No. 76 Operational Training Unit RAF

Last updated
A Vickers Wellington of No. 76 Operational Training Unit taxies out for a training flight at Aqir, Palestine. (c)IWM CM 5756 Wimpey X at RAF Aqir. 76 OTU (c) IWM CM 5756.jpg
A Vickers Wellington of No. 76 Operational Training Unit taxies out for a training flight at Aqir, Palestine. ©IWM CM 5756

No. 76 Operational Training Unit RAF
76 OTU
Active1 October 1943 - 30 July 1945
Country Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Branch RAF roundel.svg Royal Air Force
TypeTraining
RoleRAF operational training
Garrison/HQ RAF Aqir, British Mandate of Palestine
Nickname(s)76 OTU
Engagements Second World War
Aircraft flown
Bomber Vickers Wellington

No. 76 Operational Training Unit RAF (76 OTU) was a Royal Air Force operational training unit during the Second World War. [1]

The unit was formed at RAF Aqir on 1 October 1943. Throughout its existence it was equipped with Vickers Wellington bombers - Mk. III and Mk. Xs. By October 1944 all the aircraft were Mk. Xs[ citation needed ]) and trained crews for night bombing operations with RAF squadrons in the Middle East.

The unit was disbanded on 30 July 1945.

The bomber pilot Cyril Spurdens flew with the unit. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armstrong Whitworth Whitley</span> 1936 bomber aircraft by Armstrong Whitworth

The Armstrong Whitworth A.W.38 Whitley was a British medium bomber aircraft of the 1930s. It was one of three twin-engined, front line medium bomber types that were in service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) at the outbreak of the Second World War. Alongside the Vickers Wellington and the Handley Page Hampden, the Whitley was developed during the mid-1930s according to Air Ministry Specification B.3/34, which it was subsequently selected to meet. In 1937, the Whitley formally entered into RAF squadron service; it was the first of the three medium bombers to be introduced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle</span> 1940 airlifter by Armstrong Whitworth

The Armstrong Whitworth A.W.41 Albemarle was a twin-engine transport aircraft developed by the British aircraft manufacturer Armstrong Whitworth and primarily produced by A.W. Hawksley Ltd, a subsidiary of the Gloster Aircraft Company. It was one of many aircraft which entered service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 100 Squadron RAF</span> Former flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

Number 100 Squadron is a former Royal Air Force squadron. It last operated the British Aerospace Hawk T1, providing 'aggressor' aircraft for air combat training from RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire, UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vickers Virginia</span> Type of aircraft

The Vickers Virginia was a biplane heavy bomber of the British Royal Air Force, developed from the Vickers Vimy.

No. 622 Squadron RAF is a reserve aircrew squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. During World War II, it operated as a bomber squadron of the Royal Air Force. Post-war it served shortly as a transport squadron in the RAuxAF.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">406 Maritime Operational Training Squadron</span> Military unit

406 "City of Saskatoon" Maritime Operational Training Squadron is a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) unit of the Canadian Armed Forces. Based at 12 Wing Shearwater since 1972, it is responsible for crew training on the Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone since summer of 2016. The squadron was formed during World War II as part of RAF Fighter Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tel Nof Airbase</span> Airport in Rehovot

Tel Nof Israeli Air Force Base, also known as Air Force Base 8, is one of three principal airbases of the Israeli Air Force. It is located near Rehovot, Israel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">434 Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron</span> Military unit

434 Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron is a Royal Canadian Air Force bomber squadron that flew bombing operations over Europe during World War II and was later a post-war fighter and combat support unit. It was disbanded in 2000. The squadron was reactivated in May 2018 as 434 Operational Test and Evaluation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Watton</span>

Royal Air Force Watton or more simply RAF Watton is a former Royal Air Force station located 9 mi (14 km) southwest of East Dereham, Norfolk, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 44 Squadron RAF</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

Number 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron was an aviation unit of the Royal Air Force. It was active between 1917 and 1982. For most of its history it served as a heavy bomber squadron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 207 Squadron RAF</span> Flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

Number 207 Squadron is a historic bomber squadron and, latterly, a communications and flying training squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was announced on 5 July 2017 that No. 207 Squadron will again reform to become the Operational Conversion Unit for the UK F-35B Lightning Force and will return to RAF Marham in Norfolk where it was last based in 1965. No. 207 Squadron arrived at RAF Marham with six F-35Bs on 16 July 2019 before officially standing up on 1 August.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">403 Helicopter Operational Training Squadron</span> Canadian military flying unit

403 "City of Calgary" (Helicopter) Operational Training Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) located at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown. It is equipped with CH-146 Griffons and provides operational aircrew training to the crews who will fly the helicopter. The squadron also conducts operational test and evaluation, develops aviation tactics and carries out operations in support of the 1 Wing mission. It also supports the local Army requirements of the Combat Training Centre. It was founded as No. 403 Squadron RCAF.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 112 Squadron RAF</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

No. 112 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It served in both the First World War and Second World War and was active for three periods during the Cold War. It is nicknamed "The Shark Squadron", an allusion to the fact that it was the first unit from any Allied air force to use the famous "shark mouth" logo on Curtiss P-40s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">426 Transport Training Squadron</span> Military unit

426 Transport Training Squadron is a unit of the Canadian Forces under Royal Canadian Air Force, located at CFB Trenton in Trenton, Ontario. It originated as a squadron in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) that fought during the Second World War as a bomber squadron.

Number 76 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was formed during World War I as a home defence fighter squadron and in its second incarnation during World War II flew as a bomber squadron, first as an operational training unit and later as an active bomber squadron. With the end of the war the squadron converted to the role of transport squadron, to be reactivated shortly in the bomber role during the 1950s. From 2007 to 2011, it was a training unit, equipped with the Short Tucano at RAF Linton-on-Ouse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">424 Transport and Rescue Squadron</span> Military unit

424 Transport and Rescue Squadron, nicknamed "Tiger Squadron", is a Royal Canadian Air Force strategic transport and search and rescue unit based at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Trenton in the Canadian province of Ontario. The squadron is the primary provider of search and rescue response for the Trenton Search and Rescue Region, which extends from Quebec City to the Rocky Mountains, and from the Canada–United States border to the North Pole, covering an area of over ten million square kilometres in Central, Western, and Northern Canada.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">401 Tactical Fighter Squadron</span> Military unit

No. 401 Tactical Fighter Squadron, a.k.a. "City of Westmount" Squadron, is a Royal Canadian Air Force squadron based at CFB Cold Lake. During World War II it was a fighter squadron and is notable for having fought in the Battle of Britain. Postwar, the squadron operated in Canada as an auxiliary squadron, reserve squadron and a helicopter and training squadron. In 2015 it was reactivated as a Tactical Fighter Squadron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dishforth Airfield</span> Military airfield in North Yorkshire, England

Dishforth Airfield is a Royal Air Force/British Army station in North Yorkshire, England. It was an Army Air Corps helicopter base and a Relief Landing Ground for RAF Linton-on-Ouse. 6 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps is currently located at Dishforth. It is located next to the A1(M) at Junction 49 with the A168. Dishforth airfield is built over part of the Great North Road which is also the old A1. It is 4.4 miles (7.1 km) east of Ripon, North Yorkshire and 11.5 miles (18.5 km) north east of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England.

References

  1. "A History of RAF Organisation". Air of Authority. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  2. "No. 37407". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1946. p. 86.