The mission of No 2 Group is to build the best culture, capabilities, and environment for our people to excel, wherever we are needed. Our vision is to always be ready to fly, fight and win and to be the heart and home of our RAF.
The Forces within No 2 Group collectively train and operate to provide very high readiness forces for the RAF and Defence.
RAF Stations are where the RAF lives, works and often fights from. They are made up of the ‘Air Base’ and its resident ‘Air Wing’ elements. Air Bases include the support structures and services that are needed by all RAF personnel to live and operate and these are looked after by 2 Group.
Global Enablement prepares and generates the specialist capabilities that are required to enable RAF Air & Space power to be delivered globally, whenever and wherever it is required. Global Enablement is formed around six forces: Air Security Force, Battlespace Management Operations, Combat and Readiness Force, Medical Force, Support Force and 90 Signal Unit.
Air Vice-Marshal John Lyle joined the Royal Air Force in 1995 following his studies at Sheffield University. Trained as a Navigator on the Tornado F3 fighter aircraft, he undertook operations around the globe, including in Iraq. After successfully completing both the Qualified Tactics Instructor and Qualified Weapons Instructor courses, he went to instruct at 25 Squadron at RAF Leeming. He has subsequently gained an MSc in Aerospace Systems and an MA in International Relations while serving.
Throughout his career Air Vice-Marshal Lyle has filled a number of staff roles, including: National Representative and Air Counter-Terrorism advisor to the UK Government; Head of Air Operations in the Ministry of Defence; Deputy Head of RAF Operations in the RAF Headquarters at High Wycombe; and Chief of Staff at the Standing Joint Command (UK) Headquarters at Aldershot.
He has been privileged to hold a number of high-profile leadership roles, including: Commander of 56 Squadron, which is responsible for developing Air surveillance capability; Deputy Commander of 903 Expeditionary Air Wing at Bastion Airfield in Afghanistan; Deputy Commander of the RAF Intelligence and Surveillance Force; and as the Commander of the RAF Air Mobility Force.
Air Vice-Marshal Lyle took up the post of Commandant of the RAF College, based at RAF Cranwell, in May 2024, where he was responsible for overseeing all RAF Phase 1 training and the delivery of centralised single service Leadership and Adventurous Training. Following this, he commenced duties as Air Officer Commanding of Number 2 Group in April 2026.
John is married to Maria, a charity director, and has one teenage daughter. His interests include scuba diving, hiking, travel, road cycling and attempting to learn to ski.
The group was first formed as a training group, but was deactivated after the armistice.
The Group was reformed as 2 (Bombing) Group on 20 March 1936, with its headquarters base at Abingdon. By the outbreak of war Group Headquarters were at RAF Wyton and a Blenheim from 2 Group made the first British operational sortie to cross the German frontier in the Second World War. The following day saw the Group's Blenheims make the first British bombing attack of the war. 2 Group flew just over 57,000 operational sorties at a cost of 2,671 men killed or missing and 396 wounded. It was disbanded on 1 May 1947.
Reformed as part of the British Occupation forces in Germany, and transferred to the Second Tactical Air Force in 1951.
Was formed to encompass RAF Germany after the Cold War and disbanded after the draw down of RAF units on the continent.
2 Group was reformed on 7 January 2000 to take control of air transport, air-to-air refuelling and airborne early warning within the RAF. Later the group took control of the RAF's Force Protection units and most recently absorbed the Space & Battle Management Force and stood up the Support Force.
