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RAF Signals Command

{{Short description|Former command of the Royal Air Force}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}

{{Use British English|date=July 2015}}

{{Infobox Military Unit

|unit_name = Royal Air Force Signals Command

|image = Signalscommand.png

|caption = RAF Signals Command badge

|start_date = 3 November 1958

|end_date = 1 January 1969

|country = {{flagicon|UK}} United Kingdom

|allegiance =

|branch = 23px Royal Air Force

|type = Command

|role = controlling Signals activity

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|motto =Aetherem Vincere
{{langx|la|To conquer the upper air}}{{cite book|last1=Pine|first1=L.G.|title=A dictionary of mottoes|date=1983|publisher=Routledge & Kegan Paul|location=London|isbn=0-7100-9339-X|page=[https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofmott00tion/page/5 5]|edition=1|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofmott00tion/page/5}}

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Signals Command was the British Royal Air Force's command responsible for control of signals units from 1958 to 1969. It was based at RAF Medmenham near Marlow, Buckinghamshire.

History

Originally, on 24 April 1946, No. 90 (Signals) Group RAF was formed at Danesfield Court, Medmenham, Marlow, taking over the functions of No 26, 60 (the home air defence radar stations, originally Chain Home and Chain Home Low) and 100 Groups (airborne electronic warfare) and No. 80 Wing RAF (electronic warfare).{{cite web|title=Groups 70-106, "Air of Authority" |url=https://www.rafweb.org/Organsation/Grp06.htm|access-date=2022-02-22}}

Signals Command was formed on 3 November 1958 by raising 90 Group to Command status.[http://www.rafweb.org/Cmd_H4.htm Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - RAF Home Commands formed between 1958 - 2002] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705160727/http://www.rafweb.org/Cmd_H4.htm |date=5 July 2014 }}

Three De Havilland Comet 2s were modified for RAF use in radar and electronic systems development, initially assigned to No. 90 Group (later Signals Command).Swanborough 1962, p. 48. In service with No. 192 and No. 51 Squadrons, the 2R series was equipped to monitor Warsaw Pact signal traffic and operated in this role from 1958. The 2R ELINT series was operational until 1974, when replaced by the Nimrod R1, the last Comet derivative in RAF service.Walker 2000, p. 159.

Signals Command was relatively short-lived, lasting only until 1 January 1969, when it was absorbed by Strike Command by being reduced to group status. It had five Air Officers Commanding during its existence.

In 2006, various elements of the RAF Signals trades and sections were combined at RAF Leeming to form No. 90 Signals Unit with the same badge and motto as No. 90 (Signals) Group and Signals Command.{{cite web|title=RAF - Homepage|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/raf90signals/|website=www.raf.mod.uk|accessdate=24 July 2017|language=en}}

Aircraft

Commanders in Chief

See also

References

=Citations=

{{reflist}}

=Bibliography=

  • {{cite book |last1=Thetford |first1=O |title=Aircraft of the Royal Air Force since 1918 |year=1995 |publisher= Putnam Aeronautical Books |location= London, UK |isbn=0-85177-865-8 }}

External links

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20070814135811/http://members.aol.com/DenReader/RAF_History.html History of the RAF Signals Service, 1945 - 1975] Purported book in preparation.

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{{s-bef|before=No. 90 (Signals) Group RAF
Group raised to command status}}

{{s-ttl|title=Signals Command|years=1958–1969}}

{{s-aft|after=Strike Command}}

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{{Royal Air Force}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Signals Command, RAF}}

Signals Command

Category:Air force communications units and formations

Category:Military units and formations established in 1958

Category:Organisations based in Buckinghamshire

Category:1958 establishments in the United Kingdom

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