No. 231 Operational Conversion Unit was a Royal Air ForceOperational conversion unit that disbanded during April 1993. It was active twice, initially between March 1947 and December 1949, before reforming in December 1951.
No. 231 Operational Conversion Unit RAF
Active
15 March 1947 - 4 December 1949 1 December 1951 - 23 April 1993
231 OCU first formed in the aftermath of the Second World War during on 15 March 1947 at RAF Coningsby. Initially the OCU was formed from a nucleus provided by No. 16 OTU and was tasked with training crews of the "wooden wonder", the de Havilland Mosquito, in the light bomber and photo reconnaissance roles. Initial operational equipment was provided by Mosquito III and Mosquito B.XVI aircraft. In this role the unit lasted nearly three years before disbanding on 4 December 1949.[1]
In keeping with its previous role when the OCU reformed on 1 December 1951 it was to train light bomberaircrews by redesignating 237 OCU. The aircraft used during the rest of the unit's operational service was the English Electric Canberra, a British first-generation, jet-powered medium bomber and most operational versions of that versatile aircraft were flown by the unit. It was reformed at RAF Bassingbourn in Cambridgeshire and it moved around various stations, including RAF Bassingbourn, RAF Cottesmore Rutland and RAF Marham in Norfolk, during its operational existence. It was redesignated the Canberra Standardisation Training Flight on 15 December 1990, but reverted to 231 OCU on 13 May 1991.[1]
'D' Squadron was previously No. 204 Advanced Flying School at Bassingbourn which was disbanded on 13 February 1952.[2] 204 AFS was previously No. 204 Crew Training Unit which was formed on 28 February 1947 at Cottesmore by redesignating an element of No. 16 OTU. 204 CTU was disbanded on 15 March 1947 at Cottesmore.[3]
Disbandmentedit
231 OCU was disbanded at RAF Wyton, Huntingdonshire on 23 April 1993, by which time it had trained for a variety of roles more than 8,000 aircrew from 17 different nations.
Sturtivant, R; Hamlin, J; Halley, J (1997). Royal Air Force flying training and support units. UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN0-85130-252-1.
External linksedit
RAF Web
January 01, 1970
operational, conversion, unit, operational, conversion, unit, royal, force, operational, conversion, unit, that, disbanded, during, april, 1993, active, twice, initially, between, march, 1947, december, 1949, before, reforming, december, 1951, active15, march,. No 231 Operational Conversion Unit was a Royal Air Force Operational conversion unit that disbanded during April 1993 It was active twice initially between March 1947 and December 1949 before reforming in December 1951 No 231 Operational Conversion Unit RAFActive15 March 1947 4 December 19491 December 1951 23 April 1993Disbanded23 April 1993Country United KingdomBranch Royal Air ForceTypeOperational conversion unitRoleBomber trainingLast homeRAF Wyton Contents 1 Operational history 2 Disbandment 3 See also 4 References 4 1 Citations 4 2 Bibliography 5 External linksOperational history edit nbsp EE Canberra PR 3 of 231 OCU in 1968 nbsp English Electric CanberraT 4 of 231 OCU at its RAF Cottesmore base in 1970 231 OCU first formed in the aftermath of the Second World War during on 15 March 1947 at RAF Coningsby Initially the OCU was formed from a nucleus provided by No 16 OTU and was tasked with training crews of the wooden wonder the de Havilland Mosquito in the light bomber and photo reconnaissance roles Initial operational equipment was provided by Mosquito III and Mosquito B XVI aircraft In this role the unit lasted nearly three years before disbanding on 4 December 1949 1 In keeping with its previous role when the OCU reformed on 1 December 1951 it was to train light bomber aircrews by redesignating 237 OCU The aircraft used during the rest of the unit s operational service was the English Electric Canberra a British first generation jet powered medium bomber and most operational versions of that versatile aircraft were flown by the unit It was reformed at RAF Bassingbourn in Cambridgeshire and it moved around various stations including RAF Bassingbourn RAF Cottesmore Rutland and RAF Marham in Norfolk during its operational existence It was redesignated the Canberra Standardisation Training Flight on 15 December 1990 but reverted to 231 OCU on 13 May 1991 1 D Squadron was previously No 204 Advanced Flying School at Bassingbourn which was disbanded on 13 February 1952 2 204 AFS was previously No 204 Crew Training Unit which was formed on 28 February 1947 at Cottesmore by redesignating an element of No 16 OTU 204 CTU was disbanded on 15 March 1947 at Cottesmore 3 Disbandment edit231 OCU was disbanded at RAF Wyton Huntingdonshire on 23 April 1993 by which time it had trained for a variety of roles more than 8 000 aircrew from 17 different nations See also editList of conversion units of the Royal Air ForceReferences editCitations edit a b Sturtivant Hamlin amp Halley 1997 p 232 Lake 1999 p 10 Lake 1999 p 56 Bibliography edit Lake A 1999 Flying units of the RAF Shrewsbury Airlife ISBN 1 84037 086 6 Sturtivant R Hamlin J Halley J 1997 Royal Air Force flying training and support units UK Air Britain Historians ISBN 0 85130 252 1 External links editRAF Web Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title No 231 Operational Conversion Unit RAF amp oldid 1180461299, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
