3 (Coastal) OTU

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by archivist, Dec 19, 2014.

  1. archivist

    archivist Well-Known Member

    Can anyone help with information on the above unit which was disbanded on 4th January 1944. I am trying to track (backwards) the progress of Kornel Pawel Nakoneczny who graduated as a wireless operator from this unit at RAF Haverfordwest just two days before it disbanded.

    How long would he have been training there and where was he likely to have been before he was posted there? I know hat is a long shot but even the length of his course would be helpful. Most of his contemporaries came via 6 (C) OTU or 18 OTU.
     
  2. DaveB

    DaveB Very Senior Member

    A couple of people on here offer a service to copy files at The National Archives at Kew (TNA) - searching for OTU & Coastal produces a bunch of results such as:

    AIR 29/705 - 3 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit (OTU), Chivenor, Cranwell and Haverfordwest (UK) 1940 Oct.-1943 Dec


    Would obtaining one of those files help??
     
  3. archivist

    archivist Well-Known Member

    Hello DaveB,

    Thanks for your response. I don't know whether they would help or not as I don't know what is in them.

    Regardless of that, I am going to TNA early in the New Year and so I will check those files out for myself and copy what I need from them

    Regards
    Neville
     
  4. Red Goblin

    Red Goblin Senior Member

    Hi Neville,

    I'm certainly no expert on this but have scratched around the subject a bit re an air gunner cousin of mine lost on a 3[C]OTU exercise out of Cranwell 1st Feb 1943. Their courses lasted ~2 months - see my View attachment notes re 3(C)OTU.pdf re that - happily for you, including my transcript of WO S E Willis' flying log book covering his Sep-Nov 1943 3[C]OTU course split between Templeton and Haverford West.

    HTH,
    Steve
     
  5. archivist

    archivist Well-Known Member

    Hello Steve,

    HTH??? That helps very much!!

    Previously I was aware of odd occasions when 304 Squadron used 3(C)OTU for example a very experienced ferry pilot transferred into the Squadron - but one aircraft he had never flown was a Wellington so he was sent there for familiarisation on Wellingtons.

    The airman I am checking out was sent there (for reasons unknown) but you have taken the mystery out of it by showing me that the training was the same so it might just have been expedient to send him there at the time they did.

    The two examples I have given arrived at 304 Squadron on the same day and probably met at Haverfordwest and then again on arrival at 304 Squadron - so it is easier to understand how and why they teamed up as part of a crew who did a full tour of duty together.

    I am very grateful for your help. Now, when I go to TNA I will just be looking at ORBs and possibly course photos.

    Thanks again
    Neville
     
  6. Red Goblin

    Red Goblin Senior Member

    It hadn't even occurred to me that they might even have such photos - so please clue me in for 1942's Xmastide course 19 if so ...

    And don't neglect the airfield's ORB while you're at it - I didn't point it out on p2 of my notes but they can provide context missing from the OTU's. I believe that year-end summary at the top, for instance, came from thus looking at the wider picture. Nor forget my p3 point about inconsistency possibly thwarting you ... being typwritten, unlike most WW1 field diaries, it's virtually impossible to be sure but I suspect the ORB was written up on a rota basis - so what actually got recorded largely depended on the memory, whim & conscientiousness of (not to forget time circumstantially available to) whichever lucky person it fell upon to fulfil that duty on any given day.

    Dunramblin',
    Steve
     
  7. archivist

    archivist Well-Known Member

    Hello Steve,

    I am very well aware of the ORB situation and I am sure that you are right about delays, inconsistency and conscientiousness of the people who recorded them. The incident that started me off on this research involved the loss of a Wellington bomber (brand new - just 3 weeks old) and quite serious injuries to the four men on board. No mention at all in the squadron ORB and only a very brief one in the station ORB.

    I will certainly look to see if there are any group photos etc for the time around Christmas 1942 and let you know.

    Regards
    Neville
     
  8. Janette16

    Janette16 New Member

    Hello Neville, Kornel was actually my grandfather although neither my mum or I ever knew him. Any info you have would be much appreciated.
    Jan
     
  9. archivist

    archivist Well-Known Member

    Hello Jan,

    In the (nearly) two years since I posted this item, I have found out some more information on your Grandfather. It is on the hard drive on my computer - I am not using my own machine at the moment. Please bear with me and I will send it to you in a couple of hours.

    Regards
    Neville
     
  10. archivist

    archivist Well-Known Member

    Hello Jan,

    I have discovered a fair bit about your Grandfather - too much to post here. Please contact me on nevillebougourd@gmail.com and I will send it directly to you. There are also photographs.

    Regards
    Neville
     

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