Royal Air Force College of Air Warfare

The Royal Air Force College of Air Warfare is a former Royal Air Force flying training unit operational between 1962 and 1974. The unit traces it history back to 1942 as the Empire Central Flying School.

Royal Air Force College of Air Warfare
Active1962-74 as last formation
1942-1946
1946-49
1949-1962
CountryUnited Kingdom
BranchRoyal Air Force
TypeTraining
RoleRAF flying training
Last baseRAF Manby

History

The College started off life as the Empire Central Flying School at RAF Hullavington whose main aim was to teach flying instructors and to maintain the standards of teaching and course content in the flying training system at British Empire flying schools, such as those of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, located worldwide.[1] The school had Instructional, Research and Examining flights from the Central Flying School along with a Handling Squadron RAF. These flight used various aircraft including Miles Magisters, de Havilland Tiger Moths, Gloster Gladiators, Avro Ansons and Airspeed Oxfords along with various other training, fighter and bomber aircraft.[2]

The Handling Squadron was operational as part of Empire Central Flying School from 28 February 1942 and as part of the future units until 12 April 1954 when as No. 3 (Handling) Squadron the control of the squadron was transferred to the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment.[3]

The unit was renamed the Empire Flying School on 7 May 1946. In 1949 the examining wing was transferred to the Central Flying School at RAF Brize Norton, and other roles of the school were transferred to the RAF Flying College at RAF Manby.[4] The unit was formally disbanded on 31 July 1949.[4][1]

No. 1 Air Armament School was operational between 1 November 1937 and 28 October 1944 at Manby and was absorbed by the Empire Air Armament School[5] which in turn was absorbed by the Royal Air Force Flying College on 31 July 1949 while at Manby.[2]

The Royal Air Force Flying College was formed at RAF Manby on 1 June 1949 and operated various aircraft including Percival Prentices, Percival Provosts, Gloster Meteors, Handley Page Hastings, and Hawker Hunters amongst others.[6] The unit was disbanded on 1 July 1962 and became the Royal Air Force College of Air Warfare which operated Vickers Valettas, Vickers Varsitys, English Electric Canberras, BAC Jet Provosts and Hawker Siddeley Dominies amongst others.[7][4]

See also

References

Citations
  1. "Empire Central Flying School". RAF Museum.
  2. Lake 1999, p. 64.
  3. Lake 1999, p. 128.
  4. Sturtivant 2007, p. 108
  5. Lake 1999, p. 13.
  6. Lake 1999, p. 176.
  7. Lake 1999, p. 175.

Bibliography
  • Lake, A (1999). Flying units of the RAF. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
  • Sturtivant, R (2007). RAF Flying Training and Support Units since 1912. Air-Britain. ISBN 0-85130 365 X.
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