No. 1662 Conversion Unit RAF

Brief History

With the introduction of new heavy bombers, the four-engined Short Stirling, Avro Lancaster and Handley Page Halifax, the Royal Air Force introduced heavy conversion units (HCU). The heavy conversion units began forming in late 1941, to qualify crews trained on medium bombers to operate the heavy bombers before final posting to the operational squadrons. Some of the heavy conversion units were involved in bombing operations over Germany.

No. 1662 Heavy Conversion Unit was formed on 26 Jan 1943 at RAF Blyton in Lincolnshire, and ceased operation on 6 Apr 1945 having handled conversions to Oxford, Stirling and Halifax bombers.

17 Australian servicemen lost their lives while serving with this unit.