An RAF station is a permanent Royal Air Force operations location. Many RAF stations are aerodromes, being the home to one or more flying squadrons. Other RAF stations are training units, administrative units or carry out ground-based operational tasks. The officer in charge of an RAF station is titled as the Station Commander. On flying units the station commander normally holds the rank of Group Captain. Most RAF stations are administratively sub-divided into wings and are controlled by a station headquarters. On a flying station the subordinate wings have usually been called Operations Wing, Engineering (or Engineering and Suppy) Wing and Administration Wing. Engineering Wings are being split into Forward Support Wing and Depth Support Wings, while many Administration Wing have been renamed Base Support Wing. RAF stations typically have a fenced perimeter with hangars, offices and accommodation for personnel who live on the unit. The RAF's stations are mostly in the United Kingdom; however RAF Akrotiri is in Cyprus, RAF Gibraltar is in Gibraltar and RAF Mount Pleasant is in the Falkland Islands. Over the last 88-years there have been hundreds of RAF stations around the world, a reflection on the involvement of the RAF in wars and conflicts and colonial policing in many areas.
Heraldry
RAF station crests are similar to Squadron crests; the emblem is surrounded by a light blue ring containing the words "Royal Air Force Station" and the station name surmounted by a crown and with the motto in a scroll underneath.
