RAF Army Cooperation Command

RAF Army Cooperation Command was a short-lived major command of the Royal Air Force during World War II, comprising the army cooperation units of the RAF.

The command was formed on 1 December 1940 when No. 22 (Army Co-Operation) Group, previously a part of Fighter Command, was raised to command status.

Its function was to act as the focus for activities connected with the interaction of the British Army and the RAF, such as close air support, tactical reconnaissance, artillery spotting, training of anti-aircraft defences. However, it proved to be a controversial command with the Chief of the Imperial General Staff General Sir Alan Brooke being an implacable foe of the command arrangement. Its existence was eventually brought to an end on 31 March 1943, when most of its assets were used to form the Second Tactical Air Force.

The command had only had one CO during its short existence, Air Marshal Sir Arthur Barratt.

Units

 * Groups
 * No 70 (Army Co-Operation Training) Group - 1 December 1940 - 1 June 1943 (transferred to ADGB)
 * No 71 (Army Co-Operation ) Group - 1 December 1940 - 14 August 1941 (disbanded)
 * No 72 (Army Co-Operation Training) Group - 16 September 1942 - 1 August 1943 (disbanded)


 * Squadrons
 * No. 4 Squadron RAF - Lysanders then Tomahawks and Mustangs
 * No. 171 Squadron RAF - formed 15 June 1942 at RAF Gatwick with Tomahawks for tactical reconnaissance
 * No. 239 Squadron RAF