HCU's providing new crews to 5 Group

[PeteS]

I know that in 1944-1945 No. 51 Base (1654, 1660 and 1661 HCU's) were the source of a high proportion of new crews for 5 Group squadrons, but would they have been the only source or would some crews have come from other HCU's, particularly in the period before April 1944 ?

It's an aspect I've never really looked at previously and realise that I have a gap in my reading/knowledge.

Thanks for any advice.

[PeteT]

Pete

I can provide you with the development of training within 5 Group prior to the creation of 51 BASE if that is any use to you; however, I think you are asking if 5 Group crews came from say 41 BASE. Is my reading of your thread correct? (Do you want the history?)

Regards

Pete

PS Your PM box is full

[PeteS]

Hi Pete T
I've sorted my PM box, thanks for the nudge on that.

I'm trying to discover if all 5 Group new crews (not those on 2nd tours etc) would have come through the 5 Group HCU's, so for example would I expect to find the vast majority of sprog crews joining 57 Squadron in the summer of 1944 appearing in the records of one of these three HCU's ?

Incidentally I am struggling to find an Air29 for 1661 HCU after Jan 44, does anybody know if it survived ?
Thanks.

[PeteT]

Pete

A very quick look through 35 Squadron ORB's for around that period show individual officers coming from HCU's other than the ones at 4 Group's "41 Base"; however, without doing a more detailed search it is not possible to establish if "complete crews" came in from anywhere other than 41 Base.

I am sure that "as a rule" crews came through the "base" route, but as we know, there will be examples where they didn't.

For completeness, I guess you will have to check "arrivals" in 57 Squadron ORB's.

Regards

Pete