No. 1 Operational Training Unit RAAF

No. 1 Operational Training Unit RAAF
Members of two training courses conducted at No. 1 Operational Training Unit in 1942
Active	1941–45
Country	Australia
Branch	Royal Australian Air Force
Role	Operational training
Part of	Southern Area Command
Garrison/HQ	Nhill, Victoria (1941–42) Bairnsdale, Victoria (1942–43) East Sale, Victoria (1943–45)
Commanders
Notable commanders	Bill Garing (1943–44)

No. 1 Operational Training Unit (No. 1 OTU) was an operational conversion unit of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) during World War II. Formed in December 1941 at Nhill, Victoria, it relocated to Bairnsdale in mid-1942, and then to East Sale the following year. No. 1 OTU's primary role was to train aircrew for multi-engined aircraft operations. At its peak of activity in August 1944, it was operating over 130 aircraft, the most numerous being Bristol Beauforts. Its aircraft and personnel also conducted transport missions in New Guinea and maritime patrols in southern Australian waters. Following the end of hostilities, the unit was disbanded in December 1945.

During World War II, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) established several operational training units to convert recently graduated pilots from advanced trainers to combat aircraft, and to add fighting ability to the flying skills they had already learned. No. 1 Operational Training Unit (No. 1 OTU) was formed at Nhill, Victoria, on 8 December 1941, under the control of Southern Area Command. Its inaugural commanding officer was Wing Commander A.I.G. Carr. The unit's purpose was to train pilots, air observers and wireless air gunners for multi-engine aircraft operations. The first courses commenced on 22 December. After preliminary training, pilots went through a six-week conversion to Lockheed Hudsons and Bristol Beauforts, while observers and gunners underwent instruction on Airspeed Oxfords and Avro Ansons. Their training included bombing, gunnery, navigation, evasive action, ship recognition and maritime reconnaissance.