No 1 Group

Swift To Attack

About this Group

No 1 Group has responsibility for the vast majority of the RAF’s Front-Line facing Force Elements, including the Air Mobility Force; Air and Space Warfare Centre; Combat Air Force; and Intelligence Surveillance, Targeting and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) Force, to:

"To Understand and exploit the Battlespace to deliver decisive Air Power"

No 1 Group trains, retains and empowers talented, professional and courageous people to deliver world-class Air Power. Through an intelligent use of resource and partnerships, the Group continually develops and tests operational excellence across all of its Force Elements to deliver decisive Air Power today, while being prepared to meet the security challenges of tomorrow.

With over 10,000 personnel in the Group, we are ready to meet all emerging threats and challenges to UK interests across the globe, while inspiring the next generation through our extensive fixed-wing and parachuting Display Team activity.

Air Mobility Force

The Air Mobility Force provides rapid global mobility in support of UK overseas operations and exercises, as well as air-to-air refuelling support for fast jet aircraft, both on operations and in support of UK Homeland Defence.

Air and Space Warfare Centre

The Air and Space Warfare Centre is the primary source of impartial, authoritative and integrated advice to support success on current and future operations in the Air and Space domains including associated Electronic-Warfare, Cyber and Information environments.

Combat Air Force

The Combat Air Force generates, operates and sustains effective Combat Air power in all tasked roles and environments to defend the UK and its interests globally. Concurrently, the Force defends UK sovereign airspace 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year; ready to intervene decisively at a moment's notice.

ISTAR Force

The ISTAR Force delivers battle-winning knowledge and effect to commanders at all levels, by the provision of near-real time information, world-leading intelligence products and through the delivery of precise, offensive and defensive effect in the land, air and maritime domains.

RAF Aerobatic Team (RAFAT), The Falcons and Typhoon Display

The Red Arrows, Falcons and the Typhoon Display teams represent the speed, agility and precision of the Royal Air Force, at numerous Display events yearly – both in the UK and overseas.

Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF)

The BBMF maintain the priceless artefacts of our national heritage in airworthy condition in order to commemorate those who have fallen in the service of this country. The RAF BBMF also serves to promote the modern-day Air Force and to inspire the future generations.

Air Officer Commanding

Air Vice-Marshal Mark Flewin CBE MA BEng RAF

Air Vice-Marshal Mark Flewin was commissioned into the Royal Air Force in 1998. After pilot training, he was posted to the Jaguar and became a Qualified Weapons Instructor, completing several frontline tours including operational deployments to enforce the no-fly zone in Iraq. He joined the nascent Typhoon Force in 2005, taking on instructional and standardisation roles to support capability growth, and completed a tour as Executive Officer on XI Squadron. This was followed by operational deployments to the Combined Air and Space Operations Centre in Qatar and to command 903 Expeditionary Air Wing in support of Operation SHADER.

In 2012, he took command of 1 (Fighter) Squadron at RAF Leuchars, leading its formal re-establishment as a frontline, combat-ready Typhoon squadron. Two joint roles followed: Chief of Staff within the Air Staff at the Ministry of Defence and Chief of Staff, Joint Effects at the UK Permanent Joint Headquarters, where he was appointed CBE in 2018.

He assumed command of RAF Coningsby in 2018, supporting a multitude of operational commitments in the UK and overseas, as well as displaying the Spitfire and Hurricane as part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. A tour as Typhoon Force Commander followed with oversight of RAF Leeming, the Hawk T1 fleet and the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, in addition to the Typhoon Force at RAF Coningsby and Lossiemouth.

Upon completion of the Higher Command and Staff Course in 2021, Air Vice-Marshal Flewin was appointed to the newly formed UK Space Command. With responsibility for UK Space operations, planning and training, he oversaw tangible growth in space-based support to contingency planning and joint operations, including the rapid operationalisation of both sovereign and partnered capabilities. Promoted to Air Vice-Marshal in January 2023 he was appointed to be Air Officer Commanding Number 1 Group.

Who makes this group

Key dates

1918 - 1936

No 1 Group first formed to perform air defence in the South East of England against German zeppelin and Gotha Raids. It continued in the air defence role until renumbered as 6 Group in 1924 but was reformed the same day at a new location at which it operated until 1926. 1 Group was reactivated the next year, again in the air defence role which it continued until 1936 when it was again renumbered as 6 Group, 1 Group becoming a light bomber group.

1936 - 1945

As a light bomber group 1 Group went to France in 1939 as the Advanced Air Striking Force. An advance arm of Bomber Command rather than, as often thought, an army cooperation unit. The 1 Group designation was used briefly in 1939 by Bomber Command, but stood up permanently in June 1940 and has been active ever since. Largely based in North Yorkshire, the Group carried out more bombing raids than any other over the course of the War.

1946 - 1999

After the War, 1 Group stayed active. It took control of US loaned Thor ballistic missiles for a period between 1958 and 1963, and in 1968 transitioned in to Strike Command.

2000

The Group again took command of air defence within the UK and responsibility for the RAF's offensive air power on operations.

Contact details

1 Group, RAF High Wycombe, Walter's Ash, HP14 4UE