OTU
No.9 Operational Training Unit
Following repatriation from America, via Canada, Len pictured above 3rd from left in the front row, was assigned to No. 9 OTU at Hullavington Airfield near Chippenham Wiltshire
No.41 O.T.U, Old Sarum
This picture was taken of Len (2nd row, 2nd from right) on 23 July 1942
Back row: Lawrie, Clark, Marshall, Randal, Burgess, Milne, Clarke, Bennett, Franklin
Front row: Coughlan, Gibbons, Steel, Thwaites, Holmes, Kempin, Brenard, Cope, Sowerbutts
41 OTU was originally formed from the Training Squadron of No.1 School of Army Co-operation at Old Sarum on 20 September 1941 within No 70 Group to train tactical reconnaissance pilots using Lysanders and Tomahawks. In March 1942 the Lysanders were retired and the following month Mustangs arrived to supplement the Tomahawks
Here Len trained to fly Tomahawks and Mustangs for tactical reconnaissance. The aerodynamically designed Mustang was ideal for ground attack and reconnaissance, as the video clip below shows
Mission Notes
Before each operation pilots had to make brief notes about the mission parameters – timings, callsigns, fuel and oil pressure readings, even addresses! Below are pages from F/O Bennett’s notebook
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