No. 2 Operational Training Unit RAAF
From Our Contribution
 2 OTU Mildura WW2. A range of aircraft can be seen including P40 Kittyhawks and some Vultee Vengeance dive bombers | |
Brief History
Operational Training Units were the last stage of training for aircrew before being assigned to an operational unit. By this stage, those assigned to the crew of multi seat craft such as bombers and reconnaissance aircraft had 'crewed up' with the other men who were to make up their crew and with whom they would fly until separated by death, injury, illness or re-posting. They trained in the tasks associated with their primary mission, before assignment to an operational unit.
Fighter pilots trained in the individual and collective skills intrinsic to their mission. Gunnery, navigation, bombing reconnaissance and formation flying all featured in the curriculum.
2 OTU was established as No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit (No. 2 OTU) in April 1942 at Port Pirie, South Australia, and relocated to RAAF Station Mildura, Victoria, the following month. During World War II, it provided training on a wide range of aircraft, including Curtis P-40 Kittyhawks, Vultee Vengeances, Avro Ansons, CAC Boomerangs, [[Supermarine Spitfire[[s and Airspeed Oxfords.
Disbanded in March 1947, No. 2 OTU was re-formed at Williamtown in March 1952 in response to the demand for more highly trained pilots to serve in the Korean War. It was renamed No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Conversion Unit in September 1958, and since then has conducted training with the CAC Sabre, Dassault Mirage III, and Macchi MB-326, prior to taking delivery of the Hornet.
Airmen trained at Mildura were generally posted to the Pacific Theatre.
Trainee Aircrew
- Edward Harry Tasker 8 Mar - 31 May 1945
Ground Crew
- Maurice Raymond Lawson 1 May 1943 - 15 Jan 1944
- Warwick Geoff Samuel Savage 23 May - 26 Sep 1943
Notes
External Links
[[Category:2nd AIF Units]