This article lists the order of battle of RAF Coastal Command throughout the Second World War in the European Theatre of World War II.
3 September 1939
- No. 15 Group RAF (GR), under command of Air Commodore R.G. Parry, DSO
Squadron |
Type of Aircraft |
Station |
No. 204 Squadron RAF |
Short Sunderland |
RAF Mount Batten |
No. 210 Squadron RAF |
Short Sunderland |
RAF Pembroke Dock |
No. 217 Squadron RAF |
Avro Anson |
RAF Warmwell |
No. 228 Squadron RAF |
Short Sunderland |
RAF Pembroke Dock |
No. 502 (Ulster) Squadron RAF |
Avro Anson |
RAF Aldergrove |
- No. 16 Group RAF (GR), under command of Air Commodore R.L.G. Marix, DSO
- No. 17 Group RAF (T), under command of Air Commodore T.E.B. Howe, CBE, AFC
Squadron |
Type of aircraft |
Station |
Torpedo Training Unit RAF |
various |
RAF Gosport |
No. 2 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF |
various |
RAF Gosport |
School of General Reconnaissance RAF |
Avro Anson |
RAF Thorney Island |
Seaplane Training Squadron RAF |
various |
RAF Calshot |
- No. 18 Group RAF (GR), under command of Air Vice Marshal C.D. Breese, CB, AFC
Squadron |
Type of aircraft |
Station |
No. 201 Squadron RAF |
Saro London |
RAF Sullom Voe |
No. 209 Squadron RAF |
Supermarine Stranraer |
RAF Invergordon |
No. 220 Squadron RAF |
Avro Anson |
RAF Thornaby |
No. 224 Squadron RAF |
Lockheed Hudson |
RAF Leuchars |
No. 233 Squadron RAF |
Lockheed Hudson |
RAF Leuchars |
No. 240 Squadron RAF |
Saro London |
RAF Invergordon |
No. 269 Squadron RAF |
Avro Anson |
RAF Montrose |
No. 608 (North Riding) Squadron RAF |
Avro Anson |
RAF Thornaby |
No. 612 (County of Aberdeen) Squadron RAF |
Avro Anson |
RAF Dyce |
1 November 1940
- No. 15 Group RAF (GR), under command of Air Commodore R.G. Parry, DSO
Squadron |
Type of Aircraft |
Station |
No. 48 Squadron RAF |
Avro Anson |
RAF Hooton Park |
No. 209 Squadron RAF |
Saro Lerwick |
RAF Pembroke Dock |
No. 217 Squadron RAF |
Avro Anson/Bristol Beaufort |
RAF St Eval |
No. 236 Squadron RAF |
Bristol Blenheim |
RAF St Eval |
No. 321 (Dutch) Squadron RAF |
Avro Anson |
RAF Carew Cheriton |
No. 502 (Ulster) Squadron RAF |
Blackburn Botha/Armstrong Whitworth Whitley |
RAF Aldergrove |
No. 10 Squadron RAAF |
Short Sunderland |
RAF Pembroke Dock |
- No. 16 Group RAF (GR), under command of Air Vice Marshal J.H.S. Tyssen, CB, DSO
Squadron |
Type of Aircraft |
Station |
No. 22 Squadron RAF |
Bristol Beaufort |
RAF North Coates |
No. 53 Squadron RAF |
Bristol Blenheim |
RAF Detling |
No. 59 Squadron RAF |
Bristol Blenheim |
RAF Thorney Island |
No. 206 Squadron RAF |
Lockheed Hudson |
RAF Bircham Newton |
No. 220 Squadron RAF |
Lockheed Hudson |
RAF Thornaby |
No. 235 Squadron RAF |
Bristol Blenheim |
RAF Bircham Newton |
No. 500 (County of Kent) Squadron RAF |
Avro Anson |
RAF Detling |
No. 608 (North Riding) Squadron RAF |
Avro Anson/Blackburn Botha |
RAF Thornaby |
- No. 17 Group RAF (T), under command of Air Commodore T.E.B. Howe, CBE, AFC
Squadron |
Type of aircraft |
Station |
Torpedo Training Unit RAF |
Bristol Beaufort |
RAF Abbotsinch |
No. 2 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF |
Bristol Blenheim/Avro Anson |
RAF Catfoss |
No. 3 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF |
various |
RAF Chivenor |
No. 1 Coast Artillery Co-operation Unit RAF |
Bristol Blenheim |
RAF Detling |
No. 2 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF |
various |
RAF Gosport |
No. 1 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF |
various |
RAF Silloth |
No. 3 School of General Reconnaissance RAF |
Blackburn Botha |
RAF Squires Gate |
No. 4 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit |
various |
RAF Stranraer |
- No. 18 Group RAF (GR), under command of Air Vice Marshal C.D. Breese, CB, AFC
- No. 200 Group RAF (Coastal), under command of Group Captain A.D. Rogers, CBE, AFC
12 February 1942
- No. 15 Group RAF (GR), under command of Air Vice Marshal J.M. Robb, CB, DSO, DFC, AFC
- No. 16 Group RAF (GR), under command of Air Commodore I.T. Lloyd, CBE
Squadron |
Type of aircraft |
Station |
No. 22 Squadron RAF |
Bristol Beaufort |
RAF Thorney Island |
No. 59 Squadron RAF |
Lockheed Hudson |
RAF North Coates |
No. 217 Squadron RAF |
Bristol Beaufort |
RAF Thorney Island |
No. 233 Squadron RAF |
Lockheed Hudson |
RAF Thorney Island |
No. 248 Squadron RAF |
Bristol Beaufighter |
RAF Bircham Newton |
No. 279 Squadron RAF |
Lockheed Hudson |
RAF Bircham Newton |
No. 280 Squadron RAF |
Avro Anson |
RAF Detling |
No. 407 (Demon) Squadron RCAF |
Lockheed Hudson |
RAF North Coates |
No. 415 (Swordfish) Squadron RCAF |
Handley Page Hampden/Bristol Beaufort |
RAF Thorney Island |
No. 500 (County of Kent) Squadron RAF |
Lockheed Hudson |
RAF Bircham Newton |
No. 502 (Ulster) Squadron RAF |
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley |
RAF Bircham Newton |
No. 1401 (Meteorological) Flight RAF |
Bristol Blenheim |
RAF Bircham Newton |
No. 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit RAF |
Supermarine Spitfire |
RAF Benson |
- No. 17 Group RAF (T), under command of Air Commodore H.G. Smart, CBE, DFC, AFC
Squadron |
Type of Aircraft |
Station |
Numerous Training Units |
N/A |
|
- No. 18 Group RAF (GR), under command of Air Vice Marshal A. Durston, CB, AFC
Squadron |
Aircraft |
Station |
No. 42 Squadron RAF |
Bristol Beaufort |
RAF Leuchars |
No. 48 Squadron RAF |
Lockheed Hudson |
RAF Wick |
No. 235 Squadron RAF |
Bristol Beaufighter |
RAF Dyce |
No. 320 (Dutch) Squadron RAF |
Lockheed Hudson |
RAF Leuchars |
No. 404 (Buffalo) Squadron RCAF |
Bristol Blenheim |
RAF Sumburgh |
No. 413 (Tusker) Squadron RCAF |
Consolidated Catalina |
RAF Sullom Voe |
No. 489 (RNZAF) Squadron |
Bristol Blenheim |
RAF Leuchars |
No. 608 (North Riding) Squadron RAF |
Lockheed Hudson |
RAF Wick |
No. 1406 (Meteorological) Flight RAF |
Bristol Blenheim |
RAF Wick |
No. 1408 (Meteorological) Flight RAF |
Lockheed Hudson |
RAF Wick |
- No. 19 Group RAF (GR), under command of Air Commodore G.R. Bromet, CBE, DSO
Squadron |
Aircraft |
Station |
No. 22 Squadron RAF |
Bristol Beaufort |
RAF St Eval |
No. 86 Squadron RAF |
Bristol Beaufort |
RAF St Eval |
No. 209 Squadron RAF |
Consolidated Catalina |
RAF Pembroke Dock |
No. 217 Squadron RAF |
Bristol Beaufort |
RAF St Eval |
No. 224 Squadron RAF |
Lockheed Hudson |
RAF St Eval |
No. 254 Squadron RAF |
Bristol Blenheim |
RAF Carew Cheriton |
No. 502 (Ulster) Squadron RAF |
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley |
RAF St Eval |
No. 10 Squadron RAAF |
Short Sunderland |
RAF Mount Batten |
No. 1404 (Meteorological) Flight RAF |
Lockheed Hudson |
RAF St Eval |
No. 1417 (Leigh Light Trials) Flight RAF |
Vickers Wellington |
RAF Chivenor |
No. 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit RAF |
Bristol Blenheim |
RAF St Eval (B Flight) |
- AHQ Gibraltar, under command of Air Commodore S.P. Simpson, CBE, MC
- AHQ Iceland, under command of Air Commodore W.H. Primrose, CBE, DFC
Squadron |
Type of Aircraft |
Station |
No. 269 Squadron RAF |
Lockheed Hudson |
RAF Kaldadarnes |
No. 330 (Norwegian) Squadron RAF |
Lockheed Hudson |
RAF Reykjavik |
No. 612 (County of Aberdeen) Squadron RAF |
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley |
RAF Reykjavik |
No. 1407 (Meteorological) Flight RAF |
Lockheed Hudson |
RAF Reykjavik |
VP-73 (United States Navy) |
Consolidated PBY Catalina |
RAF Reykjavik |
15 February 1943
- No. 15 Group RAF under command of Air Vice Marshal T.A. Langford-Sainsbury, OBE, DFC, AFC
- No. 16 Group RAF, under command of Air Vice Marshal B.E. Baker, CB, DSO, MC, AFC
- No. 17 Group RAF, under command of Air Commodore H.G. Smart, CBE, DFC, AFC
Squadron |
Type of Aircraft |
Station |
Numerous Training Units |
N/A |
|
- No. 18 Group RAF, under command of Air Vice Marshal A.B. Ellwood, CB, DSC
Squadron |
Type of Aircraft |
Station |
No. 144 Squadron RAF |
Bristol Beaufighter |
RAF Leuchars |
No. 190 Squadron RAF |
Consolidated Catalina |
RAF Sullom Voe |
No. 235 Squadron RAF |
Bristol Beaufighter |
RAF Leuchars |
No. 455 Squadron RAAF |
Handley Page Hampden |
RAF Leuchars |
No. 489 (RNZAF) Squadron |
Handley Page Hampden |
RAF Wick |
No. 540 Squadron RAF |
de Havilland Mosquito |
RAF Leuchars |
No. 547 Squadron RAF |
Vickers Wellington |
RAF Tain |
No. 612 (County of Aberdeen) Squadron RAF |
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley |
RAF Wick |
No. 1406 (Meteorological) Flight RAF |
Supermarine Spitfire/Lockheed Hudson |
RAF Wick |
No. 1408 (Meteorological) Flight RAF |
Handley Page Hampden |
RAF Wick |
No. 1477 (Norwegian) Flight RAF |
Consolidated Catalina |
RAF Woodhaven |
- No. 19 Group RAF, under command of Air Vice Marshal G.R. Bromet, CB, CBE, DSO
Squadron |
Type of aircraft |
Station |
No. 58 Squadron RAF |
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley/Handley Page Halifax |
RAF Holmsley South |
No. 59 Squadron RAF |
Boeing Fortress |
RAF Chivenor |
No. 119 Squadron RAF |
Consolidated Catalina |
RAF Pembroke Dock |
No. 172 Squadron RAF |
Vickers Wellington |
RAF Chivenor |
No. 179 Squadron RAF |
Vickers Wellington |
RAF Skitten |
No. 210 Squadron RAF |
Consolidated Catalina |
RAF Pembroke Dock |
No. 224 Squadron RAF |
Consolidated Liberator |
RAF Beaulieu |
No. 248 Squadron RAF |
Bristol Beaufighter |
RAF Predannack Down |
304 Dywizjon Bombowy (Polish Air Forces) |
Vickers Wellington |
RAF Dale |
No. 311 (Czechoslovak) Squadron RAF |
Vickers Wellington |
RAF Talbenny |
No. 404 (Buffalo) Squadron RCAF |
Bristol Beaufighter |
RAF Chivenor |
No. 405 (Vancouver) Squadron RCAF |
Handley Page Halifax |
RAF Beaulieu |
No. 461 Squadron RAAF |
Short Sunderland |
RAF Hamworthy |
No. 502 (Ulster) Squadron RAF |
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley |
RAF St Eval |
No. 543 Squadron RAF |
Supermarine Spitfire |
RAF St Eval |
No. 1404 (Meteorological) Flight RAF |
Lockheed Hudson/Lockheed Ventura |
RAF St Eval |
No. 10 OTU |
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley |
RAF St Eval |
No. 10 Squadron RAAF |
Short Sunderland |
RAF Mount Batten |
No. 1 AS (Anti-Submarine) Squadron, USAAF |
Consolidated B-24 Liberator |
RAF St Eval |
No. 2 AS (Anti-Submarine) Squadron, USAAF |
Consolidated B-24 Liberator |
RAF St Eval |
- AHQ Gibraltar, under command of Air Commodore S.P. Simpson, CBE, MC
Squadron |
Type of aircraft |
Station |
No. 48 Squadron RAF |
Lockheed Hudson |
RAF Gibraltar (North Front) |
No. 179 Squadron RAF |
Vickers Wellington |
RAF Gibraltar (North Front) |
No. 202 Squadron RAF |
Consolidated Catalina |
RAF Gibraltar (Harbour) |
No. 210 Squadron RAF |
Consolidated Catalina |
RAF Gibraltar (Harbour) |
No. 233 Squadron RAF |
Lockheed Hudson |
RAF Gibraltar (North Front) |
No. 544 Squadron RAF |
Supermarine Spitfire |
RAF Gibraltar (North Front) |
- AHQ Iceland, under command of Air Commodore K.B. Lloyd, AFC
Squadron |
Type of Aircraft |
Station |
No. 120 Squadron RAF |
Consolidated Liberator |
RAF Reykjavik |
No. 269 Squadron RAF |
Lockheed Hudson |
RAF Reykjavik |
No. 330 (Norwegian) Squadron RAF |
Northrop N-3PB |
RAF Reykjavik |
No. 1407 (Meteorological) Flight RAF |
Lockheed Hudson |
RAF Reykjavik |
VP-84 U.S. Navy |
Consolidated PBY Catalina |
RAF Reykjavik |
6 June 1944
- No. 15 Group RAF under command of Air Vice Marshal Sir Leonard Slatter, KBE, CB, DSC, DFC
- No. 16 Group RAF, under command of Air Vice Marshal F.L. Hopps, CB, CBE, AFC
- No. 17 Group RAF, under command of Air Commodore H.G. Smart, CBE, DFC, AFC
Squadron |
Type of Aircraft |
Station |
No. 1674 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF |
|
|
Numerous Training Units |
N/A |
|
- No. 18 Group RAF, under command of Air Vice Marshal S.P. Simpson, CB, CBE, MC
- No. 19 Group RAF, under command of Air Vice Marshal B.E. Baker, CB, DSO, MC, AFC
- No. 106 Group RAF, under command of Air Commodore J.N. Boothman, CB, DFC, AFC
- No. 247 Group RAF, under command of Air Vice Marshal G.R. Bromet, CB, CBE, DSO
- AHQ Gibraltar, under command of Air Vice Marshal W. Elliott, CB, CBE, DFC
Squadron |
Type of aircraft |
Station |
No. 202 Squadron RAF |
Consolidated Catalina |
RAF Gibraltar (New Camp) |
No. 520 Squadron RAF |
Handley Page Halifax/Gloster Gladiator (Met) |
RAF Gibraltar (North Front) |
- AHQ Iceland, under command of Air Commodore C.G. Wigglesworth, AFC
Squadron |
Type of Aircraft |
Station |
No. 162 Squadron RCAF |
Consolidated Canso |
Skerja Fjord, Reykjavík |
No. 1407 (Meteorological) Flight RAF |
Lockheed Hudson |
RAF Reykjavik |