No. 1 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF

No. 1 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF was a training unit operated by the Royal Air Force Coastal Command.[1] The unit was established during April 1940 by the renaming of a Coastal Command unit[1] and disbanded during October 1943.[2][3]

No. 1 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit
Ensign of the Royal Air Force
ActiveApril 1940 – October 1943
CountryUnited Kingdom
BranchRoyal Air Force
RoleTraining
Aircraft flown
BomberLockheed Hudson
Bristol Blenheim
Bristol Beaufighter
TrainerAvro Anson

History
Blackburn Botha of the unit at RAF Silloth, World War II

The unit originally started out life as the RAF Coastal Command Landplane Pilots Pool based at RAF Silloth in Cumbria training crews for landplanes flying Avro Ansons, Lockheed Hudsons, Bristol Blenheims and Bristol Beauforts. However, during April 1940 the unit was renamed to No. 1 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit and before long with the creation of more OTU's the unit started to specialise in training Hudson crews.[1][4]

On 23 March 1943 the unit moved to RAF Thornaby[1] before disbanding during October 1943.[2]

Airfields used
  • RAF Silloth as RAF Coastal Command Group from November 1939 and No. 1 (Coastal) OTU from April 1940.[1]
  • RAF Thornaby from 23 March 1943 until October 1943.[2]

Accidents

During September 1942 a Lockheed Hudson Mk.I N7325 of the unit crashed on Cross Fell in the Peak District.[5]

See also

References

Citations
  1. "No 1 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  2. "RAF Thornaby". Control Towers. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  3. Sturtivant 2007, p. 198.
  4. Lake 1999, p. 144.
  5. "Lockheed Hudson Mk.I N7325 / B-59 of No.1 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit". Peak District Air Accident Research. Retrieved 30 April 2012.

Bibliography
  • Sturtivant, R. RAF Flying Training and Support Units since 1912. Air Britain, 2007. ISBN 0-85130-365-X.
  • Lake, A Flying Units of the RAF. Airlife Publishing Ltd., Shrewsbury, 1999. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
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