Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

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236 - 242 Operational Conversion Units

236 Operational Conversion Unit

Formed at Kinloss to train general reconnaissance and Beaufighter crews on 31 July 1947 from No 6 OTU.  Equipped with Lancaster, Spitfires and Beaufighters, the Lancasters were replaced by Neptunes and later Shackletons.   On 1 October 1956 it was merged with No 1 MRS to form the Maritime Operational Training Unit.

Reformed by renaming MOTU at St Mawgan on 1 July 1970 to train Nimrod crews.  It disbanded on 1 October 1992 when it was renamed No 42 (Reserve) Sqn.  

Motto: To Hunt and To Kill

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Shadow/Reserve Squadron designations: -

 Codes used: -

Aircraft & Markings

237 Operational Conversion Unit

Formed at Benson from No 8 OTU on 31 July 1947 as the Photographic Reconnaissance OCU, equipped with Mosquito and Spitfire aircraft.  It was disbanded on 1 December 1951 at Bassingbourn by being merged with No 231 OCU.

Reformed from ‘C’ (PR) Sqn of No 231 OCU at Wyton on 23 October 1956, equipped with Canberras, it was re-merged with No 231 OCU on 21 January 1958.

Reformed at Honington on 1 March 1971 as the Buccaneer OCU.  It moved to Lossiemouth on 19 October 1984, where it disbanded on 1 October 1991, its tasking being taken over by the Buccaneer Training Flight attached to No 208 Sqn.  

Motto: Panache et Precision

Codes used: - 

Aircraft & Markings

238 Operational Conversion Unit

 Formed at Colerne to train night fighter radar operators on 15 June 1952, equipped with Brigands and Balliols.  These aircraft were eventually replaced by Meteors and Valettas.  It was disbanded at North Luffenham on 13 March 1958

Shadow/Reserve Squadron designations: -

Aircraft & Markings

240 Operational Conversion Unit

Formed at North Luffenham from No 1382 Transport Conversion Unit on 5 January 1948 to train transport crews (medium range).  Initially equipped with Dakotas, it later used Valettas and Devons before being merged with No 241 OCU into No 242 OCU on 16 April 1951.

Reformed by renaming No 38 Group's Air Training Squadron  at Odiham on 29 December 1971.  It was now responsible for the operational training of all Support Helicopter crews using Wessex, Puma and Chinook aircraft.  It was disbanded by being renamed No 27 (Reserve) Squadron on 1 October 1993.  

Motto: Train for Battle

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Aircraft & Markings

241 Operational Conversion Unit

Formed at Dishforth from No 1332 Heavy Transport Conversion Unit on 5 January 1948, equipped with Yorks and Halifaxes.  It was disbanded by being merged into No 242 OCU (together with No 240 OCU) on 16 April 1951.

Reformed at Brize Norton to train crews for the Strategic Transport Force on 1 July 1970.  It did not have aircraft of its own but borrowed them from the units based at Brize Norton.  It was disbanded by being renamed No 55 (Reserve) Squadron on 1 October 1993.  

Motto: Teach Well

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Aircraft & Markings

242 Operational Conversion Unit

Formed by merging No's 240 and 241 OCUs on 16 April 1951.  It was responsible for training all transport crews, but relinquished the training of strategic crews in 1970 when No 241 OCU was reformed, after which it became purely the Hercules OCU.  It was disbanded by being renamed No 57 (Reserve) Squadron on 1 July 1992.

Motto: Hic Bene Docti Ubique Volant

 Aircraft & Markings

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