Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation


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Operational Training Units


No 101 (Glider) Operational Training Unit

This was formed on 1 January 1942 within No 70 Group at Kidlington to train glider pilots.  Initially it was intended to train pilots on both Hotspur and Horsa gliders but it was then decided to transfer the Horsas to Heavy Glider Conversion Units.  It disbanded by being redesignated No 4 Glider Training School on 13 July 1942.

Aircraft & Markings


No 102 (Glider) Operational Training Unit

This was formed on 10 February 1942 within No 70 Group at Kidlington to train glider pilots.  Initially it was intended to train pilots on both Hotspur and Horsa gliders but it was then decided to transfer the Horsas to Heavy Glider Conversion Units.  It disbanded by being redesignated No 5 Glider Training School on 30 June 1942.

Aircraft & Markings  


No 104 (Transport) Operational Training Unit

This was formed on 12 March 1943 at Nutts Corner, under the control of No 44 Group to train transport crews.  Equipped with Wellingtons its last intake began on 23 November 1943 and disbanded on 5 February 1944.

Aircraft & Markings


No 105 (Transport) Operational Training Unit

This was formed on 5 April 1943 at Bramcote, under the control of No 44 Group to train transport crews, however, it was July before training began, operating Wellingtons modified with Warwick controls.  In September 1944 Dakotas began to arrive and it was soon solely equipped with this type.  It was transferred to No 4 Group on 1 June 1945 and disbanded by being redesignated No 1381 (Transport) Conversion Unit on 10 August 1945.

Codes used: -

8F Apr 1943 - Aug 1945
I5 Apr 1943 - Aug 1945

Aircraft & Markings


No 107 (Transport) Operational Training Unit

This was formed on 3 May 1943 at Leicester East, under the control of No 46 Group to train both glider tug and transport crews at half strength, its main equipment being Dakotas, Horsas  and Oxfords.  In July 1944 a Special Pick-up Flight was formed and in November the Air Ambulance School was attached to the unit.  The unit was disbanded by being redesignated No 1333 (Transport Support) Conversion Unit on 12 March 1945.

Codes used: -

CM May 1944 - Mar 1945
ZR May 1944 - Mar 1945

Aircraft & Markings


No 108 (Transport) Operational Training Unit

This was formed on 10 October 1944 at Wymeswold, under the control of No 44 Group to train transport crews, equipped with Dakotas, with some Horsas being used at some time to carry out airborne forces training, as follows: -. 

Intake 24 crews every 3 weeks (Summer)
Length of Course 12 weeks (9 weeks - air, 3 weeks - ground)
Population 96 crews
Output 31 crews per month (Summer)

Control was transferred to No 4 Group on 1 June 1945 but on 10 August it was disbanded by being redesignated No 1382 (Transport) Conversion Unit.

Aircraft & Markings


No 109 (Transport) Operational Training Unit

This was formed on 11 August 1944 at Crosby-on-Eden at half strength, under the control of No 44 Group to train transport crews, as follows: -

Intake 12 crews every 3 weeks
Length of Course 12 weeks (9 weeks - air, 3 weeks - ground)
Population 46 crews
Output 16 crews per month

Some Horsas were used at some time to carry out airborne forces training.  Control was transferred to No 4 Group on 1 June 1945 but on 10 August it was disbanded by being redesignated No 1383 (Transport) Conversion Unit.

Codes used: -

GY Aug 1944 - xxx 1945

Aircraft & Markings


No 110 Operational Training Unit

Following America’s entry into the war, this was planned as a bomber OTU to have been based at Alamogordo in New Mexico using B17s and B34s.


No 111 Operational Training Unit

This was formed at Nassau in the Bahamas on 20 August 1942 to train General Reconnaissance crews on US built types, mainly Mitchells and Liberators.  Training began in November, initially on Mitchells and at the same time the unit operated anti-submarine patrols over the Western Atlantic.  In February 1943, its pupil capacity was increased from 39 to 69 crews for a 12 week course with an intake of 23 crews, every 4 weeks.

Training continued until 1945, when in July the unit left for the UK, arriving at Lossiemouth, within No 17 Group on 1 August.  On 1 September it was transferred to No 18 Group and finally disbanded on 21 May 1946.

Codes used: -

A Aug 1942 - Jul 1945
C Aug 1942 - Jul 1945
F Aug 1942 - Jul 1945
J Aug 1942 - Jul 1945
L Aug 1942 - Jul 1945
M Aug 1942 - Jul 1945
N Aug 1942 - Jul 1945
X3 xxx 1944 - Jul 1945
3G Aug 1945 - Aug 1946
H3 Allocated but  not used

Aircraft & Markings


No 112 Operational Training Unit

Following America’s entry into the war, this was planned as a bomber OTU to have been based at La Junta in Colorado using B25s.


No 113 Operational Training Unit

Following America’s entry into the war, this was planned as a bomber OTU to have been based at Le Cruces using B24s.


No 114 Operational Training Unit

Following America’s entry into the war, this was planned as a bomber OTU to have been based at Lourdsbourg in New Mexico using B24s and B 25s.


No 115 Operational Training Unit

Following America’s entry into the war, this was planned as a bomber OTU to have been based at Pratt in Kansas using B26s.


No 116 Operational Training Unit

Following America’s entry into the war, this was planned as a bomber OTU to have been based at Liberal in Kansas using B24s and B25s.


No 117 Operational Training Unit

Following America’s entry into the war, this was planned as a bomber OTU to have been based at Garden City in Kansas using B26s.


No 118 Operational Training Unit

Following America’s entry into the war, this was planned as a bomber OTU to have been based at Dodge City in Kansas using B17s.


No 119 Operational Training Unit

Following America’s entry into the war, this was planned as a bomber OTU to have been based at Wink in Kansas using B25s and B34s.


No 120 Operational Training Unit

Following America’s entry into the war, this was planned as a bomber OTU to have been based at San Antonio in Cuba using B24s and B25s.


No 131 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit

This was formed at Killadeas on 20 July 1942, within No 15 Group, to train flying boat crews using Catalinas.  Its HQ was initially at St Angelo, which was still used by support aircraft after the move of the HQ to Killadeas.  In December 1942, control of the unit passed to No 17 Group and in October it took over the Catalina training previously carried out by No 4 (C) OTU.  On 13 January 1943 it was expanded to a full OTU and in May 1944 Sunderlands were taken on strength, but these were transferred to No 4 (C) OTU on 13 February 1945.  With the withdrawal of Catalinas from RAF service, the unit was disbanded on 28 June 1945.

Aircraft & Markings


No 132 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit

This was formed at East Fortune on 24 November 1942 under the control of No 17 Group by redesignating No 60 OTU, which had previously operated under Fighter Command.  Equipped with Blenheims and Beaufighters, it was tasked with training long range fighter and strike pilots.  In July 1943 it extended its training to complete crews and added torpedo dropping and dive bombing training to its tasking.  In April 1944 it received Mosquitoes to supplement to Beaufighters and Beauforts.  The Mosquitoes were transferred to No 8 OTU in February 1945 but they returned in June and the unit disbanded on 15 May 1946.

Codes used: -

9Y xxx 1945 - May 1946

Aircraft & Markings


No 151 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit

This was formed at Risalpur on 28 July 1942 under the control of No 223 Group by redesignating No 1 OTU (India).  It operated Mohawks, Hurricanes and Harvards to train fighter and ground attack pilots.  On 12 March 1944 it moved to Peshawar and took over the Vengeance training from No 151 OTU and being reorganised as follows: -

Hurricane Flight - OTU training of IAF Fighter, Ground Attack and Fighter Recce reinforcement pilots.

Course Length 12 weeks
Intake 16 pilots per 4 weeks
Aircraft Establishment 38 x Hurricanes

 8 x Harvards

Vengeance Flight - OTU training of  reinforcement crews for IAF Light Bomber Squadrons.

Course Length 10 weeks
Intake 12 crews per 10 weeks
Aircraft Establishment 4 x Vengeances

 2 x Harvards

Fighter Recce - Specialist training of RAF and IAF wastage replacements.

Course Length 4 weeks
Intake 3 RAF pilots per 4 weeks

6 IAF pilots per 4 weeks

Aircraft Establishment 5 x Hurricanes

 2 x Harvards

In August 1945 it was transferred to No 1 (Indian) Group and in March 1946 moved to Ambala being disbanded on being absorbed into the Advanced Flying School (India) on 1 April of the same year.

Officers Commanding: -

xx xxx 1943                            Gp Capt P E Meagher

xx Jun 1944                            Gp Capt E R Bitmead

Aircraft & Markings


No 152 (Bomber) Operational Training Unit

This was formed from SHQ Peshawar on 25 November 1942 under the control of No 227 Group, operating Harvards and Vengeances to train pilots who had just completed their courses at Indian Flying Training Schools.  Training commenced in the new year but No 1 Course had to be extended due to unserviceability issues with the Vengeances in in February 943 a Blenheim Conversion Flight was formed. Control was transferred to No 223 Group on 15 January 1943 and the unit disbanded into No 151 OTU on 12 March 1944.

 

 

Officers Commanding: -

25 Nov 1942                            Gp Capt W P Sutcliffe

 2 Jan 1943                               Gp Capt A D H Foster

11 Mar 1943                             Gp Capt W P Sutcliffe

Aircraft & Markings


This page was last updated on 16/07/24

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