No. 2 Air Observers School RAAF

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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. TI1e first course of trainel!> (4'1 aircrcw members from 2 Bombing and Gunnery School. Port Pirie) commenced training on 28 Ju ly. All, s.wc one (who far led due to illness). graduated On IS September, Flight Lieutenants P.B. jelbart and W.B. Marsh and Flying Officer IZ.H. Edge led 50 personnel by road to Nhill, Vlctoria. All the personnel and aircraft of the School had moved to Nhill by 19 Sep ~mber 1941, to enable the first course to be conducted at the new babe (12 (0) course) to commence trau1ing on the 22nd. Titb course graduated on 16 November, with coch trainee averaging 31 hours 15 m111utes flying time. 1 Operatronal Troining Unit was rais<.-d at Nhill on 8 December 1941, and ~har<!d the b.rS<! with 2 Air Navigation School until movmg to Sale on 15 February 19-12. TI1e School was to expnnd its ncllvitics when. on 8 june 1942, rt was notifred that 97 (Rcservc) Squadron W3b to be fom1cd from unit personnel, and have IS Anson aircraft on its strength. Only two <.'nlrics in llle School's Unit History R<-<:ord relate to Ure activity of 97 Squadron. On 16 September 1942 six aircraft and 71 oHicers and men were allachcd to 2 1\ir Observers School at Mount Gambier. and on 16 November 10 aircraft were attached to l.averton and ll•lallacoota. Commencmg on 18 September 1943, six pilots from Australian National 1\J.rhnes, GuiJica Airlines and McRober.ton and Miller Airlin<'S 2 participated in the a.stro-navigation course at the School. Flying mcid~nts were not common. On 9 July 19·12.. an Anson nown by Pilot Officer R.K. Filo;eU was reported missing. but located during the next day. Leadang Aircraftman D.O. Thompson sullered a loot mjury when another Anson force-landed lour miles from the austnp on 9 September, and Flying Officer LA. Flynn and Ius crew were killed on 25 September 1943 when the Anson in which they were nying crashed After graduallllg 2002 ttallleeS, 2 Air Navigation School was disbanded on 9 Occember 1943. COMMANDIN