RAAF Station Narromine
Encyclopedia
RAAF Station Narromine was a Royal Australian Air Force
(RAAF) station located at Narromine, New South Wales
, Australia
. Narromine Airfield
was requisitioned in July 1940 as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme
during the Second World War.
No. 5 Elementary Flying Training School (5EFTS) operated from 1940. The EFTS gave a recruit 50 hours of basic aviation instruction on a simple trainer such as a Tiger Moth
. Pilots who showed promise went on to advanced training at a Service Flying Training School. Others went on to different specialties, such as Wireless Schools, Air Observer Schools or Bombing and Gunnery Schools.
No. 8 Operational Training Unit
(8OTU) also operated from Narromine between 1942 until 1944, when it was transferred to RAAF Station Parkes
. No. 618 Squadron RAF
arrived at Narromine in February 1945 equipped with de Havilland Mosquito Mk.VI
aircraft for anti-shipping attacks in the Pacific area of operations, however was disbanded on 14 July 1945.
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
(RAAF) station located at Narromine, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Narromine Airfield
Narromine Airport
Narromine Airport is a small airport in Narromine, New South Wales, Australia. There are significant gliding operations at the airport....
was requisitioned in July 1940 as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan , known in some countries as the Empire Air Training Scheme , was a massive, joint military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, during the Second World War...
during the Second World War.
No. 5 Elementary Flying Training School (5EFTS) operated from 1940. The EFTS gave a recruit 50 hours of basic aviation instruction on a simple trainer such as a Tiger Moth
De Havilland Tiger Moth
The de Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth is a 1930s biplane designed by Geoffrey de Havilland and was operated by the Royal Air Force and others as a primary trainer. The Tiger Moth remained in service with the RAF until replaced by the de Havilland Chipmunk in 1952, when many of the surplus aircraft...
. Pilots who showed promise went on to advanced training at a Service Flying Training School. Others went on to different specialties, such as Wireless Schools, Air Observer Schools or Bombing and Gunnery Schools.
No. 8 Operational Training Unit
No. 8 Operational Training Unit RAAF
No. 8 Operational Training Unit was an operational training unit of the Royal Australian Air Force formed at RAAF Station Narromine, Narromine, New South Wales in 1942.8OTU moved to RAAF Station Parkes, Parkes, New South Wales in 1944....
(8OTU) also operated from Narromine between 1942 until 1944, when it was transferred to RAAF Station Parkes
RAAF Station Parkes
RAAF Station Parkes was a Royal Australian Air Force station located at Parkes, New South Wales, Australia. Formed in 1941 as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme as a training station during the Second World War. After the conclusion of hostilities, the training units ceased to operate from the...
. No. 618 Squadron RAF
No. 618 Squadron RAF
No. 618 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, intended to carry of a variation of the Barnes Wallis designed Bouncing bomb code-named "Highball"...
arrived at Narromine in February 1945 equipped with de Havilland Mosquito Mk.VI
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
aircraft for anti-shipping attacks in the Pacific area of operations, however was disbanded on 14 July 1945.
Units based at RAAF Station Narromine
- No 5 Elementary Flying Training School (1940–)
- No. 8 Operational Training Unit RAAFNo. 8 Operational Training Unit RAAFNo. 8 Operational Training Unit was an operational training unit of the Royal Australian Air Force formed at RAAF Station Narromine, Narromine, New South Wales in 1942.8OTU moved to RAAF Station Parkes, Parkes, New South Wales in 1944....
(1942–1944) - No. 618 Squadron RAFNo. 618 Squadron RAFNo. 618 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, intended to carry of a variation of the Barnes Wallis designed Bouncing bomb code-named "Highball"...
(February 1945 – 14 July 1945) - No. 93 Squadron RAAFNo. 93 Squadron RAAFNo. 93 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron of World War II. The Squadron was formed in January 1945 and was disbanded in August 1946. Due to delays in bringing operational airfields into service it saw little combat before the end of the war.-Squadron history:No. 93 Squadron...
(23 December 1945 – 22 August 1946)
Further reading
- Lever, John; No. 2 OTU R.A.A.F. Mildura and No. 8 OTU R.A.A.F. Parkes : a history of the R.A.A.F.'s fighter pilot operational training units; ISBN:1876709901