
History
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. In 1940, 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 and initially only controlled No. 308 Polish Fighter Squadron at RAF Speke.
On 1 January 1941 the group was equipped with the Hawker Hurricane Mk I fighter. No. 96 Squadron RAF at RAF Cranage No. 229 Squadron RAF at RAF Speke No. 306 Polish Fighter Squadron at RAF Tern Hill No. 308 Polish Fighter Squadron at RAF Baginton No. 312 (Czechoslovak) Squadron RAF at RAF Speke
No. 275 Squadron RAF was formed at RAF Valley on 15 October 1941 as 9 Group's Air Sea Rescue unit, to cover the Irish Sea.Rawlings 1982, p. 250. The Group 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 the group contained: No. 131 Squadron RAF at RAF Llanbedr, Spitfires No. 232 Squadron RAF at RAF Atcham, Spitfires No. 255 Squadron RAF at RAF High Ercall, Beaufighters No. 257 Squadron RAF at RAF Honiley, Hurricanes and Spitfires No. 315 Polish Fighter Squadron at RAF Woodvale, Spitfires
On 1 March 1943 it consisted of: No. 41 Squadron RAF at RAF High Ercall, Spitfires No. 96 Squadron RAF at RAF Honiley, Beaufighters No. 195 Squadron RAF at RAF Woodvale, Typhoons No. 219 Squadron RAF at RAF Scorton, Beaufighters No. 256 Squadron RAF at RAF Woodvale, Beaufighters No. 456 Squadron RAAF at RAF Valley, Beaufighters and Mosquitos
No. 9 Group had a relatively short lifes. By 1944 it was predominantly a training formation.
On 6 June 1944 it comprised: two sector stations, RAF Honiley and RAF Woodvale, eight Operational Training Units: No. 13 Operational Training Unit at RAF Bicester and RAF Finmere, Mosquitos and Bostons No. 41 Operational Training Unit at RAF Hawarden and RAF Poulton, Mustangs and Hurricanes No. 42 Operational Training Unit at RAF Ashbourne and RAF Darley Moor, Whitleys, Oxfords, Ansons and Albemarles No. 51 Operational Training Unit at RAF Cranfield and RAF Twinwood Farm, Mosquitos No. 53 Operational Training Unit RAF at RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey, RAF Hibaldstow and RAF Caistor, Spitfires No. 54 Operational Training Unit at RAF Charterhall and RAF Winfield, Beaufighters No. 57 Operational Training Unit at RAF Eshott and RAF Boulmer, Spitfires No. 59 Operational Training Unit at RAF Boulmer, Hurricanes and Typhoons No. 60 Operational Training Unit at RAF High Ercall, Mosquitos No. 61 Operational Training Unit at RAF Rednal and RAF Montford Bridge, Spitfires No. 62 Operational Training Unit at RAF Ouston, Ansons and Wellingtons three Tactical Exercise Units: No. 1 Tactical Exercise Unit at RAF Kinnell, Hurricanes and Spitfires No. 2 Tactical Exercise Unit at RAF Grangemouth and RAF Balado Bridge, Spitfires No. 3 Tactical Exercise Unit at RAF Annan, Typhoons and Spitfires AI Conversion Unit Fighter Leaders School RAF No. 2 Aircraft Delivery Flight No. 58 Repair and Salvage Unit three other support/supply units 9 Group Communications Flight flying Hawker Hurricanes and Airspeed Oxfords from Samlesbury Aerodrome.
It was absorbed into 12 Group on 15 September 1944.
Commanders The following officers had command of No. 9 Group:
1918 to 1919 1 April 1918 Brigadier-General H. D. Briggs
1940 to 1944 16 September 1940 Air Vice-Marshal Wilfred McClaughry April 1942 Air Vice-Marshal Leonard Slatter 26 June 1942 Air Vice-Marshal William Dickson 1942 Air Commodore Charles Steele (Temporary appointment) 10 November 1942 Air Vice-Marshal John Whitworth-Jones 2 July 1943 Air Vice-Marshal Leslie Hollinghurst 6 November 1943 Air Commodore Cecil Stevens (Temporary appointment) 7 December 1943 Air Vice-Marshal Donald Stevenson
See also List of Royal Air Force groups
References Citations
Bibliography
Further reading
External links Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Group No's 1––9