No. 12 Group of the

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...

was a group, a military formation, that existed over two separate periods, namely the end of the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

when it had a training function and from just prior to the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

until the early 1960s when it was tasked with an air defence role.

History

No. 12 Group was first formed on 1 April 1918 at

RAF Cranwell Royal Air Force Cranwell or more simply RAF Cranwell is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England, close to the village of Cranwell, near Sleaford. Among other functions, it is home to the Royal Air Force College (RAFC), which trai ...

Lincolnshire Lincolnshire (abbreviated Lincs.) is a county in the East Midlands of England, with a long coastline on the North Sea to the east. It borders Norfolk to the south-east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south-west, Leicestershire ...

, within No. 3 Area. It succeeded the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...

's Central Depot and Training Establishment which had been training naval aviators at Cranwell since 1916. The first RAF General Officer Commanding was Brigadier-General H D Briggs who received the appointment on promotion from

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

in the Royal Navy. On 8 May 1918 the group transferred to Midland Area, and then to Northern Area on 18 October 1919. On 1 November that year the Group ceased to exist when it became the

RAF (Cadet) College The Royal Air Force College (RAFC) is the Royal Air Force military academy which provides initial training to all RAF personnel who are preparing to become commissioned officers. The College also provides initial training to aircrew cadets and ...

. The group was reformed on 1 April 1937 in Fighter Command at RAF Uxbridge as No. 12 (Fighter) Group. It was the group responsible for aerial defence of the Midlands, Norfolk, Lincolnshire and North Wales. Construction of a purpose built site at

RAF Watnall RAF Watnall was the operational headquarters of No. 12 Group, RAF Fighter Command at Watnall in Nottinghamshire, England. History The station was established during the Second World War in Spring 1940 to act as headquarters for No. 12 Group ...

, a non-flying station, was not completed until late 1940, after which operations were relocated from nearby

RAF Hucknall Hucknall, formerly Hucknall Torkard, is a market town in the Ashfield district of Nottinghamshire, England. It lies 7 miles north of Nottingham, 7 miles south-east of Kirkby-in-Ashfield, 9 miles from Mansfield and 10 miles south of Sutton-in ...

. During the

this group was the second most important group of Fighter Command, and as such, it received its share of attacks from the German

Luftwaffe The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German ''Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabtei ...

throughout the war. The commander of 12 Group during the

Battle of Britain The Battle of Britain, also known as the Air Battle for England (german: die Luftschlacht um England), was a military campaign of the Second World War, in which the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) of the Royal Navy defende ...

was

Air Vice Marshal Air vice-marshal (AVM) 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 u ...

Trafford Leigh-Mallory, who was a rather ambitious man. Despite his length of service in the RAF, he was passed over for being named the Air Officer Commanding of the more vital 11 Group in favour of Air Vice Marshal

Keith Park Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Rodney Park, (15 June 1892 – 6 February 1975) was a New Zealand-born officer of the Royal Air Force (RAF). During the Second World War, his leadership of the RAF's No. 11 Group was pivotal to the Luftwaffe's defe ...

. Leigh-Mallory felt himself slighted over this and his relations with Park were poisoned thereafter. As well as regional defence, 12 Group were also supposed to provide fighter cover for 11 Group airfields during the

, but several times, these fields were left undefended. When Park complained about it, Leigh-Mallory responded that in order to test his Big Wing theory (espoused by

Squadron Leader Squadron leader (Sqn Ldr in the RAF ; SQNLDR in the RAAF and RNZAF; formerly sometimes S/L in all services) is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also ...

Douglas Bader), more time was needed to get the necessary squadrons airborne. Vj Day Parade and Service at RAF Watnall MH7627

The Big Wings met with mixed success, enough for the

Air Ministry The Air Ministry was a department of the Government of the United Kingdom with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964. It was under the political authority of the Secretary of State ...

to use it as an excuse to oust Park and

Air Chief Marshal Air chief marshal (Air Chf Mshl or ACM) is a high-ranking air officer originating from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. An air chief marshal is equivalent to an Admir ...

Hugh Dowding from their commands on the grounds that they had mismanaged the Battle of Britain. 613 Supermarine Spitfire F

After Park was ousted, Leigh-Mallory took over 11 Group. 12 Group still continued its assignment of defending the Midlands and supporting both 10 Group and 11 Group.

Group Headquarters moved to RAF Newton on 12 December 1946 and the operations block at Watnall was closed. RAF Fighter Command Group 12 Watnall Bunker (4)

RAF Fighter Command Group 12 Watnall Bunker (4)

Group HQ then moved again on 14 August 1959 to RAF Horsham St Faith. It was disbanded on 1 Apri l963 and replaced by No. 12 (East Anglian) Sector, it moved to

RAF Neatishead Remote Radar Head Neatishead ( ) or RRH Neatishead is an air defence radar station operated by the Royal Air Force. It is located approximately north east of Norwich in Norfolk, England. It was established during the Second World War and consi ...

on 29 May 1963. On 30 April 1968, as the new Strike Command came into existence, 12 Group passed into history when No. 12 Sector began Sector South within No. 11 Group RAF.

Commanders

The following officers had command of No. 12 Grou

1918 to 1919

*1 April 1918

Brigadier-General Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

H D Briggs *1 May 1919 Brigadier-General F R Scarlett

1937 to 1963

*1 April 1937 Air Vice-Marshal J H S Tyssen *4 December 1937 Air Vice-Marshal T L Leigh-Mallory *17 December 1940 Air Vice-Marshal R E Saul *29 November 1942 Air Vice-Marshal J O Andrews *1 June 1943 Air Vice-Marshal R M Hill *22 November 1943 Air Vice-Marshal M Henderson *1 January 1945 Air Vice-Marshal J W Baker *5 May 1946 Air Vice-Marshal T C TraillAir of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Air Vice Marshal T C Traill
/ref> *17 November 1948 Air Vice-Marshal G Harcourt-Smith *1 June 1951 Air Vice-Marshal R L R Atcherley *13 November 1953 Air Vice-Marshal W J Crisham *25 June 1956 Air Vice-Marshal H P Fraser *1 August 1958 Air Commodore C H Hartley (Chief of Staff as acting AOC) *1 January 1959 Air Vice-Marshal J R A Embling *20 July 1959 Air Vice-Marshal C H Hartley *1 June 1961 Air Vice-Marshal R N Bateson

References

Citations

Bibliography

* * {{Royal Air Force

012 012 may refer to: * Tyrrell 012, a Formula One racing car * The dialing code for Pretoria Pretoria () is South Africa's administrative capital, serving as the seat of the executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassie ...

Royal Air Force units and formations of the Battle of Britain Military units and formations established in 1918 Military units and formations in Nottinghamshire Organisations based in Nottinghamshire 012 Group RAF 1918 establishments in the United Kingdom