{{Short description|Former command of the Royal Air Force}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Use British English|date=July 2015}} {{Infobox Military Unit |unit_name= Home Command |image=RAFHomecommand.png |caption= RAF Home Command badge |start_date=1 February 1939 |end_date=27 May 1940<br>1 May 1946&ndash;1 April 1959 |country= {{UK}} |allegiance= |branch= {{Air force|UK}} |type= |role= |size= |command_structure= |garrison= Wantage Hall, University of Reading |garrison_label= |equipment= |equipment_label= |nickname= |patron= |motto= ''Support''<ref>{{cite book|last1=Pine|first1=L.G.|title=A dictionary of mottoes|date=1983|publisher=Routledge & Kegan Paul|location=London|isbn=0-7100-9339-X|page=[https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofmott00tion/page/226 226]|edition=1|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofmott00tion/page/226}}</ref> |colors= |colors_label= |march= |mascot= |battles= |anniversaries= |decorations= |battle_honours= <!-- Commanders --> |current_commander= |current_commander_label= |ceremonial_chief= |ceremonial_chief_label= |colonel_of_the_regiment= |colonel_of_the_regiment_label= |notable_commanders= <!-- Insignia --> |identification_symbol= |identification_symbol_label= |identification_symbol_2= |identification_symbol_2_label= <!-- Aircraft --> |aircraft_attack= |aircraft_bomber= |aircraft_electronic= |aircraft_fighter= |aircraft_interceptor= |aircraft_recon= |aircraft_patrol= |aircraft_trainer= |aircraft_transport= }} '''RAF Home Command''' was the Royal Air Force command that was responsible for the maintenance and training of reserve organisations<ref>John D. Rawlings, 'The History of the Royal Air Force,' Temple Press Aerospace, Feltham, Middlesex, 1984, p.180</ref> from formation on 1 February 1939 as RAF Reserve Command with interruptions until it ceased to exist on 1 April 1959.

==History== The Command was formed as '''RAF Reserve Command''' on 1 February 1939.<ref name=air>[http://www.rafweb.org/Cmd_H3A.htm Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – RAF Home Commands formed between 1939 – 1957] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110111221936/http://www.rafweb.org/Cmd_H3A.htm |date=11 January 2011 }}</ref> It was absorbed into RAF Flying Training Command on 27 May 1940 but reformed again on 1 May 1946.<ref name=air/> It was then renamed RAF Home Command on 1 August 1950 and absorbed into RAF Flying Training Command again on 1 April 1959.<ref name=air/>

The command's communications squadron, the Home Command Communication Squadron, was formed on 1 August 1950 at RAF White Waltham and disestablished on 1 April 1959, still at White Waltham, becoming the Flying Training Command Communication Squadron RAF.<ref name=air/>

The command operated a number of units:{{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|2007|p=165}} * Home Command Examining Unit (1950–51 & 1951–59) * No. 1 Home Command Gliding Centre (1955–59) * No. 2 Home Command Gliding Centre (1958–59) * Home Command Gliding Instructors School (1950–55) * Home Command Instrument Training Flight (1950–52) * Home Command Major Servicing Unit (1950–54) * Home Command Modified Officer Cadet Training Unit (1953–56) * Home Command Training Flight (1950)

== Groups of Home Command == {|class="wikitable sortable" !RAF group!!dates active!!notes |-valign=top |No. 61 Group RAF||1940<br>1946–1959||No. 61 Group was first formed on 1 July 1940 in Northern Ireland, and was raised to command status and renamed RAF in Northern Ireland on 1 August 1940. Reformed as No. 61 (Eastern Reserve) Group on 2 May 1946 within Reserve Command, it was renamed No. 61 (Eastern) Group on 1 August 1950 and transferred to Home Command. It was renamed No. 61 (Southern Reserve) Group on 1 January 1957, and disbanded 31 May 1959.<ref name=Gp50-67>{{Cite web|last=Barrass|first=M.B.|year=2015|url=https://rafweb.org/Organsation/Grp05.htm|title=Groups 50 – 67|website=RAFWeb.org|publisher=Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation|access-date=30 April 2015}}</ref> |-valign=top |No. 62 Group RAF||1946–1957||No. 62 (Southern Reserve) Group was formed on 15 May 1946 within Reserve Command, and renamed No. 62 (Southern) Group on 1 August 1950 when transferred to Home Command. It was absorbed into 61 Group on 1 January 1957.<ref name=Gp50-67/> |-valign=top |No. 63 Group RAF||1946–1957||No. 63 (Western & Welsh Reserve) Group was formed on 2 May 1946 within Reserve Command, and renamed No. 63 (Western & Welsh) Group on 1 August 1950 when transferred to Home Command. It disbanded on 1 February 1957.<ref name=Gp50-67/> |-valign=top |No. 64 Group RAF||{{Nowrap|1946–1958/59}}||No. 64 (Northern Reserve) Group was formed on 2 May 1946 within Reserve Command, and was renamed No. 64 (Northern) Group on 1 August 1950 when transferred to Home Command. It disbanded in 1958 or 1959.<ref name=Gp50-67/> |-valign=top |No. 65 Group RAF||1946–1950/51||No. 65 (London Reserve) Group was formed on 2 May 1946 within Reserve Command, and renamed No. 65 (London) Group on 1 August 1950 when transferred to Home Command. It disbanded in 1950 or 1951.<ref name=Gp50-67/> |-valign=top |No. 66 Group RAF||1946–1956/57||No. 66 (Scottish Reserve) Group was formed on 2 May 1946 within Reserve Command and renamed No. 66 (Scottish) Group on 1 August 1950 when transferred to Home Command. It disbanded in 1956 or 1957.<ref name=Gp50-67/> |-valign=top |No. 67 Group RAF||1950–1957||No. 67 (Northern Ireland Reserve) Group was formed on 31 March 1950 from RAF in Northern Ireland. It was renamed No. 67 (Northern Ireland) Group on 1 August 1950 when transferred to Home Command. It disbanded on 28 February 1957.<ref name=Gp50-67/> |-valign=top |}

==Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief== Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief included:<ref name=air/><br> '''RAF Reserve Command''' *1 February 1939 Air Marshal Sir Christopher Courtney *28 August 1939 Air Chief Marshal Sir John Steel *22 April 1940 Air Vice Marshal Sir William Welsh :''Note: The Command was not in existence from May 1940 to May 1946'' *1 May 1946 Air Commodore E D H Davies (Temporary) *20 May 1946 Air Marshal Sir Alan Lees *1 October 1949 Air Marshal Sir Robert Foster '''RAF Home Command''' *1 August 1950 Air Marshal Sir Robert Foster *31 Mar 1952 Air Marshal Sir Ronald Ivelaw-Chapman *1 October 1952 Air Marshal Sir Harold Lydford *March 1956 Air Marshal Sir Douglas Macfadyen

==See also==

* List of Royal Air Force commands

==References== {{reflist}}

*{{cite book |last1=Sturtivant|first1=R.|last2=Hamlin|first2=J.|title=Royal Air Force flying training and support units since 1912 |year=2007 |publisher= Air-Britain (Historians)|location= UK|isbn=978-0851-3036-59}}

{{Royal Air Force}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Home Command, RAF}} Maintenance Command Category:Military units and formations established in 1946 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1959

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