No. 7 Air Gunnery School RAF

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Brief History

Built in 1939 on the south coast of Wales, RAF Stormy Down was host to a number of units, including an armament training school for the Royal Air Force (RAF). After the British departed, the French took the station over. Flying ceased in August 1944 due to the dangerous grass landing strip. Trainees were instructed on the 303 Browning machine gun which included stripping and re-assembling, gun turrets, turret manipulation, sighting, aircraft recognition, types of ammunition pyrotechnics, fuses and dinghys.

The following units were also at Stormy Down at some point:

• No. 2 Service Flying Training School RAF
• No. 3 Service Flying Training School RAF
• No. 7 Air Observers School RAF
• No. 7 Bombing & Gunnery School RAF
• No. 7 Service Flying Training School RAF
• No. 9 Armament Training Station RAF
• No. 9 Service Flying Training School RAF
• No. 14 Operational Training Unit RAF
• No. 23 (French) Initial Training Wing
• No. 32 (French) Personnel Reception Centre
• No. 68 Gliding School RAF

Trainees

• Raymond Edward Norton Butcher 21 Feb - 15 Apr 1942
• Billy Kendall Collins 20 Mar - 20 Apr 1942