General Reconnaissance School RAAF

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Brief History

The General Reconnaissance School RAAF was formed at Point Cook on 29 Apr 1940, and moved to the RAAF base at Laverton on I July. The unit's role was to train pilots in general reconnaissance duties and officers in specialised navigation duties. At the time the unit was raised, there were four navigation instructors courses being run. During September 1940, Anson aircraft from the School escorted Tiger Moth aircraft across Bass Strait to Western Junction, Launceston, Tasmania. After the sinking of the SS Cambridge on 8 November, aircraft searched for mines in the vicinity of Cape Otway and Wilson's Promontory. In December the school combined exercises with operations by undertaking many photographic missions to check the camouflage of facilities.

During December, aircraft from the General Reconnaissance School flew anti-submarine and shipping searches. In January 1941, the School was divided onto an Instructional Squadron and a Flying Squadron, each of four flights, before commencing a move to Cressy on 20 Apr 1942. General Reconnaissance School aircraft flew from Cressy until 22 April 1943, when the unit made its final move to Bairnsdale, Victoria. At the end of October 1945, 2,753 students had graduated from the School. On 5 Jan 1946 notification was received that the School would move to Sale, and be re-named the School of Air Navigation.

Trainees

• John Francis Craghill
• Alfred Arthur Shepherd 12 Feb - 29 Apr 1943
• Stanley Neil Butcher 2 Oct 1943 - 16 Jan 1944 & 21 Aug - 1 Oct 1944
• Edward Neil Parker 15 Sep 1944 - 23 Mar 1945

Notes

Content has come from Units of the Royal Australian Air Force - A Concise History - Volume 8 Training Units - Australian Government Publishing Service - 1995 page 150