No. 1 General Reconnaissance School RAAF

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Brief History

The General Reconnassance School was formed at Point Cook on 29 Apr 1940, iand it moved to the RAAF base at Laverton on I July. The unit was to train pilots in general reconnaissance duties and officers in specialist navigation duties. At the time the unit was ra1sed, there were four navigation instructors courses being run.

During December 1940, the School combined exercises with operations under the control of Area Combined Headquarters in Melbourne, as well as undertaking many photographic missions to check the camouflage of facilities. They flew anti-submarine and shipping searches. In January 1941, the School was divided onto an lnstructional Squadron and a Flying Squadron, each of four flights, before commencing a move lto Cressy on 20 Apr l942.

General Reconnaissance School aircraft flew from Cressy until 22 Apr 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 oi Air Navigalton.

Trainees

• † Arthur Matthew Aitken 4 Dec 1942 - 8 Feb 1943