No. 11 Group RAF

Template:Infobox military unit

**No. 11 Group** is a group in the British Royal Air Force first formed in 1918. It had been formed and disbanded for various periods during the 20th century before disbanding in 1996 and reforming again in 2018. Its most famous service was in 1940 in the Battle of Britain during the Second World War, when it defended London and the south-east of the United Kingdom from attacks by the German *Luftwaffe*. It was reformed in late 2018 as a "multi-domain operations group" to ensure the service thinks and acts in a networked way.

## History

### First World War

**No. 11 Group** was first formed on 1 April 1918 in No. 2 Area as **No. 11 (Equipment) Group**, and was transferred to South-Western Area the next month on 8 May. The Group was disbanded on 17 May 1918.

### Inter-war years

The next incarnation of the Group occurred in 22 August 1918 when it was formed as part of the North-Western Area. On 6 February 1920, Group Captain Ian Bonham-Carter took command and three months later, in May 1920, 11 Group was reduced in status to **No. 11 Wing**. The Group was reformed on 1 May 1936 as **No. 11 (Fighter) Group** by renaming **Fighting Area**. On 14 July 1936, 11 Group became the first RAF Fighter Command Group responsible for the air-defence of southern England, including London.

### Second World War, 1939 to 1945

No.11 Group was organised with the Dowding System of fighter control. Group Headquarters was at Hillingdon House, located at RAF Uxbridge in the London Borough of Hillingdon. The Group operations room was underground in what is now known as the Battle of Britain Bunker. Commands were passed to the sector airfields, each of which was in charge of several airfields and fighter squadrons. The sector airfields were:

The11 Group Operations Room in the "Battle of Britain Bunker" at RAF Uxbridge.

* RAF Westhampnett

**Sector B:**
* RAF Kenley (Sector HQ)
* RAF Croydon
* RAF Redhill

**Sector C:**
* RAF Biggin Hill (Sector HQ)
* RAF Hawkinge
* RAF Friston

**Sector D:**
* RAF Hornchurch (Sector HQ)
* RAF Rochford
* RAF Manston
* RAF Stapleford Tawney

**Sector F:**
* RAF Debden (Sector HQ)
* RAF Wimbish

**Sector Y:**
* RAF Middle Wallop (Sector HQ)
* RAF Odiham

**Sector Z:**
* RAF Northolt (Sector HQ)
* RAF Hendon

A memorial to the No. 11 Group underground operations room alongside the RAF ensign at RAF Uxbridge.

#### Battle of Britain 1940

The most famous period of the Group was during the Battle of Britain when it bore the brunt of the German aerial assault. Pilots posted to squadrons in 11 Group knew that they would be in constant action, while pilots and squadrons transferred from No.11 Group knew that they were going to somewhere comparatively safer. During the Battle of Britain, the Group was commanded by New Zealander Air Vice Marshal Keith Park. While supported by the commanders (AOCs) of No. 10 Group and No. 13 Group, he received insufficient support from the AOC of 12 Group, Air Vice Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory, who used the Big Wing controversy to criticise Park's tactics. Leigh-Mallory's lack of support compromised Fighter Command at a critical time and the controversy caused problems for Park. When the Battle of Britain was over, Leigh-Mallory, acting with Air Marshal Sholto Douglas, conspired to have Park removed from his position (along with the Commander-in-Chief of Fighter Command, Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding). Leigh-Mallory then took over command of 11 Group.