During the Second World War and immediate post war period there were several reserve, training and holding units for The Parachute Regiment and Army Air Corps including:
No 1 Airborne Forces Holding Unit

The Parachute Regiment Reserve Battalion

Army Air Corps Holding Battalion

The Parachute Regiment Training and Holding Battalion

An airborne forces holding unit was first established during World War II as a result of the growing number of military parachutists processed through RAF Ringway who had not yet been assigned to active service units.

Towards the end of the war these units also performed a holding role for service personnel awaiting demobilisation.

In addition service personnel who had been injured, wounded, or suffered in Prisoner of War camps, and were unfit for immediate reassignment to active units were often placed with a holding or reserve battalion. From here personnel could train and recuperate in order to return to a service battalion, or await demobilisation.