Thread: RAF training locations?

Hi Thor,

This is a huge request however someone may be able to assist with local knowledge. I have 11,200+ RAAF/RAf Australians who were killed/died during ww2 with their "Postings at Death" however these asre in name only as I collect the headstone/memorial photos.

I have not researched this area, but as I said, someone may have some old photos.

Of the 20 Aussies that are buried in Zimbabwe, these are the separate establishments they were at.

20 SFTS CRANBORNE
21 SFTS
22 SFTS THORNBILL
23 SFTS
26 EFTS GUINEA FOWL SOUTHERN RHODESIA
27 EFTS

Just googling 26 EFTS, there is plenty on google, so some of these may have photos.
http://www.google.com.au/search?q=26...ient=firefox-a

Cheers

Geoff

welcome to the forum Thor.

all of your training stations were as you know part of the commonwealth flight schools, set up to deal with the sheer numbers of air crew needing to be trained during the war. They were set up when it was found the training centres in this country just could no longer cope with the numbers needed and they were beginning to impact on the operational areas of the country.

The OTU and HCU he was based at in Yorks and staffs would have seen him and his crew on multiple cross country flight runs around the north of england, across the Peak district and into wales, up to Scotland and back, day and night flying.

As to photos, have you checked out the RAF historical website for more information? Other than that your best bet on getting info on the individual airfields is to track down copies of the Airfields of..... books available online and in bookshops around the country. They are usually very thorough researched and have photos in them, usually mentioning what aircraft were flown here too.

The other thing you can do is check out aircrashes in those areas, as research usually brings up the crews, where they were flying from and too etc, and from this you can garner what aircraft were flying out of bases at any one time. As he was based in Staffs and Yorks for a little while, you can check out the Peak district Air Investigation website, but please take it with a pinch of salt as they can get their details wrong on some things. Always double check.

as to the Pershore/Stratford confusion, it is normal for a large airfield to have satellite airfields within a 6 mile radius of it, which whilst they have their own name, would still be listed under the parent airfield. This became common as more and more strips/facilities were needed on short notice. some of these satellite airfields had all the crew quarters in tents, and as such after the war they just vanished as grass strips turned back to fields and no buildings were ever constructed.

for photos of the airfields as they are now, try this forum, I can't say if it is any good as I have yet to have time to sit down and go through it.

For info on the hotels, your best bet is to contact the local history societies in tose areas and dig a bit in the local papers. The hotels themselves may have some info available.

Hello Geoff/Kitty,


thanks for the replies. I'll try your suggestions!
Even if someone knows about a couple of the places it would certainly be helpful!....especially if anybody can enlighten me as to what the "Senior NCOs Course" at Whiltley Bay was or entailed? As far as I can tell there weren't any a/c there post-ww1....


cheers,


Thor

it was quite possibly training in rules and regs, what was expected of them as a senior NCO, mostly as pilots or senior gunners etc.

oh right....thanks again kitty!

Thor
You might like to try the RAF Museum website (they have a research requests bit) and the Air Historical Branch....
Dee

Hi Dee,

Thanks for the reply. The air historical branch said they can't be of any more help unfortunately...but i will try the RAF museum...could be fruitful..Much appreciated!


cheers,


Thor