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

NameFormed onFormed atGroupRLG's usedAircraftDisbanded onNotes
No. 1 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF1 April 1940RAF SillothNo. 17 Group RAFRAF Speke RAF Prestwick RAF Kirkbride RAF Longtown RAF Thornaby RAF Beaulieu RAF AldergroveLockheed Hudson Avro Anson Bristol Blenheim Bristol Beaufort Boeing Fortress Handley Page Halifax Consolidated Liberator Westland Lysander Miles Martinet19 October 1943
No. 2 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF1 October 1940RAF CatfossNo. 17 Group RAF
No. 3 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF27 November 1940RAF ChivenorNo. 17 Group RAF
No. 4 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF16 March 1941RAF StranraerNo. 17 Group RAFBecame 235 OCU in 1947.
No. 5 Operational Training Unit RAF15 March 1940RAF Aston DownNo. 12 Group RAF
No. 5 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF1 August 1941RAF ChivenorNo. 17 Group RAF
No. 6 Operational Training Unit RAF6 March 1940RAF Sutton BridgeNo. 11 Group RAFCommanded by Squadron Leader Philip Campbell Pinkham No. 6 OTU was re-numbered in November 1940 to No. 56 OTU
No. 6 Operational Training Unit RAF1 June 1941RAF AndoverNo. 17 Group RAF
No. 6 Operational Training Unit RAF19 July 1941RAF ThornabyNo. 17 Group RAF
No. 7 Operational Training Unit RAF15 June 1940RAF HawardenNo. 13 Group RAFDuring 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.
No. 7 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF1 April 1942RAF LimavadyNo. 17 Group RAF
No. 8 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF18 May 1942RAF FraserburghNo. 17 Group RAFFormed 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 Moved to RAF Dyce February 1943 then to RAF Haverfordwest in early 1945. Became 237 OCU in 1947.
No. 9 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF7 June 1942RAF AldergroveNo. 17 Group RAF
No. 10 Operational Training Unit RAF8 April 1940RAF AbingdonNo. 6 Group RAF
No. 11 Operational Training Unit RAF8 April 1940RAF BassingbournNo. 6 Group RAFDuring 1942, it operated seven operational night bombing missions.
No. 12 Operational Training Unit RAF8 April 1940RAF BensonNo. 6 Group RAFAbsorbed No. 52 Squadron RAF on 8 April 1940. During 1942, 12 OTU carried out operational night bombing missions.
No. 13 Operational Training Unit RAF8 April 1940RAF BicesterNo. 6 Group RAFBecame 228 OCU in 1947.
No. 14 Operational Training Unit RAF8 April 1940RAF CottesmoreNo. 6 Group RAF
No. 15 Operational Training Unit RAF]8 April 1940RAF HarwellNo. 6 Group RAFIn 1942, it carried out seven operational missions.
No. 16 Operational Training Unit RAF8 April 1940RAF Upper HeyfordNo. 6 Group RAFIn 1942, it carried out a number of operational sorties.
No. 16 Operational Training Unit RAF1 January 1945RAF Upper HeyfordNo. 92 Group RAF
No. 17 Operational Training Unit RAF8 April 1940RAF UpwoodNo. 6 Group RAFBecame No. 201 Advanced Flying School RAF in March 1947.
No. 18 Operational Training Unit RAF15 June 1940RAF HucknallNo. 6 Group RAFIn 1942, it carried out six operational sorties.
No. 19 Operational Training Unit RAF27 May 1940RAF KinlossNo. 6 Group RAFIn June 1942, twelve Whitleys took part in a raid against Bremen.

20 - 43 OTUs

NameFormed onFormed atGroupRLG's usedAircraftDisbanded onNotes
No. 20 Operational Training Unit RAF27 May 1940RAF LossiemouthNo. 6 Group RAF
No. 21 Operational Training Unit RAF21 January 1941RAF Moreton-in-MarshNo. 6 Group RAFIn 1942, it carried out a number of operational sorties. Became No. 202 Advanced Flying School RAF in March 1947.
No. 22 Operational Training Unit RAF14 April 1941RAF Wellesbourne MountfordNo. 6 Group RAF
No. 23 Operational Training Unit RAF1 April 1941RAF PershoreNo. 6 Group RAFIn 1942, carried out operational sorties.
No. 24 Operational Training Unit RAF15 March 1942RAF HoneybourneNo. 7 Group RAFIn 1942, carried out three operational sorties.
No. 25 Operational Training Unit RAF1 March 1942RAF FinningleyNo. 7 Group RAFIn 1942, carried out a number of operational raids.
No. 26 Operational Training Unit RAF15 January 1942RAF WingNo. 7 Group RAF
No. 27 Operational Training Unit RAF23 April 1941RAF LichfieldNo. 6 Group RAF
No. 28 Operational Training Unit RAF16 May 1942RAF WymeswoldNo. 92 Group RAF
No. 29 Operational Training Unit RAF21 April 1942RAF North LuffenhamNo. 7 Group RAFIn 1942, carried out four operation sorties.
No. 30 Operational Training Unit RAF28 June 1942RAF HixonNo. 93 Group RAF
No. 31 Operational Training Unit RAF23 May 1941Debert, Canadan/aCarried out operational patrols in the Western Atlantic from Dartmouth.
No. 32 Operational Training Unit RAF20 July 1941West Kirby, Liverpool, UKn/aDeclared 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.
No. 34 Operational Training Unit RAF8 April 1942UKn/a
No. 36 Operational Training Unit RAF24 February 1942UKn/a
No. 41 Operational Training Unit RAF20 September 1941RAF Old SarumNo. 70 Group RAF
No. 42 Operational Training Unit RAF18 July 1941RAF AndoverNo. 70 Group RAF
No. 43 Operational Training Unit RAF1 October 1942RAF LarkhillNo. 70 Group RAFBecame No. 227 Operational Conversion Unit RAF.

51 - 63 OTUs

RAF 20 Operational Training Unit memorial, located at Bogs of Mayne (former RAF Elgin), Morayshire, Scotland.
NameFormed onFormed atGroupRLG's usedAircraftDisbanded onNotes
No. 51 Operational Training Unit RAF26 July 1941RAF DebdenNo. 81 Group RAF
No. 52 Operational Training Unit RAF25 March 1941RAF DebdenNo. 81 Group RAF
No. 53 Operational Training Unit RAF18 February 1941RAF HestonNo. 81 Group RAF
No. 54 Operational Training Unit RAF25 November 1940RAF Church FentonNo. 12 Group RAF
No. 55 Operational Training Unit RAF1 November 1940RAF Aston DownNo. 10 Group RAF
No. 55 Operational Training Unit RAF18 December 1944RAF Aston DownNo. 12 Group RAF
No. 56 Operational Training Unit RAF1 November 1940RAF Sutton BridgeNo. 81 Group RAFPreviously No. 6 OTU. Became No. 1 Combat Training Wing RAF, then No. 1 Tactical Exercise Unit RAF
No. 56 Operational Training Unit RAF15 December 1944RAF MilfieldNo. 12 Group RAF
No. 57 Operational Training Unit RAF1 November 1940RAF HawardenNo. 10 Group RAF
No. 58 Operational Training Unit RAF2 December 1940RAF GrangemouthNo. 10 Group RAFBecame No. 2 Combat Training Wing RAF, then No. 2 Tactical Exercise Unit RAF
No. 58 Operational Training Unit RAF12 March 1945RAF PoultonNo. 12 Group RAFDisbanded
No. 59 Operational Training Unit RAF16 December 1940RAF TurnhouseNo. 13 Group RAF
No. 59 Operational Training Unit RAF26 February 1945RAF Acklingtonn/a
No. 60 Operational Training Unit RAF28 April 1941RAF LeconfieldNo. 81 Group RAFIn November 1942, it was renumbered 132 OTU. No. 60 OTU was re-formed in May 1943.
No. 60 Operational Training Unit RAF17 May 1943RAF High ErcallNo. 9 Group RAF
No. 61 Operational Training Unit RAF9 June 1941RAF HestonNo. 81 Group RAFBecame No. 203 Advanced Flying School RAF
No. 62 Operational Training Unit RAF1 June 1942RAF UsworthNo. 81 Group RAF
No. 63 Operational Training Unit RAF7 September 1943RAF HonileyNo. 9 Group RAF

70 - 86 OTUs

NameFormed onFormed atGroupRLG's usedAircraftDisbanded onNotes
No. 70 (Middle East) Operational Training Unit RAF10 December 1940RAF Ismailian/a
No. 71 Operational Training Unit RAF1 June 1941RAF IsmailiaNo. 202 Group RAFFrom June to September 1941 it provided night defence of the Canal Zone (Suez Canal)
No. 72 Operational Training Unit RAF10 November 1941RAF Cathargon/a
No. 73 Operational Training Unit RAF30 November 1941RAF Sheikh OthmanNo. 207 Group RAF
No. 74 Operational Training Unit RAF18 October 1941RAF AqirNo. 203 Group RAF
No. 75 Operational Training Unit RAF8 December 1942RAF GianaclisNo. 203 Group RAF
No. 76 Operational Training Unit RAF1 October 1943RAF Aqirn/a
No. 77 Operational Training Unit RAF1 April 1944RAF QastinaNo. 203 Group RAF
No. 78 Operational Training Unit RAF1 February 1944RAF Ein Shemern/a
No. 79 Operational Training Unit RAF1 February 1944RAF Nicosian/a
No. 80 (French) Operational Training Unit RAF23 April 1945RAF MorpethNo. 12 Group RAF
No. 81 Operational Training Unit RAF10 July 1942RAF AshbourneNo. 93 Group RAFBecame No. 1380 (Transport) Conversion Unit RAF
No. 82 Operational Training Unit RAF1 June 1943RAF OssingtonNo. 93 Group RAF
No. 83 Operational Training Unit RAF1 August 1943RAF Childs ErcallNo. 93 Group RAF
No. 84 Operational Training Unit RAF1 September 1943RAF DesboroughNo. 92 Group RAF
No. 85 Operational Training Unit RAF15 June 1944RAF Husbands BosworthNo. 92 Group RAF
No. 86 Operational Training Unit RAF15 June 1944RAF GamstonNo. 93 Group RAF

101 - 152 OTUs

NameFormed onFormed atGroupRLG's usedAircraftDisbanded onNotes
No. 101 (Glider) Operational Training Unit RAF1 January 1942RAF KidlingtonNo. 70 Group RAFRAF Kiddington (Glympton) RAF Slade FarmGeneral Aircraft Hotspur13 July 1942Became No. 4 Glider Training School RAF
No. 102 (Glider) Operational Training Unit RAF10 February 1942RAF KidlingtonNo. 70 Group RAFRAF Kiddington (Glympton) RAF Slade FarmHawker Hector Hawker Hind Hotspur30 June 1942Became No. 5 Glider Training School RAF
No. 104 (Transport) Operational Training Unit RAF12 March 1943RAF Nutts CornerNo. 44 Group RAFRAF Toome RAF Maghaberry RAF MullaghmoreVickers Wellington5 February 1944
No. 105 (Transport) Operational Training Unit RAF5 April 1943RAF BramcoteNo. 44 Group RAFRAF Nuneaton RAF Bitteswell RAF Crosby-on-EdenWellington Douglas Dakota10 August 1945Became No. 1381 (Transport) Conversion Unit RAF
No. 107 (Transport) Operational Training Unit RAF3 May 1944RAF Leicester EastNo. 46 Group RAFRAF Ringway RAF Melton Mowbray RAF ZealsDakota Airspeed Horsa Airspeed Oxford Waco Hadrian12 March 1945Became No. 1333 (Transport Support) Conversion Unit RAF
No. 108 (Transport) Operational Training Unit RAF10 October 1944RAF WymeswoldNo. 44 Group RAFRAF Castle DoningtonDakota Oxford Horsa10 August 1945Became No. 1382 (Transport) Conversion Unit RAF
No. 109 (Transport) Operational Training Unit RAF1 August 1944RAF Crosby-on-EdenNo. 44 Group RAFRAF Down Ampney RAF Blakehill FarmDakota Oxford Horsa10 August 1945Became No. 1383 (Transport) Conversion Unit RAF
No. 111 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF20 August 1942RAF Oakes FieldNo. 17 Group RAFWindsor Field RAF Lossiemouth RAF MilltownNorth American B-25 Mitchell Consolidated B-24 Liberator Wellington21 May 1946
No. 131 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF20 July 1942RAF KilladeasNo. 15 Group RAFRAF Lough Erne RAF Boa IslandConsolidated Catalina Short Sunderland Oxford Miles Martinet Hawker Hurricane28 June 1945
No. 132 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF24 November 1942RAF East FortuneNo. 17 Group RAFRAF MacmerryBristol Blenheim Bristol Beaufighter Oxford Bristol Beaufort Westland Lysander de Havilland Mosquito15 May 1946
No. 151 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit RAF28 July 1942RAF RisalpurNo. 227 Group RAFRAF AmbalaCurtiss Mohawk North American Harvard Hurricane Vultee Vengeance1 April 1946Absorbed into Advanced Flying School (India)
No. 152 (Bomber) Operational Training Unit RAF22 October 1942RAF PeshawarNo. 227 Group RAFHarvard Vengeance12 March 1944Disbanded into No. 151 (F) OTU
No. 1 Operational Training Unit, India1 April 1942RAF RisalpurNo. 1 (Indian) Group RAFMohawk Harvard Hurricane28 July 1942Became No. 151 (F) OTU

See also

Royal Air Force List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons List of Royal Air Force aircraft independent flights List of conversion units of the Royal Air Force List of Royal Air Force Glider units List of Royal Air Force schools List of Royal Air Force units & establishments List of RAF squadron codes List of RAF Regiment units List of Battle of Britain squadrons List of wings of the Royal Air Force Royal Air Force roundels Army Air Corps List of Army Air Corps aircraft unitsFleet Air Arm List of Fleet Air Arm aircraft squadrons List of Fleet Air Arm groups List of aircraft units of the Royal Navy List of aircraft wings of the Royal Navy Others List of Air Training Corps squadrons University Air Squadron Air Experience Flight Volunteer Gliding Squadron United Kingdom military aircraft serial numbers United Kingdom aircraft test serials British military aircraft designation systems

Notes

  • 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.