Fighter Command

RAF Fighter Command was one of the commands of the Royal Air Force. It was formed in 1936 to allow more specialised control of fighter aircraft. It served throughout the Second World War. It earned near-immortal fame during the Battle of Britain in 1940, when the Few held off the Luftwaffe attack on Britain. The Command continued until 17 November 1943, when it was disbanded and the RAF fighter force was split into two categories; defence and attack. The defensive force became Air Defence of Great Britain (ADGB) and the offensive force became the RAF Second Tactical Air Force. Air Defence of Great Britain was renamed back to Fighter Command in October 1944 and continued to provide defensive patrols around Great Britain. It was disbanded for the second time in 1968, when it was subsumed into the new Strike Command.

RAF Fighter Command Headquarters was located at RAF Bentley Priory, near Stanmore in North London. The commanding officer was Air Chief Marshal Hugh C.T. Dowding.

While based in England, Hornet Squadron operated as part of 11 Group.

Fighter groups

RAF Fighter Command order of battle September 1940

Group	Headquarters	Commanding officer	Area of operations
No. 9 Group RAF	RAF Barton Hall, Preston, Lancashire	Not yet appointed	Not yet defined
10 Group	RAF Box, Box, Wiltshire	Air Vice-Marshal Sir C J Quintin Brand	South West England and South Wales
11 Group	RAF Uxbridge, Hillingdon, Middlesex	Keith Park	South East England and London
12 Group	RAF Watnall, Nottinghamshire	Trafford Leigh-Mallory	Midlands, Mid Wales and North Wales
13 Group	RAF Newcastle, Kenton Bar, Newcastle upon Tyne	Richard Saul	North of England and Scotland
14 Group	Drumossie Hotel, Inverness	Malcolm Henderson	Scotland

Sector stations and satellite aerodromes

Sector stations had sector control rooms as well as the usual features of RAF aerodromes; they were able to control RAF fighter formations during the battle. Sector stations were also able to disperse squadrons to satellite aerodromes, most of which were fully equipped.

Sector	Group	Sector station	Radio call sign	Satellite airfield or airfields
A	11	RAF Tangmere	SHORTJACK	RAF Westhampnett
B	11	RAF Kenley	TOPHAT	Croydon Airport
C	11	RAF Biggin Hill	SAPPER	RAF West Malling, RAF Gravesend
D	11	RAF Hornchurch	LUMBA	RAF Gravesend, RAF Rochford, RAF Manston, RAF Hawkinge
E	11	RAF North Weald	COWSLIP	RAF Stapleford Tawney, RAF Martlesham Heath
F	11	RAF Debden	GARTER	RAF Martlesham Heath
G	12	RAF Duxford		RAF Fowlme
K	12	RAF Wittering		RAF Coltishall
L	12	RAF Digby		RAF Ternhill
M	12	RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey
N	12	RAF Church Fenton		RAF Leconfield
O	13	RAF Usworth		RAF Catterick
P	13	RAF Acklington
Q	13	RAF Turnhouse		RAF Drem, RAF Grangemouth
R	13	RAF Dyce		RAF Grangemouth
S	13	RAF Wick		Kirkwall Airport, RAF Sumburgh
W	10	RAF Filton		RAF Boscombe Down, RAF Colerne, RAF Pembrey
Y	10	AAC Middle Wallop	STARLIGHT	RAF Boscombe Down, RAF Warmwell, RAF Exeter, some control over RNAS Roborough, RAF St Eval
Z	11	RAF Northolt		RAF Hendon

Stations and squadrons

Table of stations and squadrons

Sector Station	Squadron	Aircraft type	Squadron code	Radio call sign	Aerodrome assigned to	Commanding officer
10 Group
RAF Middle Wallop	No. 238 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	VK		RAF Middle Wallop	Sqn Ldr Harold Arthur Fenton
RAF Middle Wallop	No. 609 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	PR	SORBO	RAF Warmwell	Sqn Ldr Horace Stanley Darley
RAF Middle Wallop	No. 604 (Night Fighter) Sqn	Bristol Blenheim & Bristol Beaufighter	NG		RAF Middle Wallop	Sqn Ldr Michael Frederick Anderson
RAF Middle Wallop	No. 23 Sqn (part)	Bristol Blenheim	YP		RAF Middle Wallop	Sqn Ldr George Francis Wheaton Heycock
RAF Middle Wallop	No. 152 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	UM	MAIDA	RAF Warmwell	Sqn Ldr Peter K Devitt
RAF Middle Wallop	No. 56 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	US	BAFFIN	RAF Boscombe Down	Sqn Ldr Herbert Moreton Pinfold
RAF Filton	No. 79 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	NV	PANSY	RAF Pembrey	Sqn Ldr J Hervey Heyworth
RAF Filton	No. 87 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	LK	SUNCUP	RAF Exeter, RAF Bibury	Flt Lt R S Mills
RAF Filton	No. 601 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	UF	WEAPON	RAF Filton	Flt Lt Sir Archibald Philip Hope (Acting CO)
RAF Filton	No. 234 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	AZ	CRESSY	RAF St Eval	Minden Vaughan Blake
RAF Filton	No. 236 (Coastal Command) Sqn	Bristol Blenheim	FA		RAF St Eval	Sqn Ldr G W Montagu
RAF Filton	No. 247 Sqn	Gloster Gladiator	HP		RNAS Roborough	Flight Lieutenant Hugh Addison Chater
11 Group
RAF Biggin Hill	No. 72 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	RN	TENNIS	RAF Biggin Hill	Sqn Ldr A R Collins
RAF Biggin Hill	No. 92 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	QJ	GANNIC	RAF Biggin Hill	Sqn Ldr P J Sanders
RAF Biggin Hill	No. 141 Sqn (half)	Boulton Paul Defiant	TW		RAF Biggin Hill	Sqn Ldr W A Richardson
RAF Biggin Hill	No. 66 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	LZ	FIBUS	RAF Gravesend	Sqn Ldr Rupert Leigh
RAF North Weald	No. 249 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	GN	GANER	RAF Middle Wallop	Sqn Ldr John Grandy
RAF North Weald	No. 23 Sqn (part)	Bristol Blenheim	YP		RAF North Weald	Sqn Ldr George Francis Wheaton Heycock
RAF North Weald	No. 46 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	PO	ANGEL	RAF Stapleford	Sqn Ldr J R MacLachlan
RAF Kenley	No. 253 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	SW		RAF Kenley	Sqn Ldr E R Bitmead
RAF Kenley	No. 501 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	SD	VICEROY	RAF Kenley	Sqn Ldr Harry A V Hogan
RAF Kenley	No. 605 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	UP	TURKEY	RAF Croydon	Sqn Ldr Walter A Churchill
RAF Hornchurch	No. 603 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	XT	VIKEN	RAF Hornchurch	Sqn Ldr George Lovell Denholm
RAF Hornchurch	No. 600 (Night Fighter) Sqn	Bristol Blenheim & Bristol Beaufighter	BQ		RAF Hornchurch	Sqn Ldr H L Maxwell
RAF Hornchurch	No. 41 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	EB	MITOR	RAF Hornchurch	Sqn Ldr Donald O. Finlay
RAF Hornchurch	No. 222 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	ZD	KOTEL	RAF Hornchurch	Sqn Ldr John H Hill
RAF Tangmere	No. 213 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	AK	BEARSKIN	RAF Tangmere	Flt Lt D S Wilson-Macdonald
RAF Tangmere	No. 607 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	AF		RAF Tangmere	Sqn Ldr James A Vick
RAF Tangmere	No. 602 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	LO	VILLA	RAF Westhampnett	Sqn Ldr A V R "Sandy" Johnstone DFC
RAF Tangmere	No. 23 Sqn (part)	Bristol Blenheim & Bristol Beaufighter	YP		RAF Ford	Sqn Ldr George Francis Wheaton Heycock
RAF Debden	No. 17 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	YB	EDEY	RAF Debden	Sqn Ldr A G Miller
RAF Debden	No. 73 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	TP		RAF Debden	Sqn Ldr Mike L Beytagh
RAF Debden	No. 257 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	DT	ALERT	RAF Martlesham Heath	Sqn Ldr Robert Stanford Tuck DFC
RAF Debden	No. 25 Squadron RAF (part)	Bristol Blenheim	ZK		RAF Martlesham Heath	Sqn Ldr Wilfred William Loxton
RAF Northolt	No. 1 Sqn RCAF	Hawker Hurricane	YO	CARIBOU	RAF Northolt	Sqn Ldr Ernest A McNab
RAF Northolt	No. 229 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	RE	KETA	RAF Northolt	Sqn Ldr Harry J Maguire
RAF Northolt	No. 303 (Polish) Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	RF	APANY	RAF Northolt	Sqn Ldr Ronald Gustave Kellet DSO DFC
RAF Northolt	No. 264 Sqn (part)	Boulton Paul Defiant	PS		RAF Northolt	Sqn Ldr George Desmond Garvin
RAF Northolt	No. 504 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	TM		RAF Hendon	Sqn Ldr John Sample
12 Group
RAF Duxford	No. 242 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	LE	LORAG	RAF Duxford	Sqn Ldr Douglas Bader
RAF Duxford	No. 302 (Polish) Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	WX	CALEB	RAF Duxford	Sqn Ldr W A Jack Satchell / Sqn Ldr M V M Mumler
RAF Duxford	No. 310 (Czech) Sqn	Hawker Hurricane,	NN	CALLA	RAF Duxford	Flt Lt G Douglas M Blackwood / Sqn Ldr A Sasha Hess
RAF Duxford	No. 19 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	QV	LUTON	RAF Fowlmere	Sqn Ldr Brian John Edward Lane DFC (RAF officer)
RAF Coltishall	No. 74 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	ZP	DYSOE	RAF Wittering	Sqn Ldr Adolph G "Sailor" Malan
RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey	No. 616 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	QJ	RADPOE	RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey	Flt Lt H F "Billy" Burton
RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey	No. 264 Sqn (part)	Boulton Paul Defiant	PS		RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey	Sqn Ldr George Desmond Garvin
RAF Digby	No. 151 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	DZ		RAF Digby
RAF Digby	No. 611 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	FY	CHARLIE	RAF Digby	Sqn Ldr Jim E McComb
RAF Digby	No. 29 (Night Fighter) Sqn	Bristol Blenheim & Bristol Beaufighter	RO		RAF Digby	Sqn Ldr Stan C Widdows
RAF Wittering	No. 1 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	JX		RAF Wittering	Sqn Ldr David A Pemberton DFC
RAF Wittering	No. 266 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	UO		RAF Wittering	Patrick Geraint Jameson DFC
RAF Church Fenton	No. 85 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	VY	HYDRO	RAF Church Fenton	Sqn Ldr Peter Wooldridge Townsend DFC
RAF Church Fenton	No. 306 (Polish) Sqn (part)	Hawker Hurricane	UZ		RAF Church Fenton	Sqn Ldr D R Scott
RAF Church Fenton	No. 64 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	SH	FREEMA	RAF Leconfield / RAF Ringway	Sqn Ldr Don McDonell
13 Group
RAF Usworth	No. 54 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	KL	RABBIT	RAF Catterick	Flt Lt F P R Dunworth
RAF Usworth	No. 219 (Night Fighter) Sqn (part)	Bristol Blenheim & Bristol Beaufighter	FK		RAF Catterick	Sqn Ldr J H Little
RAF Usworth	No. 43 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	FT		RAF Usworth	Tom F Dalton Morgan DFC
RAF Acklington	No. 32 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	GZ	JACKO	RAF Acklington	Flt Lt Mike N Crossley
RAF Acklington	No. 219 (Night Fighter) Sqn (part)	Bristol Blenheim	FK		RAF Acklington	Sqn Ldr J H Little
RAF Turnhouse	No. 3 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	QO		RAF Turnhouse	Sqn Ldr S F Gooden
RAF Turnhouse	No. 65 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	YT		RAF Turnhouse	Sqn Ldr A L Holland
RAF Turnhouse	No. 141 Sqn	Boulton Paul Defiant	TW		RAF Turnhouse	Sqn Ldr W A Richardson
RAF Turnhouse	No. 111 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	JU	WAGON	RAF Drem	Sqn Ldr John M Thompson DFC
RAF Turnhouse	No. 263 Sqn	Westland Whirlwind	HE		RAF Drem	Fg Off T P Pugh
RAF Dyce	No. 145 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	SO	PATIN	RAF Roborough	Sqn Ldr John R A Peel
RAF Wick	No. 232 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	EF		RAF Roborough	Fg Off M M Stephens DFC & Bar
RAF Aldergrove	No. 245 Sqn	Hawker Hurricane	DX		RAF Roborough	Sqn Ldr E W Whitley DFC
RAF Biggin Hill	No.610 Sqn	Supermarine Spitfire	DW		RAF Biggin Hill	Sqn ldr J Ellis DFC & Bar