No. 240 Operational Conversion Unit RAFF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 5 January 1948 - 16 April 1951 29 December 1971 - 1 October 1993 Previous units: June 1942 (296B Sqn) - Jan 1948 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Role | Transport aircraft training |
No. 240 Operational Conversion Unit RAF is a former Royal Air Force Operational conversion unit which was formed by a series of mergers, it then became No. 27 Squadron RAF in 1993.
240 OCU was formed on 5 January 1948 by merging 1333 Transport Support Training Unit and 1382 (Transport) Conversion Unit at RAF North Luffenham. It was disbanded for the first time on 16 April 1951 and merged with 241 OCU to become 242 OCU. 240 OCU was then reformed 20 or so years later for helicopter training. [1]
Air Training Squadron
The Air Training Squadron was formed at RAF Odiham on 1 May 1971 using Westland Wessex's and Westland Pumas until 1 January 1972, when it was used to reform 240 OCU. [2]
Helicopter Operational Conversion Unit
The Helicopter Operational Conversion Unit was formed at RAF Odiham on 1 July 1967 with the Wessex and Puma until 1 May 1971 when it became the ATS. [3]
Short Range Conversion Unit
The Short Range Conversion Unit was formed on 5 August 1964 at RAF Odiham and used both fixed wing and rotary aircraft such as the Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer and the Wessex. It was disbanded on 1 July 1967 to become the HOCU. [4]
1333 Transport Support Training Unit RAF was previously No. 1333 (Transport Support) Conversion Unit RAF, that unit was previously 107 OTU. 133 (TS) CU was formed on 12 March 1945 at Leicester East, it was similar to 107 OTU and renamed to 1333 TSTU on 6 July 1946. 1333 TSTU was disbanded on 5 January 1948 to become 240 OCU. [5]
No. 107 OTU
107 OTU was formed at RAF Leicester East on 3 May 1944 and primarily used Douglas Dakotas to train crews. It was disbanded on 12 March 1945 to become 1333 (TS) CU. [6]
No. 1385 (Heavy Transport Support) Conversion Unit
1385 (HTS)CU was formed at RAF Wethersfield on 1 April 1946 by redesignating the Operational and Refresher Training Unit. The conversion used transport aircraft and gliders to train transport crews for operational missions. It was disbanded on 6 June 1946 and absorbed by the 1333 (Transport Support) Conversion Unit. [7]
Operational and Refresher Training Unit
ORTU was formed at RAF Thruxton on 1 December 1943 by redesignating the Glider Pilot Exercise Unit which used a variety of aircraft including Supermarine Spitfires, de Havilland Tiger Moths and Hadrian gliders to train glider and transport pilots. It was disbanded on 1 April 1946. [8]
Glider Pilot Exercise Unit
GPEU was formed at Netheravon Airfield on 12 August 1942 by redesignating No. 296B Squadron, it operated Hawker Harts, Hawker Hinds and Airspeed Horsas amongst others until 1 December 1943 when it was disbanded to become the ORTU. [9]
1382 (Transport) Conversion Unit was previously 108 OTU, it was formed at RAF Wymeswold on 10 August 1945 and was similar to the previous unit. It disbanded on 5 January 1948 to become 240 OCU. [7]
No. 108 OTU
108 OTU was formed at RAF Wymeswold on 10 October 1944, it was used Miles Magisters and Douglas Dakotas to train personnel until 10 August 1945 when it was disbanded to become 1382 (T)CU. [6]
Royal Air Force Benson or RAF Benson is a Royal Air Force (RAF) station located at Benson, near Wallingford, in South Oxfordshire, England. It is a front-line station and home to the RAF's fleet of Westland Puma HC2 support helicopters, used primarily for the transportation of troops & equipment. Flying squadrons comprise No. 33 Squadron & No. 230 Squadron flying the Puma, No. 22 Squadron which provides operational evaluation and training for all aircraft in Joint Helicopter Command and No. 28 Squadron, which is the combined Puma and Boeing Chinook HC6A training unit. Other units include the Oxford University Air Squadron and No. 6 Air Experience Flight, both flying the Grob Tutor T1 light training aircraft used for student and cadet flying training. The National Police Air Service and the Thames Valley Air Ambulance are also based at the station, both operating Airbus H135 helicopters.
An operational conversion unit (OCU) is a unit within an air force whose role is to support preparation for the operational missions of a specific aircraft type by providing trained personnel. Operational conversion units teach pilots how to fly an aircraft and which tactics best exploit the performance of their aircraft and its weapons. The Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force, among others, practise this method of training. The United States Navy calls its units in this role "fleet replacement squadrons".
RAF North Luffenham was a Royal Air Force station in Rutland, England, 1940 - 1998. It is near to the villages of Edith Weston and North Luffenham.
Royal Air Force Gaydon or more simply RAF Gaydon is a former Royal Air Force station located 5.2 miles (8.4 km) east of Wellesbourne, Warwickshire and 10.8 miles (17.4 km) north west of Banbury, Oxfordshire, England.
No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit is a fighter training unit of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Located at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales, the unit trains pilots to operate the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. Pilots new to the F-35 enter No. 2 2OCU after first qualifying to fly fast jets at No. 79 Squadron and undertaking initial fighter combat instruction at No. 76 Squadron. Once qualified on the F-35, they are posted to one of No. 81 Wing's operational Hornet units, No. 3 Squadron, No. 75 Squadron or No. 77 Squadron.
No. 226 Operational Conversion Unit was a Royal Air Force Operational Conversion Unit which was active between 1946 and 1991.
No. 228 Operational Conversion Unit was a Royal Air Force Operational conversion unit. It was formed in No. 12 Group at RAF Leeming from Nos. 13 and 54 OTUs in 1947. The tasking of the OCU was the training of night fighter crews and its aircraft were the de Havilland Mosquito, Gloster Meteor and Gloster Javelin over the years. The OCU lasted until 1961 at Leeming when it was disbanded.
No. 231 Operational Conversion Unit was a Royal Air Force Operational conversion unit.
No. 230 Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) was first created on 15 Mar 1947 at RAF Lindholme, by re-designation of No. 1653 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF, to convert crews onto the Avro Lancaster, Avro Lincoln and de Havilland Mosquito bombers. This unit was disbanded on 15 August 1952 to become the Reserve Training Squadron RAF. Re-formed again at RAF Upwood, from the Lincoln Conversion Flight RAF, 230 OCU trained Lincoln bomber crews until disbanded on 1 February 1955, reverting to Lincoln Conversion Flight.
No. 236 Operational Conversion Unit was a Royal Air Force Operational Conversion Unit which was active between 1947 and 1992 and formed by re-numbering and merging different units.
No. 242 Operational Conversion Unit RAF is a former Royal Air Force Operational conversion unit which operated between 16 April 1951 and 1 July 1992 when the unit became No. 57 Squadron RAF.
RAF Wymeswold is a former Royal Air Force station located 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north-east of Loughborough, Leicestershire, England. The airfield is situated between Hoton, Wymeswold and Burton on the Wolds, lying in the current district of Charnwood.
No. 234 Squadron RAF had a long career within the RAF, being operational on flying boats in World War I and on fighter aircraft in World War II. After the war it remained a fighter unit till 1957. In its last incarnation the squadron was in turn Operational Training Unit (OTU), Tactical Weapon Unit (TWU) and part of No. 4 Flying Training School RAF until finally disbanded in 1994.
No. 16 Operational Training Unit RAF was formed at RAF Upper Heyford on 8 April 1940 from the No. 4 Group RAF Pool, which comprised No 7 and No 76 Squadron, within No. 6 Group RAF, to train night bomber crews, for which it was equipped with Handley Page Hampdens and Herefords. Transferred to No. 7 Group RAF on 15 July 1940 until 11 May 1942 when No 7 Group was renumbered No. 92 Group RAF, 16 OTU converted to Vickers Wellington bombers in April 1942 and from March to December 1942 its headquarters moved to RAF Barford St John whilst runways were laid at Upper Heyford, disbanding on 1 January 1945.
No. 8 Flying Training School is a former Royal Air Force flying training school that operated between 1936 and 1964.
Flying Boat Training Squadron RAF is a former Squadron of the Royal Air Force which was operational between 1931 and 1956 through various names.
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