List of ferry units of the Royal Air Force

This is a List of Royal Air Force ferry units.

Ferry

Flights

Unit	Formed at	Formed on	Disbanded at	Disbanded on	Notes
1 Ferry Training Flight	Lyneham	March 1942	Lyneham	3 November 1942	^[1]
2 Ferry Training Flight	Lyneham	March 1942	Filton	17 July 1942	^[1]
3 Ferry Training Flight	Lyneham	March 1942	Lyneham	20 May 1942	^[1]
10 (Polish) Ferry Flight	Kington Langley	27 March 1941	Kington Langley	27 July 1941	Absorbed by the Headquarters, Service Ferry Training Squadron.^[2]
1427 (Ferry Training) Flight	Thruxton	13 December 1941	Stradishall	1 April 1943	Absorbed by No. 1657 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF.^[3]
1428 (Ferry Training) Flight	Horsham St. Faith and Oulton	29 December 1941	Oulton	6 June 1942	The Ferry Training section being absorbed by No. 1444 (Ferry Training) Flight.^[3]
1442 (Ferry Training) Flight	Bicester	21 January 1942	Bicester	1 August 1942	^[4]
1443 (Ferry Training) Flight	Harwell	21 January 1942	Harwell	30 April 1943	Became No. 310 Ferry Training Unit.^[4]
1444 (Ferry Training) Flight	Horsham St. Faith	21 January 1942	Lyneham	3 November 1942	Merged with No. 1445 Flight and the Ferry Training Unit to become 'B' Flight of No. 301 Ferry Training Unit.^[4]
1445 Flight	Lyneham	27 February 1942	Lyneham	3 November 1942	Merged with No. 1444 (Ferry Training) Flight and the Ferry Training Unit to become 'C' Flight of No. 301 Ferry Training Unit.^[4]
1446 (Ferry Training) Flight	Bassingbourn	23 March 1942	Moreton-in-Marsh	1 May 1943	Became No. 311 Ferry Training Unit.^[4]
1689 (Ferry Pool Pilot Training) Flight
Catalina Ferry Flight	Dar es Salaam, Tanganyika	June 1945	Mombasa, Kenya	July 1946	^[5]
East African Ferry Flight	Mombasa, Kenya	?	Mombasa, Kenya	31 May 1946	^[6]
Ferry Convoy Flight	Allahabad, India	21 June 1944	Mauripur, India	25 December 1944	^[7]
Ferry Flight, Cardington	Cardington	January 1939	Cardington	16 January 1939	Became No. 1 Ferry Pilot Pool and No. 2 Ferry Pilot Pool;^[8] eventually incorporated into Ferry Squadron RAF.
Ferry Flight, Santa Cruz	Santa Cruz, India	7 May 1944	Santa Cruz, India	29 June 1945	^[8]
Ferry Flight, Trichinopoly	Trichinopoly, India	27 April 1944	Trichinopoly, India	28 February 1946	^[8]
Ferry Training Flight, Bicester	Bicester	24 October 1941	Bicester	21 January 1942	Became No. 1442 (Ferry Training) Flight.^[1]
Ferry Training Flight, Docking	Docking	August 1943			^[1]
Ferry Training Flight, Dorval	Dorval, Canada	5 November 1941	Dorval, Canada	5 July 1944	Merged with No. 2 Ferry Crew Pool, the Civilian Aircrew Pool and the Allied Aircrew Pool to become No.6 Ferry Unit.^[1]
Ferry Training Flight, Harwell	Harwell	November 1941	Harwell	21 January 1942	Became No. 1443 (Ferry Training) Flight.^[1]
Ferry Training Flight, Horsham St. Faith	Horsham St. Faith	December 1941	Horsham St. Faith	21 January 1942	Became No. 1444 (Ferry Training) Flight.^[1]
Ferry Training Flight, Nassau	Nassau	?	Nassau	3 August 1943	Merged with part of the Service Aircrew Pool, Dorval to become No. 3 Ferry Crew Pool.^[1]
Ferry Transport Flight	Benson	30 December 1954	Benson	16 April 1956	^[9]

Units

Unit	Formed at	Formed on	Disbanded at	Disbanded on	Notes
1 Ferry Unit	Pershore	16 March 1944	Manston	17 May 1948	Became No. 1 (Overseas) Ferry Unit.^[9]
1 (Overseas) Ferry Unit	Pershore	17 May 1948	Abingdon	17 November 1952	Became No. 1 (Long-Range) Ferry Unit and No. 3 (Long-Range) Ferry Unit.^[10]
1 (Long-Range) Ferry Unit	Abingdon	17 November 1952	Benson	1 February 1953	Became No. 147 Squadron RAF.^[11]
2 Ferry Unit	LG.237	23 September 1944	Cairo West	1 December 1945	Absorbed by No. 5 Ferry Unit.^[9]
2 (Home) Ferry Unit	Aston Down	7 February 1952	Aston Down	1 February 1953	Became No. 187 Squadron RAF.^[12]
3 Ferry Unit	Oujda, Morocco	23 September 1944	Blida	14 January 1946	^[9]
3 (Long-Range) Ferry Unit	Abingdon	17 November 1952	Abingdon	1 February 1953	Became No. 167 Squadron RAF.^[11]
4 Ferry Unit	Catania, Sicily	23 September 1944	Capodichino, Italy	14 January 1946	^[9]
4 (Home) Ferry Unit	Hawarden	7 February 1952	Hawarden	1 February 1953	Became No. 173 Squadron RAF.^[12]
5 Ferry Unit	Heliopolis, Egypt	23 September 1944	Cairo West, Egypt	15 March 1946	^[9]
6 Ferry Unit	Dorval, Canada	5 July 1944	Dorval, Canada	30 November 1945	^[9]
7 Ferry Unit	Nassau, Bahamas	5 July 1944	Nassau, Bahamas	1 October 1945	^[9]
8 Ferry Unit	Mauripur, India	1 September 1944	Drigh Road, India	18 June 1945	^[9]
9 Ferry Unit	Bamhrauli, India	1 September 1944	Bamhrauli, India	20 June 1945	^[13]
10 Ferry Unit	Nagpur, India	1 September 1944	Trichinopoly, India	16 June 1945	^[13]
11 Ferry Unit	Talbenny	8 September 1944	Dunkeswell	15 August 1945	Merged No. 3 Aircraft Preparation Unit to become No. 16 Ferry Unit.^[13]
12 Ferry Unit	Melton Mowbray	9 October 1944	Melton Mowbray	7 November 1945	^[13]
14 Ferry Unit	Agartala, India	20 March 1945	Hathazari, India	13 July 1945	Absorbed by No. 209 Staging Post.^[13]
15 Ferry Unit	Filton	1 July 1945	Filton	10 October 1945	^[13]
16 Ferry Unit	Dunkeswell	15 August 1945	St Mawgan	15 November 1946	^[13]

Crew pools

Unit	Formed at	Formed on	Disbanded at	Disbanded on	Notes
1 Ferry Crew Pool	Lyneham	3 August 1943	Lyneham	16 March 1944	Merged with 301 Ferry Training Unit to become 1 Ferry Unit.^[8]
2 Ferry Crew Pool	Dorval, Canada	3 August 1943	Dorval	5 July 1944	Merged with the Civilian Aircrew Pool, Allied Aircrew Pool and Ferry Training Flight, Dorval to become 6 Ferry Unit.^[8]
3 Ferry Crew Pool	Nassau, Bahamas	3 August 1943	Nassau	5 July 1944	Became 7 Ferry Unit.^[8]

Pilots pools

Unit	Formed at	Formed on	Disbanded at	Disbanded on	Notes
1 Ferry Pilots Pool	Hucknall	16 January 1939	Hucknall	10 May 1940	^[8]
2 Ferry Pilots Pool	Filton	16 January 1939	Cardiff	April 1940	Disbanded to become 4 Ferry Pilots Pool.^[8]
4 Ferry Pilots Pool No. 4 (Continental) Ferry Pilots Pool	Cardiff	April 1940	Kemble	7 November 1940	Disbanded to become Headquarters Service Ferry Pools.^[8]
7 (Service) Ferry Pilots Pool	Kemble	5 November 1940	Kemble	20 February 1941	Absorbed by Headquarters Service Ferry Pools.^[14]
8 (Service) Ferry Pilots Pool	Hullavington	5 November 1940	Kington Langley	27 March 1941	Absorbed by No. 10 (Polish) Ferry Flight.^[15]
9 (Service) Ferry Pilots Pool	Hawarden	1 November 1940	Hawarden	20 February 1941	Absorbed by Headquarters Service Ferry Pools.^[14]
11 (Service) Ferry Pilots Pool	Dumfries	4 April 1941	Dumfries	June 1941	Absorbed by Headquarters Service Ferry Squadron.^[15]

Pools

Unit	Formed at	Formed on	Disbanded at	Disbanded on	Notes
1 Ferry Pool	White Waltham	3 December 1945	White Waltham	31 March 1946	^[8]
2 Ferry Pool	Aston Down	1 December 1945	Aston Down	7 February 1952	Became 2 (Home) Ferry Unit.^[8]
3 Ferry Pool	Lichfield	30 November 1945	Henlow	10 September 1947	^[8]
4 Ferry Pool	Hawarden	30 November 1945	Hawarden	7 February 1952	Became 4 (Home) Ferry Unit.^[8]
5 Ferry Pool	Silloth	15 October 1945	Silloth	25 May 1950	^[8]
8 (Service) Ferry Pool	Kington Langley	1 November 1940	Kington Langley	27 March 1941	Became 10 (Polish) Ferry Flight.^[14]

Training units

Unit	Formed at	Formed on	Disbanded at	Disbanded on	Notes
301 Ferry Training Unit	Lyneham	3 November 1942	Lyneham	16 March 1944	Merged with No. 1 Ferry Crew Pool to become No. 1 Ferry Unit.^[1]
302 Ferry Training Unit	Loch Erne	30 September 1942	Alness	1 April 1946	^[1]
303 Ferry Training Unit	Stornoway	30 September 1942	Talbenny	8 September 1944	Became No. 11 Ferry Unit.^[1]
304 Ferry Training Unit	Port Ellen	31 December 1942	Melton Mowbray	9 October 1944	Merged with No. 4 Aircraft Preparation Unit to become No. 12 Ferry Unit.^[1]
305 Ferry Training Unit	Errol	14 December 1942	Errol	30 April 1944	^[1]
306 Ferry Training Unit	Templeton	31 December 1942	Melton Mowbray	15 January 1944	Absorbed by No. 304 Ferry Training Unit.^[9]
307 Ferry Training Unit	Bicester	24 December 1942	Melton Mowbray	15 January 1944	Absorbed by No. 304 Ferry Training Unit.^[9]
308 Ferry Training Unit	Pembroke Dock	22 March 1943	Oban	12 January 1944	Absorbed by No. 302 Ferry Training Unit.^[9]
309 Ferry Training Unit	Benson	21 April 1943	Benson	17 September 1945	^[9]
310 Ferry Training Unit	Harwell	30 April 1943	Harwell	17 December 1943	Absorbed by No. 311 Ferry Training Unit.^[9]
311 Ferry Training Unit	Moreton-in-Marsh	1 May 1943	Moreton-in-Marsh	1 May 1944	^[9]
312 Ferry Training Unit	Wellesbourne Mountford	24 April 1943	Wellesbourne Mountford	17 December 1943	^[9]
313 Ferry Training Unit	North Bay, Canada	1 March 1944	North Bay, Canada	18 October 1945	^[9]

Other units

Aircraft

Unit	Formed at	Formed on	Disbanded at	Disbanded on	Notes
Overseas Aircraft Despatch Flight RAF	Kemble	9 September 1940	Kemble	15 August 1941	Became Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit^[16]
Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit, Kemble and Portreath	Kemble	15 August 1941	Portreath	26 January 1942	Became 1 Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit^[16]
No. 1 Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit RAF	Portreath	26 February 1942	Portreath	10 October 1945	Disbanded^[16]
No. 2 Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit RAF	St Mawgan	26 November 1942	St Mawgan	15 November 1946	Disbanded^[16]
No. 3 Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit RAF	Hurn	15 January 1943	Talbenny	17 May 1945	Disbanded^[16]
No. 4 Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit RAF	Redhill	22 May 1944	Bognor Regis	31 January 1945	Disbanded^[16]
No. 5 Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit RAF	Aston Down	5 June 1944	Aston Down	31 January 1945	Disbanded^[16]
Overseas Aircraft Preparation Flight RAF	Kemble	5 November 1941	Kemble	1 January 1942	Became^[16]
Overseas Aircraft Preparation Unit RAF	Kemble	1 January 1942	Kemble Filton	1 December 1942	Became 1 Overseas Aircraft Preparation Unit and 2 Overseas Aircraft Preparation Unit^[16]
No. 1 Overseas Aircraft Preparation Unit RAF	Kemble	1 December 1942	Unk	5 July 1944	Became 1 Aircraft Preparation Unit^[16]
No. 2 Overseas Aircraft Preparation Unit RAF	Filton	1 December 1942	Unk	5 July 1944	Became 2 Aircraft Preparation Unit^[16]
No. 3 Overseas Aircraft Preparation Unit RAF	Llandow	1 July 1943	Unk	5 July 1944	Became 3 Aircraft Preparation Unit^[16]
No. 4 Overseas Aircraft Preparation Unit RAF	Melton Mowbray	August 1943	Unk	5 July 1944	Became 4 Aircraft Preparation Unit^[16]
No. 1 Aircraft Preparation Unit RAF	Unk	5 July 1944	Kemble	10 October 1944	Absorbed by 1 Ferry Unit^[16]
No. 2 Aircraft Preparation Unit RAF	Unk	5 July 1944	Filton	1 July 1945	Became 15 Ferry Unit^[16]
No. 3 Aircraft Preparation Unit RAF	Unk	5 July 1944	Kirton-in-Lindsey	15 August 1945	Became 16 Ferry Unit^[16]
No. 4 Aircraft Preparation Unit RAF	Unk	5 July 1944	Melton Mowbray	9 October 1944	Became 12 Ferry Unit^[16]
No. 5 Aircraft Preparation Unit RAF	Dorval, Canada	5 July 1944	Dorval, Canada	1 October 1945	Disbanded^[17]
No. 6 Aircraft Preparation Unit RAF	Bermuda	5 July 1944	Bermuda	1 October 1945	Disbanded^[17]
No. 7 Aircraft Preparation Unit RAF	Nassau, Bahamas	5 July 1944	Nassau	1 October 1945	Disbanded^[17]
No. 11 (Landplane) Preparation and Modification Unit RAF	Thornaby	1 September 1945	Thornaby	25 May 1946	Disbanded^[18]
No. 12 (Flying Boat) Preparation and Modification Unit RAF	RAF Calshot	1 September 1945	Calshot	25 April 1946	Disbanded^[19]
No. 1 Aircraft Delivery Flight RAF	Hendon	3 March 1941	Andrews Field	9 October 1945	Disbanded^[20]
No. 2 Aircraft Delivery Flight RAF	Colerne	18 March 1941	Cranfield	31 July 1944	Disbanded^[20]
No. 3 Aircraft Delivery Flight RAF	Hawarden	10 March 1941	Catterick	22 November 1944	Disbanded^[20]
No. 4 Aircraft Delivery Flight RAF	Grangemouth	10 March 1941	Hutton Cranswick	31 October 1945	Disbanded^[20]
No. 1 Aircraft Delivery Unit RAF	Hendon	22 March 1941	Andrews Field	9 October 1945	Disbanded^[20]
No. 2 Aircraft Delivery Unit RAF	Colerne	22 March 1941	Cranfield	31 July 1944	Disbanded^[20]
No. 3 Aircraft Delivery Unit RAF	Hawarden	10 March 1941	Catterick	22 November 1944	Disbanded^[20]
No. 4 Aircraft Delivery Unit RAF	Grangemouth	10 March 1941	Hutton Cranswick	31 October 1945	Disbanded^[20]

References

Citations

Bibliography

Lake, Alan (1999). Flying units of the RAF. Shrewsbury,UK: Airlife. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
Sturtivant, Ray; Hamlin, John (2007). Royal Air Force flying training and support units since 1912. Tonbridge, UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 978-0851-3036-59.

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Search

List of ferry units of the Royal Air Force

Contents

Ferry

Flights

Units

Crew pools

Pilots pools

Pools

Training units

Other units

Aircraft

See also

References

Citations

Bibliography