Difference between revisions of "No. 2 Bombing & Gunnery School RAAF"
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==Brief History== | ==Brief History== | ||
| − | This unit was established on 15 Jun 1941 under the Empire Air Training Scheme at Port Pirie, north of Adelaide, South Australia. Its function was to | + | This unit was established on 15 Jun 1941 under the Empire Air Training Scheme at Port Pirie, north of Adelaide, South Australia. Its function was to provide bombing and gunnery |
| − | training for pilots, air observers and air gunners. The period of training for each category was different, with pilots training for two weeks, air observers for e1ght weeks and | + | training for pilots, air observers and air gunners. The period of training for each category was different, with pilots training for two weeks, air observers for e1ght weeks and air gunners for four weeks. By the end of 1943, the School had trained nearly 3,500 personnel. the vast majority being w1reless air gunners. |
| − | The unit's first aircraft were Fairey | + | The unit's first aircraft were [[Fairey Battle]]s, arriving on I July 1941 and the first recruits started training at the School the same day. The air gunners were trained in [[Avro Anson]]s, firing upon drogues dragged behind Fairey Battle aircraft. The Fairey Battles flew along at 150km/h whilst the Anson pilot swept back and forth under the drogue to s1mulate the curve of attack of a fighter a1rcraft. One exercise involved the trainee firing 300 rounds of colour tipped bullets at the drogue under the watchful eye of the gunnery instructor. The drogue was then winched back most of the way 1nto the Battle where it was then released to fall into a cleared area, to be collected by members of the WAAAF in the Armament Section. The holes then were counted to give a score. As live ammunition was used, accidents were bound to occur, but it was the aircraft themselves that were to cause the majority of incidents at Port Pirie, claiming some 20 lives. |
While the aircraft used by the School included the Fairey Battle and Avro Anson, a number of Wirraway, Ryan, Gypsy Moth and Tiger Moth aircraft were also allotted to the unit. Because of the nature of the flights - with more than just the pilot in the cockpit - many of the aircraft accidents that did occur left more people injured or killed than would have been the case had the pilot been solo. In one accident on 27 August 1943, six people were killed in an aircraft accident 17 kilometers west of the aerodrome at Port Pirie. By the end of 1943, personnel at the School were preparing to be posted. But instead of being disbanded, the unit was converted to No. 3 Air Observers School on 9 Dec 1943, and it continued until January 1946, conducting navigation courses. | While the aircraft used by the School included the Fairey Battle and Avro Anson, a number of Wirraway, Ryan, Gypsy Moth and Tiger Moth aircraft were also allotted to the unit. Because of the nature of the flights - with more than just the pilot in the cockpit - many of the aircraft accidents that did occur left more people injured or killed than would have been the case had the pilot been solo. In one accident on 27 August 1943, six people were killed in an aircraft accident 17 kilometers west of the aerodrome at Port Pirie. By the end of 1943, personnel at the School were preparing to be posted. But instead of being disbanded, the unit was converted to No. 3 Air Observers School on 9 Dec 1943, and it continued until January 1946, conducting navigation courses. | ||
Revision as of 17:51, 18 July 2020
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Brief History
This unit was established on 15 Jun 1941 under the Empire Air Training Scheme at Port Pirie, north of Adelaide, South Australia. Its function was to provide bombing and gunnery training for pilots, air observers and air gunners. The period of training for each category was different, with pilots training for two weeks, air observers for e1ght weeks and air gunners for four weeks. By the end of 1943, the School had trained nearly 3,500 personnel. the vast majority being w1reless air gunners.
The unit's first aircraft were Fairey Battles, arriving on I July 1941 and the first recruits started training at the School the same day. The air gunners were trained in Avro Ansons, firing upon drogues dragged behind Fairey Battle aircraft. The Fairey Battles flew along at 150km/h whilst the Anson pilot swept back and forth under the drogue to s1mulate the curve of attack of a fighter a1rcraft. One exercise involved the trainee firing 300 rounds of colour tipped bullets at the drogue under the watchful eye of the gunnery instructor. The drogue was then winched back most of the way 1nto the Battle where it was then released to fall into a cleared area, to be collected by members of the WAAAF in the Armament Section. The holes then were counted to give a score. As live ammunition was used, accidents were bound to occur, but it was the aircraft themselves that were to cause the majority of incidents at Port Pirie, claiming some 20 lives.
While the aircraft used by the School included the Fairey Battle and Avro Anson, a number of Wirraway, Ryan, Gypsy Moth and Tiger Moth aircraft were also allotted to the unit. Because of the nature of the flights - with more than just the pilot in the cockpit - many of the aircraft accidents that did occur left more people injured or killed than would have been the case had the pilot been solo. In one accident on 27 August 1943, six people were killed in an aircraft accident 17 kilometers west of the aerodrome at Port Pirie. By the end of 1943, personnel at the School were preparing to be posted. But instead of being disbanded, the unit was converted to No. 3 Air Observers School on 9 Dec 1943, and it continued until January 1946, conducting navigation courses.
Staff
Trainees
- Robert (Mick) Bunney 14 - 25 Jul 1941
- Cyril Charles Cross 30 Apr - 12 Oct 1942
Notes
Source of information - Units of the Royal Australian Airforce - A Concise History - Vol 8 Training Units