▁R AF ▁was ▁a ▁group ▁of ▁the ▁Royal ▁Air ▁Force ▁which ▁was ▁oper ational ▁during ▁both ▁the ▁First ▁and ▁Second ▁World ▁Wars . ▁ ▁First ▁World ▁War ▁No . ▁ 1 7 ▁Group ▁R AF ▁was ▁formed ▁during ▁April ▁ 1 9 1 8 ▁in ▁No . ▁ 4 ▁Area , ▁it ▁was ▁transferred ▁to ▁North - E astern ▁Area ▁on ▁ 8 ▁May ▁ 1 9 1 8 ▁with ▁Training ▁being ▁added ▁to ▁the ▁name ▁on ▁ 8 ▁August ▁ 1 9 1 8 ▁and ▁was ▁dis band ed ▁on ▁ 1 8 ▁October ▁ 1 9 1 9 . ▁ ▁Second ▁World ▁War ▁Re formed ▁ 1 ▁Dec ▁ 1 9 3 6 ▁as ▁No . ▁ 1 7 ▁( Tra ining ) ▁Group ▁in ▁R AF ▁Coast al ▁Command . ▁ ▁The ▁following ▁units ▁were ▁under ▁its ▁control ▁at ▁some ▁point : ▁▁ ▁No . ▁ 4 ▁Oper ational ▁Training ▁Unit ▁R AF . ▁ ▁No . ▁ 5 ▁Oper ational ▁Training ▁Unit ▁R AF ▁. ▁ ▁No . ▁ 6 ▁Oper ational ▁Training ▁Unit ▁R AF . ▁ ▁No . ▁ 7 ▁Oper ational ▁Training ▁Unit ▁R AF . ▁ ▁No . ▁ 9 ▁Oper ational ▁Training ▁Unit ▁R AF . ▁ ▁No . ▁ 1 3 1 ▁Oper ational ▁Training ▁Unit ▁R AF . ▁ ▁No . ▁ 1 3 2 ▁Oper ational ▁Training ▁Unit ▁R AF . ▁ ▁No . ▁ 7 ▁Group ▁Communic ation ▁Fl ight ▁R AF ▁formed ▁August ▁ 1 9 3 8 ▁at