I am confused - never heard of a 1* Base commander before - were they common?
The "Base" was an organisation of a main RAF Station with one or two satellite stations. The main station (usually a pre-war permanent airfield)supplied the main administration set-up for the smaller stations. Each station had its own group captain station commander but the "Base" was commanded by a one star. For example, RAF Waddington ran 53 Base (the 3rd base in 5 group) from the end of 1942 to the end of the war. The other two stations in Base 53 were Skellingthorpe (50 & 61 Sqns) and Bardney (9 Sqn). Together with Waddington's two Australian squadrons (463 & 467), Base 53 could call upon a force of around 100 Lancasters. Further examples include Base 54 (4th base of 5 group): Coningsby, Metheringham and Woodhall Spa, and 51 Base of Scampton, Fiskerton and Dunholm Lodge.
The link lists all of the bases:
Bomber Bases_P