Strike Command

Strike Command is the successor organisation in the Royal Air Force to Bomber Command, Fighter Command and Coastal Command of WWII fame. It 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.

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, No. 2 Group, and No. 3 Group.

The current Commander in Chief Strike Command is Air Chief Marshal Sir John Day. He will be succeeded at Air Marshal Brian Burridge on 31 July 2003.

Commander in Chief Strike Command

• Air Chief Marshal Sir Wallace Kyle 30 April 1968-26 August 1968
• Air Chief Marshal Sir Denis Spotswood 26 August 1968-5 January 1971
• Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Humphrey 5 January 1971-1 February 1974
• Air Chief Marshal Sir Denis Smallwood 1 February 1974-21 May 1976
• Air Chief Marshal Sir Nigel Maynard 21 May 1976-26 March 1977
• Air Chief Marshal Sir David Evans 26 March 1977-15 September 1980
• Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Williamson 15 September 1980-20 September 1982
• Air Chief Marshal Sir David Craig 20 September 1982-29 August 1985
• Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Harding 29 August 1985-9 September 1988
• Air Chief Marshal Sir Patrick Hine 9 September 1988-5 April 1989
• Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Graydon 5 April 1989- 4 November 1992
• Air Chief Marshal Sir John Thomson 4 November 1992-30 June 1994
• Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Johns 30 June 1994-14 July 1994
• Air Chief Marshal Sir William Wratten 14 July 1994-25 July 1997
• Air Chief Marshal Sir John Alison 25 July 1997-29 March 1999
• Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire 29 March 1999-6 April 2000
• Air Chief Marshal Sir Anthony Bagnall 6 April 2000-6 April 2001
• Air Chief Marshal Sir John Day 6 April 2001-31 July 2003
• Air Chief Marshal Brian Burridge 31 July 2003-

Deputy Commander in Chief Strike Command

• Air Marshal Brian Burridge -18 July 2003
• Air Marshal Glenn Torpy 18 July 2003-