No. 229 Operational Conversion Unit RAF

Conversion units and operational conversion units (OCUs) were training units of the Royal Air Force (RAF).

History

With the introduction of new heavy bombers, the four-engined Short Stirling, Avro Lancaster, and Handley Page Halifax, the Royal Air Force introduced heavy conversion units (HCU). These HCUs began forming in late 1941, to qualify crews trained on medium bombers to operate the heavy bombers before final posting to the operational squadrons. Some of the HCUs were involved in bombing operations over Germany.

After the end of the Second World War, the role of the HCUs was taken over by the operational conversion units (OCUs). Although the units had nominal bases, different flights and individual aircraft usually were detached nearer the operational bases.

RAF OCUs 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.

Current RAF OCUs

Lightning - RAF Marham
* 207 Squadron
Typhoon - RAF Coningsby
* 29 Squadron
Hawk - RAF Valley
* 4 Squadron - Hawk T.2
Support helicopter (Puma and Chinook) - RAF Benson
* 28 Squadron
Hercules - RAF Brize Norton
* 24 Squadron - OCU Flight
ISTAR - RAF Waddington
* 54 Squadron
Tutor - RAF Wittering
* 115 Squadron

Some aircraft types operated by a single squadron, which includes most transport aircraft, and most ISTAR aircraft, are not big enough to need a dedicated OCU squadron for their training requirements; they may only have a few at any time. Therefore, smaller squadrons also incorporate training facilities to allow them to process aircrew onto their aircraft type. Some roles, such as ISTAR, require more rear crew for the aircraft, such as weapon systems officers (WSOs) and weapon systems operators (WSOps) - their training can be more generalised, and this is carried out by 54 Squadron at RAF Waddington. This reduces the training requirement on the individual ISTAR squadrons, by providing aircrew who require only aircraft conversion training when they reach their squadrons. Pilots are trained directly onto their aircraft type by the frontline squadrons using training "flights". An example of this is the OCU flight of 24 Squadron, which trains new Hercules aircrew onto the aircraft.

OCUs are monitored by the RAF's Central Flying School to maintain training standards. Training is delivered by qualified flying instructors (QFIs) and qualified weapons instructors, and frontline squadrons also have qualified individuals to deliver continual and refresher training after the OCU. OCUs generally also provide training for those aircrew selected to become QFIs on an aircraft type - an example would be 208(R) Squadron, which currently trains aircrew for 100 Squadron, QFIs for 208(R), and provides refresher training for aircrew joining the RAF aerobatic team, the Red Arrows.

List of conversion units

Additional

See also

Royal Air Force

**List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons
**List of Royal Air Force aircraft independent flights
**List of Royal Air Force Glider units
**List of Royal Air Force Operational Training Units
**List of Royal Air Force schools
**List of Royal Air Force units & establishments
** List of RAF squadron codes
**List of RAF Regiment units
**List of Battle of Britain squadrons
** List of wings of the Royal Air Force

Army Air Corps
* List of Army Air Corps aircraft units
*Fleet Air Arm
**List of Fleet Air Arm aircraft squadrons
**List of Fleet Air Arm groups
**List of aircraft units of the Royal Navy
**List of aircraft wings of the Royal Navy
*Others
**List of Air Training Corps squadrons
**University Air Squadron
** Air Experience Flight
**Volunteer Gliding Squadron

References

Citations

Bibliography

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