29 OTU "Special Op" 22 April 1944 over France

**PeteS** · 21st October 2020, 16:58

Earlier in the war I know that a lot of crews did an Op or two while at OTU but I didnt realise that Wellington OTU's were still being used for leafletting in April 1944, would this have counted as a Sortie towards completion of an airman's tour ?

cheers PeteS
https://630squadron.wordpress.com/

**malcolm_raf** · 22nd October 2020, 10:07

Hi Pete

I don't believe it would count as it was part of the training syllabus.

Malcolm

**ClintCoffey** · 22nd October 2020, 16:40

Hi Pete,
My Dad and crew did a "nickel" raid to Nantes in late November of '43 while at No.22 O.T.U. It wasn't counted as an Op in my Dad's logbook, so I agree with Malcolm, that it was sort of a graduation test.
Cheers, Clint

**PeteS** · 22nd October 2020, 17:21

Thank you Gents

**PeteS** · 27th October 2020, 14:14

I just noted one in particular, night of 20/21 Dec 43, a 91 Group, 23 OTU Wellington near Caen, 15,000 feet at 2015 hours, sighted unidentified twin engine approaching. Rear gunner fired a long burst at 200 yards. Enemy aircraft broke away port engine on fire and went down in flames witnessed by the crew.

I bet that gunner felt aggrieved at not having that trip counted towards his tour.

cheers PeteS
https://630squadron.wordpress.com/

**ClintCoffey** · 28th October 2020, 16:29

Hear, Hear Pete! I does seem very unfair these O.T.U. operations were not counted. In my Dad's class at S.F.T.S. the student who came in top of the class (Flying Officer David Webster) went to 24 O.T.U. and was killed along with his crew when they were shot down by flak over France (dropping leaflets as their graduation test!) .And what about O.T.U. crews taking part in spoof raids of various kinds...the risks must have been very real. I wonder if there were any crews who were killed on the last operation of their tour, who would have been screened already if these O.T.U. ops had been counted....?
Cheers, Clint