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List of Royal Air Force Operational Training Units

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"Operational Training Unit" redirects here. For Operational Training Units of the United States Army Air Forces, see Operational - Replacement Training Units.

Royal Air Force Operational Training Units (OTUs) were training units that prepared aircrew for operations on a particular type or types of aircraft or roles.

1 - 19 OTUs

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Name Formed on Formed at Group RLG's used Aircraft Disbanded on Notes
No. 1 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF 1 April 1940 RAF Silloth No. 17 Group RAF RAF Speke
RAF Prestwick
RAF Kirkbride
RAF Longtown
RAF Thornaby
RAF Beaulieu
RAF Aldergrove		 Lockheed Hudson
Avro Anson
Bristol Blenheim
Bristol Beaufort
Boeing Fortress
Handley Page Halifax
Consolidated Liberator
Westland Lysander
Miles Martinet		 19 October 1943 [1]
No. 2 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF 1 October 1940 RAF Catfoss No. 17 Group RAF [1]
No. 3 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF 27 November 1940 RAF Chivenor No. 17 Group RAF [1]
No. 4 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF 16 March 1941 RAF Stranraer No. 17 Group RAF Became 235 OCU in 1947.[1]
No. 5 Operational Training Unit RAF 15 March 1940 RAF Aston Down No. 12 Group RAF [1]
No. 5 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF 1 August 1941 RAF Chivenor No. 17 Group RAF [1]
No. 6 Operational Training Unit RAF 6 March 1940 RAF Sutton Bridge No. 11 Group RAF Commanded by Squadron Leader Philip Campbell Pinkham[2][3] No. 6 OTU was re-numbered in November 1940 to No. 56 OTU[2][3]
No. 6 Operational Training Unit RAF 1 June 1941 RAF Andover No. 17 Group RAF [1]
No. 6 Operational Training Unit RAF 19 July 1941 RAF Thornaby No. 17 Group RAF [1]
No. 7 Operational Training Unit RAF 15 June 1940 RAF Hawarden No. 13 Group RAF During the Battle of Britain in September 1940, it flew operational flights over north west England, claiming three enemy aircraft shot down.
It became No. 57 OTU on 1 November 1940.[1]
No. 7 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF 1 April 1942 RAF Limavady No. 17 Group RAF [1]
No. 8 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF 18 May 1942 RAF Fraserburgh No. 17 Group RAF Formed by merging the Photographic Reconnaissance Conversion Flight of 3 School of General Reconnaissance
and 'K' (Photographic Reconnaissance Advanced Training) Flight of 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit [4] Moved to RAF Dyce February 1943 then to RAF Haverfordwest in early 1945.[5] Became 237 OCU in 1947.[6][1]
No. 9 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF 7 June 1942 RAF Aldergrove No. 17 Group RAF [1]
No. 10 Operational Training Unit RAF 8 April 1940 RAF Abingdon No. 6 Group RAF [1]
No. 11 Operational Training Unit RAF 8 April 1940 RAF Bassingbourn No. 6 Group RAF During 1942, it operated seven operational night bombing missions.[1]
No. 12 Operational Training Unit RAF 8 April 1940 RAF Benson No. 6 Group RAF Absorbed No. 52 Squadron RAF on 8 April 1940.[7] During 1942, 12 OTU carried out operational night bombing missions.[1]
No. 13 Operational Training Unit RAF 8 April 1940 RAF Bicester No. 6 Group RAF Became 228 OCU in 1947.[1]
No. 14 Operational Training Unit RAF 8 April 1940 RAF Cottesmore No. 6 Group RAF [1]
No. 15 Operational Training Unit RAF] 8 April 1940 RAF Harwell No. 6 Group RAF In 1942, it carried out seven operational missions.[1]
No. 16 Operational Training Unit RAF 8 April 1940 RAF Upper Heyford No. 6 Group RAF In 1942, it carried out a number of operational sorties.[1]
No. 16 Operational Training Unit RAF 1 January 1945 RAF Upper Heyford No. 92 Group RAF [1]
No. 17 Operational Training Unit RAF 8 April 1940 RAF Upwood No. 6 Group RAF Became No. 201 Advanced Flying School RAF in March 1947.[1]
No. 18 Operational Training Unit RAF 15 June 1940 RAF Hucknall No. 6 Group RAF In 1942, it carried out six operational sorties.[1]
No. 19 Operational Training Unit RAF 27 May 1940 RAF Kinloss No. 6 Group RAF In June 1942, twelve Whitleys took part in a raid against Bremen.[1]

20 - 43 OTUs

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Name Formed on Formed at Group RLG's used Aircraft Disbanded on Notes
No. 20 Operational Training Unit RAF 27 May 1940 RAF Lossiemouth No. 6 Group RAF [1]
No. 21 Operational Training Unit RAF 21 January 1941 RAF Moreton-in-Marsh No. 6 Group RAF In 1942, it carried out a number of operational sorties. Became No. 202 Advanced Flying School RAF in March 1947.[1]
No. 22 Operational Training Unit RAF 14 April 1941 RAF Wellesbourne Mountford No. 6 Group RAF [1]
No. 23 Operational Training Unit RAF 1 April 1941 RAF Pershore No. 6 Group RAF In 1942, carried out operational sorties.[1]
No. 24 Operational Training Unit RAF 15 March 1942 RAF Honeybourne No. 7 Group RAF In 1942, carried out three operational sorties.[1]
No. 25 Operational Training Unit RAF 1 March 1942 RAF Finningley No. 7 Group RAF In 1942, carried out a number of operational raids.[1]
No. 26 Operational Training Unit RAF 15 January 1942 RAF Wing No. 7 Group RAF [1]
No. 27 Operational Training Unit RAF 23 April 1941 RAF Lichfield No. 6 Group RAF [1]
No. 28 Operational Training Unit RAF 16 May 1942 RAF Wymeswold No. 92 Group RAF [1]
No. 29 Operational Training Unit RAF 21 April 1942 RAF North Luffenham No. 7 Group RAF In 1942, carried out four operation sorties.[1]
No. 30 Operational Training Unit RAF 28 June 1942 RAF Hixon No. 93 Group RAF [1]
No. 31 Operational Training Unit RAF 23 May 1941 Debert, Canada n/a Carried out operational patrols in the Western Atlantic from Dartmouth.[1]
No. 32 Operational Training Unit RAF 20 July 1941 West Kirby, Liverpool, UK n/a Declared an operational squadron to protect the Canadian coast from Japanese raids and re-designated No. 32 Operational Squadron on 15 December 1941.
Reverted to an Operational Training Unit on 29 December 1941. Re-designated No. 6 Operational Training Unit RCAF in June 1944.[1]
No. 34 Operational Training Unit RAF 8 April 1942 UK n/a [1]
No. 36 Operational Training Unit RAF 24 February 1942 UK n/a [1]
No. 41 Operational Training Unit RAF 20 September 1941 RAF Old Sarum No. 70 Group RAF [1]
No. 42 Operational Training Unit RAF 18 July 1941 RAF Andover No. 70 Group RAF [1]
No. 43 Operational Training Unit RAF 1 October 1942 RAF Larkhill No. 70 Group RAF [1] Became No. 227 Operational Conversion Unit RAF.[8][9]

51 - 63 OTUs

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RAF 20 Operational Training Unit memorial, located at Bogs of Mayne (former RAF Elgin), Morayshire, Scotland.
Name Formed on Formed at Group RLG's used Aircraft Disbanded on Notes
No. 51 Operational Training Unit RAF 26 July 1941 RAF Debden No. 81 Group RAF [1]
No. 52 Operational Training Unit RAF 25 March 1941 RAF Debden No. 81 Group RAF [1]
No. 53 Operational Training Unit RAF 18 February 1941 RAF Heston No. 81 Group RAF [1]
No. 54 Operational Training Unit RAF 25 November 1940 RAF Church Fenton No. 12 Group RAF [1]
No. 55 Operational Training Unit RAF 1 November 1940 RAF Aston Down No. 10 Group RAF [1]
No. 55 Operational Training Unit RAF 18 December 1944 RAF Aston Down No. 12 Group RAF [1]
No. 56 Operational Training Unit RAF 1 November 1940 RAF Sutton Bridge No. 81 Group RAF Previously No. 6 OTU.[2][3] Became No. 1 Combat Training Wing RAF, then No. 1 Tactical Exercise Unit RAF[1]
No. 56 Operational Training Unit RAF 15 December 1944 RAF Milfield No. 12 Group RAF [1]
No. 57 Operational Training Unit RAF 1 November 1940 RAF Hawarden No. 10 Group RAF [1]
No. 58 Operational Training Unit RAF 2 December 1940 RAF Grangemouth No. 10 Group RAF Became No. 2 Combat Training Wing RAF, then No. 2 Tactical Exercise Unit RAF[1]
No. 58 Operational Training Unit RAF 12 March 1945 RAF Poulton No. 12 Group RAF Disbanded[1]
No. 59 Operational Training Unit RAF 16 December 1940 RAF Turnhouse No. 13 Group RAF [1]
No. 59 Operational Training Unit RAF 26 February 1945 RAF Acklington n/a [1]
No. 60 Operational Training Unit RAF 28 April 1941 RAF Leconfield No. 81 Group RAF In November 1942, it was renumbered 132 OTU. No. 60 OTU was re-formed in May 1943.[1]
No. 60 Operational Training Unit RAF 17 May 1943 RAF High Ercall No. 9 Group RAF [1]
No. 61 Operational Training Unit RAF 9 June 1941 RAF Heston No. 81 Group RAF Became No. 203 Advanced Flying School RAF[1]
No. 62 Operational Training Unit RAF 1 June 1942 RAF Usworth No. 81 Group RAF [1]
No. 63 Operational Training Unit RAF 7 September 1943 RAF Honiley No. 9 Group RAF [1]

70 - 86 OTUs

[edit]
Name Formed on Formed at Group RLG's used Aircraft Disbanded on Notes
No. 70 (Middle East) Operational Training Unit RAF 10 December 1940 RAF Ismailia n/a [1]
No. 71 Operational Training Unit RAF 1 June 1941 RAF Ismailia No. 202 Group RAF From June to September 1941 it provided night defence of the Canal Zone (Suez Canal)[10]
No. 72 Operational Training Unit RAF 10 November 1941 RAF Cathargo n/a [1]
No. 73 Operational Training Unit RAF 30 November 1941 RAF Sheikh Othman No. 207 Group RAF [1]
No. 74 Operational Training Unit RAF 18 October 1941 RAF Aqir No. 203 Group RAF [1]
No. 75 Operational Training Unit RAF 8 December 1942 RAF Gianaclis No. 203 Group RAF [1]
No. 76 Operational Training Unit RAF 1 October 1943 RAF Aqir n/a [1]
No. 77 Operational Training Unit RAF 1 April 1944 RAF Qastina No. 203 Group RAF [1]
No. 78 Operational Training Unit RAF 1 February 1944 RAF Ein Shemer n/a [1]
No. 79 Operational Training Unit RAF 1 February 1944 RAF Nicosia n/a [1]
No. 80 (French) Operational Training Unit RAF 23 April 1945 RAF Morpeth No. 12 Group RAF [1]
No. 81 Operational Training Unit RAF 10 July 1942 RAF Ashbourne No. 93 Group RAF Became No. 1380 (Transport) Conversion Unit RAF[1]
No. 82 Operational Training Unit RAF 1 June 1943 RAF Ossington No. 93 Group RAF [1]
No. 83 Operational Training Unit RAF 1 August 1943 RAF Childs Ercall No. 93 Group RAF [1]
No. 84 Operational Training Unit RAF 1 September 1943 RAF Desborough No. 92 Group RAF [1]
No. 85 Operational Training Unit RAF 15 June 1944 RAF Husbands Bosworth No. 92 Group RAF [1]
No. 86 Operational Training Unit RAF 15 June 1944 RAF Gamston No. 93 Group RAF [1]

101 - 152 OTUs

[edit]
Name Formed on Formed at Group RLG's used Aircraft Disbanded on Notes
No. 101 (Glider) Operational Training Unit RAF 1 January 1942 RAF Kidlington No. 70 Group RAF RAF Kiddington (Glympton)
RAF Slade Farm		 General Aircraft Hotspur 13 July 1942 Became No. 4 Glider Training School RAF[1]
No. 102 (Glider) Operational Training Unit RAF 10 February 1942 RAF Kidlington No. 70 Group RAF RAF Kiddington (Glympton)
RAF Slade Farm		 Hawker Hector
Hawker Hind
Hotspur		 30 June 1942 Became No. 5 Glider Training School RAF[1]
No. 104 (Transport) Operational Training Unit RAF 12 March 1943 RAF Nutts Corner No. 44 Group RAF RAF Toome
RAF Maghaberry
RAF Mullaghmore		 Vickers Wellington 5 February 1944 [1]
No. 105 (Transport) Operational Training Unit RAF 5 April 1943 RAF Bramcote No. 44 Group RAF RAF Nuneaton
RAF Bitteswell
RAF Crosby-on-Eden		 Wellington
Douglas Dakota		 10 August 1945 Became No. 1381 (Transport) Conversion Unit RAF[1]
No. 107 (Transport) Operational Training Unit RAF 3 May 1944 RAF Leicester East No. 46 Group RAF RAF Ringway
RAF Melton Mowbray
RAF Zeals		 Dakota
Airspeed Horsa
Airspeed Oxford
Waco Hadrian		 12 March 1945 Became No. 1333 (Transport Support) Conversion Unit RAF[1]
No. 108 (Transport) Operational Training Unit RAF 10 October 1944 RAF Wymeswold No. 44 Group RAF RAF Castle Donington Dakota
Oxford
Horsa		 10 August 1945 Became No. 1382 (Transport) Conversion Unit RAF[1]
No. 109 (Transport) Operational Training Unit RAF 1 August 1944 RAF Crosby-on-Eden No. 44 Group RAF RAF Down Ampney
RAF Blakehill Farm		 Dakota
Oxford
Horsa		 10 August 1945 Became No. 1383 (Transport) Conversion Unit RAF[1]
No. 111 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF 20 August 1942 RAF Oakes Field No. 17 Group RAF Windsor Field
RAF Lossiemouth
RAF Milltown		 North American B-25 Mitchell
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Wellington		 21 May 1946 [1]
No. 131 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF 20 July 1942 RAF Killadeas No. 15 Group RAF RAF Lough Erne
RAF Boa Island		 Consolidated Catalina
Short Sunderland
Oxford
Miles Martinet
Hawker Hurricane		 28 June 1945 [1]
No. 132 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF 24 November 1942 RAF East Fortune No. 17 Group RAF RAF Macmerry Bristol Blenheim
Bristol Beaufighter
Oxford
Bristol Beaufort
Westland Lysander
de Havilland Mosquito		 15 May 1946 [1]
No. 151 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit RAF 28 July 1942 RAF Risalpur No. 227 Group RAF RAF Ambala Curtiss Mohawk
North American Harvard
Hurricane
Vultee Vengeance		 1 April 1946 Absorbed into Advanced Flying School (India)[1]
No. 152 (Bomber) Operational Training Unit RAF 22 October 1942 RAF Peshawar No. 227 Group RAF Harvard
Vengeance		 12 March 1944 Disbanded into No. 151 (F) OTU[1]
No. 1 Operational Training Unit, India 1 April 1942 RAF Risalpur No. 1 (Indian) Group RAF Mohawk
Harvard
Hurricane		 28 July 1942 Became No. 151 (F) OTU[1]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Operational Training Units of the Royal Air Force.
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj Sturtivant 2007, pp. 198-206
  2. ^ a b c Goodrum, Alastair (1997). Airfield Focus 65: Sutton Bridge. ISBN 9781904514152.
  3. ^ a b c Goodrum, Alastair (1997). Combat Ready!. ISBN 9781870384605.
  4. ^ Lake, p. 144
  5. ^ The National Archives, Kew AIR29/637
  6. ^ Lake, p. 146
  7. ^ "RAF History: Bomber Command 60th Anniversary: No. 52 Squadron". www.RAF.mod.uk. Royal Air Force. 2004. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  8. ^ Ashworth, Chris (1990). Action Stations: Military airfields of the South-West. Stephens. pp. 118, 140. ISBN 978-1-85260-374-8 – via Google Books.
  9. ^ Berryman, David (2002). Wiltshire Airfields in the Second World War. Countryside Books. pp. 252–253. ISBN 978-1-85306-703-7 – via Google Books.
  10. ^ "Kenneth Noel Hebditch : 1919–1942 – Kingsbury Time Travellers".

References

[edit]
  • Lake, Alan (1999). Flying Units of the RAF – the ancestry, formation and disbandment of all flying units from 1912. Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
  • Sturtivant, Ray (2007). RAF Flying Training and Support Units since 1912. Air-Britain. ISBN 0-85130 365 X.
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