No. 12 Operational Training Unit RAF

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Brief History

RAF OTU were the last stage of training for aircrew before being assigned to an operational unit in North Western Europe and other theatres of war. By this stage, individuals had undertaken all their preparatory and qualifaction training, and shortly after arrival at the the OTU, if they were operating a crewed aircraft, they would be 'crewed up' with the other men with whom they would go to war. In some cases, OTU detached aircraft to take part in actual operations, notably the first "Thousand Bomber Raid" on Cologne in May 1942.

No. 12 Operational Training Unit (12 OTU) of the Royal Air Force was formed on 8 Apr 1940 as part of No. 1 Group RAF Bomber Command at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire to train light bomber aircrew. Initially tasked with training light bomber crews with Battles and Ansons, it absorbed No 207 Squadron on 1 May 1940. In August 1940 it accepted its first intake of Polish crews and on 1 December, now equipped with Wellingtons, it became a half heavy bomber training unit. A move to Chipping Warden began in July 1941 in stages with the complete unit having relocated by August. On 11 May 1942 it was transferred to No 91 Group, and then to No 92 Group on 15 November. It finally disbanded on 22 June 1945.

Aircrew

• Billy Kendall Collins 21 Apr - 22 Jun 1942