Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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.
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.
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.
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 | |
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 | |
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 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
Codes used: -
GY | |
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
Codes used: -
A | |
C | |
F | |
J | |
L | |
M | |
N | |
X3 | xxx |
3G | Aug 1945 - Aug 1946 |
H3 | Allocated but not used |
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 132 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit
This was formed at East Fortune on 24 November 1942 under the
control of
Codes used: -
9Y | |
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
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
This page was last updated on 16/07/24
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