Operational Training Units

[Ratch]

I am currently looking for information regarding Wellington IIIs of 12, 16 & 17 OTUs

Serials with codes would be great and images would top that. I have been looking on the net but information seems very sparse (maybe that's my search method) 

[PaulT 876]

Hi Ratch

 

Loads of stuff on the web ref the OTU,s  that are close to us both.

http://www.aviationarchaeology.org.uk/marg/men_of_12otu.htm

 

http://www.aviationarchaeology.org.uk/marg/flying_units.htm

 

http://www.epibreren.com/ww2/raf/16_OTU.html

 

http://www.rafupwood.co.uk/17otulosses.html

 

https://aviationresearch.my-free.website/17-otu-1944

Try these for a start and follow links on the pages.

Paul

[Ratch]

Cheers Paul, I've come across some of those sites 

Here's the best/most suitable I've gleaned:

 

No. 12 Operational Training Unit, Chipping Warden, 12/7/44 BJ622

While flying night circuits and landings with a Canadian instructor pilot, their aircraft, Wellington BJ622, JP-R, crashed just after half-past midnight, on the night of 11/12th of July:

”12/07/1944: Wellington III, serial no. BJ622 of 12 OTU belly landed at Chipping Warden. Sgt J C Ridley RCAF and crew were unhurt.”

 

17 OTU Silverstone, R BK352 AY JG WJ

Date:  8 Jul 1943

Unit:  17 OTU

Type:  Wellington III

Serial No.:  X3934

Operation:  Training

Take Off:  RAF Silverstone

Crew:

F/O G Chambers  15000  Killed  Solihull Cemetery

Sgt F E Harrison  1262177  Killed  Bicker (St Swithin) Churchyard

P/O J A Jackson  139721  Killed  Biggar (The Crofts) Cemetery

Sgt I G Jones  1314731  Killed  Risca Old Cemetery 

Description:  Took off at 15:47 from RAF Silverstone but stalled three minutes later and crashed an burnt.(+)

Court Of Inquiry:  Cause apparently due to stalling in.  No mechanical evidence can be observed with wreckage in present position.  All lie in various burials grounds.  This was the unit’s first major accident since giving up its Blemheims in favour of Wellingtons.  

Port Engine No.170888  Starboard Engine No.223909

Date:  16 Jul 1943

Unit:  17 OTU

Type:  Wellington III

Serial No.:  BJ797

Operation:  Training

Take Off:  RAF Silverstone

Crew:

F/O D G McAlpine   

Sgt R E Heap RAAF  Injured

Description:  Took off at 15:05 from RAF Silverstone, but swung violently and crashed into trees, injuring the tail gunner.  Late in December 1943, flying Lancasters with 50 Squadron, F/O McAlpine’s aircraft came down in the North sea.  By a quirk of coincidence, his tail gunner (and sole survivor) was an Australian.  

Date:  23 Aug 1943

Unit:  17 OTU

Type:  Wellington III

Serial No.:  BJ990

Operation:  Training

Take Off:  RAF Turweston

Crew:

Sgt Hinton RAAF  A16509

Description:  Took off from RAF Turweston at 21:45, but the starboard engine cut causing the Wellington to veer out of control and crash.(+)

Court Of Inquiry:  No fault of pilot.  What caused pilot to throttle back is unclear.  No evidence of engine failure.  Possibly a cough from an oiled-up plug or unusual fail of 40° flap on.  Co pilot believed engine had failed he took corrective action would have done little to retract.

Port Engine No.345974    Starboard Engine No.307616

Date:  25 Aug 1943

Unit:  17OTU

Type:  Wellington III

Serial No.:  HE555

Operation:  Training

Take Off:  RAF Turweston

Crew:

P/O Munro 143701

Description:  Took off from RAF Turweston at 11:00, tasked for a training exercise.  After the starboard engine’s crankshaft bearing inner track failed, the Wellington came down at 11:00 in a field.(+)

Court Of Inquiry:  Peices of piston and rings found in filter.  Resulted crash pilot fault.  Endorse Log Book as carelessness.  Disobedience, pilot had to waste time strapping himself in. 

Port Engine No.A376048    Starboard Engine No.A376029

Date:  27 Dec 1943

Unit:  17 OTU

Type:  Wellington III

Serial No.:  X3344

Operation:  Training

Take Off:  RAF Turweston

Crew:

F/O B F Gilmore  RNAF  412223  Injured

F/S R G Ward  RAAF  A422326  Injured

Description:  Took off at 10:30 from RAF Turweston for a training duels, but the crew returned to base at 11:10 after experiencing engine trouble.  As the aircraft neared the run-way, it was realized that the undercarriage had failed to lower fully.  Instructor attempted to overshoot, the Wellington lost height and crash landed in dispersal.(+)   Entire crew which is quoted as eight all injured.  

Court Of Inquiry:  1) Engine failure due to No14 cylinder Port Engine fractured.  2) Low altitude with Bomb Doors open.  3) Fuel not jettisoned.  4) Pilot should not have attempted overshoot.  Pilot not aware Bomb Doors were open - did a good job of getting back to back to airfield but was over confident of attempting overshoot. 

 

 

16 OTU A Flight GA JS XG RAF Brackley satellite to Upper Heyford, now RAF Croughton

8 June 1943   Wellington BJ981
Suffered catastrophic structural failure and spiralled into the ground north of Towcester, Blisworth
Frederick Albert BARBER Flying Officer (Flying Instructor)      RAFVR no 133831
Age 31 He is buried in sec D grave 86 of Canford Cemetry, Bristol
Sam Tunnicliffe “Peter” DANIELS Flying Officer (Navigator)      RAFVR no 132723
Age 21 He was the son of Samuel and Hannah Daniels, of Clay Cross
He is buried in grave H18 in the churchyard of St Lawrence, North Wingfield, Derbyshire
Francis John Martin TREMBLE Sergeant (Air Bomber)      RAFVR no 1600600
Age 20 He was the son of Alexander Martin Tremble and Daisy Tremble of Hindhead
He is buried in sec NW grave N 4 of the churchyard of St Alban, Hindhead
Leslie Holden LYLE Sergeant (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)      RAFVR no. 1231203
Age 21 He is buried in sec 6 grave 28 of Prescot Cemetery

Type: Wellington 3 (BJ-981). Location: Near Towcester. Report No: W1567.

Description:

Type: Wellington 3 (BJ-981).

Location: Near Towcester.

Report No: W1567.

Date:

1943 June