RAF Order of Battle 1978

[Garysb]

Hi
Does anyone know where I can get a listing of what was based where RAF wise circa 1978 ish. I want to set up a FS setup
Cheers
Gary

[Red Dragon]

It's wikipedia (so you might need to take it with a pinch of salt) nearest to that date and most complete one I could find is for 1989 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structure ... ce_in_1989

[Nighthawke]

Sorry can't help directly but maybe an RAF Yearbook from that era might help.

[Sky Dancer]

Hi Gary,

Aviation News used to do a Royal Air Force special edition every few years or so.

If you go onto eBay, there is a 1978 one for sale at the minute (I am not connected if any way to the seller or listing)

At that time, Aviation News was in a newspaper format and the Royal Air Force special filled the whole newspaper, outlining each squadron or unit, where they were based, and serials and codes of some of their aircraft.

I was only young at the time, but have heard that BARG was the "go to" publication for anything military. The early records are hard to get hold off, but I think Scramble Magazine were releasing them all on CD or DVD - also think they sold out. There was chat they were going to re-release them, but have lost track of that.

Hope that helps.

[XR221]

Regards Sky Dancer's post above. BARG DVDs are available on this website - currently DVD 3 & 4, with 1 & 2 being made available again during 2020 - each DVD is £20. https://bargdvd.co.uk

The Aviation News volume 6 #24 for sale on eBay here - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aviation-New ... Sw01pdDL1m

(I'm not connected to either of the above)!

[Hendon Chipmunk]

RAF Yearbook 1979 gives:

Jaguar GR1, T2 - 2, 6, 14, 17, 20, 31, 41, 54 Sqns
Buccaneer S2A - 12, 15, 16, 208, 216 Sqns
Harrier T2, GR3, T4 - 1, 3, 4 Sqns + Belize detachment (not 1417 Flt until 1980)
Vulcan B2, SR2 - 9, 27, 35, 44, 50, 101, 617 Sqns
Phantom FG1, FGR2 - 19, 23, 29, 43, 56, 92, 111 Sqns
Lightning F3, F6 - 5, 11 Sqns
Nimrod MR1, R1, MR2 - 42, 51, 120, 201, 206 Sqns
Shackleton AEW2 - 8 Sqn
Canberra B6, PR7, PR9, T17, T19 - 7, 13, 39, 51, 100, 360 Sqns
Victor K2 - 55, 57 Sqns
Hercules C1 - 24, 30, 47, 70 Sqns
VC10 C1 - 10 Sqn
Puma HC1 - 33, 230 Sqns (isn't this the same in 2020?!)
Wessex HC2, HAR2, HCC4, HU5 - 18, 28, 72 Sqns, Queen's Flt, 2(H) FTS
Sea King HAR3 - 202 Sqn
Whirlwind HAR10, HCC12 - 32 Sqn, 84 Sqn, 202 Sqn, 2(H) FTS
Hawk T1 - 4 FTS, TWU (63, 79, 234 Sqns)
Jet Provost T3A, T4, T5A - RAFC, 1 FTS, 3 FTS, 6 FTS
Dominie T1 - 6 FTS
HS125 CC1, CC2 - 32 Sqn
Jetstream T1 - 3 FTS
Bulldog T1 - 16x UAS, RN Elementary Flying Training Sqn provided by 3 FTS, CFS
Gazelle HT3, HCC4 - CFS, 32 Sqn
Andover C1, CC2, E3 - 32 Sqn, 115 Sqn, Queen's Flt
Gnat T1 - Red Arrows (also 4 FTS until November 1978)
Chipmunk T10 - AEFs
Devon C2 - 207 Sqn
Pembroke C1 - 60 Sqn

[Leuchars Fan]

Bases circa 1978 as follows;

Strike Command

1 Group

Waddington: 9, 44, 50, 101 Sqns Vulcan B2

Scampton: 27 Sqn Vulcam MRR2, 35 and 617 Sqns Vulcan B2 230 OCU Vulcan B2

Marham: 55 AND 57 Sqns and 232 COU Victor K2

Honington: 12, 208 Sqns and 237 OCU Buccaneer S2 and 809 NAS Buccaneer S2 (T-Bird Hunter Flights a piece as well)

Wyton: 231 OCU Canberra T4, B2 13 Sqn Canberra PR7 39 Sqn Canberra PR9, 100 Sqn Canberra TT18, 360 Sqn Canberra T17 and 51 Sqn Nimrod R1 & Canberra B6

Wittering: 233 OCU Harrier GR3/T2/T4 1 Sqn Harrier GR3/T2/T4?

Lossiemouth: 226 OCU Jaguar GR1/T2 - 2 TWU Hunter F6A FGA9 & T7 8 Sqn Shackleton AEW2 and D Flight of 202 Sqn Whirlwind HAR10

Coltishall: 6, 41, 54 Sqns Jaguar GR1/T2

Cottesmore: Airfield works services preparing for arrival of Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment

11 Group

Leuchars: 43 and 111 Sqn Phantom FG1/FGR2 and 892 NAS & Post OCU PTF Phantom FG1 & B Flight of 22 Sqn SAR Wessex UAS Bulldogs/ Chipmunks

Binbrook: 5, 11 and LTF Lightning F3/F6 and T5 and Lightning MU

Coningsby: 29 Sqn and 228 OCU/64 Sqn Phantom FGR2

Wattisham: 23 and 56 Sqns Phantom FGR2s

Brawdy: 1 TWU 79 & 234 Sqn Hunter F6A/FGA9 & T7

Chivenor: Airfield works services preparing for return of 2 TWU with Hawks

18 Group:

St Mawgan: 42 Sqn and 236 OCU/38 Sqn Nimrod MR1 and 7 Sqn Canberra TT18/B2/T4 and Nimrod MU

Kinloss: 120, 201 and 206 Sqns Nimrod MR1

38 Group

Lyneham: 24, 30, 47 and 70 Sqns Hercules C1

Odiham: 33 Sqn Puma HC1 and 72 Sqn Wessex HC2

Aldergrove: 78 Sqn Wessex HC2

46 Group

Northolt: 32 Sqn HS 125

Benson: Queen's Flight Andover and Wessex

Brize Norton: 10 Sqn VC-10 C1 and 115 Sqn Argosy E1

Training Schools / Support Command

Abingdon: MU for Jaguar, Hawk, Jetstream and VC-10?

St Athan: 19 MU, Phantom, Buccaneer (inc's RN AIRCRAFT) Vulcan, Victor, Harrier and in due course Sea Harrier

Cranwell: CFS Jet Provost T3/T4/T5, Bulldog T1, Jetstream T1 etc

Finningley: 6 FTS Dominie T1, Jetstream T1, Jet Provost T5/5A and Bulldog T1 also YUAS & 9 AEF Bulldog T1 & Chipmunk T10 and SAR Wing/ 22 & 202 Sqns HQs Wessex HAR2 & Whirlwind HAR10

Leeming: 3 FTS Jet Provost T3/T4/T5

Linton-on-Ouse: 1 FTS Jet Provost T3/T4/T5

Valley: 4 FTS Hunter F6/T7 and Hawk T1 CFS Hawk T1 SAR Flight Wessex HAR2 22 Sqn

Shawbury: CFS Helicopter Wing Whirlwind HAR10 and Gazelle HT1/2

Kemble: The Red Arrows and 5 MU Canberra and Hunter

Also 22 and 202 Sqn SAR Flights dispersed variably to; Manston, Leconfield, Coltishall, Chivenor and Boulmer

RAF Germany

Bruggen: 14, 17, 20 and 31 Sqns Jaguar GR1/T2

Laarbruch: 2 Sqn Jaguar GR1/T2 and 15 & 16 Sqns Buccaneer S2

Wildenrath: 19 & 92 Sqns Phantom FGR2s and 60 Sqn Pembroke, Andover and HS125

Gutersloh: 3 and 4 Sqns Harrier GR3/T2/T4 18 Sqn Wessex HC2 and 230 Sqn Puma HC1

CYPRUS

Akrotiri: 84 Sqn Whirlwind HAR10

The list isn't entirely exhaustive, for example, there was a Chipmunk Flight at Gatow for observation. But nearly all from memory, maybe one or two corrections, but essentially this was it. Some units were hosted on airfields which were a part of a different Group/Command there were other active airfields, Church Fenton, Topciffe, Syerston, Colerne etc on care & maintenance or RLGs. Also, the aircraft MUs; Abingdon, St Athan which each had Oxford and London and Wales UAS' Also 5 MU at Kemble and 60 MU at Binbrook. And I think 2 FTS were at Church Fenton still with Bulldog T1s.
Further, there were the Bloodhound Bases; North Coates and West Raynham and early warning GCI stations at Neatishead, Staxton Wold, Boulmer, Buchan, Benbecula (also NATO forward operating base), Saxa Vord and just coming on line, Portreath near St Mawgan. Also GCI station at Troodoss in Cyprus and Belize Airport Camp, 1417 Flight Harrier GR3 and 1563 Flight Puma HC1 and Butcher Radar.

LF

[redcon]

Some errors here: Cottesmore lost 360 sqn and 115 sqn in around 1976, the former going to Wyton and the latter to Brize.

[Leuchars Fan]

Some errors here: Cottesmore lost 360 sqn and 115 sqn in around 1976, the former going to Wyton and the latter to Brize.

Exactly, there'll be one or two errors, I wasn't sure how far, for example, down the line at the time the TWUs were in re-equipping with Hawks. I do know it took a while, 234 and 79 Sqns each took turns in 1980 and 1981 at providing a Hunter FGA9 solo display to replace the Buccaneer which was under going a big old review regarding its airframe life etc. The TWUs were in effect standing in for the Buccaneer as best they could with Hunters operationally. Apologies if I've got my sense or priorities the wrong way round ie referring to display flying then the lesser requirement of actual operational flying!

LF

PS I've been through and provided some updates!

[Agent K]

Some errors here: Cottesmore lost 360 sqn and 115 sqn in around 1976, the former going to Wyton and the latter to Brize.

Exactly, there'll be one or two errors, I wasn't sure how far, for example, down the line at the time the TWUs were in re-equipping with Hawks. I do know it took a while, 234 and 79 Sqns each took turns in 1980 and 1981 at providing a Hunter FGA9 solo display to replace the Buccaneer which was under going a big old review regarding its airframe life etc. The TWUs were in effect standing in for the Buccaneer as best they could with Hunters operationally. Apologies if I've got my sense or priorities the wrong way round ie referring to display flying then the lesser requirement of actual operational flying!

LF

PS I've been through and provided some updates!

It's a superb list that brings back memories so thanks for sharing, my '79 copy is in the loft! and greetings from just up the A1 from you!

[Leuchars Fan]

Some errors here: Cottesmore lost 360 sqn and 115 sqn in around 1976, the former going to Wyton and the latter to Brize.

Exactly, there'll be one or two errors, I wasn't sure how far, for example, down the line at the time the TWUs were in re-equipping with Hawks. I do know it took a while, 234 and 79 Sqns each took turns in 1980 and 1981 at providing a Hunter FGA9 solo display to replace the Buccaneer which was under going a big old review regarding its airframe life etc. The TWUs were in effect standing in for the Buccaneer as best they could with Hunters operationally. Apologies if I've got my sense or priorities the wrong way round ie referring to display flying then the lesser requirement of actual operational flying!

LF

PS I've been through and provided some updates!

It's a superb list that brings back memories so thanks for sharing, my '79 copy is in the loft! and greetings from just up the A1 from you!

You're welcome Sir, were you in the RAF at the time?

LF

[Agent K]

You're welcome Sir, were you in the RAF at the time?

LF

I wasn't, no, just growing up near RAF Leeming and going to school/college around there, but was an aircraft enthusiast at a very young age, used to spend my holidays biking down to the end of the runway for the day and watching the vast variety we had in those days!, but I did make it through university and an air transport engineering degree and have spent the past 35 years working in the airline industry!

[Leuchars Fan]

You're welcome Sir, were you in the RAF at the time?

LF

I wasn't, no, just growing up near RAF Leeming and going to school/college around there, but was an aircraft enthusiast at a very young age, used to spend my holidays biking down to the end of the runway for the day and watching the vast variety we had in those days!, but I did make it through university and an air transport engineering degree and have spent the past 35 years working in the airline industry!

Superb! I finished training as what was then called an Aerospace Systems Operator (Air Defence Radar Operator) course 178, at West Drayton which then housed LATCC and another little known RAF outfit at the time called ADDC (Air Defence Data Centre). West Drayton had an ex-92 Sqn Lightning F2 as a Gate Guardian then. At the beginning of August 1978, I was posted to RAF Boulmer, this was an SOC/CRC (Sector Operations Centre/Control & Reporting Centre). Can't believe its now 42 years ago!

LF

[Thunder]

You still had 849 Sqn with Gannets at Lossiemouth in 1978, brings a tear to the eye reading that list.

[Agent K]

Superb! I finished training as what was then called an Aerospace Systems Operator (Air Defence Radar Operator) course 178, at West Drayton which then housed LATCC and another little known RAF outfit at the time called ADDC (Air Defence Data Centre). West Drayton had an ex-92 Sqn Lightning F2 as a Gate Guardian then. At the beginning of August 1978, I was posted to RAF Boulmer, this was an SOC/CRC (Sector Operations Centre/Control & Reporting Centre). Can't believe its now 42 years ago!

LF

Wonderful stuff, a good career there! Used to work with the West Drayton team back in the day on some avionics trials we were doing (TCAS and MLS).

[chas558]

Were 74 sqn stood down during this period at all

[Mike]

Were 74 sqn stood down during this period at all

Here's your answer :- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._74_Squadron_RAF