RAF Transport Command
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RAF Transport Command was an RAF Command which controlled all transport aircraft of the air force. It was established in 1943 by the renaming of RAF Ferry Command and redesignated RAF Air Support Command in 1967.
During World War II its main responsibilities were at first only ferrying aircraft from factory to operational unit and air transport. However, it later effectively took over the mission of dropping paratroops from Army Cooperation Command as well.
After WWII, it decreased rapidly in size. However, it took part in several high profile operations, including the Berlin airlift which reinforced the need for a strong RAF transport fleet. With the shrinkage of the postwar world also came a lack of new aircraft. The Command soldiered on with its older aircraft for most of the first part of the 1950s. However, by 1956 things were beginning to change for the better. A slew of new designs came online including the first operational jet transport in any air force in the world, the de Havillant Comet.
The largest operational challenges of this period were support of operations during the Suez Crisis and ferrying personnel and supplies out to Christmas Island in order to support the UK's program of atomic bomb tests. In addition, Transport Command was responsible for running strategic air routes which kept the RAF's overseas stations in touch with the UK.
The 1960s saw a downsizing of the RAF, and a loss of independence for the old functional commands. Transport Command was renamed Air Support Command to more accurately reflect its role. Air Support Command in turn was absorbed into Strike Command in 1973.