# No. 38 Group RAF

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Group command element of the Royal Air Force

No. 38 Group RAF No. 38 Group badge Active 6 November 1943 – 31 January 1951 1 January 1960 – 18 November 1983 31 October 1992 – 1 April 2000 1 July 2014 – 31 December 2020 Country United Kingdom Branch Royal Air Force Type Royal Air Force group Part of RAF Transport Command RAF Air Support Command RAF Strike Command RAF Air Command Motto Par Nobile Fratrum (Latin for 'A noble pair of brothers')[1] Insignia Group badge heraldry An eagle's leg grasping a sword

Military unit

**No. 38 Group RAF** was a [group](/source/Group_(military_unit)#Commonwealth_nations) of the [Royal Air Force](/source/Royal_Air_Force) which disbanded on 31 December 2020. It was formed on 6 November 1943 from the former 38 Wing with nine squadrons as part of Allied Expeditionary Air Force (AEAF). It was disbanded on 31 January 1951, but re-formed on 1 January 1960, became part of [RAF Air Support Command](/source/RAF_Air_Support_Command) in 1967 and then, in 1972, the air support group within [RAF Strike Command](/source/RAF_Strike_Command). It was temporarily disbanded from 18 Nov 1983 to 31 Oct 1992 and from 1 April 2000 to 1 July 2014. It subsequently became part of [RAF Air Command](/source/RAF_Air_Command), bringing together the Royal Air Force’s Engineering, Logistics, Communications and Medical Operations units.[2] Air Officer Commanding No. 38 Group was also responsible for UK-based United States Visiting Forces (USVF) units and for RAF personnel attached to other global armed forces.[3]

## History

The predecessor of 38 Group was **No. 38 Wing RAF**, initially formed on 15 January 1942 from [296](/source/No._296_Squadron_RAF) and [297 Squadrons](/source/No._297_Squadron_RAF) and based at [RAF Netheravon](/source/Netheravon_Airfield) in Wiltshire under Group Captain Sir [Nigel Norman](/source/Nigel_Norman). [295 Squadron](/source/No._295_Squadron_RAF) was additionally formed at Netheravon on 3 August 1942. To these were added [570](/source/No._570_Squadron_RAF), [298](/source/No._298_Squadron_RAF), [299](/source/No._299_Squadron_RAF), [190](/source/No._190_Squadron_RAF), [196](/source/No._196_Squadron_RAF), [620](/source/No._620_Squadron_RAF) Squadrons to form No. 38 Group on 11 October 1943. At that time four squadrons were equipped with [Armstrong Whitworth Albemarles](/source/Armstrong_Whitworth_Albemarle) (295, 296, 297, 570), one with [Handley Page Halifaxes](/source/Handley_Page_Halifax) (298) and four with [Short Stirlings](/source/Short_Stirling) (299, 190, 196, 620). A further Halifax unit, [644 Squadron](/source/No._644_Squadron_RAF), was added in February 1944.

During 1943, changes of all aircraft types and operational bases were made. Nevertheless 295, 296 and 297 Squadrons were heavily involved that year in operations [Beggar](/source/Operation_Turkey_Buzzard), [Ladbroke](/source/Operation_Ladbroke) and [Fustian](/source/Operation_Fustian), during the invasion of [Sicily](/source/Sicily). From February 1944 many sorties were made over mainland Europe in support of [Special Operations Executive](/source/Special_Operations_Executive) and detachments of the [Special Air Service](/source/Special_Air_Service).

But by 5 June 1944 the group’s updated resources had been fully redeployed between [RAF Brize Norton](/source/RAF_Brize_Norton), [RAF Fairford](/source/RAF_Fairford), [RAF Harwell](/source/RAF_Harwell), [RAF Keevil](/source/RAF_Keevil) and [RAF Tarrant Rushton](/source/RAF_Tarrant_Rushton) in preparation for [Operation Overlord](/source/Operation_Overlord), the invasion of Europe. From then to 16 June the Group was fully involved in operations [Tonga](/source/Operation_Tonga) (the delivery of paratroop-filled gliders at the onset of Overlord) and [Mallard](/source/Operation_Mallard) (the delivery of the main airborne forces and their equipment by glider).

In September 1944 the group was called upon to ferry airborne troops for [Operation Market Garden](/source/Operation_Market_Garden), the abortive attempt to capture the Rhine bridge at [Arnhem](/source/Arnhem). Following that operation there was further reorganisation; the Group Headquarters moved to [Marks Hall](/source/Earls_Colne_Airfield), Essex in October 1944 and the squadrons were redeployed to [RAF Earls Colne](/source/Earls_Colne_Airfield) (296 and 297), [RAF Rivenhall](/source/RAF_Rivenhall) (295 and 570), [RAF Great Dunmow](/source/RAF_Great_Dunmow) (190 and 620), [RAF Wethersfield](/source/MDP_Wethersfield) (later to [RAF Shepherds Grove](/source/RAF_Shepherds_Grove)) (196 and 299) and [RAF Woodbridge](/source/RAF_Woodbridge) (298 and 644). 190 Squadron remained temporarily at [RAF Fairford](/source/RAF_Fairford). On 10 March 1945 [161 Squadron](/source/No._161_Squadron_RAF) at [RAF Tempsford](/source/RAF_Tempsford) also came under 38 Group control.

On 24 March 1945 the squadrons were fully employed in delivering airborne troops to the far bank of the Rhine as part of [Operation Varsity](/source/Operation_Varsity), an operation which proved costly in terms of aircrew lives lost.

After the war most 38 Group squadrons were either disbanded or relocated to the Far East and the HQ moved to [RAF Upavon](/source/RAF_Upavon). 295 and 297 Squadrons merged and moved to Fairford. 38 Group became part of [RAF Transport Command](/source/RAF_Transport_Command) on 1 June 1945.

In 1972, Headquarters 38 Group moved from [RAF Odiham](/source/RAF_Odiham), Hants, where it had been since 1960, to [RAF Benson](/source/RAF_Benson), Oxon.[4] Also that year, on 1 July 1972, it became part of the new [RAF Strike Command](/source/RAF_Strike_Command). [No. 46 Group RAF](/source/No._46_Group_RAF) was merged into 38 Group on 1 January 1976.[5] On 17 November 1983, 38 Group was subsumed within Headquarters [No. 1 Group RAF](/source/No._1_Group_RAF) at RAF Upavon in [Wiltshire](/source/Wiltshire).[6]

38 Group was again active during the 1990s from 1 November 1992[7] to 2000.

From 2014, the reformed group had units at [RAF Wittering](/source/RAF_Wittering), [RAF Brize Norton](/source/RAF_Brize_Norton), [RAF High Wycombe](/source/RAF_High_Wycombe) and [RAF Leeming](/source/RAF_Leeming). The reformed group now includes RAF A4 Force Elements (deployable engineering and logistic units), [Tactical Medical Wing](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tactical_Medical_Wing&action=edit&redlink=1) at Brize Norton, and [Tactical Communications Wing RAF](/source/Tactical_Communications_Wing_RAF) at RAF Leeming.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] On 1 April 2015 38 Group assumed responsibility for the [Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue Service](/source/Royal_Air_Force_Mountain_Rescue_Service) (MRS) with its three teams at [RAF Lossiemouth](/source/RAF_Lossiemouth), [RAF Leeming](/source/RAF_Leeming) and [RAF Valley](/source/RAF_Valley) where it is co-located with the MRS Headquarters.

38 Group was disbanded on 31 December 2020, with the units under its command dispersed to other groups and areas of the RAF, including the newly formed integrated Support Force.[8] In 2025 a D-Day memorial sculpture to the 6th Airborne Division, No. 38 Group RAF, and the [Glider Pilot Regiment](/source/Glider_Pilot_Regiment), inspired by the form of the fuselage of the wooden [Horsa gliders](/source/Airspeed_Horsa) was unveiled on the site of the former [RAF Harwell](/source/RAF_Harwell).[9][10]

## Orders of battle

### 1944

Order of battle for No. 38 Group RAF, 6 June 1944[11] Station Squadron Aircraft No Operational RAF Brize Norton 296 297 Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle 37 36 RAF Fairford 190 620 Short Stirling Short Stirling 33 30 RAF Harwell 295 570 Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle 34 36 RAF Keevil 196 299 Short Stirling Short Stirling 36 35 RAF Tarrant Rushton 298 644 Handley Page Halifax Handley Page Halifax 30 21

### 1945

Order of battle for No. 38 Group RAF, July 1945[12] Station Squadron Aircraft RAF Earls Colne 296 297 Handley Page Halifax Handley Page Halifax RAF Great Dunmow 190 620 Handley Page Halifax Handley Page Halifax RAF Rivenhall 295 570 Short Stirling Short Stirling RAF Shepherds Grove 196 299 Short Stirling Short Stirling RAF Tarrant Rushton 298 644 Handley Page Halifax Handley Page Halifax

### 1962

Order of battle for No. 38 Group RAF, April 1962[13] Station Squadron Aircraft RAF Abingdon 47 53 Blackburn Beverley Blackburn Beverley RAF Aldergrove 118 Bristol Sycamore RAF Colerne 24 36 Handley Page Hastings Handley Page Hastings RAF Odiham 66 72 225 230 Bristol Belvedere Bristol Belvedere Bristol Sycamore/Westland Whirlwind Scottish Aviation Pioneer RAF Waterbeach 1 54 64 Hawker Hunter Hawker Hunter Gloster Javelin

### 1982

Order of battle for No. 38 Group RAF, January 1982[14] Station Squadron Aircraft RAF Aldergrove 72 Westland Wessex Ladyville, Belize 1417 Flt. Hawker Siddeley Harrier RAF Brize Norton 10 115 Vickers VC10 Hawker Siddeley Andover RAF Coltishall 6 41 54 SEPECAT Jaguar SEPECAT Jaguar SEPECAT Jaguar RAF Lyneham 24 30 47 70 Lockheed C-130 Hercules Lockheed C-130 Hercules Lockheed C-130 Hercules Lockheed C-130 Hercules RAF Northolt 32 207 Hawker Siddeley Andover/Westland Gazelle/British Aerospace 125/Westland Whirlwind de Havilland Devon RAF Odiham 18 33 Boeing Chinook Westland Puma RAF Wittering 1 Hawker Siddeley Harrier

### 2016

Order **of Battle for No. 38 Group RAF, December 2016**

Formation Unit Sub-unit Role Location RAF Wittering Operations Wing Aerodrome Management Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire Support Wing Service Support RAF A4 Force Elements[15] No 1 Air Mobility Wing Operations Squadron Movements RAF Brize Norton Air Movements Squadron UK Mobile Air Movements Squadron No 42 (Expeditionary Support) Wing No 71 (Inspection and Repair) Squadron Aircraft engineering RAF Wittering No 93 (Expeditionary Armaments) Squadron Weapons engineering RAF Marham No 5001 Squadron Ground engineering RAF Wittering No. 5131 (Bomb Disposal) Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal RAF Wittering No. 85 (Expeditionary Logistics) Wing No 1 Expeditionary Logistics Squadron Supply RAF Wittering No 2 Mechanical Transport Squadron Transport RAF Wittering No 3 Mobile Catering Squadron Catering and accommodation management RAF Wittering No 501 (County of Gloucester) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force Logistics RAF Brize Norton No 504 (County of Nottingham) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force RAF Wittering No 605 (County of Warwick) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force RAF Cosford RAF Mountain Rescue Service RAF Valley; RAF Leeming; RAF Lossiemouth Joint Aircraft Recovery and Transportation Squadron MOD Boscombe Down No 4624 (County of Oxford) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force Movements RAF Brize Norton RAF Music Services[16] The Central Band of the Royal Air Force Ceremonial RAF Northolt The Band of the RAF Regiment The RAF Salon Orchestra The Band of the Royal Air Force College RAF College Cranwell The Band of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force RAF High Wycombe Support to collocated headquarters Buckinghamshire No. 90 Signals Unit Tactical Communications Wing No 2 Field Communications Squadron Communications RAF Leeming No 3 Field Communications Squadron No 4 Field Communications Squadron Operational Information Services Wing No 1 (Engineering Support) Squadron No 5 (Information Services) Squadron Capability and Innovation Squadron RAF Medical Operations RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine[17] Medical Support RAF Henlow Tactical Medical Wing[18] Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron Medical Support RAF Brize Norton Operations Squadron Capability and Sustainment Squadron Training Squadron No 612 (County of Aberdeen) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force Air Transportable Surgical Leuchars Station No 4626 (County of Wiltshire) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force Aeromedical Evacuation RAF Brize Norton

## Commanding officers

### 38 Wing

Commanding officers no. 38 Wing RAF[19] Date Name 19 January 1942 Air Commodore Sir Nigel Norman (Killed on duty 19 May 1943) 29 April 1943 Air Commodore William H Primrose

### 38 Group

Commanding officers no. 38 Group RAF[20] Date Name 6 November 1943 Air Vice-Marshal Leslie Norman Hollinghurst 18 October 1944 Air Vice-Marshal James Rowland Scarlett-Streatfield 1 June 1945 Air Commodore Noel Christie Singer 1 August 1945 Air Vice-Marshal Ronald Ivelaw-Chapman 5 November 1946 Air Vice-Marshal Arthur Leonard Fiddament 17 January 1949 Air Vice-Marshal Alfred Charles Henry Sharp 25 January 1950 Air Vice-Marshal Edgar James Kingston-McClaughry 1 January 1960 Air Vice-Marshal Peter Wykeham 27 July 1962 Air Vice-Marshal T W Piper 1 January 1965 Air Vice-Marshal Leslie Mavor 1 March 1966 Air Vice-Marshal Peter C Fletcher 1 August 1967 Air Vice-Marshal Harold Brownlow Martin 24 June 1970 Air Vice-Marshal Denis Crowley-Milling 21 February 1972 Air Vice-Marshal Frederick S Hazlewood 2 November 1974 Air Vice-Marshal Peter G K Williamson 10 December 1977 Air Vice-Marshal Joseph A Gilbert 27 February 1980 Air Vice-Marshal Donald P Hall 1984–1985 Air Vice-Marshal David Parry-Evans 15 January 1993 Air Vice-Marshal J A G May 1994 Air Vice-Marshal David Cousins 21 April 1995 Air Vice-Marshal David A Hurrell 30 January 1998 Air Vice-Marshal Philip Sturley 2 July 2014 Air Vice-Marshal Tim Bishop [2] 16 June 2016 Air Vice-Marshal Susan C Gray[21] December 2018 Air Vice-Marshal Simon D Ellard [22]

## See also

- [List of Royal Air Force groups](/source/List_of_Royal_Air_Force_groups)

- [List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons](/source/List_of_Royal_Air_Force_aircraft_squadrons)

## References

### Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Pine, L.G. (1983). [*A dictionary of mottoes*](https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofmott00tion/page/166) (1 ed.). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. p. [166](https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofmott00tion/page/166). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7100-9339-X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7100-9339-X).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-38GroupReform_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-38GroupReform_2-1) [RAF 38 Group Reforming Parade 2 July 14](http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/raf-38-group-reforming-parade-03072014)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [About RAF 38 Group](https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/groups/no-38-group/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [*Flight International* 27 April 1972](http://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1972/1972%20-%201006.PDF)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Gps30-48_5-0)** Barrass, M. B. (2015). ["Groups 30–48"](http://www.rafweb.org/Organsation/Grp04.htm). *Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation*. Retrieved 29 April 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Horseman, Martin, ed. (January 1983). "RAF Groups HQ to Merge". *Armed Forces*. Shepperton: Ian Allan. p. 7. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0142-4696](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0142-4696).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMarch199387_7-0)** [March 1993](#CITEREFMarch1993), p. 87.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Royal Air Force Disbands Historical D-Day Group"](https://www.raf.mod.uk/). *Royal Air Force*. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["D-Day tribute sculpture unveiled at former RAF Harwell airbase"](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly36yq1yzzo). *BBC News*. 6 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["War Memorial"](https://www.harwellcampus.com/war_memorial/). *Harwell Campus*. Retrieved 12 June 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [Operation Neptune Order of Battle](http://webstats.ordersofbattle.darkscape.net/site/ww2/drleo/017_britain/44-06-06_Neptune/Air/z-air_Group-038.htm)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDelve199481_12-0)** [Delve 1994](#CITEREFDelve1994), p. 81.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDelve199488-89_13-0)** [Delve 1994](#CITEREFDelve1994), p. 88-89.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDelve199491_14-0)** [Delve 1994](#CITEREFDelve1994), p. 91.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** here, RAF Details. ["RAF - A4 Force"](http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafwittering/aboutus/a4force.cfm). *www.raf.mod.uk*. Retrieved 28 December 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** here, RAF Details. ["RAF - About us"](http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafmusic/aboutus/). *www.raf.mod.uk*. Retrieved 28 December 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Centre for Aviation Medicine"](https://cms.raf.mod.uk/rafhenlow/rafcms/mediafiles/FBBA5A93_5056_A318_A8FB42B27F48F99F.jpg).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** here, RAF Details. ["RAF - Tactical Medical Wing"](http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafbrizenorton/organisation/tmwhome.cfm). *www.raf.mod.uk*. Retrieved 28 December 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-raf38Group.org_19-0)** ["Air Officers Commanding No.38 Wing & No.38 Group"](https://raf38group.org/air-officers-commanding-no-38-wing-no-38-group/). Retrieved 29 October 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** [https://raf38group.org/air-officers-commanding-no-38-wing-no-38-group/](https://raf38group.org/air-officers-commanding-no-38-wing-no-38-group/) Officers Commanding RAF 38 Group until 1950.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["RAF - Senior Appointments"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140929024307/http://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/senior-appointments.cfm). Archived from [the original](http://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/senior-appointments.cfm) on 29 September 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["Senior Appointments | Royal Air Force"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180422062704/https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/senior-appointments/). Archived from [the original](https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/senior-appointments/) on 22 April 2018.

### Bibliography

- Delve, K. (1994). *The Source Book of the RAF*. [Shrewsbury](/source/Shrewsbury), UK: Airlife Publishing. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-85310-451-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-85310-451-5).

- March, P. (1993). *Royal Air Force Yearbook 1993*. [Fairford](/source/Fairford), UK: Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.

## External links

- [Group history on RAF 38 Group website](https://raf38group.org/no-38-wing-no-38-group-history-with-maps/)

- [No 38 Group](https://raf.mod.uk/news/articles/royal-air-force-disbands-historical-d-day-group1/)

- [Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation](https://web.archive.org/web/20100328153100/http://www.rafweb.org/Grp04.htm)

- [Arnhem forces](http://www.pegasusarchive.org/arnhem/order_raf.htm)

v t e Royal Air Force Formations and units Units Commands Groups Wings Squadrons Flights Conversion units Operational Training units Schools / Training units Ferry units Glider units Misc units Stations Active Former Satellite Landing Grounds Station description Regiment Wings Squadrons Flights Branches and components Air Force Board RAF Regiment RAF Chaplains Branch RAF Intelligence RAF Legal Branch RAF Medical Services Princess Mary's RAF Nursing Service RAF Police RAF ground trades RAF Music Services RAF Search and Rescue Force RAF Mountain Rescue Service RAF Marine Branch RAF Air Cadets Operations Reserve forces Royal Auxiliary Air Force RAF Volunteer Reserve Equipment List of RAF aircraft current future List of RAF missiles List of equipment of the RAF Regiment Personnel Officer ranks Other ranks List of notable personnel List of serving senior officers Personnel numbers Appointments Chief of Air Staff Assistant Chief of the Air Staff Air Member for Personnel Air Secretary Air Member for Materiel Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment Warrant Officer of the RAF Symbols and uniform Badge Ensign Heraldic badges Roundels Squadron standards and battle honours Uniform Associated civil organisations Air Training Corps Combined Cadet Force (RAF section) RAF Association RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine RAF Benevolent Fund RAF Football Association RAF Museum History Timeline Future

v t e Royal Air Force groups Active No. 1 Group RAF No. 2 Group RAF No. 11 Group RAF No. 22 Group RAF No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group Disbanded 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11/18 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 38 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 50 51 54 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 70 71 72 81 82 84 85 87 88 90 (Signals) 91 92 93 100 106 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 238 241 242 246 247 300 333 1 (Indian) 2 (Indian) 3 (Indian) 4 (Indian) 'X' 'Z' Composite

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [No. 38 Group RAF](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._38_Group_RAF) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._38_Group_RAF?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.