Vincemus - 'We Will Conquer'

About this Group

Mission

"To generate, sustain and, when directed, command forces for current operations and develop forces for future Air Mobility, Force Protection, Support Force and Battlespace Management."

Our Vision

Air Mobility, Force Protection, Support Force, and Battlespace Management Forces fit to contribute to Joint Force 2035 and the ASTRA vision for a Next Generation RAF.

Our Share Values

We seek excellence in all we do in order to deliver world-class air power and space effect, maintaining strong, effective relationships with all whom we work.

Force Protection

Force Protection, delivered by the RAF Regiment and the RAF Police, is about protecting the RAF at home and away against threats that may impact on our freedom of action and operational effectiveness. The continued recapitalisation of the RAF’s fleet has seen a smaller but increasingly complex and valuable number of aircraft operating from fewer but larger airbases than ever before. This move combined with the ever-changing threat reinforces the need for a specialist Force Protection capability to protect our personnel, defend our assets and secure our freedom to operate.

Battlespace Management Force

The Battlespace Management Force mission is: “to understand, control and exploit the battlespace, delivering tactical Air Command and Control of UK Air Policing and Air Counter Terrorism operations while supporting the delivery of Combat Air & Space Power for standing and contingent operations worldwide."

Support Force

The Support Force bring together the RAF’s wide range of operational support enablers into a single coherent Force. The Force consists of cyber protection, information enablement, medical, logistics, engineering and other specialists and niche capabilities, such as the RAF Mountain Rescue Service and RAF Music Services, while also delivering the fixed outputs of RAF High Wycombe and RAF Wittering. Thus, the Support Force provides Defence, and the Royal Air Force, with a range of operational support capabilities to achieve standing Defence Tasks, enable expeditionary air bases and HQs, and to support global reach of Air and Space Operations.

Air Officer Commanding

Air Vice-Marshal Suraya Marshall MA LLB RAF

Air Vice-Marshal Suraya Marshall joined the Royal Air Force as a Navigator in 1994.  She completed 3 tours flying on the Tornado F3, participating in numerous operational deployments in Iraq, Quick Reaction Alert as well as qualifying as a Weapons Instructor.

She has commanded 92 (R) Squadron responsible for operational Tactics & Training, 55 (R) Squadron delivering Rear Crew Flying Training, Deputy Commander of the RAF's Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance Force and most recently Commandant of the RAF College Cranwell.  In 2003, she worked with coalition partners in the design and execution for the second Gulf War and later as the Director of Coalition Air Operations in Iraq, Syria, the Arabian Gulf, Afghanistan, the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.  She assumed command of No. 2 Group in October 2021.

Suraya is married to Air Vice-Marshal Al Marshall.  They have 2 teenage children.

Who makes this group

RAF Stations

Squadrons

Units

Key dates

1918-1920

The group was first formed as a training group, but was deactivated after the armistice.

1936-1947

The Group was reformed as 2 (Bombing) Group on 20 March 1936, with its headquarters base at Abingdon. By the outbreak of war Group Headquarters were at RAF Wyton and a Blenheim from 2 Group made the first British operational sortie to cross the German frontier in the Second World War. The following day saw the Group's Blenheims make the first British bombing attack of the war. 2 Group flew just over 57,000 operational sorties at a cost of 2,671 men killed or missing and 396 wounded. It was disbanded on 1 May 1947.

1948-1958

Reformed as part of the British Occupation forces in Germany, and transferred to the Second Tactical Air Force in 1951. 

1993-1996

Was formed to encompass RAF Germany after the Cold War and disbanded after the draw down of RAF units on the continent.

2000-Present

2 Group was reformed on 7 January 2000 to take control of air transport, air-to-air refuelling and airborne early warning within the RAF. Later the group took control of the RAF's Force Protection units and most recently absorbed the Space & Battle Management Force and stood up the Support Force.

Contact details

No 2 Group, Air Command, RAF High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire,  HP14 4UE