Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

236 - 242 Operational Conversion Units

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236 Operational Conversion Unit

This unit formed at Kinloss to train general reconnaissance and Beaufighter crews on 31 July 1947 by redesignating No 6 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit, equipped with Lancasters, Spitfires and Beaufighters, its training commitment being: -

On 5 July 1948 its training programme was as follows: -

On 25 October 1949 its training programme was further amended as follows: -

The Lancasters were replaced by Neptunes and later Shackletons and on 1 October 1956 it was merged with No 1 School of Maritime Reconnaissance to form the Maritime Operational Training Unit.

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

Shadow/Reserve Squadron designations: -

 Codes used: -

Aircraft & Markings

237 Operational Conversion Unit

This was formed at Benson from No 8 OTU on 31 July 1947 as the Photographic Reconnaissance OCU, equipped with Mosquito and Spitfire aircraft, its training commitment being: -

It moved to Leuchars on 15 April 1948, being transferred to No 18 Group, and on 5 July 1948 its training programme was as follows: -

On 24 August 1948 the training commitment was amended to: -

It returned to Benson on 3 October 1950 and was transferred to No 1 Group, Bomber Command at the same time, moving again, to Bassingbourn, on 3 October 1951, where it was absorbed by No 231 OCU on 29 February 1952.

It reformed in April 1955 from ‘C’ (PR) Sqn of No 231 OCU at Merryfield near Ilminster, Somerset equipped with Canberra B2, T4 and  PR3s.  By September 1955  they were joined by Meteor T7 and FR9s and an Anson and on 23 October 1956, it began the move to Wyton in No 3 Group, until it was re-merged with No 231 OCU on 21 January 1958. 

It reformed again, this time at Honington on 1 March 1971 as the Buccaneer OCU in No 1 Group.  It moved to Lossiemouth on 11 November 1984 in No 18 Group, where it disbanded on 1 October 1991, its tasking being taken over by the Buccaneer Training Flight attached to No 208 Sqn.  

Codes used: - 

Aircraft & Markings

238 Operational Conversion Unit

This formed at Colerne in No 81 Group  from the Airborne Interception School, 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 moved to North Luffenham on 1 January 1957, taking over the All Weather and night Fighter OCU already there, but disbanded on 13 March 1958 .

Shadow/Reserve Squadron designations: -

Aircraft & Markings

240 Operational Conversion Unit

This was formed at North Luffenham in No 4 Group from No 1382 Transport Conversion Unit on 5 January 1948 to train transport crews (medium range), its training commitment being: -

Initially equipped with Dakotas, it was transferred to No 38 Group on 2 February and on 5 July 1948 its training programme was as follows: -

On 1 October 1948, its training programme was amended as follows: -

In December 1948 it received Valettas and three Devons, resulting in the addition of the following Devon course: -

On 4 October 1949, its training programme was amended as follows: -

From 1 December 1950, its training programme was once again revised as follows: -

On 28 March 1951 it moved to Dishforth, where it merged with No 241 OCU into No 242 OCU on 16 April 1951.

It 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 later Chinook aircraft.  On 3 November 1980 the Wessex element moved to Benson as the Wessex Training Flight but the OCU was was disbanded by being renamed No 27 (Reserve) Squadron on 1 October 1993.  

Aircraft & Markings

241 Operational Conversion Unit

This was formed at Dishforth in No 4 Group from No 1332 Heavy Transport Conversion Unit on 5 January 1948, equipped with Yorks and Halifaxes, its training commitment being: -

It was transferred to No 38 Group on 2 February 1948 and on 1 June 1948 was re-organised as follows: -

On 5 July 1948 its training programme was as follows: -

On 1 October 1948 the training programme was again re-organised, as follows: -

On 1 October 1949 the training programme was again re-organised, as follows: -

15 May 1950 the training programme was further revised, as follows: -

It was disbanded by being merged into No 242 OCU (together with No 240 OCU) on 16 April 1951.

It reformed at Brize Norton in No 1 Group 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.  

Aircraft & Markings

   242 Operational Conversion Unit

This was formed by merging No's 240 and 241 OCUs on 16 April 1951 at Dishforth, responsible for training all transport crews.  On 29 January 1962 it moved to Thorney Island, where it was transferred to No 38 Group from Flying Training Command on 15 June 1965.  It relinquished the training of strategic crews on 1 July 1970 when No 241 OCU was reformed, after which it became purely the Hercules OCU but absorbed the Andover Training Flight on 1 November 1970.  On 31 October 1975 it moved to Lyneham, where it was disbanded by being redesignated No 57 (Reserve) Squadron on 1 July 1992.

 Aircraft & Markings

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