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Use of the Term ' RAF Station'
- Paul Francis
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11 Jan 2015 20:59 #1
by Paul Francis
You can tell a builder from an archaeologist by the size of his trowel. Mine is a small one!
Use of the Term ' RAF Station' was created by Paul Francis
Use of the Term ‘RAF Station’
Below is a letter found while carrying out a bit of research on RAF Station Uxbridge (RAF Uxbridge), written by Air Commodore DA Green Director of Organisation (RAF), dated 1 October 1965 and addressed to all Commands at Home and Abroad.
The attention of this Directorate has been drawn to the indiscriminate use of the term ‘Royal Air Force Station’ and the confusion that has been caused by the incorrect use of this and other descriptive terms which refer to RAF units and their locations. Examples are as follows:
• Misunderstandings have arisen over the interpretation by some local Commanders of their responsibilities relative to their status as Station Commanders.
• Because of the above, there have been occasions when County and Borough authorities have been in doubt about the correct recognition and application of ceremonial affiliations between the RAF and local organisations.
• The promulgation of unit establishments has been the subject of argument because of the lack of clear definition of unit responsibilities in relation to station administration.
• Public announcements authorising the formation of closure of units has been misinterpreted by local authorities because the terminology used has not conveyed the precise meaning of the announcement.
These difficulties have occurred principally at RAF locations where the station is administered by another department on a joint or agency basis and also where the presence of RAF personnel does not clearly establish the existence of an RAF station.
The purpose of this letter is to emphasise the importance of using the correct terms when referring officially to RAF locations, units and / or stations SD161 – ‘Location of Royal Air Force Units’ – is the guide to correct use of these terms. The facts that the definitions and layout of the existing SD161 leave room for doubt has been appreciated and this letter, therefore also highlights and explains the changes in definition of the terms ‘Locations’, ‘Units’ and ‘Station’, introduced in the new edition of SD161 to be issued on 1 October 1965.
AMO A322/48 laid down that the method of address was to be ‘RAF Somewhere’ and not, as it had been previously ‘RAF Station Somewhere’. On the other hand SD161 retained the word ‘RAF Station’ to describe a unit established specifically for the control and administration of a location. These two conflicting descriptions have given the rise to the belief that an ‘RAF Station’ only exists where there is such a specifically established unit. This is not necessary so and the revised edition of SD161 will reflect this. The definitions of the headings under which information will be listed and the changes in terminology involved are:
Location – The location name is a convenient geographical reference and provides the essential identifying evidence of the postal address. Under the heading ‘Location’ in SD161 place names will now be proceeded by the initials of the operating authority:
RAF Hullavington
MOA Prestwick
MPBW Bishopbriggs
KAF Eastleigh
When applied to an RAF location the form ‘RAF Somewhere’ is to be used invariably to describe the location, and in its postal address.
Unit – ‘Unit’ is the title generically applied to elements of the Royal Air Force which are established to carry out a particular function. A unit may be self-contained administratively or it may be administered by another unit, sometimes established specifically for this purpose. All established units of the RAF are listed in SD161 under their commanding formations and against their location. The term ‘Station Headquarters Establishment’ will now be used instead of ‘RAF Station’ to describe the separately established unit charged with control and administration of a location. All RAF locations administered by the USAF, the RAF unit (where it exists), will be known as the ‘RAF Liaison Party’.
Station – Wherever a RAF unit is shown against a RAF location in SD161, a Royal Air Force Station exists. If no separate Station HQ Establishment is shown against an RAF location, the first unit shown against that location is responsible for control and administration of, and at, that location in accordance with QR RAF 58 (1). This unit will be known as the Station Commanding Unit, and will be so promulgated in SD155. The Commanding Officer of this unit automatically becomes the Station Commander.
In summary it can be seen that it is the presence of RAF men (sic) and the material in a formally established unit (or units) of an RAF location which defines the existence of a station. The indiscriminate use of the term ‘RAF Station’ in official correspondence should therefore cease and the eterm should be used strictly in the context defined in this letter and in the new edition of SD161. The term ‘RAF Station’ should never be used in postal addresses, for which the instruction in AMO A322/48 still apply.
These changes in terminology in no way affect the responsibilities and functions of Station Commanders laid down in QR (RAF) paragraphs 56 to 79, nor do they affect any instructions regarding station organisation which have been or will be, promulgated by this Department.
Air Commodore DA Green Director of Organisation (RAF) 1 October 1965
Below is a letter found while carrying out a bit of research on RAF Station Uxbridge (RAF Uxbridge), written by Air Commodore DA Green Director of Organisation (RAF), dated 1 October 1965 and addressed to all Commands at Home and Abroad.
The attention of this Directorate has been drawn to the indiscriminate use of the term ‘Royal Air Force Station’ and the confusion that has been caused by the incorrect use of this and other descriptive terms which refer to RAF units and their locations. Examples are as follows:
• Misunderstandings have arisen over the interpretation by some local Commanders of their responsibilities relative to their status as Station Commanders.
• Because of the above, there have been occasions when County and Borough authorities have been in doubt about the correct recognition and application of ceremonial affiliations between the RAF and local organisations.
• The promulgation of unit establishments has been the subject of argument because of the lack of clear definition of unit responsibilities in relation to station administration.
• Public announcements authorising the formation of closure of units has been misinterpreted by local authorities because the terminology used has not conveyed the precise meaning of the announcement.
These difficulties have occurred principally at RAF locations where the station is administered by another department on a joint or agency basis and also where the presence of RAF personnel does not clearly establish the existence of an RAF station.
The purpose of this letter is to emphasise the importance of using the correct terms when referring officially to RAF locations, units and / or stations SD161 – ‘Location of Royal Air Force Units’ – is the guide to correct use of these terms. The facts that the definitions and layout of the existing SD161 leave room for doubt has been appreciated and this letter, therefore also highlights and explains the changes in definition of the terms ‘Locations’, ‘Units’ and ‘Station’, introduced in the new edition of SD161 to be issued on 1 October 1965.
AMO A322/48 laid down that the method of address was to be ‘RAF Somewhere’ and not, as it had been previously ‘RAF Station Somewhere’. On the other hand SD161 retained the word ‘RAF Station’ to describe a unit established specifically for the control and administration of a location. These two conflicting descriptions have given the rise to the belief that an ‘RAF Station’ only exists where there is such a specifically established unit. This is not necessary so and the revised edition of SD161 will reflect this. The definitions of the headings under which information will be listed and the changes in terminology involved are:
Location – The location name is a convenient geographical reference and provides the essential identifying evidence of the postal address. Under the heading ‘Location’ in SD161 place names will now be proceeded by the initials of the operating authority:
RAF Hullavington
MOA Prestwick
MPBW Bishopbriggs
KAF Eastleigh
When applied to an RAF location the form ‘RAF Somewhere’ is to be used invariably to describe the location, and in its postal address.
Unit – ‘Unit’ is the title generically applied to elements of the Royal Air Force which are established to carry out a particular function. A unit may be self-contained administratively or it may be administered by another unit, sometimes established specifically for this purpose. All established units of the RAF are listed in SD161 under their commanding formations and against their location. The term ‘Station Headquarters Establishment’ will now be used instead of ‘RAF Station’ to describe the separately established unit charged with control and administration of a location. All RAF locations administered by the USAF, the RAF unit (where it exists), will be known as the ‘RAF Liaison Party’.
Station – Wherever a RAF unit is shown against a RAF location in SD161, a Royal Air Force Station exists. If no separate Station HQ Establishment is shown against an RAF location, the first unit shown against that location is responsible for control and administration of, and at, that location in accordance with QR RAF 58 (1). This unit will be known as the Station Commanding Unit, and will be so promulgated in SD155. The Commanding Officer of this unit automatically becomes the Station Commander.
In summary it can be seen that it is the presence of RAF men (sic) and the material in a formally established unit (or units) of an RAF location which defines the existence of a station. The indiscriminate use of the term ‘RAF Station’ in official correspondence should therefore cease and the eterm should be used strictly in the context defined in this letter and in the new edition of SD161. The term ‘RAF Station’ should never be used in postal addresses, for which the instruction in AMO A322/48 still apply.
These changes in terminology in no way affect the responsibilities and functions of Station Commanders laid down in QR (RAF) paragraphs 56 to 79, nor do they affect any instructions regarding station organisation which have been or will be, promulgated by this Department.
Air Commodore DA Green Director of Organisation (RAF) 1 October 1965
You can tell a builder from an archaeologist by the size of his trowel. Mine is a small one!
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- Peter Kirk
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11 Jan 2015 21:24 #2
by Peter Kirk
No Amount Of Evidence Will Ever Persuade An Idiot (probably not Mark Twain)
Replied by Peter Kirk on topic Use of the Term ' RAF Station'
Very interesting. My personal use of "Station" tended to be in a context similar to "it was an RAF Station" or "there was an RAF Station at". I seem to recall something similar discussed some years ago and I wonder if as part of the forum we should compile a guide to authors on common mistakes in terminology etc.
No Amount Of Evidence Will Ever Persuade An Idiot (probably not Mark Twain)
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- RS8V
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11 Jan 2015 21:33 #3
by RS8V
Replied by RS8V on topic Use of the Term ' RAF Station'
Not my fault. I only joined D of O (RAF) a year later !
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- carnaby
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11 Jan 2015 23:01 #4
by carnaby
Plan A is always more effective when the problem you are working on understands that Plan B will involve the use of dynamite
Replied by carnaby on topic Use of the Term ' RAF Station'
Post #1 is very interesting. Looking at several issues of SD161 from 1940 to 1950 the terminology seems to have been:
Airfields were 'Stations' and 'Units', e.g.
Radar facilities were 'Stations' + Location', (with inconsistencies regarding the location - town or county)?
Canadian Flying Training Schools were classified as 'School' + 'Location', e.g. No.32 EFTS - Winton Alberta
Most other RAF sites were classified as 'Locations' and 'Units', i.e. they were not Stations, some examples being:
Wireless facilities:
Technical Training Command
Maintenance Command:
Marine Craft Units were described as 'Number' + 'Location'
Airfields were 'Stations' and 'Units', e.g.
Little Staughton - No.109
Topcliffe - No.1659 Conversion Unit
Also Balloon Command', e.g. Birmingham (Wythall) - No.6 Balloon CentreTopcliffe - No.1659 Conversion Unit
Radar facilities were 'Stations' + Location', (with inconsistencies regarding the location - town or county)?
Poling - Sussex
Sennen - Cornwall
Sennen - Cornwall
Great Bromley - Colchester
Fairlight - Hastings
Dymchurch - Newchurch, Kent
Dymchurch - Newchurch, Kent
Canadian Flying Training Schools were classified as 'School' + 'Location', e.g. No.32 EFTS - Winton Alberta
Most other RAF sites were classified as 'Locations' and 'Units', i.e. they were not Stations, some examples being:
Wireless facilities:
Chicksands - No.361 Wireless Unit
Blackbrook - NW Signals Centre
Blackbrook - NW Signals Centre
Technical Training Command
Hednesford - No.6 School of TT
Maintenance Command:
Norton Disney - No.93 MU
Kidbrooke - No.1 MU
Stafford - 16MU
Kidbrooke - No.1 MU
Stafford - 16MU
Marine Craft Units were described as 'Number' + 'Location'
5 - Meikle Ferry
Plan A is always more effective when the problem you are working on understands that Plan B will involve the use of dynamite
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12 Jan 2015 11:26 #5
by Harboda77
Replied by Harboda77 on topic Use of the Term ' RAF Station'
Informative find Paul and my relative who had to identify potential sites for the Air Ministry experienced similar problems during the major build period.
The only example I can remember related to what became RAF Pershore.
When it had been first proposed it had been listed as the Tilesford Air Strip and when its location had increased its importance it became Throckmortem Air Field.
Then the Tilesford Air Strip was being referenced as the Tilesford Air Field with Throckmorten becoming as Aerodrome.
Apparently it had also been referred to as RAF Throckmorten before it became RAF Pershore.
There was a thread running in 2013 related to how many airfield had been built during the conflict and I believe that AirFieldsMan located a magazine map that had 812 listed.
My understanding had been a number of Airstrips were identified and operated for a very short duration so they never appeared on the official records as either an Airfield or Aerodrome.
There is a very slight possibility that some were reused AA Landing Fields or associated with requisitioned estates which needed only a 300/350 yard Air Strip for training purposes etc.
I believe some of the identified locations were never constructed however my relative understood that the Air Ministry had approved 832 before he had been relieved to acquire properties for what became Heathrow.
Dave.
The only example I can remember related to what became RAF Pershore.
When it had been first proposed it had been listed as the Tilesford Air Strip and when its location had increased its importance it became Throckmortem Air Field.
Then the Tilesford Air Strip was being referenced as the Tilesford Air Field with Throckmorten becoming as Aerodrome.
Apparently it had also been referred to as RAF Throckmorten before it became RAF Pershore.
There was a thread running in 2013 related to how many airfield had been built during the conflict and I believe that AirFieldsMan located a magazine map that had 812 listed.
My understanding had been a number of Airstrips were identified and operated for a very short duration so they never appeared on the official records as either an Airfield or Aerodrome.
There is a very slight possibility that some were reused AA Landing Fields or associated with requisitioned estates which needed only a 300/350 yard Air Strip for training purposes etc.
I believe some of the identified locations were never constructed however my relative understood that the Air Ministry had approved 832 before he had been relieved to acquire properties for what became Heathrow.
Dave.
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- Kevin Aeronca old
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12 Jan 2015 22:02 #6
by Kevin Aeronca old
Replied by Kevin Aeronca old on topic Use of the Term ' RAF Station'
To lob a spanner in the works, when we sprog air cadets were off to camp in the early 1960s, we were given instructions to pass on to our mummies and daddies, should they wish to write to us. After personal and squadron details the envelope was to be marked, eg,
Royal Air Force
Coltishall
Norfolk
That would, neatly, obviate the need to add the status of the "station", or whatever, to the envelope.
Royal Air Force
Coltishall
Norfolk
That would, neatly, obviate the need to add the status of the "station", or whatever, to the envelope.
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13 Jan 2015 10:01 #7
by Mike W
I recall reading an article several years ago that RAF stations were named after the local telephone exchange. A curious example of this was RAF Norton Disney which in actual fact was nowhere near to the village of that name. being several miles away.
Replied by Mike W on topic Use of the Term ' RAF Station'
To lob a spanner in the works, when we sprog air cadets were off to camp in the early 1960s, we were given instructions to pass on to our mummies and daddies, should they wish to write to us. After personal and squadron details the envelope was to be marked, eg,
Royal Air Force
Coltishall
Norfolk
That would, neatly, obviate the need to add the status of the "station", or whatever, to the envelope.
I recall reading an article several years ago that RAF stations were named after the local telephone exchange. A curious example of this was RAF Norton Disney which in actual fact was nowhere near to the village of that name. being several miles away.
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19 Jan 2015 16:45 #8
by canberra
Replied by canberra on topic Use of the Term ' RAF Station'
I was actually taught it was the local post office not the telephone exchange. For instance Cranwell is in the parish of Byards Leap but the nearest post office was in Cranwell village. Marham actually has a Narborough phone number!
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20 Jan 2015 14:12 #9
by mbriscoe
Replied by mbriscoe on topic Use of the Term ' RAF Station'
Pen pushers love details like that!
BBC sites went through various phases of big towns, local name of a hill, name of the place they served. Similarly the abbreviation initially were obvious two or three letter abbreviations then they use GPO abbreviations which could be difficult to decipher then want to back to more obvious abbreviations. I was told once that originally the choice of the abbreviation was quite a high level one, perhaps when I suggested that the local site 'Cow Hill' just have had the Three Letter Abbreviation 'MOO' rather than 'COW'. It is possible because I know what a quite minor piece of equipment had lots debate about what colour LEDs should be used to indicate fault or normal. The designer got some fed up that he made the colour used completely programmable.
BBC sites went through various phases of big towns, local name of a hill, name of the place they served. Similarly the abbreviation initially were obvious two or three letter abbreviations then they use GPO abbreviations which could be difficult to decipher then want to back to more obvious abbreviations. I was told once that originally the choice of the abbreviation was quite a high level one, perhaps when I suggested that the local site 'Cow Hill' just have had the Three Letter Abbreviation 'MOO' rather than 'COW'. It is possible because I know what a quite minor piece of equipment had lots debate about what colour LEDs should be used to indicate fault or normal. The designer got some fed up that he made the colour used completely programmable.
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