   the former raf second tactical air force (2taf) was one of three tactical air forces within the royal air force (raf) during and after the second world war. it was made up of squadrons and personnel from the raf, the air forces of the british commonwealth and exiles from german-occupied europe. ==formation== it was formed on 1 june 1943 as hq tactical air force from army co-operation command in connection with preparations then in train to invade europe a year later. it took units from both fighter command and bomber command in order to form a force capable of supporting the army in the field. bomber command lent no. 2 group with light bombers, and fighter command was split up into the air defence of great britain, retaining fighter units for home defence, and no. 83 group and no. 84 group for the second tactical air force. in addition, no. 38 group raf for towing assault gliders and no. 140 squadron, providing strategic photo-reconnaissance, were also part of the tactical air force at its inception.royal air force, raf narrative on the liberation of north west europe (maxwell afb, ala.: afhra, usaf collection, call no. 512.041-38 vol. 1, iris no. 00895753, 1946), 8. == second world war ==  its first commander was air marshal sir john d'albiac, who, on 21 january 1944, was succeeded by the man most associated with second 
British_forces_in_Germany Military_units_and_formations_disestablished_in_1959 Military_units_and_formations_established_in_1943 Military_units_and_formations_of_the_Royal_Air_Force_in_World_War_II Royal_Air_Force_commands Royal_Air_Force_overseas_commands Royal_Air_Force_stations_in_Germany Tactical_air_forces