Base Torpedo Unit RAAF

Base Torpedo Unit aircraft at Jervis Bay - AWM photo 6 OTU 304345

Brief History

Created on 7 Sep 1942 to bring together the Torpedo Range Section and the Torpedo Workshops at RAAG Nowra. The initial trainees included USAF personnel and B-26 aircraft. On 1 Agust training began for Australian Beaufort crews, with the aim to train 18 crews per month, 20 Fitter IIE's every six weeks and a number of Aircraft General Hands each three weeks. Training including night attacks included the use of Australian Naval ships. In June 1943, No. 6 Operational Training Unit was formed to take othe training of Beaufort crews allowing the BTU to focus on ground crew training.

During training a number of aircraft were lost to accidents, and airmen lost. During December 1944 preparaions began for the RAAF to hand over the Nowra Base to the RAN Fleet Air Arm, and this unit worked witht he Navy until it was disbanded on 31 Mar 1947.

Trainees

• Keith Robert Mills 5 Feb - 19 Jun 1944 - No 9 Fitter 2E Course

Notes

Content has come from Units of the Royal Australian Air Force - A Concise History - Volume 7 Maintenance Units pages 118 - 120 - Australian Government Publishing Service - 1995