List of Royal Air Force schools

This is a list of schools within the Royal Air Force, including the empire flying training scheme, civilian and service elementary training schemes, and gliding schools.

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Schools

The Royal Air Force operated many schools to train aircrew in the many and various skills required to operate an air force.

Air Gunners School

No. 1 Air Gunners School RAF (1941–45) ^[1]
No. 2 Air Gunners School RAF (1941–45) ^[1]
No. 3 Air Gunners School RAF (1942–45) ^[1]
No. 4 Air Gunners School RAF (1942–44) ^[1]
No. 6 Air Gunners School RAF (1942) ^[1]
No. 7 Air Gunners School RAF (1941–44) ^[1]
No. 8 Air Gunners School RAF (1941–44) ^[1]
No. 9 Air Gunners School RAF (1941–42) ^[1]
No. 10 Air Gunners School RAF (1941–46, 1946–47) ^[1]
No. 11 Air Gunners School RAF (1943–47) ^[1]
No. 12 Air Gunners School RAF (1943–45) ^[1]
No. 13 Air Gunners School RAF (1943–45) ^[2]

Air Navigation School

No. 1 Air Navigation School RAF (1947–54, 1957–70) ^[3]
No. 2 Air Navigation School RAF (1947–70) ^[3]
No. 3 Air Navigation School RAF (1948–51, 1952–54) ^[3]
No. 4 Air Navigation School RAF (1952) became No. 5 Air Navigation School RAF ^[3]
No. 5 Air Navigation School RAF (1945–47, 1951–52, 1952–53) ^[3]
No. 6 Air Navigation School RAF (1952–53) ^[3]
No. 7 Air Navigation School RAF (1947) beame No. 2 Air Navigation School RAF^[3]
No. 10 Air Navigation School RAF (1945–48) ^[3]
No. 31 Air Navigation School RAF (1940–45) ^[4]
No. 32 Air Navigation School RAF (1941–42) ^[4]
No. 33 Air Navigation School RAF (1941–44) ^[4]

Air Observers School

No. 1 Air Observers School RAF (1938–39, 1941–42) became No. 1 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit RAF ^[5]
No. 2 Air Observers School RAF (1938–39, 1941–42) became No. 2 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit RAF ^[5]
No. 3 Air Observers School RAF (1939, 1941–42) became No. 3 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit RAF ^[5]
No. 4 Air Observers School RAF (1939, 1941–43) became No. 4 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit RAF^[5]
No. 5 Air Observers School RAF (1939, 1941–44) became Air Navigation and Bombing School RAF ^[5]
No. 6 Air Observers School RAF (1942–43) became No. 6 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit RAF ^[5]
No. 7 Air Observers School RAF (1939, 1943–44) became No. 7 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit RAF ^[5]
No. 8 Air Observers School RAF (1939) became No. 8 Bombing and Gunnery School RAF ^[5]
No. 9 Air Observers School RAF (1939, 1941–42) became No. 9 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit RAF ^[5]
No. 10 Air Observers School RAF (1939–40, 1941–42) became No. 10 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit RAF ^[5]
No. 24 Combined Air Observers School RAF (1941–43) became No. 24 Bombing, Gunnery and Navigation School RAF ^[6]

Air Observers Navigation School

No. 1 Air Observers Navigation School RAF (1939–41) ^[4]
No. 2 Air Observers Navigation School RAF (1939–40) ^[4]
No. 3 Air Observers Navigation School RAF (1939–40, 1941) became No. 3 Air Observers School RAF ^[4]
No. 4 Air Observers Navigation School RAF (1939–41) ^[4]
No. 5 Air Observers Navigation School RAF (1939–40, 1940) became No. 45 Air School, SAAF ^[4]
No. 6 Air Observers Navigation School RAF (1939–40) became No. 6 Air Observers School RAF ^[4]
No. 7 Air Observers Navigation School RAF (1939–40) ^[4]
No. 8 Air Observers Navigation School RAF (1939) ^[4]
No. 9 Air Observers Navigation School RAF (1939–40) ^[4]
No. 10 Air Observers Navigation School RAF (1939) ^[4]
No. 11 Air Observers Navigation School RAF (1939–41) ^[4]

Bombing and Gunnery School

No. 1 Bombing and Gunnery School RAF (1939–41) became No. 1 Air Gunners School RAF ^[7]
No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School RAF (1941) became No. 2 Air Observers School RAF ^[7]
No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School RAF (1939–40) ^[7]
No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School RAF (1939–41) became No. 4 Air Observers School RAF ^[7]
No. 5 Bombing and Gunnery School RAF (1939–41) became No. 5 Air Observers School RAF ^[7]
No. 7 Bombing and Gunnery School RAF (1939–41) became No. 7 Air Gunners School RAF ^[8]
No. 8 Bombing and Gunnery School RAF (1939–41) became No. 8 Air Gunners School RAF ^[8]
No. 9 Bombing and Gunnery School RAF (1939–41) became No. 9 Air Observers School RAF ^[8]
No. 10 Bombing and Gunnery School RAF (1940–41) became No. 10 Air Observers School RAF ^[8]
No. 31 Bombing and Gunnery School RAF (1941–44) ^[8]

Civil Air Navigation School

No. 1 Civil Air Navigation School RAF (1938–39) became No. 1 Air Observers Navigation School RAF ^[9]
No. 2 Civil Air Navigation School RAF (1938–39) became No. 2 Air Observers Navigation School RAF ^[9]
No. 3 Civil Air Navigation School RAF (1938–39) became No. 3 Air Observers Navigation School RAF ^[9]
No. 4 Civil Air Navigation School RAF (1938–39) became No. 4 Air Observers Navigation School RAF ^[9]
No. 5 Civil Air Navigation School RAF (1939) became No. 5 Air Observers Navigation School RAF ^[10]
No. 6 Civil Air Navigation School RAF (1939) became No. 6 Air Observers Navigation School RAF ^[10]
No. 7 Civil Air Navigation School RAF (1939) became No. 7 Air Observers Navigation School RAF ^[10]
No. 8 Civil Air Navigation School RAF (1939) became No. 8 Air Observers Navigation School RAF ^[10]
No. 9 Civil Air Navigation School RAF (1939) became No. 9 Air Observers Navigation School RAF ^[10]
No. 10 Civil Air Navigation School RAF (1939) became No. 10 Air Observers Navigation School RAF ^[10]

Fighting School

No. 1 Fighting School RAF (1918–19) ^[11]
No. 2 Fighting School RAF (1918–19) ^[11]
No. 3 Fighting School RAF (1918–19) became No. 7 Training Squadron RAF ^[11]
No. 4 Fighting School RAF (1918–20) ^[11]
No. 5 Fighting School RAF (1918–19) ^[11]

Lancaster Finishing School

No. 1 Lancaster Finishing School RAF (1943–44) ^[12]
No. 3 Lancaster Finishing School RAF (1943–45) ^[12]
No. 5 Lancaster Finishing School RAF (1943–45) ^[12]
No. 6 Lancaster Finishing School RAF (1945) became No. 1384 (Heavy Transport) Conversion Unit RAF ^[12]

Middle East Training School

No. 1 Middle East Training School RAF (1942–43) became No. 1 (Middle East) Central Gunnery School RAF ^[13]
No. 2 Middle East Training School RAF (1942–43) ^[13]
No. 3 Middle East Training School RAF (1942–44) ^[13]
No. 4 Middle East Training School RAF (1942–44) ^[13]
No. 5 Middle East Training School RAF (1942–44) ^[13]

Radio School

No. 1 Radio School RAF (1941–43, 1943–97) ^[14]
No. 2 Radio School RAF (1940–42, 1943–65) ^[15]
No. 3 Radio School RAF (1940–42, 1943–64) ^[15]
No. 4 Radio School RAF (1943–51) became No. 1 Air Signallers School RAF ^[15]
No. 6 Radio School RAF (1943–45, 1950–52) ^[15]
No. 10 Radio School RAF (1943–45) ^[15]
No. 11 Radio School RAF (1942–44) ^[15]
No. 12 Radio School RAF (1943–46) ^[15]
No. 14 Radio School RAF (1944–46) became Empire Radio School RAF ^[15]

Signals School

No. 1 Signals School RAF (1940–43) became No. 1 Radio School RAF ^[16]
No. 2 Signals School RAF (1940–43) became No. 2 Radio School RAF ^[16]
No. 3 Signals School (India) RAF (1943–44) ^[16]
No. 3 Signals School RAF (1940–43) became No. 3 Radio School RAF ^[16]
No. 4 Signals School RAF (1941–43) became No. 4 Radio School RAF ^[16]

Technical Training schools

No. 1 School of Technical Training RAF (1920–93 & 1994–)^[17]
No. 2 School of Technical Training RAF (1920–21) became Boys Wing, Cranwell & (1938–1995) became No. 1 School of Technical Training RAF^[17]
No. 3 School of Technical Training RAF (1935–39 & 1939–44 & 1959–74)^[17]
No. 4 School of Technical Training RAF (1938-??)^[17]
No. 5 School of Technical Training RAF (1939–50 & 1967–68) became No. 3 Squadron of No. 228 Operational Conversion Unit RAF^[17]
No. 6 School of Technical Training RAF (1939–48)^[17]
No. 7 School of Technical Training RAF (1940–44)^[17]
No. 8 School of Technical Training RAF (1940–65)^[18]
No. 9 School of Technical Training RAF (1939–42 & 1959–74)^[18]
No. 10 School of Technical Training RAF (1940–58)^[18]
No. 11 School of Technical Training RAF Credenhall (1940–45 & 1945–47)^[18]
No. 12 School of Technical Training RAF (1940–65)^[18]
No. 13 School of Technical Training RAF (1940) became No. 14 School of Technical Training RAF^[18]
No. 14 School of Technical Training RAF (1940–44) became No. 14 (Polish) School of Technical Training RAF & (1951–52)^[18]
No. 14 (Polish) School of Technical Training RAF (1945–48)^[18]
No. 15 School of Technical Training RAF (1948–53)^[18]
No. 16 (Polish) School of Technical Training RAF (1945–46)^[18]
No. 21 School of Technical Training RAF (1941–43 & 1943–46)^[18]

Aerial Fighting and Gunnery schools

No. 1 School of Aerial Fighting and Gunnery RAF (1918) became No. 1 Fighting School RAF ^[19]
No. 2 School of Aerial Fighting and Gunnery RAF (1918) became No. 2 Fighting School RAF ^[19]
No. 3 School of Aerial Fighting and Gunnery RAF (1918) became No. 3 Fighting School RAF ^[19]
No. 4 School of Aerial Fighting and Gunnery RAF (1918) became No. 4 Fighting School RAF ^[19]

Navigation and Bomb Dropping schools

No. 1 School of Aerial Navigation and Bomb Dropping RAF (1918) became No. 1 School of Navigation and Bomb Dropping RAF ^[19]
No. 2 School of Aerial Navigation and Bomb Dropping RAF (1918) became No. 2 School of Navigation and Bomb Dropping RAF ^[19]
No. 3 School of Aerial Navigation and Bomb Dropping RAF (1918) became No. 3 School of Navigation and Bomb Dropping RAF ^[20]
No. 4 School of Aerial Navigation and Bomb Dropping RAF (1918) became No. 4 School of Navigation and Bomb Dropping RAF ^[20]
No. 1 School of Navigation and Bomb Dropping RAF (−1919) became School of Air Pilotage RAF ^[19]
No. 2 School of Navigation and Bomb Dropping RAF (−1919) became School of Air Pilotage RAF ^[19]
No. 3 School of Navigation and Bomb Dropping RAF (−1919) ^[20]
No. 4 School of Navigation and Bomb Dropping RAF (−1919) ^[20]

Recruit Training schools

No. 1 School of Recruit Training RAF^{[citation needed]}
No. 2 School of Recruit Training RAF^{[citation needed]}
No. 3 School of Recruit Training RAF^{[citation needed]}
No. 4 School of Recruit Training RAF^{[citation needed]}
No. 5 School of Recruit Training RAF^{[citation needed]}
No. 6 School of Recruit Training RAF^{[citation needed]}
No. 7 School of Recruit Training RAF^{[citation needed]}
No. 8 School of Recruit Training RAF^{[citation needed]}
No. 9 School of Recruit Training RAF^{[citation needed]}
No. 10 School of Recruit Training RAF^{[citation needed]}
No. 11 School of Recruit Training RAF^{[citation needed]}
No. 12 School of Recruit Training RAF^{[citation needed]}
No. 13 School of Recruit Training RAF^{[citation needed]}
No. 15 School of Recruit Training RAF^{[citation needed]}

Various schools

No. 1 (Auxiliary) School of Aerial Gunnery RAF (1917–18) became No. 1 (Observer) School of Aerial Gunnery RAF ^[19]
No. 1 (Coastal) Engine Control Demonstration Unit RAF (1943–44) became Engine Control Instruction Flight RAF ^[21]
No. 1 (Middle East) Central Gunnery School RAF (1943) became Royal Air Force (Middle East) Central Gunnery School RAF ^[13]
No. 1 (Observers) School of Aerial Gunnery RAF (1918–19, 1919) ^[22]
No. 1 (Training) Wireless School RAF (1917–19) became Electrical and Wireless School RAF ^[23]
No. 1 Air Armament School RAF (1937–44) ^[24]
No. 1 Air Electronics School RAF (1957–60) became Air Electronics School RAF ^[25]
No. 1 Air Gunnery School (India) RAF (1943–45) ^[2]
No. 1 Air Signallers School RAF (1951–57) became No. 1 Air Electronics School RAF ^[26]
No. 1 Basic Air Navigation School RAF (1951–53) ^[27]
No. 1 Beam Approach School RAF (1941–46) ^[28]
No. 1 Blind Approach School RAF (1941) became No. 1 Beam Approach School RAF ^[28]
No. 1 Coastal Defence Training Unit RAF (1933–35) became Coastal Defence Development Unit RAF ^[21]
No. 1 Electrical and Wireless School RAF (1938–40) became No. 1 Signals School RAF ^[29]
No. 1 Grading School RAF (1951–52) became Airwork Grading Unit RAF ^[30]
No. 1 Ground Defense Gunners School RAF (1939–42) became No. 3 RAF Regiment School ^[31]
No. 1 Initial Training School RAF (??-1947, 1948–53, 1953–66) became Aircrew Officers Training School RAF ^[32]
No. 1 Marine Observers School RAF (1919) ^[33]
No. 1 Observers School RAF (1918) became No. 2 Marine Observers School RAF ^[22]
No. 1 Officers Advanced Training School RAF (1944–46) became Officers Advanced Training School RAF ^[22]
No. 1 Parachute and Glider Training School RAF (1947–50) became No. 1 Parachute School RAF ^[34]
No. 1 Parachute School RAF (1950–53) became No. 1 Parachute Training School RAF ^[34]
No. 1 Parachute Training School RAF (1944–47, 1953–) ^[35]
No. 1 School of Aerial Fighting (1917–18) became No. 1 School of Aerial Fighting and Gunnery RAF ^[19]
No. 1 School of Air Navigation RAF (1940) became No. 31 Air Navigation School RAF ^[20]
No. 1 School of Army Co-operation RAF (1939–41) became No. 41 OTU ^[20]
No. 1 School of General Reconnaissance RAF (1940) became No. 61 Air School SAAF ^[36]
No. 1 School of Photography RAF (1942–45) became School of Photography ^[36]
No. 1 Torpedo Refresher School RAF (1943–44) ^[37]
No. 2 (Auxiliary) School of Aerial Gunnery (1917–18) became No. 1 School of Aerial Fighting and Gunnery RAF ^[38]
No. 2 Air Armament School RAF (1937–38, 1938–40) became No. 3 Ground Armament School RAF ^[24]
No. 2 Air Signallers School RAF (1952–53) ^[26]
No. 2 Aircrew Grading School RAF (1951–52) ^[39]
No. 2 Basic Air Navigation School RAF (1951–53) ^[27]
No. 2 Electrical and Wireless School RAF (1938–40) became No. 2 Signals School RAF ^[29]
No. 2 Grading School RAF (1951–52) became Airwork Grading Unit RAF ^[30]
No. 2 Marine Observers School RAF (1918–19) ^[33]
No. 2 Observers School RAF (1918–19) became No. 1 (Observers) School of Aerial Gunnery RAF ^[22]
No. 2 Officers Advanced Training School RAF (??-1946) ^[22]
No. 2 School of Aerial Fighting (1917–18) became No. 2 School of Aerial Fighting and Gunnery RAF ^[19]
No. 2 School of Air Navigation RAF (1940–42) became Central Navigation School RAF.^[20] Advance air party proceeded from St Athan to RAF Cranage in October 1940; courses commenced within a few days; disbanded by redesignation in 1942.
No. 2 School of Army Co-operation RAF (1939–41) became No. 6 OTU ^[20]
No. 2 School of General Reconnaissance RAF (1940) ^[36]
No. 2 Torpedo Refresher School RAF (1943) ^[37]
No. 2 Wireless School RAF (1917–19) ^[40]
No. 24 Bombing, Gunnery and Air Navigation School RAF (1943–45) ^[6]
No. 29 Elementary Navigation and Air Gunnery School (Southern Rhodesia) RAF (1941–45) ^[41]
No. 3 (Auxiliary) School of Aerial Gunnery (1917–18) became No. 1 (Observer) School of Aerial Gunnery ^[38]
No. 3 Electrical and Wireless School RAF (1940) became No. 3 Signals School RAF ^[29]
No. 3 Parachute Training School RAF (1944–47) passed to Indian Control ^[35]
No. 3 Radio Direction Finding School RAF (1942) became No. 11 Radio School RAF ^[14]
No. 3 School of General Reconnaissance RAF (1940–46) became School of General Reconnaissance RAF ^[36]
No. 4 (Auxiliary) School of Aerial Gunnery RAF (1917–18) became No. 2 School of Aerial Fighting and Gunnery RAF ^[38]
No. 4 Parachute Training School RAF (1944–45) ^[35]
No. 93 Group Screened Pilots School RAF (1943–44) ^[42]
Advanced Air Firing School (1917–18) ^[43]
Advanced Bombing and Gunnery School (Middle East) RAF (1943–45) ^[43]
Aerial Erector School RAF^{[citation needed]}
Aerial Fighting and Gunnery School (1918–19) ^[44]
Aerial Fighting School, Heliopolis (1917–18) became No. 5 Fighting School RAF ^[44]
Air Armament School (1932–37) became No. 1 Air Armament School RAF ^[24]
Air Electronics and Air Engineers School (1967–76) ^[25]
Air Electronics School (1960–67) became Air Electronics and Air Engineers School ^[45]
Air Electronics, Engineer and Loadmaster School (1983–97) became Navigator and Airmen Aircrew School ^[25]
Air Fighting School (Middle East) (1941–42) ^[1]
Air Landing School (1941–44) ^[46]
Air Navigation and Bombing School (1944–45) became No. 5 Air Navigation School RAF ^[3]
Air Navigation School, India (1942) became General Reconnaissance and Air Navigation School RAF ^[4]
Air Navigation School (1935–36) became School of Air Navigation ^[3]
Air Observation Post School (1950–53) became Light Aircraft School ^[4]
Air Observers School, North Coates (1936–37) became No. 2 Air Armament School RAF ^[5]
Air Pilotage School (1919–23, 1931–32, 1933–35) became Air Navigation School ^[47]
Airborne Interception School (1952) became No. 238 Operational Conversion Unit RAF ^[48]
Airborne Interception/Air-to-Surface Vessel School (1940) became No. 3 Radio School RAF ^[49]
Aircrew Officers Training School (1967–67) ^[39]
Airfield Controllers School (1942–48) ^[39]
All-Weather Fighter Leaders School (1950–58) became All-Weather Fighter Combat School ^[50]
Armament and Gunnery School (1922–32) became Air Armament School ^[51]
Artillery and Infantry Co-operation School (1917–18) became Royal Air Force and Army Co-operation School RAF ^[52]
Artillery Observation School, Egypt (1918–19) ^[52]
Artillery Observation School (1917–18) became Artillery Observation School, Egypt ^[52]
Blind Approach School (1940–??) became No. 1 Blind Approach School RAF ^[28]
Bomber Command Bombing School (1952–68) became Strike Command Bombing School ^[53]
Central Air Traffic Control School RAF (1963–) ^[54]
Central Gunnery School (1939–54) became Fighter Weapons School RAF and the Coastal Command Gunnery School RAF ^[55]
Central Landing School (1940) became Central Landing Establishment ^[55]
Central Navigation and Control School RAF (1950–63) became Central Air Traffic Control School RAF ^[55]
Central Navigation School RAF (1942–44, 1949–50) became Central Navigation and Control School RAF ^[9]
Central Squadron and Flight Commanders School (1945–46) ^[9]
Coastal Command Anti U-Boat Devices School RAF (1945) ^[56]
Coastal Command Flying Instructors School RAF (1945) became Coastal Command Instructors School RAF ^[21]
Coastal Command Gunnery School RAF (1955) ^[21]
Coastal Command Instructors School RAF (1945–46) ^[21]
Coastal Command Landplane Pilots Pool RAF (1939–40) became No. 1 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF ^[21]
Coastal Command Tactical Development Unit RAF (1940) became Coastal Command Development Unit RAF ^[21]
Coastal Defence Development Unit (1935–36) ^[21]
Electrical and Wireless School (1919–38) became No. 1 Electrical and Wireless School RAF ^[29]
Empire Air Armament School (1944–49) ^[41]
Empire Air Navigation School (1944–49) became Central Navigation School RAF ^[41]
Empire Central Flying School (1954–46) became Empire Flying School ^[41]
Empire Flying School (1946–49) ^[41]
Empire Radio School (1946–49) became Royal Air Force Technical College, Signals Division ^[57]
Empire Test Pilots' School (1944–) ^[57]
Fighter Command Control and Reporting School (1945–53) became School of Control and Reporting RAF ^[58]
Fighter Leaders School (1943–44) ^[59]
Fighter Weapons School (1955–1958) ^[11]
Fleet School of Aerial Fighting and Gunnery (1918–20) became RAF Base, Leuchars ^[31]
Franco-Belgium Air Training School (1940–41) ^[60]
General Reconnaissance and Air Navigation School (India) (1942–44) ^[60]
General Reconnaissance School (1942) became General Reconnaissance and Air Navigation School (India) ^[60]
Grand Fleet School of Aerial Fighting and Gunnery (1918–??) became Fleet School of Aerial Fighting and Gunnery ^[31]
Ground Defence Gunners School (1939) between No. 1 Ground Defence Gunners School RAF ^[31]
India Detachment, Chinese Air Force Cadet School (??-1946) ^[61]
Light Aircraft School RAF (1953–57) Control Passed to the Army Air Corps ^[12]
Machine Gun School (1915–16) became School of Aerial Gunnery ^[62]
Marine Observers School RAF, Aldeburgh (1918–19) became No. 1 Marine Observers School RAF ^[33]
Marine Observers School RAF, Leysdown (??-1918) ^[33]
Navigation School (1926–36) became School of Air Navigation RAF ^[63]
Navigation Training School RAF (1939–40) ^[63]
Observers School of Reconnaissance and Aerial Photography RAF (1918–19) ^[22]
Officers Advanced Training School (1944) became No. 1 Officers Advanced Training School RAF ^[22]
Parachute Training Centre (1940) became Central Landing School RAF ^[35]
Parachute Training School (India) (1941–42) ^[35]
Rhodesian Central Flying School (1941–42) became No. 33 Flying Instructors School RAF ^[64]
Royal Air Force (Belgian) Training School (1944–46) transferred to Belgian Air Force control ^[65]
Royal Air Force (Middle East) Central Gunnery School (1943–45) ^[13]
Royal Air Force and Army Co-operation School RAF (1918–19) became School of Army Co-operation RAF ^[64]
Royal Air Force and Navy Co-operation School (1919) became Royal Air Force Seaplane Establishment ^[65]
Royal Air Force School of Army Co-operation (1943–44) became School of Air Support RAF ^[20]
Royal Air Force School, India (1921–22) ^[66]
School for Anti-Submarine Inshore Patrol Observers RAF (1918) became Marine Observers School RAF ^[67]
School for Marine Operational Pilots RAF (1918–19) ^[67]
School for Wireless Operators (1916–17) became Wireless School ^[67]
School of Aerial Co-operation with Coastal Artillery RAF (1918–19) became Coastal Battery Co-operation School RAF ^[19]
School of Aerial Fighting (Canada) (1918) ^[19]
School of Aerial Fighting and Bomb Dropping RAF (1918) became No. 4 School of Aerial Fighting and Gunnery RAF ^[19]
School of Aerial Gunnery and Bombing (1921–22) became Armament and Gunnery School RAF ^[19]
School of Aerial Gunnery, (Canada) (1917–18) became School of Aerial Fighting (Canada) ^[19]
School of Aerial Gunnery, Aboukir (1917–18) became No. 5 Fighting School RAF ^[19]
School of Aerial Gunnery, Hythe (1916–17) became No. 1 (Auxiliary) School of Aerial Gunnery ^[19]
School of Aerial Gunnery, Loch Doon (1917–18) ^[19]
School of Aerial Navigation RAF (1920) became School of Naval Co-operation and Aerial Navigation RAF ^[19]
School of Air Navigation (1936–40) became No. 1 School of Air Navigation RAF ^[20]
School of Air Pilotage (1919) became Air Pilotage School RAF ^[20]
School of Air Sea Rescue (1943–45) became Survival and Rescue Training Unit RAF ^[20]
School of Air Support (1944–47) became School of Land/Air Warfare RAF ^[20]
School of Air Traffic Control (1946–50) became Central Navigation and Control School RAF ^[20]
School of Air Transport (1944–46) ^[20]
School of Army Co-operation (1919–20, 1920–39) became No. 1 School of Army Co-operation RAF ^[20]
School of Artillery Co-operation (Canada) (1918) ^[20]
School of Aviation Medicine RAF (1945–50) became RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine ^[20]
School of Control and Reporting RAF (1953–57) became School of Fighter Plotting RAF ^[58]
School of Fighter Control RAF (1957–61) ^[20]
School of General Reconnaissance (1938–40, 1946–47) ^[36]
School of Land/Air Warfare (1947–63) became Joint Warfare Establishment ^[36]
School of Naval Co-operation and Aerial Navigation (1920–28) ^[36]
School of Naval Co-operation (1919–20, 1923–39) ^[36]
School of Photography, Maps and Reconnaissance (1917–19) became Photographic Park, Farnborough RAF ^[36]
School of Photography RAF (1919–41, 1945–72) ^[36]
Specialised Low Attack Instructors School (India) RAF (1943–45) became Ground Attack Training School RAF ^[68]
Specialised Low Attack Instructors School RAF (1942–44) became Fighter Leaders School RAF ^[68]
Staff Navigators School (Middle East) RAF (1944–45) ^[69]
Strike Command Bombing School RAF (1968–74) ^[70]
Temporary Air Observer's School RAF (1938) ^[71]
Test Pilots School RAF (1944) became Empire Test Pilots' School ^[37]
The Officers Advanced Training School RAF (1946–62) became Junior Command and Staff School ^[22]
Torpedo Aeroplane School RAF (1918) became No. 201 Training Depot Station RAF ^[37]
Torpedo Bombing School (1942) became No. 5 Middle East Training School RAF ^[37]
Torpedo Training School (1919–20) ^[37]
Wireless and Observers School, Brooklands (1916–17) became Artillery and Infantry Co-operation School ^[72]
Wireless and Observers School, Eqypt (1919) ^[72]
Wireless School, Brooklands (1916) became Wireless and Observers School, Brooklands ^[40]
Wireless School, Egypt (1918–19) became Wireless and Observers School, Eqypt ^[40]
Wireless Telephony School (1918) ^[40]

Flying training schools

To train pilots for the Royal Air Force, there have been many flying training schools, which are listed here.

Numbered schools

British Flying Training School

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Central Flying School

No. 2 Central Flying School RAF (1940–42) became No. 1 Flying Instructors School RAF^[55]

Advanced Flying School

No. 201 Advanced Flying School RAF (1947–54) became No. 11 Flying Training School RAF^[43]
No. 202 Advanced Flying School RAF (1947, 1951–54) became No. 7 Flying Training School RAF^[43]
No. 203 Advanced Flying School RAF (1947–49, 1949–54) became No. 8 Flying Training School RAF^[43]
No. 204 Advanced Flying School RAF (1947–52) became 'D' Squadron of No. 231 Operational Conversion Unit RAF^[43]
No. 205 Advanced Flying School RAF (1950–54) became No. 4 Flying Training School RAF^[43]
No. 206 Advanced Flying School RAF (1951–54) became No. 5 Flying Training School RAF^[43]
No. 207 Advanced Flying School RAF (1951–54)^[43]
No. 208 Advanced Flying School RAF (1951–54) became No. 10 Flying Training School RAF^[43]
No. 209 Advanced Flying School RAF (1952–54) became No. 12 Flying Training School RAF^[43]
No. 210 Advanced Flying School RAF (1952–54)^[43]
No. 211 Advanced Flying School RAF (1952–54) became No. 211 Flying Training School RAF^[44]
No. 215 Advanced Flying School RAF (1952–54)^[44]

Basic Flying Training School

No. 1 Basic Flying Training School RAF (1950–53)^[27]
No. 2 Basic Flying Training School RAF (1951–53)^[27]
No. 3 Basic Flying Training School RAF (1951–53)^[27]
No. 4 Basic Flying Training School RAF (1951–53)^[27]
No. 5 Basic Flying Training School RAF (1952–53)^[27]

(Basic) Flying Training School

2 (Basic), 3 (Basic)

(Advanced) Flying Training School

4 (Advanced), 5 (Advanced), 6 (Advanced), 8 (Advanced), 9 (Advanced), 10 (Advanced), 14 (Advanced)

Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59

Elementary Flying Training School

1 (India), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 25 (Southern Rhodesia), 26, 26 (Southern Rhodesia), 27, 27 (Southern Rhodesia), 28, 28 (Southern Rhodesia), 29, 30, 30 (Kenya), 31, 32, 33, 34 (Canada), 35 (Canada), 36 (Canada)

Flying Instructors School

1 (1942) became 1 (Advanced) (1942) became No. 18 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit RAF
2 (1940, 1942) became 2 (Advanced) (1942–45)
3 (Advanced) (1942–45)
4 (Supplementary) (1940–42) became 4 (1942) became 4 (Elementary) (1942–43)
5 (Supplementary) (1941–42) became 5 (1942) became 5 (Elementary) (1942)
6 (Supplementary) (1941–42) became 6 (1942) became 6 (Elementary) (1942) became No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School RAF
7 (1942) became 7 (Advanced) (1942–46) became Central Flying School
10 (Elementary) (1942–46) became Central Flying School
11 (1944–47)
12 (Operational) (1944–45) became Coastal Command Flying Instructors School RAF
33 Southern Rhodesia (1942–44) became Central Flying School, Southern Rhodesia

Flying Refresher School

No. 101 Flying Refresher School RAF (1951–52) became No. 215 Advanced Flying School RAF ^[73]
No. 102 Flying Refresher School RAF (1951) became No. 207 Advanced Flying School RAF ^[73]
No. 103 Flying Refresher School RAF (1951) became No. 207 Advanced Flying School RAF ^[73]
No. 104 Flying Refresher School RAF (1951–52) became No. 6 Air Navigation School RAF ^[73]

Flying Training School

1 (Indian), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22, 207, 211

Refresher School

No. 1 Refresher School RAF (1946–47) became No. 1 (Pilots) Refresher Flying Unit RAF ^[74]
Refresher Flying Training School RAF (1942) became No. 1 Refresher Flying Training School RAF^[74]
No. 1 Refresher Flying Training School RAF (1942) ^[74]

Reserve Flying School

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25

School of Special Flying

No. 1 School of Special Flying RAF (1918) became Southwestern Area Flying Instructors School RAF ^[75]
No. 2 School of Special Flying RAF (1918) became Northeastern Area Flying Instructors School RAF ^[75]

Service Flying Training School

1 (Indian), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 (Polish), 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 41

Other schools

Advanced Flying School (India) (1946–47) ^[44]
Central Flying School (India) (1944–45) ^[55]
Central Flying School (Southern Rhodesia) (1944–45) ^[64]
Defence Helicopter Flying School (1997–) ^[76]
Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School, Kenya (1940) became No. 30 Elementary Flying Training School RAF ^[77]
Empire Flying School (1946–49) became Royal Air Force Flying College ^[41]
Flying Instructors School, El Khanka (1918–19) ^[78]
Flying Instructors School (India) (1944) became Central Flying School (India) RAF ^[78]
Flying Instructors School, The Curragh (1918–19) ^[78]
Flying Instructors School, Upavon (1919–20) became Central Flying School ^[78]
Flying Instructors Training School (1943–44) became No. 11 Flying Instructors School RAF ^[73]
Flying Refresher School (1949–51) became No. 101 Flying Refresher School RAF ^[73]
Joint Elementary Flying Training School (1993–) ^[79]
Midland Area Flying Instructors School (1918–19) ^[63]
Midland Area School of Special Flying (1918) became Midland Area Flying Instructors School ^[63]
Netheravon Flying School (1919) became No. 1 Flying Training School RAF ^[63]
Northeastern Area Flying Instructors School (1918–19) ^[80]
Northern Area Flying Instructors School (1919–20) ^[80]
Northwestern Area Flying Instructors School (1918–19) ^[80]
Refresher Flying Training School (1942) became No. 1 Refresher Flying Training School RAF ^[74]
Reserve Flying School, Brough (1924–35) became No. 4 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School RAF ^[81]
Reserve Flying School, Coventry (1923–31) became Reserve Flying School, Hamble ^[81]
Reserve Flying School, Filton (1923–35) became No. 2 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School RAF ^[81]
Reserve Flying School, Hamble (1931–35) became No. 3 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School RAF ^[81]
Reserve Flying School, Renfrew (1924–28) ^[81]
Reserve Flying School, Stag Lane (1923–35) became No. 1 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School RAF ^[81]
Royal Air Force College Service Flying Training School (1939–44) became No. 17 Service Flying Training School RAF ^[65]
Royal Air Force Liaison Office, Chinese Elementary Flying Training School (1943–46) ^[61]
Royal Navy Elementary Flying Training School (1973–93) became Joint Elementary Flying Training School ^[67]
School of Refresher Flying (1962–77) became Refresher Flying Squadron RAF ^[36]
School of Special Flying (Canada) (1918) ^[75]
School of Special Flying, Gosport (1917) became No. 1 School of Special Flying ^[75]
Southeastern Area Flying Instructors School (1918–19) ^[82]
Southwestern Area Flying Instructors School (1918–19) ^[82]

Gliding schools

As well as powered aircraft, the Royal Air Force has operated a large number of gliders both for military tasks and for Cadet training.

Regular Gliding Schools

No. 1 Elementary Gliding Training School RAF (1942) became No. 41 Gliding School RAF^[83]
No. 2 Elementary Gliding Training School RAF (1942) became No. 122 Gliding School RAF^[83]
No. 3 Elementary Gliding Training School RAF (1942) became No. 123 Gliding School RAF^[83]

Volunteer Gliding Schools

Central Gliding School^[84]

^[85]

References

Citations

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l Lake 1999, p. 16.
^ ^a ^b Lake 1999, p. 17.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Lake 1999, p. 19.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p Lake 1999, p. 20.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Lake 1999, p. 21.
^ ^a ^b Lake 1999, p. 51.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Lake 1999, p. 39.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Lake 1999, p. 40.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Lake 1999, p. 47.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Lake 1999, p. 48.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Lake 1999, p. 72.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Lake 1999, p. 134.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Lake 1999, p. 139.
^ ^a ^b Lake 1999, p. 159.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Lake 1999, p. 160.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Lake 1999, p. 186.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 289.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 291.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t Lake 1999, p. 180.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s Lake 1999, p. 181.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Lake 1999, p. 50.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Lake 1999, p. 142.
^ Lake 1999, p. 288.
^ ^a ^b ^c Lake 1999, p. 13.
^ ^a ^b ^c Lake 1999, p. 14.
^ ^a ^b Lake 1999, p. 23.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Lake 1999, p. 36.
^ ^a ^b ^c Lake 1999, p. 37.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Lake 1999, p. 58.
^ ^a ^b Lake 1999, p. 117.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Lake 1999, p. 118.
^ Lake 1999, p. 132.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Lake 1999, p. 137.
^ ^a ^b Lake 1999, p. 154.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Lake 1999, p. 155.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Lake 1999, p. 182.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Lake 1999, p. 282.
^ ^a ^b ^c Lake 1999, p. 35.
^ ^a ^b ^c Lake 1999, p. 27.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Lake 1999, p. 292.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Lake 1999, p. 64.
^ Lake 1999, p. 125.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l Lake 1999, p. 10.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Lake 1999, p. 11.
^ Lake 1999, p. 15.
^ Lake 1999, p. 18.
^ Lake 1999, p. 22.
^ Lake 1999, p. 26.
^ Lake 1999, p. 25.
^ Lake 1999, p. 43.
^ Lake 1999, p. 31.
^ ^a ^b ^c Lake 1999, p. 34.
^ Lake 1999, p. 38.
^ Lake 1999, p. 42.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Lake 1999, p. 46.
^ Lake 1999, p. 49.
^ ^a ^b Lake 1999, p. 65.
^ ^a ^b Lake 1999, p. 70.
^ Lake 1999, p. 71.
^ ^a ^b ^c Lake 1999, p. 109.
^ ^a ^b Lake 1999, p. 176.
^ Lake 1999, p. 135.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Lake 1999, p. 140.
^ ^a ^b ^c Lake 1999, p. 173.
^ ^a ^b ^c Lake 1999, p. 174.
^ Lake 1999, p. 177.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Lake 1999, p. 179.
^ ^a ^b Lake 1999, p. 188.
^ Lake 1999, p. 277.
^ Lake 1999, p. 278.
^ Lake 1999, p. 281.
^ ^a ^b Lake 1999, p. 291.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Lake 1999, p. 103.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Lake 1999, p. 161.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Lake 1999, p. 183.
^ Lake 1999, p. 211.
^ Lake 1999, p. 61.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Lake 1999, p. 102.
^ Lake 1999, p. 133.
^ ^a ^b ^c Lake 1999, p. 141.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Lake 1999, p. 171.
^ ^a ^b Lake 1999, p. 187.
^ ^a ^b ^c Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 109.
^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 88.
^ "No 2 School of Air Navigation". RAFweb.org. Retrieved 3 January 2023.

Bibliography

Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988 (second edition 2001). ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
Lake, Alan (1999). Flying Units of the RAF. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
Sturtivant, R; Hamlin, J; Halley, J (1997). Royal Air Force flying training and support units. UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 0-85130-252-1.

Royal Air Force

Ministry of Defence

formations
and units

units	Commands Groups Wings Squadrons Flights Conversion units Operational Training units Schools / Training units Ferry units Glider units Misc units
stations	Active Former Satellite Landing Grounds
Regiment	Wings Squadrons Flights

branches and
components

reserve forces

equipment

personnel

appointments

symbols and uniform

associated civil
organisations

Royal Air Force Training Establishments

Flying schools and units

Advanced Flying Schools	201 AFS 202 AFS 203 AFS 204 AFS 205 AFS 206 AFS 207 AFS 208 AFS 209 AFS 210 AFS 211 AFS 215 AFS AFS (India)
Basic Flying Training Schools (Basic) Flying Training Schools	1 BFTS 2 BFTS 3 BFTS 4 BFTS 5 BFTS 2 (B)FTS 3 (B)FTS 7 (B)FTS
(Advanced) Flying Training Schools	4 (Advanced) FTS 5 (Advanced) FTS 6 (Advanced) FTS 8 (Advanced) FTS 9 (Advanced) FTS 10 (Advanced) FTS 14 (Advanced) FTS
British Flying Training Schools	1 British FTS 2 British FTS 3 British FTS 4 British FTS 5 British FTS 6 British FTS
Elementary and Reserve Flying Training Schools	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59
Elementary Flying Training Schools	Royal Navy Elementary Flying Training School 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 34 EFTS (Canada) 35 EFTS (Canada) 36 EFTS (Canada) 1 EFTS (India) 30 EFTS (Kenya) 25 EFTS (Southern Rhodesia) 26 EFTS (Southern Rhodesia) 27 EFTS (Southern Rhodesia)
Gliding schools	List of Royal Air Force Glider units
Instructor schools	Southeastern Area Southwestern Area Flying Instructors School RAF, El Khanka 1 FIS 2 FIS 4 FIS 5 FIS 6 FIS 7 FIS 11 FIS 1 FIS (Advanced) 2 FIS (Advanced) 3 FIS (Advanced) 7 FIS (Advanced) 4 FIS (Elementary) 5 FIS (Elementary) 6 FIS (Elementary) 10 FIS (Elementary) FIS (India) 12 FIS (Operational) 33 FIS, Southern Rhodesia 4 FIS (Supplementary) 5 FIS (Supplementary) 6 FIS (Supplementary) FIS, The Curragh FIS, Upavon FITS
Flying Refresher Schools	School of Refresher Flying RAF Flying Refresher School RAF 101 FRS 102 FRS 103 FRS 104 FRS
Flying Training Schools	Royal Air Force College Service Flying Training School 1 FTS 2 FTS 3 FTS 4 FTS 5 FTS 6 FTS 7 FTS 8 FTS 9 FTS 10 FTS 11 FTS 12 FTS 13 FTS 14 FTS 15 FTS 17 FTS 19 FTS 20 FTS 21 FTS 22 FTS 23 FTS 207 FTS 211 FTS 1 (Indian) FTS 1 (Polish) FTS 16 (Polish) FTS JEFTS MAFIS MAS of SF Netheravon Flying School NEAFIS NWAFIS NAFIS 1 RFTS RFTS 1 RS
Reserve Flying Schools	1 RFS 2 RFS 3 RFS 4 RFS 5 RFS 6 RFS 7 RFS 8 RFS 9 RFS 10 RFS 11 RFS 12 RFS 13 RFS 14 RFS 15 RFS 16 RFS 17 RFS 18 RFS 19 RFS 20 RFS 21 RFS 22 RFS 23 RFS 24 RFS 25 RFS RFS, Brough RFS, Coventry RFS, Hamble RFS, Filton RFS, Renfrew RFS, Stag lane
Service Flying Schools	1 SFTS 2 SFTS 3 SFTS 4 SFTS 5 SFTS 6 SFTS 7 SFTS 8 SFTS 9 SFTS 10 SFTS 11 SFTS 12 SFTS 13 SFTS 14 SFTS 15 SFTS 16 SFTS 17 SFTS 20 SFTS 21 SFTS 22 SFTS 23 SFTS 1 (Indian) SFTS
Special Flying Schools	Defence Helicopter Flying School No. 1 School of Special Flying RAF No. 2 School of Special Flying RAF School of Special Flying (Canada) RAF School of Special Flying, Gosport RAF

Operational and Conversion Units

List of Operational Conversion Units (OCU)

List of Operational Training Units (OTU)

Officer training establishments

This page was last edited on 21 March 2024, at 15:31

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