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Showing posts with label World War II air war. Show all posts
Showing posts with label World War II air war. Show all posts

Brazilian Mission Meets RAF and WAAF Trainees

Original wartime caption: The Brazilian Mission visit Britain at the invitation of the RAF saw an RAF camp where RAF apprentices and WAAF trainees learn their war jobs. Picture (issued 1943) shows WAAF mechanics training to become fitters at work on the engine of a Blenheim bomber.

Original wartime caption: Picture (issued 1943) shows WAAF mechanics training to become fitters at work on a Blenheim bomber, pause to talk with Captain H. Amaral Penna.

Original wartime caption: Picture (issued 1943) shows members of the Brazilian Mission see WAAF mechanic trainees to become fitters at work on a Blenheim bomber.

Original wartime caption: Picture (issued 1943) shows inspecting a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. Air Commodore H. G. White is on the extreme left with Colonel Sa Earp second from right, and Captain H. de A. Estrella is on the extreme right.

Original wartime caption: Picture (issued 1943) shows Air Commodore H. G. White [extreme left] with Lieutenant Colonel Reynaldo J. de Carvalho next to him, and Colonel Sa Earp [center] during their inspection of the camp.

Original wartime caption: Picture (issued 1943) shows inspecting bomb release gear. Air Commodore H. G. White is second from the left, with Captain H. de A. Estrella next him, Colonel Sa Earp [fifth from right].

Original wartime caption: Picture (issued 1943) shows Air Commodore H. G. White (officer commanding) [right] with Coloneal Sa Earp [next him] and Captain H. de A.Estrella, in the workshops of an R.A.F. training camp.

No. 9 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF

Beaufighter Mark IC, T4916 'LA-T', of No.235 Squadron RAF, preparing to taxi at a Coastal Command airfield.

 

No. 9 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF (9 (C)OTU), was a training unit of the Royal Air Force, within No. 17 Group RAF, which was part of RAF Coastal Command. The unit was established during June 1942 and disbanded during August 1944.

No. 9 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF formed on 7 June 1942 at RAF Aldergrove, located near the village of Aldergrove in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Its main purpose was to train up long range fighter aircrew. For this role it was equipped with Bristol Beaufighter, a British multi-role aircraft, Bristol Beaufort, a British twin-engined torpedo bomber, and Airspeed Oxford, a twin-engine monoplane trainer aircraft. The unit spent three months at RAF Aldergrove before relocating to RAF Crosby-on-Eden, which was located around 5.8 miles (9.3 km) north east of Carlisle, Cumbria, during September 1942. At its maximum throughput, while stationed at Crosby-on-Eden, No. 9 (C) OTU was providing aircrew training for seven units, with five for RAF Coastal Command within the European theatre of World War II and two in North Africa. It continued for almost two years and disbanded on 11 August 1944 at RAF Crosby-on-Eden, and was absorbed by No. 109 (Transport) Operational Training Unit RAF, with the aircrew training for the overseas obligation moving to No. 79 Operational Training Unit RAF.

No. 9 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit was equipped with numerous types and variants of aircraft:

Bristol Beaufort I & II torpedo bomber

Bristol Beaufighter IC, VI, X & XI multi role aircraft

Miles Martinet I target tug aircraft

de Havilland Tiger Moth II biplane trainer aircraft

Miles Magister basic trainer

Airspeed Oxford I & II twin engine trainer aircraft

Westland Lysander III army co-operation and liaison aircraft

No. 9 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit used two Royal Air Force stations throughout its existence:

RAF Aldergrove from June 1942.

RAF Crosby-on-Eden from September 1942 until August 1944.

Coastal Command Operational Training Station

Original wartime caption: A Blenheim fighter instructor.
Original wartime caption: A Canadian flying officer who gives instruction on Blenheim fighters.
Original wartime caption: Producing real "home fed". This station aims to become almost self-sufficient in the matter of green and root vegetables. The station also keeps many chickens. An aircraftman feeding some of the 41 pigs purchased by the station funds and fed mainly on waste food and scraps.

Original wartime caption: An aircraftman feeding some of the 41 pigs purchased by the station funds and fed mainly on waste food and scraps.

Original wartime caption: Pigs kept at an operational training station of the Coastal Command in their sty.