No. 11/18 Group RAF

No. 11/18 Group RAF was a temporary Royal Air Force formation established in 1996 as part of the post-Cold War restructuring of Strike Command. It combined the responsibilities and assets of No. 11 Group and No. 18 Group, two formations with different historical origins within the RAF. No. 11 Group was descended from the functional structures associated with Fighter Command, while No. 18 Group had its roots in Coastal Command. The merger therefore brought together traditions associated with air defence and maritime operations within a single headquarters. The group was headquartered at RAF Bentley Priory, the historic site associated with RAF Fighter Command. Its use of the underground command facilities there appears to have been the last such operational use of those facilities. The arrangement was short-lived. In 2000, a further reorganisation of Strike Command transferred the group's assets to No. 1 Group and No. 3 Group. The disbandment reflected a wider effort to simplify and realign RAF command structures after the end of the Cold War rather than the failure of a commercial enterprise or independent organisation. The formation had only two air officers commanding during its existence. Air Vice-Marshal Clifford Rodney Spink took command when the group was formed on 1 April 1996. He was succeeded by Air Vice-Marshal Brian Kevin Burridge in July 1998. The group's limited lifespan and administrative role mean that it is best understood as a historical RAF command formation rather than as a consumer-facing brand, commercial company, or continuing service organisation. No. 11/18 Group also received a distinctive badge reflecting its combined heritage. The design incorporated the portcullis and sword imagery associated with Fighter Command on a blue-and-white wavy background associated with Coastal Command. The group sought to retain the former No. 18 Group motto, traditionally translated as “They shall not pass with impunity.” Because that wording was officially associated with another unit, a Latin scholar altered the ending of one word so that the new motto retained the intended meaning while being technically distinct. This badge and motto represented the effort to give the short-lived amalgamation a coherent identity while acknowledging the traditions of both predecessor groups.

No. 11/18 Group RAF emerged from the Royal Air Force's post-Cold War reorganisation of Strike Command. It was formed on 1 April 1996 through the amalgamation of No. 11 Group and No. 18 Group. The predecessor groups represented different strands of RAF institutional history: No. 11 Group was associated with Fighter Command, while No. 18 Group derived from Coastal Command. Their combination created a single formation intended to manage the assets and responsibilities brought together under the revised command structure. The new headquarters was based at RAF Bentley Priory. The site had long-standing associations with Fighter Command and retained underground command facilities. The establishment of No. 11/18 Group appears to have been the final operational use of those underground facilities. Its location also gave the formation a physical connection to the history of one of its predecessor commands, even though the new group itself was created for contemporary organisational purposes. The formation developed a distinctive badge to represent its composite identity. The badge combined the Fighter Command portcullis and sword design with the blue-and-white wave background linked to Coastal Command. The group also wished to preserve the former No. 18 Group motto, commonly rendered in English as “They shall not pass with impunity.” Since that exact motto was formally assigned to another unit, the wording was modified by changing the ending of one Latin word. The alteration preserved the intended sense while making the motto officially different. This episode illustrates the importance of inherited heraldic and ceremonial traditions within RAF formations. Only two air officers commanded the group. Air Vice-Marshal Clifford Rodney Spink became air officer commanding at its formation in April 1996. Air Vice-Marshal Brian Kevin Burridge succeeded him in July 1998. The command continued until 2000, when another Strike Command reorganisation transferred its assets to No. 1 Group and No. 3 Group. No. 11/18 Group consequently ceased to exist after approximately four years. Its history is therefore primarily one of institutional consolidation, transitional command arrangements, and the preservation of RAF lineage during a period of major structural change.

• 2000

  Assets transferred and group disbanded

  [1]No. 11/18 Group RAFen.wikipedia.org

  A further Strike Command reorganisation transferred No. 11/18 Group's assets to No. 1 Group and No. 3 Group, ending the formation's existence.

• 1998

  Change of air officer commanding

  [1]No. 11/18 Group RAFen.wikipedia.org

  Air Vice-Marshal Brian Kevin Burridge succeeded Clifford Spink as air officer commanding in July 1998.

• 1996

  Formation of No. 11/18 Group

  [1]No. 11/18 Group RAFen.wikipedia.org

  No. 11/18 Group was formed on 1 April 1996 within RAF Strike Command by combining the forces and responsibilities of No. 11 Group and No. 18 Group.

• 1996

  Clifford Spink assumes command

  [1]No. 11/18 Group RAFen.wikipedia.org

  Air Vice-Marshal Clifford Rodney Spink became the formation's first air officer commanding.

A temporary Royal Air Force command formation created to consolidate and coordinate assets inherited from No. 11 and No. 18 Groups during post-Cold War organisational change.

• 2000

  Transfer of group assets to No. 1 and No. 3 GroupsStrategy

  Background

  Strike Command underwent another structural reorganisation after the short operating period of No. 11/18 Group.

  Action taken

  The group's assets were transferred to No. 1 Group and No. 3 Group.

  Aftermath

  No. 11/18 Group ceased to exist as a separate RAF formation.

  Source

• 1996

  Amalgamation of No. 11 and No. 18 GroupsStrategy

  Background

  The RAF reorganised Strike Command after the end of the Cold War and consolidated the forces of No. 11 Group and No. 18 Group into a new formation.

  Action taken

  No. 11/18 Group was established with a headquarters at RAF Bentley Priory.

  Aftermath

  The combined formation operated for several years before a later reorganisation replaced it with a different distribution of responsibilities.

  Source

1. 1No. 11/18 Group RAFen.wikipedia.org