Royal Air Force Operational Conversion Units

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Royal Air Force Operational Conversion Units (OCU) are training units that prepare aircrew for operations on a particular type or types of aircraft or roles. Some OCUs have a shadow or reserve squadron designation which is used if the unit has a war role.

RAF Ensign
Royal Air Force
RAF Commands
RAF Groups
RAF Wings
RAF Aircraft Squadrons
RAF Aircraft Independent Flights
RAF Heavy Conversion Units
RAF Operational Conversion Units
RAF Operational Training Units
RAF Stations
RAF Regiment Wings
RAF Regiment Squadrons
RAF Balloon Squadrons
RAF Miscellaneous Wings
RAF Aircraft


Contents

[edit] No. 226 Operation Conversion Unit

Main article: No. 226 Operational Conversion Unit RAF
Dates Role Base Notes
1946-1949 Fighter Pilots RAF Molesworth
RAF Bentwaters
1949-1955 Fighter Pilots RAF Stradishall also 145 Sqn
1963-1974 BAC Lightning RAF Middleton St George
RAF Coltishall		 also 145 Sqn
No. 65 Squadron RAF
1974-2005 Sepecat Jaguar RAF Lossiemouth
RAF Coltishall		 also No. 65 Squadron RAF
No. 16 Squadron RAF

[edit] No. 227 Operational Conversion Unit

Dates Role Base Notes
1947-1950 Air Observation Post crews (Taylorcraft Auster) RAF Andover
RAF Middle Wallop

[edit] No. 228 Operational Conversion Unit

Main article: No. 228 Operational Conversion Unit RAF
Dates Role Base Notes
1947-1961 Tactical Light Bomber and Night Fighter RAF Leeming Also No. 137 Squadron RAF
1965-1966 Gloster Javelin RAF Leuchars
1968-1991 McDonnell Douglas Phantom RAF Coningsby
RAF Leuchars		 Also No. 64 Squadron RAF

[edit] No. 229 Operational Conversion Unit

Dates Role Base Notes
1950-1979 Fighter pilots RAF Leuchars
RAF Chivenor		 Also
No. 63 Squadron RAF
No. 79 Squadron RAF
No. 127 Squadron RAF
No. 131 Squadron RAF
No. 149 Squadron RAF
No. 229 Squadron RAF
1985 Panavia Tornado RAF Coningsby Also No. 65 Squadron RAF

[edit] No. 230 Operational Conversion Unit

Main article: No. 230 Operational Conversion Unit RAF
Dates Role Base Notes
1947-1952 Heavy Bomber Avro Lancaster and Avro Lincoln RAF Lindholme
RAF Scampton
1953-1955 Avro Lincoln RAF Upwood
1956-1981 Avro Vulcan RAF Waddington
RAF Finningley
RAF Scampton

[edit] No. 231 Operational Conversion Unit

Main article: No. 231 Operational Conversion Unit RAF
Dates Role Base Notes
1947-1959 Strategic Light Bomber (de Havilland Mosquito) RAF Coningsby
RAF Waddington
1951-1990 English Electric Canberra RAF Bassingbourn
RAF Cottesmore
RAF Marham
1991-1993 English Electric Canberra RAF Wyton

[edit] No. 232 Operational Conversion Unit

Dates Role Base Notes
1955-1965 Vickers Valiant and Handley Page Victor RAF Gaydon
1970-1986 Handley Page Victor RAF Marham

[edit] No. 233 Operational Conversion Unit

Dates Role Base Notes
1952-1957 Fighter pilots (de Havilland Vampire and Hawker Hunter) RAF Pembrey
1970-1992 Hawker Siddeley Harrier RAF Wittering

[edit] No. 235 Operational Conversion Unit

Dates Role Base Notes
1947-1953 Flying boat crews (Short Sunderland) RAF Calshot

[edit] No. 236 Operational Conversion Unit

Dates Role Base Notes
1947-1956 General reconnaissance crews RAF Kinloss
1970-1992 Hawker Siddeley Nimrod RAF St Mawgan

[edit] No. 237 Operational Conversion Unit

Dates Role Base Notes
1947-1951 Photo reconnaissance crews RAF Benson
RAF Leuchars
RAF Benson
RAF Bassingbourn

[edit] No. 238 Operational Conversion Unit

Dates Role Base Notes
1952-1958 Night fighter radar operators RAF Colerne

[edit] No. 240 Operational Conversion Unit

Dates Role Base Notes
1948-1951 Medium-range transport crews RAF North Luffenham
1971-1993 Helicopter crews RAF Odiham

[edit] No. 241 Operational Conversion Unit

Dates Role Base Notes
1948-1951 Heavy-transport crews RAF Dishforth
1970-1993 Transport conversion training RAF Brize Norton

[edit] No. 242 Operational Conversion Unit

Dates Role Base Notes
1951-1992 Transport crews RAF Dishforth
RAF Thorney Island

[edit] References

  • G G Jefford, RAF Squadrons, second edition 2001, Airlife Publishing, UK, ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
  • Ray Sturtivant, Flying Training And Support Units since 1912, 2007, Air-Britain, UK, ISBN 0 85130 365 X