No. 111 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF

No. 111 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit
No. 111 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit
Active	20 August 1942 - 21 May 1946[1]
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Type	Operational Training Unit
Role	Aircrew Training
Part of	RAF Coastal Command; *No. 17 Group RAF

No. 111 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF, was a training unit of the Royal Air Force, within No. 17 Group RAF, which was part of RAF Coastal Command. The unit was established during August 1942 and disbanded during May 1946.[1]

History

Consolidated Liberators of No. 111 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit, parked on the apron at Oakes Field, Nassau, Bahamas

No. 111 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF was formed on 20 August 1942 at Oakes Field and Windsor Field, Nassau, The Bahamas.[1] The unit was formed for the specific purpose of training of aircrew for reconnaissance on US aircraft types. It was equipped with North American B-25 Mitchell, an American medium bomber, and Consolidated B-24 Liberator, an American heavy bomber. In November the unit began aircrew training, initially with the B-25 Mitchell bomber aircraft, in conjunction with undertaking operational sorties, performing maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine patrols over the western Atlantic.[2]

Consolidated Liberator Mark Vs and VIIIs of No. 111 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit lined up at Oakes Field, Nassau, Bahamas

No. 111 (C) OTU continued for almost three years at Nassau, before leaving the western Atlantic in July 1945 and returning to the UK. It relocated to RAF Lossiemouth as part of No. 17 Group RAF on 1 August 1945. One month later the unit transferred to No. 18 Group RAF on 1 September.[3][2] It remained operational at RAF Lossiemouth for the following eight months before disbanding on 21 May 1946.[1]

Aircraft operated

A Consolidated Liberator GR Mark V of No. 111 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit undergoes a routine service at Oakes Field, Nassau, Bahamas

No. 111 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF was equipped with numerous types and variants of aircraft:[1]

North American Mitchell I, II & III medium bomber
Consolidated Liberator III, V, VI, VIII heavy bomber
Vickers Wellington XI long range medium bomber
Handley Page Halifax III heavy bomber
Brewster Bermuda I scout plane
Grumman Gosling I amphibious aircraft
Grumman Goose I amphibious flying boat
Airspeed Oxford I training aircraft
de Havilland Mosquito PR.35 multirole combat aircraft
Supermarine Spitfire XVI fighter aircraft

References

Citations

Lake 1999, p. 152.
"OTUs 101 - 152". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
National Archives, 111 Operational Training Unit

Bibliography

Lake, Alan (1999). Flying Units of the RAF. Shrewsbury UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.

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[FOOTNOTELake1999152-1] Lake 1999, p. 152.

[authority-Operational_Training_Units-2] "OTUs 101 - 152". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 6 September 2023.

[3] National Archives, 111 Operational Training Unit