RAF Support Command

It was formed on 31 August 1973 by the renaming of RAF Maintenance Command,[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 }} with No. 90 (Signals) Group being added to it. Its responsibilities included all logistical and maintenance support requirements of the RAF. Among its first stations assigned may have been RAF Gan, transferred from Far East Air Force. It was renamed as RAF Support Command, and its role further increased, on 13 June 1977 when it absorbed Training Command, making it additionally responsible for all RAF ground and aircrew training.{{sfn|Ansell|1982|p=293}} In 1982, Support Command had an inventory of 500 aircraft and 49,000 personnel, which included 14,000 civilians and 8,000 trainees.{{sfn|Ansell|1982|p=293}}

Support Command undertook training for all officers and other ranks, which was delivered at Biggin Hill, Cosford, Cranwell, Digby, Finningley, Halton, Henlow, Hereford, Leeming, Linton-on-Ouse, Locking, Newton, North Luffenham, St Athan, Sealand, Shawbury, Swinderby, and Valley.{{sfn|Ansell|1982|pp=293–299}} One major function of Support Command was facilitating medical training and delivery of medical services. This involved the control of the RAF Hospitals at Ely, Halton, Nocton Hall and Wroughton. Support Command was also responsible for the rehabilitation centres at Chessington and Headley Court.{{sfn|Ansell|1982|p=299}}

In the 1980s the bunker at RAF Holmpton was converted to form a new Emergency War Headquarters for RAF Support Command.{{cite news |title=Public warned of 'rigged explosions' during filming at Cold War-era nuclear bunker in Yorkshire |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/public-warned-rigged-explosions-during-filming-cold-war-era-nuclear-bunker-yorkshire-808995 |access-date=26 September 2021 |work=The Yorkshire Post |date=1 May 2018}} In the year before it was disbanded (1993), Support Command had 18,144 uniformed personnel under its structure, spread across 40 locations.{{cite web |title=RAF Support Command (Hansard, 9 July 1993) |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1993/jul/09/raf-support-command |website=api.parliament.uk |access-date=26 September 2021}} In October 1985, the HQ building of Support Command at RAF Brampton was destroyed by fire.{{cite news |title=Fire Sweeps Through RAF Base |url=https://apnews.com/article/0fbaf3bf645b12eec8c61739d17d6fbe |access-date=27 September 2021 |work=AP News |date=24 October 1985}} Staff had to move into temporary accommodation until a new HQ building was built, with the final cost coming in at around £44 million.{{cite news |last1=Short |first1=Eric |title=RAF Fire Raises October Damage Figures To 64.1 Million pounds |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWGLNB&t=&sort=_rank_%3AD&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=RAF%20Brampton%20Fire&docref=news/1139740A74FA4180 |access-date=27 September 2021 |work=The Financial Times |issue=29,803 |date=12 December 1985 |page=9|issn=0307-1766}} The new HQ was opened on 7 June 1988 by the Duke of Gloucester.{{sfn|March|1989|p=88}}

In 1994 the Command was split up, with many of its functions merging with those of the RAF Personnel Management Centre to form RAF Personnel and Training Command, and others being hived off into RAF Logistics Command.

The following officers have held the appointment of Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief RAF Support Command:

• 31 Aug 1973 - Air Marshal Sir Reginald Harland
• 13 Jun 1977 - Air Marshal Sir Rex Roe
• 30 Aug 1978 - Air Marshal Sir Keith Williamson
• 3 May 1980 - Air Marshal Sir John Gingell{{Cite ODNB|first=May|last=Alex|title=Gingell, Sir John|id=101725}}
• 27 Apr 1981 - Air Marshal Sir Michael Beavis{{sfn|Ansell|1982|p=293}}
• 15 Feb 1984 - Air Marshal Sir David Harcourt-Smith{{cite magazine |last1=Taylor |first1=John W R |title=How good is the RAF |magazine=Air Force Magazine |date=October 1984 |volume=67 |issue=10 |page=69 |publisher=Air Force Association |location=Arlington |issn=0730-6784 |oclc=907717893}}
• 2 Jan 1986 - Air Marshal Sir John Sutton{{cite news |title=John Sutton: Cold War fighter pilot who later rose through the ranks |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/john-sutton-cold-war-fighter-pilot-who-later-rose-through-ranks-become-commander-chief-raf-support-command-10054878.html |access-date=26 September 2021 |work=The Independent |date=19 February 2015}}
• 5 Apr 1989 - Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Graydon{{cite news |editor-last1=Jenkins |editor-first1=Simon |editor-link=Simon Jenkins|title=Appointments |work=The Times |issue=63,854 |date=3 November 1990 |page=14|issn=0140-0460}}
• 8 May 1990 - Air Chief Marshal Sir John Thomson
• 5 Oct 1992 - Air Chief Marshal Sir John Willis

• List of Royal Air Force commands

{{reflist}}

• {{cite magazine |last1=Ansell |first1=Keith |title=Royal Air Force Support Command |magazine=Armed Forces Magazine |date=September 1982 |publisher=Ian Allan |location=Shepperton |issn=0142-4696 |oclc=231043296}}
• {{cite book |last1=March|first1=P.|title=Royal Air Force Yearbook 1989|year=1989|publisher= Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund|location=Fairford, UK}}

• Jackson, Brendan. "Logistic support in the Royal Air Force." The RUSI Journal 137, no. 6 (1992): 38–43.
• Terry Ford GEng MRAeS, (1987) "Royal Air Force Engineering", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 59 Issue: 11, pp. 11–13, https://doi.org/10.1108/. An opportunity to become acquainted with the engineering expertise available at RAF Stations and to study the degree of involvement in design and manufacture occurred recently when visiting Abingdon and Marham.

{{s-start}}

{{s-bef|before=Maintenance Command}}

{{s-ttl|rows=2|title=Support Command|years=1973–1994 }}

{{s-aft|after=Personnel and Training Command}}

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{{s-bef|before=Training Command
Absorbed on 13 June 1977}}

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

{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Support Command}}

Category:Military units and formations established in 1973

Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1994

Category:Military units and formations in Cambridgeshire

Category:Organisations based in Cambridgeshire

Support Command