No. 20 (Training) Group RAF
Royal Air Force Ensign
Active1 April 1918 – 1 October 1919
30 November 1939 – 1 August 1943
Disbanded1 August 1943
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
TypeRoyal Air Force group
RoleMilitary aviation training
Part ofRAF Training Command (November 1939 – May 1940)
RAF Technical Training Command (May 1940 – August 1943)
Garrison/HQBuntingsdale Hall (1939–1943)
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Air Vice-Marshal Sir Christopher Joseph Quintin Brand KBE, DSO, MC, DFC

No. 20 Group RAF (20 Gp) is a former Royal Air Force group which disbanded on 1 August 1943. It initially existed between 1918 and 1919, and then again between 1939 and 1943.

History

First World War

No. 20 Group formed on 1 April 1918 within No. 5 Area, in Edinburgh on 1 April 1918. On 8 May 1918, No. 5 Area was redesignated North-Western Area. It absorbed No. 21 Group on 1 July, and was then redesignated as No. 20 (Training) Group on 8 August. On 1 October 1919, No. 20 Group was absorbed into No. 17 Group.[1]

Second World War

On 30 November 1939 No. 20 (Training) Group reformed at Buntingsdale Hall, Market Drayton, in Shropshire, within RAF Training Command. A number of various Technical Training Schools and Recruits Receiving Centres, were initially within No. 20 (Training) Group. On 27 May 1940, No. 20 Group was transferred into RAF Technical Training Command. On 1 August 1943, the group was absorbed into No. 22 Group RAF.[1]

Structure

Schools and Centres

At formation, No. 20 Group was initially responsible for various Technical Training Schools and Recruits Receiving Centres:[1][2]

Schools of Technical Training

  • No. 3 School of Technical Training RAF
  • No. 6 School of Technical Training RAF
  • No. 8 School of Technical Training RAF
  • No. 9 School of Technical Training RAF
  • No. 10 School of Technical Training RAF

Recruits Receiving Centre

  • No. 3 Recruit Receiving Centre RAF
  • No. 4 Recruit Receiving Centre RAF
  • No. 5 Recruit Receiving Centre RAF
  • No. 6 Recruit Receiving Centre RAF
  • No. 7 Recruit Receiving Centre RAF

Air Officer Commanding

Note: The ranks shown are the ranks held at the time of holding the appointment of Air Officer Commanding, No. 20 Group Royal Air Force.[1]
Air Vice Marshal Sir Christopher Joseph Quintin Brand KBE, DSO, MC, DFC
No. 20 Group commanding officers
Rank name from
Lieutenant colonel Sir William Gore Sutherland Mitchell April 1918
Disbanded September 1919
Air Vice-Marshal Sir Lionel McKean December 1939
Air Vice-Marshal Arthur John Capel March 1941
Air Vice-Marshal Sir Quintin Brand July 1941

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Group No's 20 – 29". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  2. ↑ Delve 1994, p. 55,60,66.

Bibliography

  • Delve, Ken (1994). The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
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