No. 2 Air Observers School RAAF

Aerial view 1942 courtesy SA Aviation Museum

AWM P08233.004

Brief History

No. 2 Air Navigation School was formed at Mount Gambier, South Australia on 1 Jul 1941 and five of the Anson aircraft with which the School was to be equipped arrived on the 12th. The first course of trainees commenced training on 28 July. On 15 September, 3 officers and 50 airmen traveled by road to Nhill in Victoria, with the rest joining them by 19 Sep 1941.

The first Nhill course began three days later, and graduated on 16 November. Each trainee averaged 31.25 hours flying time. The school was required to form No. 97 (Reserve) Squadron and the unit had 18 Avro Ansons. On 18 Sep 1943, six pilots from Australian National Airlines, Guinea Airlines and MacRobertson and Miller Airline participated in the astro-navigation course. Flying incidents were not common, with one fatal and several minor accidents only. No. 2 Navigation School closed its doors on 9 Dec 1943 having graduated 2,002 trainees.

Trainees

• † Thomas Douglas (Dougie) Ellis 17 Sep - 12 Dec 1941
• † Ernest Ronald William Oliver ?? Jan - 1 Apr 1943
• John Chadwick Meachem 27 Dec 1943 - 27 Apr 1944

Notes

Source of information - Units of the Royal Australian Airforce - A Concise History - Vol 8 Training Units - Australian Government Publishing Service - 1995