No.1 B.C.D.U Feltwell April 1943

[Steve Smith]

Chaps,

I have four experienced pilots of No.218(Gold Coast) Squadron attached to the above in April 1943. Can any please explain what the Developement Unit actually did. ?

TIA

Steve

[malcolm_raf]

Hi Steve

I would assume they developed new techniques in marking, equipment and bomb developments, tactical developments etc

Malcolm

[Steve Smith]

[QUOTE=malcolm_raf;72377]Hi Steve

I would assume they developed new techniques in marking, equipment and bomb developments, tactical developments etc

Malcolm[/QUOTE]

Dear Malcolm,

Thank you for that, still not 100% certain about how the pilots were selected, none of the pilots were above flying officer ranks, not sure how they could have influenced or changed anything at squadron level, surely this would have been the role of the squadron leader flight commanders or wing commander ?

[COL BRUGGY]

Steve,

BOMBING DEVELOPMENT UNIT.

Formed 20.7.42 from No.1418 Gee Development Flight in No.3 Group at GRANSDEN LODGE with 2 Halifax, 1 Lancaster, 1 Stirling, 6 Wellington Ic and 1 Proctor.

6.4.43 FELTWELL

13.9.43 NEWMARKET

7.12.43 reorganised on a two-flight basis to include Development Flight and Radar Training Flight.

25.2.45 FELTWELL

22.3.45 strength 3 Halifax III, 9 Lancaster I/III, 1 Beaufighter I, 1 Proctor I, 1 Halifax VI, 1 Spitfire Vb, 1 Anson I.

10.45 to LINDHOLME.

Disbanded 27.11.45 - into CBE Marham?

List of representative aircraft follows.

See: RAFFT&SU/Sturtivant (1st ed.) pp.83-4.

Check 2nd edition for updates.

Col.

[Celt 22]

Hi Steve,
I have a photocopy of a Flight Engineers log book in which he did six ops with 44 Sqn, was then transfered to the BDU at Gransden Lodge in Sept '42, and remained with the unit until Nov '44 whereupon he was posted to 75 Sqn at Mepal to complete his tour of ops !!!!!! He was also a Sgt. when posted to the BDU.
Ian