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No. 1 Operational Conversion Unit RAAF

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No. 1 Operational Conversion Unit RAAF
Active1959–1971
CountryAustralia
BranchRoyal Australian Air Force
RoleBomber conversion and operational training
Part ofNo. 82 Wing
Garrison/HQRAAF Base Amberley
Aircraft flown
BomberEnglish Electric Canberra

No. 1 Operational Conversion Unit (No. 1 OCU) was an operational training unit of the Royal Australian Air Force. Formed in January 1959 at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland, its role was to convert pilots to the English Electric Canberra bombers flown by Nos. 1, 2 and 6 Squadrons. Originally a component of No. 82 Wing, No. 1 OCU became an independent unit at Amberley in April 1968, when its focus became the provision of operationally ready pilots for service with No. 2 Squadron in the Vietnam War. No. 1 OCU was disbanded in June 1971, following the withdrawal of No. 2 Squadron from South-East Asia.

History

Front three-quarter view of white twin-engined military jet parked on grass
Canberra T.4, a three-seat model that was employed for conversion training at No. 1 OCU.

During World War II, the Royal Australian Air Force established a number of operational training units (OTUs) to convert recently graduated pilots from advanced trainers to combat aircraft, and to add fighting ability to the pure flying skills they had already learned. Post-war demobilisation saw the disbandment of these OTUs, and operational conversion of new pilots became the responsibility of front-line squadrons. This practice, however, impacted upon the squadrons' normal duties, while the advent of the Korean War and introduction of jet aircraft further necessitated a more formal system of operational training. The RAAF's initial move in this direction was to re-form No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales, in March 1952; it was renamed No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Conversion Unit in September 1958.[1]

In December 1953, No. 82 (Bomber) Wing, headquartered at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland, took delivery of the RAAF's first jet bomber, the English Electric Canberra. Over the next five years the Canberra re-equipped all three of the wing's flying units, Nos. 1, 2 and 6 Squadrons.[1][2] During this period, operational training of new bomber aircrew was performed "in-house" by the wing, primarily by No. 6 Squadron.[3][4] Aside from its adverse affect on regular flying duties, the task was made technically challenging by virtue of the Canberra's single control column.[1] On 12 January 1959, No. 1 (Bomber) Operational Conversion Unit (No. 1 OCU) was formed at Amberley. Coming under the control of No. 82 Wing, its purpose was to convert pilots and navigators to the Canberra, and train them for operations with Nos. 1, 2 and 6 Squadrons.[3][5] On establishment, the unit was commanded by Squadron Leader B.F.M. Rachinger, and equipped with six Canberras: three Mk.20 bombers and three T.4 trainers.[5] The T.4 was a dual-control model with three seats; the pilot and instructor sat side by side at the front of the cockpit, with the navigator seated behind them.[6] The unit was later allocated Mk.21 trainers, converted from early Mk.20s and two British-built B.2 models.[7] Student aircrew underwent bombing and navigation instruction, as well as simulated operations. The first training course graduated in April 1959.[5]

Side view of camouflaged twin-engined military jet in level flight
No. 2 Squadron Canberra over Vietnam, March 1970; from April 1968 until it disbanded in June 1971, No. 1 OCU trained aircrew in Australia for combat duty with the squadron.

In addition to training, over the course of No. 1 OCU's existence its aircrews took part in naval cooperation tasks, aerial photography, target towing, and aerial radar targeting, and exercises in Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand.[5][8] During runway upgrades at Amberley in mid-1962, the unit was based for a month at RAAF Base Richmond, New South Wales. Later that year, it briefly maintained a detachment at RAAF Base Townsville, Queensland. No. 1 OCU suffered a fatal accident on 16 February 1965, when a Canberra ran off the runway and crashed at Amberley, killing both crew members.[5] The unit was made independent of No. 82 Wing in April 1968. Its purpose from then on was to provide trained crews solely for No. 2 Squadron, which was on active duty in the Vietnam War.[3] Nos. 1 and 6 Squadrons effectively ceased operations while their crews underwent conversion to the General Dynamics F-111C, expected to enter service soon afterwards.[9] Delivery of the F-111s was delayed, however, so Nos. 1 and 6 Squadrons began operating leased F-4E Phantoms as an interim strike force in 1970.[10][11]

To prepare aircrew for their rotation through No. 2 Squadron in Vietnam, No. 1 OCU students participated in exercises such as Combat Skyspot in August 1968, which utilised radar controlled by No. 30 Squadron, and Strait Kris in September–October 1969, in conjunction with the Australian Army.[5] The unit lost more two aircrew when a Canberra on a training flight crashed near Amberley on 23 March 1970.[5][12] Having completed thirty-six conversion courses in its twelve years of operation, No. 1 OCU was disbanded on 9 June 1971, following the withdrawal of No. 2 Squadron from Vietnam. Unit staff were transferred to No. 2 Squadron, which continued to operate the Canberra and carry out its own operational conversion until disbanding in June 1982.[3][5] When the F-111C eventually entered service with No. 82 Wing in 1973, No. 6 Squadron again took responsibility for conversion training, while No. 1 Squadron acted as the lead strike unit.[13][4] Canberra A84-236, which was allocated to No. 1 OCU for brief periods in 1968 and 1970 when not in service with No. 2 Squadron in Vietnam, went on display at RAAF Museum, Point Cook, Victoria, in 1982.[14]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Stephens, Going Solo, pp. 167–168, 364
  2. ^ Canberra at RAAF Museum. Retrieved on 30 July 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d Wilson, Lincoln, Canberra and F-111, p. 104
  4. ^ a b Eather, Flying Squadrons of the Australian Defence Force, pp. 34–35
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h RAAF Historical Section, Training Units, pp. 60–61
  6. ^ "British aircraft 1955". Flight International: p. 365. 2 September 1955. Retrieved on 4 August 2012. {{cite journal}}: |page= has extra text (help); Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  7. ^ Bennett, Highest Traditions, p. 403
  8. ^ Bennett, Highest Traditions, p. 335
  9. ^ Lax, From Controversy to Cutting Edge, p. 59
  10. ^ Lax, From Controversy to Cutting Edge, p. 114
  11. ^ Stephens, Going Solo, pp. 385–388
  12. ^ "2 die in Qld. bomber crash". The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 May 1970. p. 3. Retrieved on 4 August 2012. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  13. ^ General Dynamics F-111 at RAAF Museum. Retrieved on 28 March 2011.
  14. ^ GAF Canberra B.20 A84-236 at RAAF Museum. Retrieved on 4 August 2012.

References

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