12 Group Stations of the the Battle of Britain

The Group pages begin with a sector map explaining the Group's structure and how the chain of command worked. The stations are split into Sector stations, Fighter stations, Chain Home and Chain Home Low RDF sites. To see the details of each station, click on its name on the map, or scroll down the list, which is arranged alphabetically in categories.

Group Headquarters

12 Group Headquarters was based at RAF Watnall, the administrative centre.

Sector Airfields

RAF Church Fenton.

RAF Church Fenton was home to the Church Fenton Sector Operations Room and Staff, and the following Squadrons during the Battle:

  • No 87 Squadron from 26 May 1940
  • No 73 Squadron from 18 June 1940
  • No 249 Squadron from 8 July 1940
  • No 85 Squadron from 5 September 1940

RAF Digby.

RAF Digby was home to the Digby Sector Operations Room and Staff, and the following Squadrons during the Battle:

  • No 46 Squadron from 13 June 1940
  • No 29 Squadron from 27 June 1940
  • No 46 Squadron from 19 August 1940
  • No 151 Squadron from 1 September 1940
  • No 611 Squadron from 10 October 1939

RAF Duxford.

RAF Duxford was home to the Duxford Sector Operations Room and Staff, and the following Squadrons during the Battle:

  • No 264 Squadron from 10 May 1940
  • No 19 Squadron from 3 July 1940
  • No 310 Squadron from 10 July 1940
  • No 46 Squadron from 18 August 1940
  • No 312 Squadron from 29 August 1940
  • No 242 Squadron from 26 October 1940
  • No 19 Squadron from 30 October 1940

RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey.

RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey was home to the Kirton-in-Lindsey Sector Operations Room and Staff, and the following Squadrons during the Battle:

  • No 222 Squadron from 4 June 1939
  • No 253 Squadron from 24 May 1940
  • No 264 Squadron from 23 July 1940
  • No 74 Squadron from 21 August 1940
  • No 264 Squadron from 28 August 1940
  • No 616 Squadron from 9 September 1940
  • No 85 Squadron from 23 October 1940

RAF Wittering.

RAF Wittering was home to the Wittering Sector Operations Room and Staff, and the following Squadrons during the Battle:

  • No 266 Squadron from 14 May 1940
  • No 74 Squadron from 14 August 1940
  • No 266 Squadron from 21 August 1940

Fighter Airfields

RAF Coltishall.

RAF Coltishall was home to the following Squadrons during the Battle:

  • No 66 Squadron from 29 May 1940
  • No 242 Squadron from 18 June 1940
  • No 616 Squadron from 3 September 1940
  • No 74 Squadron from 9 September 1940
  • No 72 Squadron from 13 October 1940

RAF Leconfield.

RAF Leconfield was home to the following Squadrons during the Battle:

  • No 249 Squadron from 18 May 1940
  • No 616 Squadron from 6 June 1940
  • No 302 Squadron from 13 July 1940
  • No 303 Squadron from 11 October 1940

RAF Tern Hill.

Tern Hill was one of the 12 Group airfields used for resting units, and as a training airfield and maintneance depot. It was used as a relief landing ground and as a temporary base for night fighters operating against raids on Liverpool and cities in the north midlands.

Chain Home Stations

RAF Easington.

Easington provided long range early warning for raids from Luftflotte V and the northern elements of Luftflotte II along the approaches to Manchester and the north midlands.

RAF Stenigot.

Stenigot provided long range early warning for raids from Luftflotte V and the northern elements of Luftflotte II along the approaches to Sheffield and Nottingham and the central midlands.

RAF Staxton Wold.

Staxton Wold provided long range early warning for raids from Luftflotte V along the approaches to the north midlands.

RAF Stoke Holy Cross.

Stoke Holy Cross provided long range early warning for central East Anglia and the approaches to the southern midlands.

RAF West Beckham.

West Beckham provided long range early warning for north East Anglia and the area of the Wash, along with the approaches to the southern midlands.

Chain Home Low Stations

RAF Flamborough Head.

Flamborough Head provided low level raid cover for the central east coast and the approaches to York.

RAF Happisburgh.

Happisburgh provided low level raid cover for the north East Anglian coast.

RAF Ingoldmels.

Ingoldmels provided low level raid cover for the Lincolnshire coast north of the Wash on the approaches to Nottingham and the industrial cities of the north midlands.