No. 55 Operational Training Unit RAF

No. 55 Operational Training Unit RAF was an Operational Training Unit of the Royal Air Force, formed in November 1940 at RAF Aston Down to train fighter pilots.

No. 55 Operational Training Unit (55 OTU)
55 OTU Hurricane Mk X in flight c1941
Active1940 – 1945
CountryUnited Kingdom
BranchRoyal Air Force
RoleTraining
Part ofNo. 12 Group RAF

History

55 OTU RAF was an Operational Training Unit of the Royal Air Force, formed in November 1940 at RAF Aston Down to train fighter pilots, formed initially from No 5 OTU, flying Hawker Hurricanes. Supermarine Spitfires and Bristol Blenheims.[1] From March 1941 the Unit was posted to RAF Usworth in Sunderland, flying Hurricanes. In July 1941 one pilot was lost flying a Hurricane from RAF Usworth in Sunderland. [2]

In April 1942 the unit was transferred to RAF Annan in Dumfrieshire, flying Miles Masters and Hawker Typhoons. [1] In December 1944 55 OTU was posted to RAF Aston Down, Gloucestershire. [1] At this time it was part of No. 12 Group RAF. The unit was equipped with over a hundred Hawker Typhoon aircraft, and acted as a ground attack training unit until it was disbanded in June 1945.[3]

See also

References
  1. 55OTU at rafcommands.com Retrieved 9 May 2022
  2. Davies, Chris, Almost Forgotten (2012) Retrieved 8 May 2022
  3. 55 OTU at rafweb.org Retrieved 9 May 2022
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