No. 76 Operational Training Unit RAF

No. 76 Operational Training Unit RAF (76 OTU) was a Royal Air Force operational training unit during the Second World War.[1]

A Vickers Wellington of No. 76 Operational Training Unit taxies out for a training flight at Aqir, Palestine. ©IWM CM 5756

No. 76 Operational Training Unit RAF
76 OTU
Active1 October 1943 - 30 July 1945
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
TypeTraining
RoleRAF operational training
Garrison/HQRAF Aqir, British Mandate of Palestine
Nickname(s)76 OTU
EngagementsSecond World War
Aircraft flown
BomberVickers Wellington

The unit was formed at RAF Aqir on 1 October 1943. Throughout its existence it was equipped with Vickers Wellington bombers - Mk. III and Mk. Xs. By October 1944 all the aircraft were Mk. Xs[citation needed]) and trained crews for night bombing operations with RAF squadrons in the Middle East.

The unit was disbanded on 30 July 1945.

The bomber pilot Cyril Spurdens flew with the unit.[2]

References

edit
  1. ^ "A History of RAF Organisation". Air of Authority. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  2. ^ "No. 37407". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1946. p. 86.