No. 10 Group RAF

No. 10 Group RAF, commonly called 10 Group, was an operational formation of the Royal Air Force. It was created during the Royal Air Force's first year in existence, initially as a regional command responsible for air operations in part of the United Kingdom. After its first period of service it was disbanded in 1932, then re-formed in June 1940 within RAF Fighter Command as Britain prepared for and fought the Battle of Britain. The group's principal wartime area covered south-western England, including the approaches to Bristol, the West Country, South Wales, and parts of the English Channel. Its headquarters was established at RAF Rudloe Manor, near Corsham in Wiltshire. An underground operations centre was developed at Brown's Quarry near RAF Box, providing a protected command facility for controlling fighter operations. The group was divided into sectors, including Middle Wallop, Filton, Exeter, and Pembrey, each coordinating airfields, squadrons, and local defensive activity. During the Battle of Britain, 10 Group had a supporting relationship with the more heavily engaged No. 11 Group, which defended London and south-east England. Under Air Vice-Marshal Sir Quintin Brand, 10 Group rotated squadrons and pilots, supplied reinforcement when required, and gave No. 11 Group additional operational flexibility. Its comparatively less intense area of operations also gave pilots transferred from No. 12 or No. 13 Groups an opportunity to maintain and improve their skills before moving into the main battle area. The group operated a mixture of fighter and training resources, including Supermarine Spitfires, Hawker Hurricanes, Gloster Gladiators, Boulton Paul Defiants, and Bristol aircraft used for training, reconnaissance, interception, or night-fighting-related duties. The group was not limited to daylight interception. Its sectors addressed night defence and the protection of shipping, and after the Battle of Britain it undertook fighter-cover missions for convoys entering and leaving the British Isles. Stations such as RAF Colerne supported night-fighter and searchlight-linked activity, while satellite fields extended the reach of the sector system. The original formation had been established on 1 April 1918 in No. 2 Area. It moved to South-Western Area in May 1919 and then to Coastal Area, where it remained until its disbandment on 18 January 1932. The wartime formation was established on 1 June 1940 and became part of the wider Fighter Command system. Following the end of the European air-defence emergency, No. 10 Group was absorbed into No. 11 Group on 2 May 1945. It therefore survives as a historical RAF formation rather than an active modern brand, command, or business entity.

No. 10 Group RAF originated on 1 April 1918, shortly after the Royal Air Force was established as an independent service. It was formed within No. 2 Area and functioned as a regional operational command. On 8 May 1919 it was transferred to South-Western Area, and in 1919 it moved again to Coastal Area. The group remained there until it was disbanded on 18 January 1932. The formation returned to service on 1 June 1940, when it was placed under RAF Fighter Command. Its re-creation was intended partly to improve the efficiency of neighbouring No. 11 Group, whose area was under particularly heavy pressure as the Battle of Britain approached. No. 10 Group was assigned responsibility for the south-western region of England and operated through a network of sector headquarters and fighter stations. RAF Rudloe Manor served as the group headquarters, and an underground operations centre was established at Brown's Quarry near RAF Box. Air Vice-Marshal Sir Quintin Brand commanded the group during the critical opening phase of the Battle of Britain. Its responsibilities included maintaining fighter readiness, coordinating interceptions, and providing assistance to No. 11 Group. The two formations could rotate squadrons and pilots, allowing No. 11 Group to receive reinforcement while 10 Group retained a reserve of operational capability. Pilots arriving from No. 12 or No. 13 Groups could also use the comparatively quieter south-western area to develop experience before being sent to the more intense fighting around London and south-east England. The group's order of battle in August 1940 illustrates the variety of its resources. It included Spitfire squadrons such as Nos. 152, 234, and 609; Hurricane units including Nos. 6 and 7 Operational Training Units and Nos. 87, 213, and 238 Squadrons; Gladiator-equipped No. 247 Squadron; Blenheim-equipped No. 604 Squadron and No. 5 Operational Training Unit; and other training and maintenance elements. The sector structure included Middle Wallop, Filton, Exeter, and Pembrey. RAF Colerne was later developed as an important sector station, with Defiants and Beaufighters supporting night-fighting duties. Its associated activity included searchlight-linked Turbinlite operations and the use of satellite airfields such as RAF Charmy Down. After the Battle of Britain, No. 10 Group continued to contribute to the defence of the United Kingdom. Its fighters provided cover for convoys approaching and departing the British Isles, while night-defence arrangements addressed the continuing threat from German air attack. The group thus combined regional air defence with training, reinforcement, and maritime-support functions rather than serving solely as a daylight fighter formation. The wartime group continued through the later stages of the European conflict. Command passed through several senior RAF officers, including Air Vice-Marshal A. H. Orlebar, Air Vice-Marshal W. F. Dickson, Air Vice-Marshal C. R. Steele, Air Commodore A. V. Harvey, and Air Vice-Marshal J. B. Cole-Hamilton. No. 10 Group was ultimately absorbed into No. 11 Group on 2 May 1945. It is consequently a defunct historical RAF formation, remembered chiefly for its supporting role in the Battle of Britain and its subsequent air-defence and convoy-cover duties.

• 1945

  Absorption into No. 11 Group

  [1]No. 10 Group RAFen.wikipedia.org

  No. 10 Group was reabsorbed into No. 11 Group on 2 May 1945.

• 1941

  Expansion of night-defence activity

  [1]No. 10 Group RAFen.wikipedia.org

  Sector stations including RAF Colerne supported night-fighter, Defiant, Beaufighter, and searchlight-linked operations.

• 1940

  Re-formation under Fighter Command

  [1]No. 10 Group RAFen.wikipedia.org

  No. 10 Group was re-formed on 1 June 1940 to operate in south-western England and support the wider Fighter Command system.

• 1940

  Battle of Britain operations

  [1]No. 10 Group RAFen.wikipedia.org

  Under Sir Quintin Brand, the group rotated squadrons, supplied pilots, and reinforced No. 11 Group during the Battle of Britain.

• 1932

  First disbandment

  [1]No. 10 Group RAFen.wikipedia.org

  The original formation was disbanded on 18 January 1932 after its interwar period of service.

• 1919

  Transfers to South-Western and Coastal Areas

  [1]No. 10 Group RAFen.wikipedia.org

  The group moved to South-Western Area in May and subsequently transferred to Coastal Area later in the year.

• 1918

  Formation of the original group

  [1]No. 10 Group RAFen.wikipedia.org

  No. 10 Group was formed on 1 April 1918 within No. 2 Area of the newly established Royal Air Force.

A regional RAF Fighter Command formation focused on air defence, fighter coordination, and operational support in south-western England.

• Military operations · 1918

  Air defence command

  The group's core function was to coordinate fighter defence over south-western England. It linked headquarters, sector stations, radar and reporting arrangements, airfields, and individual squadrons to direct responses to hostile aircraft. During the Battle of Britain, this regional command structure allowed aircraft and pilots to be shifted between areas according to operational need.

• Combat aviation · 1940

  Fighter interception

  No. 10 Group controlled a mixed fighter force that included Spitfires, Hurricanes, Gladiators, Defiants, and later night-fighter aircraft. These units conducted interception, patrol, local defence, and readiness duties from several sectors across south-western England and South Wales.

• Maritime air support · 1940

  Convoy fighter cover

  Following the Battle of Britain, the group provided fighter cover for convoys approaching and leaving the British Isles. This extended its mission beyond direct defence of inland targets and connected its aircraft and sector system to the protection of maritime traffic.

• Training and readiness · 1940

  Operational training and pilot rotation

  The group hosted operational training resources and served as a comparatively less exposed environment in which pilots transferred from other Fighter Command groups could improve their skills. Pilots and squadrons were rotated through the group before later deployment to more heavily contested areas.

• 1941Night defence and convoy protection

  Western and south-western approaches to the United Kingdom

  After the main Battle of Britain phase, the group combined night-fighting and local air-defence arrangements with fighter cover for convoys entering and leaving the British Isles.

  Outcome. These missions remained part of the group's later wartime responsibilities until its absorption into No. 11 Group.

  Source
• 1940Battle of Britain

  South-western England · Southern Britain

  No. 10 Group defended the south-western sector and supported No. 11 Group by rotating squadrons, providing additional pilots, and making fighter resources available when pressure increased.

  Outcome. The group remained an operational component of Fighter Command after the campaign and continued related defensive duties.

  Source
• 1940Air defence of south-western England

  South-western England · South Wales

  The group organized fighter defence through sectors based at Middle Wallop, Filton, Exeter, Pembrey, and later Colerne, supported by numerous fighter and training squadrons.

  Outcome. The sector system continued through the wartime air-defence period.

  Source

• 1945

  Absorb No. 10 Group into No. 11 GroupStrategy

  Background

  The immediate wartime requirement for a separate south-western operations group declined as the European conflict approached its end.

  Action taken

  No. 10 Group was reabsorbed into No. 11 Group on 2 May 1945.

  Aftermath

  The group ceased to exist as a separate RAF formation.

  Source

• 1940

  Re-form the group to support No. 11 GroupStrategy

  Background

  The group was re-established within Fighter Command as the air-defence system prepared for the Battle of Britain and as No. 11 Group required greater operational flexibility.

  Action taken

  The RAF assigned No. 10 Group responsibility for south-western England, enabling it to rotate squadrons and pilots and reinforce neighbouring operations.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement gave Fighter Command an additional regional formation during the Battle of Britain and preserved a reserve and training function in the south-west.

  Source

• 1940

  Develop a protected underground operations centreStrategy

  Background

  Effective fighter control required a headquarters capable of continuing operations during air attack.

  Action taken

  Brown's Quarry near RAF Box was converted into an underground operations centre for the group's headquarters.

  Aftermath

  The protected facility formed part of the group's command infrastructure during the wartime air-defence effort.

  Source

1. 1No. 10 Group RAFen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Air Historical Branch: Second World War Campaign Narrativesraf.mod.uk