No. 11 Group was a
group in the
Royal Air Force for various periods in the 20th century, finally disbanding in 1996. Its most famous service was during 1940 when it defended London and the south-east against the attacks of the
Luftwaffe during the
Battle of Britain.
History
World War I
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. 11 Group's short first existence came to an end on 17 May 1918, when it was disbanded.
Interwar years
The next incarnation of the Group was later the same year when it was formed in
North-Western Area on 22 August. On 6 February 1920
Group Captain I M Bonham-Carter took command. Three months later, in May 1920, No. 11 Group was reduced to
No. 11 Wing.
It 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 formed, with the responsibility for the air defence of southern
England, including
London.
Second World War
11 Group was organised using the Dowding System of fighter control. Group Headquarters was at
RAF Uxbridge; from the underground Operations Room (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:
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