68:
54:
267:
484:
28:
407:
No. 2 Group was transferred again to Second
Tactical Air Force on 1 September 1951, but was disbanded on 15 November 1958. No. 83 Group RAF controlled 2TAF's southern area from 1952 to 1958. On 1 July 1956, No. 2 Group appeared to encompass wings at Ahlhorn (No. 125 Wing RAF),
907:
259:
and Italy. He honed Second TAF into a command up to the challenges presented to it, and incorporated many of the lessons from Italy, including the use of the "cab rank" system for aircraft for
397:
The Second TAF was renamed as the
British Air Forces of Occupation on 15 July 1945. It began as a large force of four groups (2, 83, 84, 85 Groups) but 2 Group disbanded on 1 May 1947.
932:
882:
772:
Royal Air Force, RAF Narrative on the
Liberation of North West Europe (Maxwell AFB, Ala.: AFHRA, USAF Collection, call no. 512.041-38 vol. 1, IRIS no. 00895753, 1946), 8.
902:
351:
was but a pale shadow of the organisation it had once been. Mostly Second TAF spent its time supporting the
British and Canadian forces on the left flank of
404:. In 1951, the British Air Forces of Occupation reverted to their former name with the re-creation of the Second Tactical Air Force on 1 September 1951.
417:
382:
386:
525:
352:
212:
927:
883:
https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/units/air-historical-branch/regional-studies-post-coldwar-narratives/the-raf-in-germany-1945-1978/
842:
251:. Coningham had great experience of the type of operations required for supporting fast moving ground warfare due to his command of the
917:
400:
By the end of 1947, the forces had shrunk to ten squadrons at three airfields, all directly under control of the Air
Headquarters at
121:
922:
912:
732:
562:
697:
472:
748:
508:
248:
231:
Squadron, providing strategic photo-reconnaissance, were also part of the tactical air force at its inception.
887:
807:
793:
537:
937:
692:
687:
645:
208:
184:
675:
550:
187:, in connection with preparations then in train to invade Europe a year later. It took units from both
109:
609:
247:, who, on 21 January 1944, was succeeded by the man most associated with Second TAF, Air Marshal Sir
585:
568:
468:
172:
160:
846:
784:
615:
333:
329:
325:
321:
724:
718:
356:
317:
293:
256:
483:
385:
was established, a transport formation. It became part of 2nd TAF/BAFO, but was reduced to
371:
313:
278:
252:
228:
27:
8:
531:
309:
305:
188:
156:
67:
375:
337:
301:
297:
192:
144:
81:
728:
663:
657:
521:
453:
360:
260:
471:
on 1 January 1959, at which point C.-in-C. RAF Germany became commander of the NATO
867:
556:
502:
445:
437:
425:
413:
244:
224:
220:
216:
832:
Group
Captain W J Taylor OBE, Historical Background, The RAF in Germany 1945–1993
627:
603:
285:
274:
223:
controlling ground-based units, for the Second
Tactical Air Force. In addition,
200:
164:
148:
71:
461:
367:
53:
355:'s command. One notable exception was the last great attack of the Luftwaffe,
273:, commander of 125 Wing of the Second TAF, about to take off on a sortie from
896:
621:
433:
270:
651:
441:
409:
204:
196:
152:
669:
639:
633:
597:
591:
581:
498:
449:
240:
401:
289:
266:
429:
348:
908:
Military units and formations of the Royal Air Force in World War II
888:
Air of
Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Overseas Commands
457:
811:
363:
1945, when the Second TAF suffered serious losses on the ground.
126:
Winged demi-lion above an astral crown grasping an olive branch
421:
341:
292:
Commodore E.C. Thornton, served as the air spotting pool for
183:
2TAF was formed on 1 June 1943 as HQ Tactical Air Force from
749:"Second Tactical Air Force (2nd TAF) | RAF Heraldry Trust"
378:
in
Belgium and attached to the Second Tactical Air Force.
782:
Mersky, Peter (1986). "Naval
Aviators in Spitfires".
933:
Military units and formations disestablished in 1959
514:
195:in order to form a force capable of supporting the
903:Military units and formations established in 1943
894:
211:, retaining fighter units for home defence, and
467:The Second Tactical Air Force was redesignated
353:Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force
171:in 1945, 2TAF was recreated in 1951 and became
543:
868:Biography – Air Marshal Sir Harry Broadhurst
491:
91:air superiority and support ground offensive
723:. London: Routledge & K. Paul. p.
487:Official badge of Second Tactical Air Force
574:
482:
448:), while No. 83 Group directed wings at
420:, under the control of Bomber Command),
392:
265:
895:
781:
199:in the field. Bomber Command provided
32:Badge of the Second Tactical Air Force
549:1 October 1951 Air Chief Marshal Sir
207:; Fighter Command was split into the
716:
928:Royal Air Force stations in Germany
347:By this late stage in the war, the
263:, into the doctrine of Second TAF.
234:
13:
775:
644:2 February 1981 – Air Marshal Sir
626:19 January 1976 – Air Marshal Sir
602:6 December 1965 – Air Marshal Sir
286:No. 34 (Photo Reconnaissance) Wing
159:and personnel from the RAF, other
14:
949:
918:Royal Air Force overseas commands
876:
590:7 January 1961 – Air Marshal Sir
698:List of Royal Air Force commands
674:22 April 1991 – Air Marshal Sir
668:14 April 1989 – Air Marshal Sir
662:13 April 1987 – Air Marshal Sir
638:30 April 1979 – Air Marshal Sir
555:3 December 1953 Air Marshal Sir
536:30 October 1948 Air Marshal Sir
530:1 February 1946 Air Marshal Sir
515:British Air Forces of Occupation
507:21 January 1944 Air Marshal Sir
473:Second Allied Tactical Air Force
169:British Air Forces of Occupation
66:
52:
26:
650:9 April 1983 – Air Marshal Sir
632:25 July 1977 – Air Marshal Sir
614:10 November 1970 – Air Marshal
596:25 June 1963 – Air Marshal Sir
227:for towing assault gliders and
43:September 1951 - 1 January 1959
861:
835:
826:
800:
766:
741:
710:
656:1 July 1985 – Air Marshal Sir
567:1 June 1957 – Air Marshal Sir
1:
794:United States Naval Institute
703:
478:
137:RAF Second Tactical Air Force
21:RAF Second Tactical Air Force
693:RAF Third Tactical Air Force
688:RAF First Tactical Air Force
561:22 January 1956 Air Marshal
209:Air Defence of Great Britain
178:
163:air forces, and exiles from
7:
681:
620:4 April 1973 – Air Marshal
608:16 July 1968 – Air Marshal
239:2TAF's first commander was
151:(RAF) during and after the
10:
954:
110:Royal Air Force March Past
923:British forces in Germany
610:Christopher Foxley-Norris
544:Second Tactical Air Force
492:Second Tactical Air Force
366:On 20 January 1945, four
185:Army Co-operation Command
120:
115:
105:
95:
87:
77:
62:
47:
37:
25:
20:
913:Royal Air Force commands
219:operating aircraft, and
720:A Dictionary of mottoes
586:Humphrey Edwardes-Jones
575:Royal Air Force Germany
569:Humphrey Edwardes-Jones
469:Royal Air Force Germany
173:Royal Air Force Germany
616:Harold Brownlow Martin
488:
334:897 Naval Air Squadron
330:886 Naval Air Squadron
326:885 Naval Air Squadron
322:808 Naval Air Squadron
282:
165:German-occupied Europe
486:
393:Post Second World War
357:Operation Bodenplatte
318:No. 414 Squadron RCAF
294:naval gunfire support
269:
41:June 1943 – July 1945
314:No. 268 Squadron RAF
300:. The wing included
161:British Commonwealth
155:. It was made up of
100:Keepers of the peace
938:Tactical air forces
532:Philip Wigglesworth
310:No. 63 Squadron RAF
306:No. 26 Squadron RAF
145:tactical air forces
143:) was one of three
843:"Laarbruch Museum"
717:Pine, L G (1983).
563:The Earl of Bandon
489:
338:United States Navy
336:and, briefly, the
302:No. 2 Squadron RAF
298:Operation Overlord
283:
82:tactical air force
808:"Groups 70-106_P"
664:Anthony Skingsley
658:David Parry-Evans
580:1 January 1959 –
522:Air Chief Marshal
454:RAF Geilenkirchen
389:on 15 July 1946.
381:In February 1945
277:, Normandy, in a
261:close air support
130:
129:
945:
870:
865:
859:
858:
856:
854:
849:on 12 March 2019
845:. Archived from
839:
833:
830:
824:
823:
821:
819:
814:on 28 March 2010
810:. Archived from
804:
798:
797:
779:
773:
770:
764:
763:
761:
759:
745:
739:
738:
714:
557:Harry Broadhurst
509:Arthur Coningham
446:No. 123 Wing RAF
438:No. 124 Wing RAF
426:No. 122 Wing RAF
418:No. 551 Wing RAF
414:No. 121 Wing RAF
383:No. 87 Group RAF
253:Desert Air Force
249:Arthur Coningham
235:Second World War
153:Second World War
70:
57:
56:
30:
18:
17:
953:
952:
948:
947:
946:
944:
943:
942:
893:
892:
879:
874:
873:
866:
862:
852:
850:
841:
840:
836:
831:
827:
817:
815:
806:
805:
801:
780:
776:
771:
767:
757:
755:
747:
746:
742:
735:
715:
711:
706:
684:
628:Michael Beetham
604:Denis Spotswood
577:
546:
538:Thomas Williams
517:
494:
481:
395:
387:No. 87 Wing RAF
368:Gloster Meteors
288:, commanded by
275:Longues-sur-Mer
237:
189:Fighter Command
181:
149:Royal Air Force
133:
72:Royal Air Force
51:
42:
33:
12:
11:
5:
951:
941:
940:
935:
930:
925:
920:
915:
910:
905:
891:
890:
885:
878:
877:External links
875:
872:
871:
860:
834:
825:
799:
796:: 105&106.
774:
765:
740:
733:
708:
707:
705:
702:
701:
700:
695:
690:
683:
680:
679:
678:
672:
666:
660:
654:
648:
646:Thomas Kennedy
642:
636:
630:
624:
618:
612:
606:
600:
594:
588:
576:
573:
572:
571:
565:
559:
553:
545:
542:
541:
540:
534:
528:
526:Sholto Douglas
516:
513:
512:
511:
505:
493:
490:
480:
477:
462:RAF Wildenrath
416:), Gutersloh (
394:
391:
374:were moved to
361:New Year's Day
281:, (June 1944).
236:
233:
193:Bomber Command
180:
177:
131:
128:
127:
124:
118:
117:
113:
112:
107:
103:
102:
97:
93:
92:
89:
85:
84:
79:
75:
74:
64:
60:
59:
58:United Kingdom
49:
45:
44:
39:
35:
34:
31:
23:
22:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
950:
939:
936:
934:
931:
929:
926:
924:
921:
919:
916:
914:
911:
909:
906:
904:
901:
900:
898:
889:
886:
884:
881:
880:
869:
864:
848:
844:
838:
829:
813:
809:
803:
795:
791:
787:
786:
778:
769:
754:
750:
744:
736:
734:0-7100-9339-X
730:
726:
722:
721:
713:
709:
699:
696:
694:
691:
689:
686:
685:
677:
676:Andrew Wilson
673:
671:
667:
665:
661:
659:
655:
653:
649:
647:
643:
641:
637:
635:
631:
629:
625:
623:
622:Nigel Maynard
619:
617:
613:
611:
607:
605:
601:
599:
595:
593:
589:
587:
583:
579:
578:
570:
566:
564:
560:
558:
554:
552:
551:Robert Foster
548:
547:
539:
535:
533:
529:
527:
523:
520:15 July 1945
519:
518:
510:
506:
504:
503:John D'Albiac
500:
496:
495:
485:
476:
474:
470:
465:
463:
459:
455:
451:
447:
443:
439:
435:
434:RAF Oldenburg
431:
427:
423:
419:
415:
411:
405:
403:
398:
390:
388:
384:
379:
377:
373:
369:
364:
362:
359:, mounted on
358:
354:
350:
345:
343:
339:
335:
331:
327:
323:
319:
315:
311:
307:
303:
299:
295:
291:
287:
280:
276:
272:
271:Geoffrey Page
268:
264:
262:
258:
254:
250:
246:
245:John d'Albiac
242:
232:
230:
226:
222:
218:
214:
210:
206:
205:light bombers
202:
198:
194:
190:
186:
176:
174:
170:
167:. Renamed as
166:
162:
158:
154:
150:
146:
142:
138:
132:Military unit
125:
123:
119:
114:
111:
108:
104:
101:
98:
94:
90:
86:
83:
80:
76:
73:
69:
65:
61:
55:
50:
46:
40:
36:
29:
24:
19:
16:
863:
851:. Retrieved
847:the original
837:
828:
816:. Retrieved
812:the original
802:
789:
783:
777:
768:
756:. Retrieved
752:
743:
719:
712:
652:Patrick Hine
497:1 June 1943
466:
442:RAF Wunstorf
410:RAF Fassberg
406:
399:
396:
380:
372:616 Squadron
365:
346:
284:
257:North Africa
238:
225:No. 38 Group
221:No. 85 Group
217:No. 84 Group
213:No. 83 Group
182:
168:
140:
136:
134:
99:
15:
818:27 February
785:Proceedings
758:1 September
753:rafht.co.uk
670:Roger Palin
640:Peter Terry
634:John Stacey
598:Ronald Lees
592:John Grandy
582:Air Marshal
499:Air Marshal
450:RAF Bruggen
432:(34 Wing),
296:throughout
279:Spitfire IX
241:Air Marshal
201:No. 2 Group
147:within the
897:Categories
704:References
479:Commanders
475:(2 ATAF).
402:Bad Eilsen
370:jets from
290:Royal Navy
452:, Celle,
430:Laarbruch
376:Melsbroek
349:Luftwaffe
179:Formation
175:in 1959.
157:squadrons
853:3 August
682:See also
458:RAF Wahn
116:Insignia
96:Motto(s)
440:), and
229:No. 140
48:Country
792:(12).
731:
460:, and
63:Branch
38:Active
422:Jever
342:VOS-7
203:with
122:Badge
106:March
855:2013
820:2010
760:2019
729:ISBN
584:Sir
524:Sir
501:Sir
428:),
243:Sir
215:and
197:Army
191:and
141:2TAF
135:The
88:Role
78:Type
790:112
725:122
340:'s
255:in
899::
788:.
751:.
727:.
464:.
456:,
344:.
332:,
328:,
324:,
320:,
316:,
312:,
308:,
304:,
857:.
822:.
762:.
737:.
444:(
436:(
424:(
412:(
139:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.