2 Group (the Air Combat Support Group): controls the strategic and tactical air transport aircraft and force protection assets.
Overcome
"To generate, sustain and develop the forces needed to succeed on current and future operations."
2 Group has the main role of producing and retaining military capability. The speed and global reach of 2 Group's Air Mobility and Force Protection force elements allow the UK to deploy, sustain and recover in reply to any security and humanitarian crises.
Air Mobility is a core air power role. At short notice 2 Group can move air and ground combat forces to, from and around multiple theatres of operations. Air Mobility is a key enabler for the combat operations that the RAF undertakes but also those undertaken with the British Army, the Royal Navy and during Joint and Combined operations.
Force Protection is a requirement for the successful employment of all forms of military power, to counter threats and hazards, enable freedom of action and increase operational effectiveness. Aircraft are high value assets and operating bases are so large and difficult to defend, therefore specialist Force Protection capability is required to defend our combat assets and secure air superiority. The capability is delivered by the RAF Regiment and the RAF Police.
AVM David Cooper was commissioned into the RAF in 1988. He became officer commanding 617 Squadron in April 2008. He went on to be Station Commander RAF Marham in November 2011, Director Air Operations for NATO in November 2013 and Joint Force Air Component Commander in Afghanistan in November 2014.
He became the Air Officer Commanding No. 2 Group RAF in June 2017.
The Group was first formed as a training group, but was deactivated after the armistice.
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. No.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.
Reformed as part of the British Occupation forces in Germany, and transferred to the Second Tactical Air Force in 1951.
Was formed to encompass RAF Germany after the Cold War and disbanded after the draw down of RAF units on the continent.
It was reformed on 7 January 2000 to take control of air transport, air-to-air refuelling and airborne early warning within the RAF and later also took control of the RAF's Force Protection units.
No 2 Group, Air Command, RAF High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP14 4UE
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