No. 9 Group RAF

No. 9 Group RAF

History

No. 9 Group RAF 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 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 Samlesbury Aerodrome, Lancashire, which eventually had three runways, and was the site of an English Electric factory building Handley Page Hampden and Handley Page Halifax bombers.

No 9 Group itself flew Hawker Hurricanes and Airspeed Oxfords from Samlesbury Aerodrome. But it had a relative short lifespan, and was absorbed four years later into No. 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 W A McClaughry
• April 1942 Air Vice-Marshal L H Slatter
• 26 June 1942 Air Vice-Marshal W F Dickson
• 1942 Air Commodore C R Steele (Temporary appointment)
• 10 November 1942 Air Vice-Marshal J W Jones
• 2 July 1943 Air Vice-Marshal L N Hollinghurst
• 6 November 1943 Air Commodore C A Stevens (Temporary appointment)
• 7 December 1943 Air Vice-Marshal D F Stevenson

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Smith, David J., Action Stations 3: Wales and the North-West., Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd, 1981. ISBN 0-85059-485-5.

External links

• Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Group No's 1 - 9