No. 4 Group RAF

No. 4 Group RAF, commonly abbreviated as 4 Group or 4Gp, was a Royal Air Force group responsible for coordinating multiple flying units and stations. It was created during the final phase of the First World War at the Seaplane Experimental Station at Felixstowe. Its initial organization incorporated the former Royal Naval Air Service formation at Great Yarmouth, whose activities included anti-submarine patrols and operations against German Zeppelins over the North Sea. The group was commanded initially by Colonel C. R. Samson and included the former naval formation as No. 73 Wing. Like many wartime formations, it was disbanded during postwar demobilization on 24 March 1919. The group was re-established on 1 April 1937 as part of the Royal Air Force's expansion before the Second World War. It was initially headquartered at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk under Air Commodore Arthur Harris and moved on 29 June 1937 to RAF Linton-on-Ouse in Yorkshire. The group assumed a number of stations and squadrons from No. 3 Group RAF and remained predominantly associated with Yorkshire for the rest of the war. When No. 6 Group RAF was formed in March 1943, the airfields north of York were transferred to the new formation, concentrating No. 4 Group's stations farther south and east of the city. At the start of the Second World War, the group operated a mixture of aircraft but soon became largely standardized on the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley. Its first wartime operation took place on the night of 3 September 1939, when Whitleys from Nos. 51 and 58 Squadrons conducted leaflet-dropping sorties over Germany, including the Ruhr, Hamburg, and Bremen. The group's first land-bombing operation followed on 20 March 1940, when aircraft from Nos. 10, 102, 77, and 51 Squadrons attacked the seaplane base at Hörnum. During 1940 and 1941, No. 4 Group expanded its contribution to Bomber Command's night offensive. It participated in attacks on Berlin, ports, oil-related targets, and other strategic objectives. The group progressively replaced its Whitleys with Vickers Wellingtons and Handley Page Halifaxes. Its aircraft also attacked the German battle-cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau at Brest in July 1941, contributing to efforts to keep the ships confined there until their escape in February 1942. No. 4 Group made a substantial contribution to the large-scale bomber operations of 1942 and the Battle of the Ruhr in 1943. It provided 154 aircraft for the thousand-bomber raid on Cologne on 30–31 May 1942 and 142 aircraft for the subsequent operation against Essen. The Ruhr campaign imposed heavy losses but formed a major part of the group's operational record. In 1944 its Halifax force attacked railway yards, coastal defenses, troop concentrations, V-weapon sites, and other targets connected with the Allied invasion of Normandy. French heavy-bomber squadrons Nos. 346 and 347 joined the group at RAF Elvington in May and June 1944, and the station increasingly operated under French Air Force leadership. The formation also undertook transport and logistics work. During Operation Market Garden, it moved 432,840 gallons of petrol to the British Second Army in slightly more than a week. In 1945 its bombing activity covered German cities, railway centers, and synthetic-oil facilities in preparation for the Allied crossing of the Rhine and the final campaigns in Europe. Across the Second World War, the group flew 61,577 operational sorties, trained Bomber Command crews, and assisted in the creation of two additional bomber groups. On 7 May 1945, No. 4 Group transferred from Bomber Command to Transport Command. It continued in the postwar RAF structure for a limited period, with later headquarters and unit changes recorded through 1946. The group was ultimately disbanded, although the supplied historical reference does not specify a final disbandment date. It is therefore best understood as a defunct RAF organizational formation rather than a consumer-facing commercial brand.

No. 4 Group RAF originated in October 1918 at Felixstowe, shortly before the end of the First World War. Its formation brought together a Royal Air Force group and the former Royal Naval Air Service organization at Great Yarmouth. The latter had conducted anti-submarine patrols and anti-Zeppelin operations over the North Sea and became No. 73 Wing within the new group. Colonel C. R. Samson served as its first commander. The group's first existence was brief: the RAF's postwar demobilization led to its disbandment on 24 March 1919. The formation was recreated on 1 April 1937 during the RAF's prewar expansion. It joined Bomber Command and was initially headquartered at RAF Mildenhall under Air Commodore Arthur Harris. On 29 June 1937, headquarters moved to RAF Linton-on-Ouse in Yorkshire after the group took over stations and squadrons from No. 3 Group RAF. Yorkshire remained the center of its wartime network. The creation of No. 6 Group RAF in March 1943 transferred northern Yorkshire airfields to that new group and left No. 4 Group concentrated farther south and east of York. In April 1940, the headquarters moved again, this time to Heslington Hall near York. No. 4 Group's first Second World War operation occurred on 3 September 1939. Ten Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk IIIs from Nos. 51 and 58 Squadrons dropped propaganda leaflets over the Ruhr and the cities of Hamburg and Bremen. Early in the war the group's aircraft were progressively standardized on the Whitley. Its first land-bombing mission took place on 20 March 1940, when 26 of 30 aircraft assigned from Nos. 10, 102, 77, and 51 Squadrons attacked the seaplane base at Hörnum. The group expanded its strategic role during 1940–42. It attacked Berlin, ports, and oil targets, and began converting from Whitleys to Vickers Wellingtons and Handley Page Halifaxes. No. 104 Squadron was formed at RAF Driffield on 1 April 1941 with Wellingtons and conducted night bombing from May 1941 to February 1942. On 24 July 1941, No. 4 Group aircraft dropped 2,000-pound bombs on the German battle-cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau at Brest, helping maintain pressure on the vessels while they remained in the port. By early 1942 the group had grown considerably and was completing its transition to Wellingtons and Halifaxes. It supplied 154 aircraft for the thousand-bomber raid on Cologne on the night of 30–31 May 1942 and 142 for the following raid on Essen. In the Battle of the Ruhr, fought principally in the first half of 1943, No. 4 Group made a major commitment despite serious losses. Its bomber force was almost fully converted to Halifax and Wellington aircraft by March 1943. The group supported the Allied invasion of Normandy through intensive attacks on French railway yards, coastal gun positions, troop concentrations, and V-weapon installations. Its activity reached 3,629 sorties in August 1944. French heavy-bomber units Nos. 346 and 347 Squadrons joined at RAF Elvington in May and June, and the station gradually shifted toward French Air Force control. No. 4 Group also performed an important logistical role during Operation Market Garden, delivering 432,840 gallons of petrol to the British Second Army in a little over one week. In 1945, its bombing missions shifted toward German cities, railway centers, and synthetic-oil plants, including targets around Hanover, Magdeburg, Stuttgart, Cologne, Münster, Osnabrück, Sterkrade, Wanne-Eickel, and Bottrop. These operations supported the final Allied advance and preparations for crossing the Rhine. The group flew 61,577 operational sorties during the war, trained large numbers of Bomber Command crews, and contributed personnel and organization to the establishment of two other bomber groups. On 7 May 1945, No. 4 Group left Bomber Command for Transport Command. Its postwar organization continued under commanders including H. S. P. Walmsley, A. C. Stevens, and A. P. Revington, with command changes recorded through October 1946. The supplied reference does not establish the precise final date of disbandment. No. 4 Group RAF therefore represents a historical military formation whose identity was institutional and operational rather than commercial.

• 1945

  Transfer to Transport Command

  [1]No. 4 Group RAFen.wikipedia.org

  No. 4 Group transferred from Bomber Command to Transport Command on 7 May.

• 1944

  French squadrons join at Elvington

  [1]No. 4 Group RAFen.wikipedia.org

  Nos. 346 and 347 Squadrons joined the group at RAF Elvington, which increasingly came under French Air Force control.

• 1942

  Participation in thousand-bomber raids

  [1]No. 4 Group RAFen.wikipedia.org

  The group contributed 154 aircraft to the raid on Cologne and 142 aircraft to the subsequent raid on Essen.

• 1940

  First land-bombing mission

  [1]No. 4 Group RAFen.wikipedia.org

  Aircraft from four squadrons attacked the seaplane base at Hörnum on 20 March.

• 1939

  First Second World War operation

  [1]No. 4 Group RAFen.wikipedia.org

  Whitley aircraft conducted leaflet-dropping sorties over the Ruhr, Hamburg, and Bremen on the night of 3 September.

• 1937

  Reformation in Bomber Command

  [1]No. 4 Group RAFen.wikipedia.org

  The group was reformed on 1 April as part of Bomber Command's prewar expansion and initially based at RAF Mildenhall.

• 1937

  Move to Yorkshire

  [1]No. 4 Group RAFen.wikipedia.org

  Headquarters moved to RAF Linton-on-Ouse on 29 June after the group assumed stations and squadrons from No. 3 Group RAF.

• 1919

  First disbandment

  [1]No. 4 Group RAFen.wikipedia.org

  The group was disbanded on 24 March during the Royal Air Force's post-First World War demobilization.

• 1918

  Initial formation

  [1]No. 4 Group RAFen.wikipedia.org

  No. 4 Group was formed at the Seaplane Experimental Station at Felixstowe and incorporated the former Royal Naval Air Service organization at Great Yarmouth as No. 73 Wing.

A wartime Royal Air Force operational formation specializing first in maritime and anti-submarine coordination, and later in medium- and heavy-bomber command, crew training, strategic attack, tactical support, and limited transport operations.

• 1944Normandy invasion support

  France · Western Europe

  Before and after the Normandy landings, the group attacked French marshalling yards, coastal gun positions, troop concentrations, and V-weapon sites. Its activity reached 3,629 sorties in August.

  Outcome. The operations supported the Allied invasion and subsequent campaign in France.

  Source
• 1944Operation Market Garden logistics

  Netherlands · Western Europe

  The group performed urgent transport work and delivered 432,840 gallons of petrol to the British Second Army in slightly more than one week.

  Outcome. The operation demonstrated the group's ability to support ground forces through rapid fuel transport as well as bombing.

  Source
• 1943Battle of the Ruhr

  Germany

  No. 4 Group made a substantial bomber contribution to the sustained Allied offensive against industrial and transport targets in the Ruhr. The campaign involved heavy operational losses and extensive use of Halifax and Wellington aircraft.

  Outcome. The group continued operations despite significant losses; the campaign concluded in July 1943.

  Source

• 1945

  Transfer from Bomber Command to Transport CommandStrategy

  Background

  Following the end of the European war, the RAF reorganized its operational formations for postwar requirements.

  Action taken

  No. 4 Group was transferred to Transport Command on 7 May 1945.

  Aftermath

  The group continued in a transport-related postwar role, with commanders recorded through 1946.

  Source

1. 1No. 4 Group RAFen.wikipedia.org