No. 2 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF (2 (C)OTU), was a training unit of the Royal Air Force, within No. 17 Group RAF, which was part of RAF Coastal Command. The unit started operating from late 1940 and disbanded during early 1944.[1]
| No. 2 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1 October 1940-15 February 1944 |
| Disbanded | 15 February 1944 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Type | Operational Training Unit |
| Role | Aircrew Training |
| Part of | RAF Coastal Command *No. 17 Group RAF |
| Insignia | |
| Identification markings | ZR Blenheim[1] |
History
edit
No. 2 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF was formed on 1 October 1940 at RAF Catfoss.[1] Its role was training strike and twin-engined fighter aircrew. The unit was initially equipped with Bristol Blenheim, a British light bomber aircraft and Avro Anson a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft, before these were eventually replaced by Bristol Beaufighter a British multi-role aircraft, in 1942.[2]
Other airfields including RAF Driffield, RAF Sherburn-in-Elmet, RAF Hutton Cranswick and RAF Lissett were all occasionally used as relief landing grounds during training sorties. Aircrew were not only trained for squadrons operating within the European theatre, but also for squadrons operating in both the Middle East theatre and the Far East theatre.[2]
When the demand for the Bristol Beaufighter aircrew reduced the training was transferred to No. 132 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF[2] and the unit was disbanded on 15 February 1944 at RAF Catfoss.[1]
Aircraft operated
editNo. 2 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit was equipped with numerous types and variants of aircraft:[1]
- Avro Anson I
- Fairey Battle
- Bristol Blenheim I, IV, V
- Bristol Beaufort I, II
- Airspeed Oxford I, II
- de Havilland Tiger Moth II
- de Havilland Moth Minor
- Westland Lysander III, IIIA
- Handley Page Hampden I
- Bristol Beaufighter IC, VI
- Miles Master II
- Miles Martinet I
- Bristol Blenheim IV
Officer Commanding
edit- Note: The ranks shown are the ranks held at the time of holding the appointment of commanding officer, No. 2 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF.[2]
| Rank | name | from |
|---|---|---|
| Squadron Leader | J M Clarke | 1 October 1940 |
| Wing Commander / Group Captain |
E F Haylock | 27 October 1940 |
| Group Captain | N V Moreton | 27 April 1942 |
| Group Captain | C W Busk | 8 July 1943 |
| Group Captain | C P Gabriel | 27 August 1943 |
Airfields used
editThe main airfield for the unit was RAF Catfoss however a number of different airfields were also used as relief landing grounds.
- Main operating base
- Used as relief landing grounds
See also
editReferences
editCitations
edit- ^ a b c d e Lake 1999, p. 144.
- ^ "RAF Catfoss". Control Towers. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ^ "RAF Driffield". Control Towers. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ^ a b c "No 2 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
Bibliography
edit- Lake, A Flying Units of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Airlife Publishing Ltd., 1999. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.