List of Royal Air Force aircraft independent flights explained

This is a list of Royal Air Force independent Flights. An independent Flight is a military administrative structure which is used to command flying units where the number of aircraft is not large enough to warrant a fully fledged squadron.

Royal Air Force Numbered Flights 1923–36

later Fleet Air Arm of the RAF numbered Flights.

Flight	Formed at	Formed on	Disbanded at	Disbanded on	Notes
		1 April 1923		3 April 1933	Renamed No. 401 (Fleet Fighter) Flight FAA from 1 April 1924. Became 801 Naval Air Squadron.
		1 April 1923		3 April 1933	Renamed No. 402 (Fleet Fighter) Flight FAA from 1 April 1924. Became 800 Naval Air Squadron
		1 April 1923		15 July 1936	Renamed No. 403 (Fleet Fighter) Flight FAA from 1 April 1924. Became No. 715 (Catapult) Flight FAA
		1 July 1923		3 April 1933	Renamed No. 404 (Fleet Fighter) Flight FAA from 1 April 1924. Became 800 Naval Air Squadron.
		31 May 1924		3 April 1933	Became 803 Naval Air Squadron
		31 May 1924	RAF Seletar, Malaya	15 July 1936	Became No. 714 (Catapult) Fight FAA
		1 September 1927		15 July 1936	Became No. 712 (Catapult) Flight FAA
		30 March 1929	Aboard	3 April 1933	Became 802 Naval Air Squadron
		7 October 1932	Aboard	3 April 1933	Became 802 Naval Air Squadron
		1 April 1923	Aboard	26 April 1929	Renamed No. 420 (Fleet Spotter) Flight FAA from 1 April 1924. Became No. 449 (Fleet Spotter Reconnaissance) Flight FAA.
		1 April 1923	Aboard	26 April 1929	Renamed No. 421 (Fleet Spotter) Flight FAA from 1 April 1924. Became No. 447 (Fleet Spotter Reconnaissance) Flight FAA.
		1 April 1923	Aboard	26 April 1929	Renamed No. 422 (Fleet Spotter) Flight FAA from 1 April 1924. Became No. 450 (Fleet Spotter Reconnaissance) Flight FAA.
		21 November 1923	Aboard	26 April 1929	Renamed No. 423 (Fleet Spotter) Flight FAA from 1 April 1924. Became No. 448 (Fleet Spotter Reconnaissance) Flight FAA.
		1 May 1923		11 June 1933	Renamed No. 440 (Fleet Reconnaissance) Flight FAA from 1 April 1924. Absorbed by 824 Naval Air Squadron.
		1 April 1923	Aboard	3 April 1933	Renamed No. 441 (Fleet Reconnaissance) Flight FAA from 1 April 1924. Became 823 Naval Air Squadron.
		1 April 1923		3 April 1933	Renamed No. 442 (Fleet Reconnaissance) Flight FAA from 1 April 1924. Became 822 Naval Air Squadron.
		21 May 1923		15 July 1936	Renamed No. 443 (Fleet Reconnaissance) Flight FAA from 1 April 1924. Became No. 716 (Catapult) Flight FAA and No. 718 (Catapult) Flight FAA.
		15 January 1925		15 July 1936	Renamed No. 444 (Fleet Reconnaissance) Flight FAA from 1 April 1924. Became No. 701 (Catapult) Flight FAA and No. 705 (Catapult) Flight FAA.
		1 September 1927		15 July 1936	Renamed No. 445 (Fleet Reconnaissance) Flight FAA from 30 August 1935. Became No. 713 (Catapult) Flight FAA.
		1 September 1927		3 April 1933	Became 821 Naval Air Squadron.
	Aboard	26 April 1929		15 July 1936	Divided to form No. 701 (Catapult) Flight FAA and No. 711 (Catapult) Flight FAA.
	Aboard	26 April 1929	Aboard	3 April 1933	Became 823 Naval Air Squadron.
	Aboard	26 April 1929		3 April 1933	Became 822 Naval Air Squadron.
	?	26 April 1929		3 April 1933	Became 820 Naval Air Squadron.
		1 April 1923	RAF Gosport	3 April 1933	Became 824 Naval Air Squadron
		1 April 1923	RAF Gosport	3 April 1933	Became 812 Naval Air Squadron
		31 May 1924	RAF Gosport	3 April 1933	Became 812 Naval Air Squadron
		1 September 1927	RAF Gosport	3 April 1933	Became 810 Naval Air Squadron
		1 September 1927	RAF Gosport	3 April 1933	Became 810 Naval Air Squadron
		20 March 1931	RAF Gosport	3 April 1933	Became 811 Naval Air Squadron
		31 March 1931	RAF Gosport	3 April 1933	Became 811 Naval Air Squadron

Fleet Air Arm of the RAF numbered Flights

• No. 701 (Catapult) Flight FAA (became 701 Naval Air Squadron) (1936–39)
• No. 702 (Catapult) Flight FAA (became 702 Naval Air Squadron) (1936–39)
• No. 705 (Catapult) Flight FAA (became 705 Naval Air Squadron) (1936–39)
• No. 711 (Catapult) Flight FAA (became 711 Naval Air Squadron) (1936–39)
• No. 712 (Catapult) Flight FAA (became 712 Naval Air Squadron) (1936–39)
• No. 713 (Catapult) Flight FAA (became 713 Naval Air Squadron) (1936–39)

• No. 714 (Catapult) Flight FAA (became 714 Naval Air Squadron) (1936–39)
• No. 715 (Catapult) Flight FAA (became 715 Naval Air Squadron) (1936–39)
• No. 716 (Catapult) Flight FAA (became 716 Naval Air Squadron) (1936–39)
• No. 718 (Catapult) Flight FAA (became 718 Naval Air Squadron) (1936–39)
• No. 720 (Catapult) Flight FAA (became 720 Naval Air Squadron) (1936–39)

A

Air Experience Flights

• 1 Air Experience Flight (1958–95)
• 2 Air Experience Flight (1958–)
• 3 Air Experience Flight (1958–)
• 4 Air Experience Flight (1958–95 & 1997–)
• 5 Air Experience Flight (1958–)
• 6 Air Experience Flight (1958–)
• 7 Air Experience Flight (1958–)
• 8 Air Experience Flight (1958–)
• 9 Air Experience Flight (1958–)
• 10 Air Experience Flight (1958–)
• 11 Air Experience Flight (1958–)
• 12 Air Experience Flight (1958–96)
• 13 Air Experience Flight (1958–96)

Aircraft Delivery Flights

• 1 Aircraft Delivery Flight (1941–45)
• 2 Aircraft Delivery Flight (1941–44)
• 3 Aircraft Delivery Flight (1941–44)
• 4 Aircraft Delivery Flight (1941–45)

Anti-Aircraft Co-operation/Calibration Flights

See main article: List of Anti-Aircraft units of the Royal Air Force.

B

Beam Approach Training Flights

See main article: List of Beam approach beacon system units.

• Beam Approach Calibration Flight RAF (to Blind Approach Calibration Flight) (1941–42)
• Beam Approach Training Flight RAF, Church Lawford (1942)
• Beam Approach Training Flight RAF, Nanyuki (194?-42)

Blind Approach Training Flights

See main article: List of Beam approach beacon system units.

• Blind Approach Calibration Flight RAF (from Beam Approach Calibration Flight) (1941)

C

Calibration Flights

See main article: List of communications units and formations of the Royal Air Force.

Coast Defence / Co-operation Flights

• • • • • • • • No. 1 Coast Artillery Co-operation Flight RAF (1936–37) became No. 1 Coastal Artillery Co-operation Unit RAF No. 1 Coast Defence Flight, Indian Air Force Volunteer Reserve (1940–42) became No. 101 (Coast Defence) Flight, Indian Air Force No. 2 Coast Defence Flight, Indian Air Force Volunteer Reserve (1940–42) became No. 102 (Coast Defence) Flight, Indian Air Force No. 3 Coast Defence Flight, Indian Air Force Volunteer Reserve (1940–42) became No. 103 (Coast Defence) Flight, Indian Air Force No. 4 Coast Defence Flight, Indian Air Force Volunteer Reserve (1940–42) became No. 104 (Coast Defence) Flight, Indian Air Force No. 5 Coast Defence Flight, Indian Air Force Volunteer Reserve (1940–42) became No. 105 (Coast Defence) Flight, Indian Air Force No. 6 Coast Defence Flight, Indian Air Force Volunteer Reserve (1940–42) became No. 106 (Coast Defence) Flight, Indian Air Force No. 1 Coastal Patrol Flight RAF (1939–40)
• No. 2 Coastal Patrol Flight RAF (1939–40)
• No. 3 Coastal Patrol Flight RAF (1939–40)
• No. 4 Coastal Patrol Flight RAF (1939–40)
• No. 5 Coastal Patrol Flight RAF (1939–40)
• No. 6 Coastal Patrol Flight RAF (1940)
• Coastal Battery Co-operation Flight RAF (1919–21)
  • Coastal Battery Co-operation School Flight RAF (1919) became Coastal Battery Co-operation Flight RAF Coast Defence Co-operation Flight RAF (1924–33) became Coast Defence Training Flight RAF
    • Coast Defence Torpedo Training Flight RAF (1928) became No. 36 Squadron RAF Coast Defence Training Flight RAF (1933) became No. 1 Coastal Defence Training Unit RAF Coastal Reconnaissance Beaufighter Flight RAF (1933-??)

Communication Flights

See main article: List of Royal Air Force Communication units.

Conversion Flights

See main article: List of conversion units of the Royal Air Force.

Meteorological flights

• • • • • • • • • • • • • No. 1 Meteorological Flight RAF (1943) became No. 1300 (Meteorological) Flight RAF No. 2 Meteorological Flight RAF (1943) became No. 1301 (Meteorological) Flight RAF No. 3 Meteorological Flight RAF (1943) became No. 1302 (Meteorological) Flight RAF No. 4 Meteorological Flight RAF (1943) became No. 1303 (Meteorological) Flight RAF No. 401 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1941) became No. 1401 (Meteorological) Flight RAF No. 402 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1941) became No. 1402 (Meteorological) Flight RAF No. 403 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1940–41) became No. 1403 (Meteorological) Flight RAF No. 404 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1940–41) became No. 1404 (Meteorological) Flight RAF No. 405 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1941) became No. 1405 (Meteorological) Flight RAF No. 1300 (Meteorological Reconnaissance) Flight RAF (1946–47) became No. 18 Squadron RAF No. 1300 (Meteorological THUM) Flight RAF (19??-46) became No. 1300 (Meteorological Reconnaissance) Flight RAF No. 1300 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1943-??) became No. 1300 (Meteorological THUM) Flight RAF No. 1301 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1943–46 & 1949–51)
• No. 1302 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1943–46)
• No. 1303 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1943–46)
• No. 1361 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1946)
• No. 1362 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1946 & 1955–58)
• No. 1363 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1946)
• No. 1364 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1946)
• No. 1401 (Meteorological) Flight RAF – combined with 1403 to form 521 Squadron in 1942. Reformed in 1943. (1941–42 & 1943–46)
• No. 1402 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1941–45 & 1946–46)
  • • No. 1403 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1941–42 & 1943) became No. 520 Squadron RAF No. 1404 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1941–43) became No. 517 Squadron RAF No. 1405 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1941–42)
    • No. 1406 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1941–43) became No. 519 Squadron RAF No. 1407 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1941–44) became No. 521 Squadron RAF No. 1408 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1941–42)
• No. 1409 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1943–45) became No. 1409 (Long Range Meteorological Reconnaissance) Flight RAF
• No. 1411 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1942–43)
• No. 1412 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1942–46)
• No. 1413 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1942–46)
• No. 1414 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1941–46)
• No. 1415 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1942–46)
• No. 1560 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1942–45)
• No. 1561 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1943–45 & 1945–46)
• No. 1562 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1943–45 & 1945–46)
• No. 1563 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1942–46)
• No. 1564 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1943–46)
• No. 1565 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1943–46)
• No. 1566 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1943–46)
• No. 1567 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1943–46)
• No. 1568 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1944–46)
• No. 1569 (Meteorological) Flight RAF (1944–45)
• Air Ministry Meteorological Flight Aldergrove (1936–39) became 'C' Flight, Station Flight Aldergrove
  • • • Meteorological Flight RAF, Heliopolis (1941–42) became No. 1411 (Meteorological) Flight RAF Meteorological Flight RAF, Khartoum (1941–42) became No. 1412 (Meteorological) Flight RAF Meteorological Flight RAF, Ramleh (1941–42) became No. 1413 (Meteorological) Flight RAF Meteorological Research Flight RAF (1946–2001) ^[1]
  • Royal Air Force Meteorological Flight Eastchurch, Duxford and Mildenhall (1924–41) became No. 401 (Meteorological) Flight RAF Temperature and Humidity Flight RAF (1951–58)
• Transport Command Meteorological Flight RAF (19??)

Seaplane Training Flights

• 'A' Boat Seaplane Training Flight
• 'B' Boat Seaplane Training Flight
• 'C' Boat Seaplane Training Flight
• 'D' Boat Seaplane Training Flight
• 'E' Boat Seaplane Training Flight
• 'F' Boat Seaplane Training Flight
• 'G' Boat Seaplane Training Flight
• Seaplane Flight RAF, Basra (1928–29)

Ferry flights

See main article: List of Royal Air Force Ferry units.

Special Flights

Special Duty/Duties

Other Special flights

Target Towing Flights

• • • • • • • • • • • • No. 1 RAF Regiment Anti-Aircraft Practice Camp Target Towing Flight (1943) became No. 1625 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flight RAF No. 2 RAF Regiment Anti-Aircraft Practice Camp Target Towing Flight (1943) became No. 1626 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flight RAF No. 3 RAF Regiment Anti-Aircraft Practice Camp Target Towing Flight (1943) became No. 1627 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flight RAF No. 4 RAF Regiment Anti-Aircraft Practice Camp Target Towing Flight (1943) became No. 1628 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flight RAF No. 5 RAF Regiment Anti-Aircraft Practice Camp Target Towing Flight (1943) became No. 1629 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flight RAF No. 6 RAF Regiment Anti-Aircraft Practice Camp Target Towing Flight (1943) became No. 1630 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flight RAF No. 7 RAF Regiment Anti-Aircraft Practice Camp Target Towing Flight (1943) became No. 1631 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flight RAF No. 8 RAF Regiment Anti-Aircraft Practice Camp Target Towing Flight (1943) became No. 1632 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flight RAF No. 1 RAF Regiment School Target Towing Flight (1942–43) became No. 1634 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flight RAF No. 3 RAF Regiment School Target Towing Flight (1942–43) became No. 1634 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flight RAF No. 1 Target Towing Flight RAF (19??-42) became Air Defence Co-operation Unit RAF No. 1 Target Towing Flight (India) RAF (1947)
• No. 2 Target Towing Flight (India) RAF (1947)
  • • • Target Towing Flight RAF, Nicosia (19??-50) became Middle East Air Force Target Towing Unit RAF Target Towing Flight RAF, Shallufa RAF (1953–54) became Middle East Air Force Target Towing Unit RAF No. 1 Towed Target Flight RAF (1939–42) became Air Defence Co-operation Unit RAF Base and Target Towing Flight, Royal Air Force Maintenance Base (Far East), Seletar RAF (1953-??)
• Middle East Air Force Target Towing Flight RAF (1952–56)
  • Station and Target Towing Flight RAF, Seletar (1951–53) became Base and Target Towing Flight, Royal Air Force Maintenance Base (Far East), Seletar RAF Towed Target Flight RAF, Bentwaters (1945)
  • Towed Target Flight RAF, Changi (1962–64) became No. 1574 (Target Facilities) Flight RAF Towed Target Flight RAF, Gibraltar (1953–58)
• Towed Target Flight RAF, Helwan (1940)
• Towed Target Flight RAF, Ismailia (1935)
• Towed Target Flight RAF, Khartoum (1935)
• Towed Target Flight RAF, St. Eval (1953–55)
• Towed Target Flight RAF, Schleswigland (1953–58)
• Towed Target Flight RAF, Seletar (1951)
• Towed Target Flight RAF, Sutton Bridge (1940)
• Towed Target Flight RAF, Tangmere (1950–51)

See also

Royal Air Force

• List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons
• List of Royal Air Force aircraft independent flights
• List of conversion units of the Royal Air Force
• List of Royal Air Force Glider units
• List of Royal Air Force Operational Training Units
• List of Royal Air Force schools
• List of Royal Air Force units & establishments
• List of RAF squadron codes
• List of RAF Regiment units
• List of Battle of Britain squadrons
• List of wings of the Royal Air Force
• Royal Air Force roundels

Army Air Corps

• List of Army Air Corps aircraft units

Fleet Air Arm

• List of Fleet Air Arm aircraft squadrons
• List of aircraft wings of the Royal Navy
• List of Fleet Air Arm groups
• List of aircraft units of the Royal Navy

Others

• List of Air Training Corps squadrons
• University Air Squadron
• Air Experience Flight
• Volunteer Gliding Squadron
• United Kingdom military aircraft registration number
• United Kingdom aircraft test serials
• British military aircraft designation systems

References

Bibliography

• Book: Lake . A . Flying units of the RAF . 1999 . Airlife . Shrewsbury . 1-84037-086-6 .
• Sturtivant, Ray, ISO and John Hamlin. RAF Flying Training and Support Units since 1912. Tonbridge Wells, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 2007. .

Notes and References

1. Gratton G.B., The Meteorological Research Flight and itspredecessors and successors, J Aeronaut Hist, 2012/06, pp 83-111 https://www.aerosociety.com/media/4853/the-meteorological-research-flight-and-its-predecessors-and-successors.pdf