No. 16 Group RAF was a group of the Royal Air Force. It existed over two periods in two different roles. No. 16 Group was initially a training group, from 1918 to 1920, that had been transferred from the Royal Flying Corps. It reformed as a reconnaissance group under RAF Coastal Command, in 1936.
An East Coast convoy, 1940, with an Anson aircraft of Coastal Command in the foreground
Bristol Beaufort Mk Is of No. 22 Squadron RAF at North Coates in Lincolnshire, 19 July 1940. Beaufort Mark Is, L4449 'OA-H', L9891 'OA-F' and L4461 'OA-J', of No. 22 Squadron RAF, lined up at North Coates, Lincolnshire
Instrument workers line up aerial cameras at Benson, Oxfordshire, before installing them in a De Havilland Mosquito PR Mark IX: (left to right) two Type F.24 (14-inch lens) vertical cameras, one F.24 (14-inch lens) oblique camera, two Type F.52 (36-inch lens) 'split pair' vertical cameras
Flight-Lieutenant L S M Bailey preparing to write his report on his return from his 849th meteorological flight in a Gloster Gladiator Mark II of No 1401 (Meteorological) Flight, at Bircham Newton
RAF Coastal Command was a formation within the Royal Air Force (RAF). It was founded in 1936, when the RAF was restructured into Fighter, Bomber and Coastal commands and played an important role during the Second World War. Maritime Aviation had been neglected in the inter-war period, due to disagreements between the Royal Navy (RN) and RAF over the ownership, roles and investment in maritime air power.
RAF Coastal Command badge
Philip Joubert de la Ferté, Coastal Command's second AOC-in-C. de la Ferté continually complained about the neglect of Coastal Command
RAF Coastal Command crew holding a final conference before taking off in their Boeing B-17, from Lajes Field on Terceira Island in the Azores, 1943
A De Havilland Mosquito of the RAF Banff Strike Wing attacking a convoy evacuating German troops from Kattegat on 5 April 1945. A flak ship and a trawler were sunk
