RAF ABBREVIATIONS
AND THEIR MEANINGS
 

Many thanks to the Department of Research & Information Services, RAF Museum for providing this information

Service/personnel records abbreviations

Post-First World War

(also see S.D.161 Locations of Units in the RAF)

AACU                                    Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit

A&AEE                                  Aircraft & Armament Experimental Establishment

AAS                                        Air Armament School

ACC                                       Army Co-operation Command/Armoured Car Company

ACRC                                     Aircrew Reception/Receiving Centre (on joining RAF). Also Air Control and Reporting Centre.

ACDC                                    Aircrew Despatch Centre (e.g. prior to going overseas).

ACDW                                   Aircrew Despatch Wing

ACHU                                    Aircrew Holding Unit

ACSB                                     Aircrew Selection Board/Aviation Candidates Selection Board

ACRC                                     Aircrew Reception Centre

AFS                                        Advanced Flying School

AFU                                        Advanced Flying Unit (usually (O)AFU or (P)AFU - for observers or pilots).

AGS                                        Air Gunners School/Aircrew Grading School

ANS                                       Air Navigation School

AONS                                    Air Observers & Navigators School

AOS                                       Air Observers School

ARC (also ACRC)                  Aircrew Reception Centre or Air Reinforcements Centre??

AS                                          Air School (SAAF)

ASRU                                     Air Sea Rescue Unit

ADU                                       Aircraft Delivery Unit

Base                                        Group of RAF Stations, e.g. 43 Base: Group of RAF Stations in 4 Group

BATF/BAT Flight                    Beam Approach Training Flight

BC                                          Balloon Centre

BDF or BD Flt                        Bomb Disposal Flight

B&GS                                     Bombing & Gunnery School

BFTS                                      British Flying Training School (non-UK)

BPSO                                     Base Personnel Staff Officer

BRU                                        Base Recovery Unit

BSRU                                     Base Signals and Radar Unit

BTU                                        Balloon Training Unit or Bomber Training Unit

Conv. Unit/CU                        Conversion Unit (See HCU/OCU)

EFTS                                      Elementary Flying Training School (pilot training)

ETS                                         Equipment Training School

ERFTS                                    Elementary & Reserve Flying Training School  (pilot training)

FIS                                          Flying Instructors School

Flt                                           Flight

FPP                                         Ferry Pilots Pool

FTS                                         Flying Training School (pilot training)

FTU                                        Ferry Training Unit (for training ferry pilots)

GRS                                        General Reconnaissance School

GSU                                        Group Support Unit

H                                             Holding (when in the ‘Reason’ column)

HCU                                       Heavy Conversion Unit: final training prior to going to an operational squadron, especially familiarisation with operational aircraft.

ITW                                        Initial Training Wing

LACRC                                  London Aircrew Reception Centre

LFS                                         Lancaster Finishing School (prior to joining an active service squadron using Avro Lancasters)

ME                                          Middle East, e.g. 1 (ME)ARC

MSSU                                     Mobile Signals Servicing Unit

MSU                                       Mobile Signals Unit

MTLRU                                  Mechanical Transport Light Repair Unit

MTRU                                    Mechanical Transport Repair Unit

MU                                         Maintenance Unit

OADU                                    Overseas Aircraft Delivery (or Despatch) Unit

(O)AFU                                  (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit

OCU                                       Operational Conversion Unit: final training prior to going to an operational squadron, especially familiarisation with operational aircraft.

OTU                                       Operational Training Unit: advanced training, as a complete crew, prior to going to an operational squadron.

PAFU/(P)AFU                        (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit

PD                                          Personnel Depot

PDC                                        Personnel Despatch Centre (on leaving RAF)

PHU                                        Personnel Holding Unit

PRC                                        Personnel Reception/Receiving Centre

PTC                                        Personnel Transit Centre/Camp

RC                                          Reception Centre/Camp (e.g. 1RC Gloucester, 9RC Blackpool)

RS                                           Radio School or Reserve Squadron

RSS                                        Radar Servicing Section

RSU                                        Repair and Salvage Unit

SD                                          Signals Depot

SE                                           Servicing Echelon

SFTS                                      Service Flying Training School (pilot training)

Sqdn/Sqn                                Squadron

S of GR                                   School of General Reconnaissance

S of TT (or STT)                     School of Technical Training

SS                                           Signals School

Wg                                          Wing

WS                                         Wireless School

Z Unit                                      (a mobile signals unit)