Strike Command is the successor organisation in the Royal Air Force to RAF Bomber Command, RAF Fighter Command and RAF Coastal Command of WWII fame. It is essentially responsible for all combat activities of the RAF.
Strike Command was formed on 30 April 1968 by the merger of Bomber Command and Fighter Command. Coastal Command was absorbed on 28 November the same year and Signals Command on 1 January 1969. Air Support Command (formerly Transport Command ) was absorbed 1 September 1972.
The command is divided into a number of Groups, which at first reflected the function of the old Fighter, Bomber and Coastal Command. Subsequent reorganisations have changed things greatly. Currently, the three Groups which make up the command are No. 1 Group RAF, No. 2 Group RAF , and No. 3 Group RAF .
Air Chief Marshal Sir John Day was succeeded by Air Marshal Brian Burridge on 31 July 2003 who remains the current Commander in Chief Strike Command.
See Also