No. 4 Operational Training Unit RAAF

Vultee Vengeance MKIV c1943 at Williamstown, NSW AWM P00448.191.jpg

Brief History

No. 4 Operational Training Unit was raised at Williamtown, New South Wales, on 1 Oct 1942 to prepare crews to operate the Vultee Vengeance dive bomber on active service. Pilots and wireless operator/air gunners arrived from 12 Squadron on 28 October to undergo a Vengeance conversion course, which was completed on 25 November 1942. At the end of October, the strength of the Unit stood at seven Vengeance dive bombers, but this was augmenled on 2 Jan 1943 with the delivery of the Unit's farst Wirraway aircraft. Training commenced an the Wirraway, before the students progressed to the more capable Vengeance. As with most training units, the unit suffered some fatal accidents involving both Wirraway and Vengence aircraft.

The Unit was disbanded on 30 April 1944.

Trainees

• Edward Harry Tasker 11 Dec 1943 - 23 Feb 1944

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 70