32 Otu

[Kevin]

Hi guys,

According to this site http://www.rafweb.org/OTU_2.htm the codes DK, OP and RD were used at 32 OTU between September 1941 and October 1942. According to the Beaufort File both OP and RD were used on Beauforts using also the same identification letter, thus N1005 is shown as OP.A and also RD.A. This is somehow rather confusing. I am sure that there must have been a cut off date from one code to another. Can someone please explain this.

Kind regards

Kevin

[Bill Walker]

According to "RCAF Squadrons and Aircraft" by Kostenuk and Griffin, No. 32 OTU used "OP" from May to October 1942, and no codes after 16 October 1942. They don't list any unit using DK and RD, but their list is very short on non-squadron code assignements.

[Amrit]

Flintham & Thomas in "Combat Codes" states:

DK - 32 OTU c1941-1942 (use not known)
OP - 32 OTU May 1942-Oct 1942
RD - 34 OTU Sept 1941-May 1942


A

[Dakota]

G'day Chaps

The following might help answer some questions. It was extracted from the O.R.B.'s, crash cards and aircraft record cards.

Cheers...Chris

No. 32 (RAF) Operational Training Unit
Known Codes: HA, HM, RD, DK, LB, OP

No. 32 (RAF) Operational Training Unit was located at Patricia Bay, British Columbia and had formed at West Kirby, Cheshire, England on 7 August 1941. The OTU moved to Patricia Bay as of 22 August 1941 and became operational as of 10 December 1941. No. 32 (RAF) OTU was formed to train torpedo bombing crews.

Immediately after the Pearl Harbour attack by the Japanese, the OTU was temporarily designated as No. 32 (Torpedo-Bomber) Squadron RCAF. No. 32 (RAF) OTU was part of No. 4 Training Command. The Squadron reverted back to OTU status within a very short period of time. The OTU was later reactivated as No. 32 (TB) Squadron for a short time when the Japanese invaded the Aleutians. On 10 December 1943 the OTU converted to training Dakota crews and on 25 May 1944 moved to RCAF Station Comox, British Columbia. No. 32 (RAF) OTU was part of No. 4 Training Command.

No. 32 (RAF) OTU was turned over to the RCAF and redesignated as No. 6 (RCAF) Operational Training Unit on 1 June 1944. As No. 6 (RCAF) OTU they moved to RCAF Station Greenwood, Nova Scotia on 15 January 1946 and were then disbanded on 31 March of that year.

Beaufort Mk. I - L9967 RD*K later OP*K, L9968 RD*L later OP*L (Swung off the runway on landing at Patricia Bay on 4 February 1942 and ran into a three foot trench. The aircraft was repaired), N1005 RD*A later OP*A also DK*R (Swung to first to port then to starboard while taxing at Patricia Bay on 31 December 1941, went off the runway into a bank of earth and collapsed the starboard landing gear damaging the starboard wing, engine and propeller. The aircraft was repaired), N1006 RD*B (Glided to a landing at sea 8 miles south-east of Patricia Bay on 16 February 1942 after the starboard engine failed. The aircraft was written off), N1007 RD*C later OP*C, N1021 RD*D later OP*D, N1026 RD*O (Nosed over and struck the water after the port engine caught fire shortly after take-off from Patricia Bay on 29 May 1942. The aircraft was destroyed), N1027 RD*P later OP*N (Was struck by taxying Hampden AN107, same Unit, while parked at Patricia Bay on 26 October 1943. The aircraft was repaired), N1029 RD*E later OP*E, N1030 RD*F later OP*F, N1045 RD*G later OP*G, N1078 RD*H later OP*H (Jumped the chocks and the propellers struck wooden trestles while on an engine run-up at Patricia Bay on 7 November 1941. The aircraft was repaired), N1107 RD*J (The starboard landing gear struck an open drainage ditch after swinging to starboard on landing at Patricia Bay on 14 January 1942. The aircraft was repaired), W6473 RD*M (Made a force landing on rough ground Rodeo, New Mexico on 27 March 1942 after the port engine failed then fell from the aircraft. The aircraft was written off), W6484 RD*N later OP*N (Swung and ground looped to port while taking off from Patricia Bay on 20 June 1942 and collapsed the landing gear. The starboard propeller and reduction gear was torn from the aircraft when the aircraft struck the ground. The aircraft was repaired),

Beaufort Mk. II -

Lysander Mk. IIIA - 2407, 2408, 2409, 2410 (Taxied into a control trailer at Patricia Bay on 5 April 1943 when the starboard brake failed. The aircraft was repaired),
Anson Mk. I - 6006, 6095, 6228, 6301, 6388, 6534, 6539, 6557, 6567, 6693, 6728, 6852 *Z (Made a landing on the starboard wheel as the port oleo failed to lower for a landing at Patricia Bay on 2 January 1944 due to mechanical failure. The aircraft was repaired), 6869 (Ditched into the Pacific about 60 miles off shore at position 4810’N 12609’W on 23 August 1943 due to the starboard engine failing), 6897, 6974 (The port wing failed, possibly due to striking a tree, and crashed into a house and burned out at Qualicum Beach, British Columbia on 4 June 1943. The aircraft was destroyed), 6976, 6978, 6990, K8775, K8786 *G, L7054, L7056 (Went missing while on a routine navigation exercise near Vancouver Island, British Columbia on 30 October 1942. The aircraft was written off), L7911 (Struck a stand of trees while attempting a force landing in fog near Vancouver University on 2 October 1942. The aircraft was written off), L7959, L7961, N4897 (Taxied into taxying Bolingbroke 9004, from No. 8 (BR) Squadron, on the taxi-strip at RCAF Station Sea Island on 20 May 1942. The aircraft was repaired. Severely damaged the landing after swinging on landing at Patricia Bay on 30 January 1943. The aircraft was repaired), N4901 (Ditched at position 49º30’N 124º5’W off of Pender Island, British Columbia on 22 August 1942. The aircraft was salvaged for spares and was written off), N4924 (Damaged in a forced landing at Penticton, British Columbia on 15 September 1941 due to engine failure. The aircraft was repaired), N4938, N5018, N5023, N5162, N5208, N5370, N9547, N9560 (Flew into a stand of trees while low flying west of Nanoose Bay, Vancouver Island, British Columbia on 16 December 1942. The aircraft was destroyed), N9786, N9818 (Struck a mountain peak near Yale, British Columbia on 21 September 1941. The aircraft was destroyed), N9983, R3338, R3383, R3431 (Flew into the sea north-east of Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, while on a search for Anson N9560, same unit, on 17 December 1942. The aircraft was destroyed), R9609, R9670, R9691, R9700, R9739, AX163, AX164, AX165,

Anson Mk. II - 7118,

Anson Mk. III - 6948 (Suffered damage at McLeod, Alberta and later scrapped. Exact date of damage is unknown),

Anson Mk. V - 12385, 12386,

Hampden B.1 - L4142, L6069, P1167, P1230 (The port propeller flew off the engine near Saanichton, British Columbia on 7 November 1943. The aircraft was repaired), P1311, P2067, P5298 (Was struck by taxying Hampden AJ997, same unit, while parked at Patricia Bay on 8 November 1943. The aircraft was repaired), P5336 (Taxied into an unidentified aircraft at Patricia Bay on 15 October 1943. The aircraft was repaired), P5399 (Swung and collapsed the landing gear on landing at Patricia Bay on 27 November 1942. The aircraft was repaired. The landing gear collapsed on take-off from Patricia Bay on 16 September 1943. The aircraft was written off), P5400 (Swung while taking off from Patricia Bay on 5 August 1942 collapsing the landing rear and breaking it’s back. The aircraft was written off), P5421 (The landing gear collapsed on landing at Patricia Bay on 28 November 1941. The aircraft was repaired), P5422, P5423, P5424 (Swung to port and collapsed the landing gear on landing at Patricia Bay on 13 June 1942. The aircraft was repaired. Undershot a landing at Patricia Bay on 10 November 1943 and ran off the end of the runway. The aircraft was written off), P5425 (Swung on landing at Patricia Bay on 13 March 1943 struck soft ground and sheared off the landing gear. The aircraft was written off), P5427 (The aircraft was abandoned and crashed near Sidney, British Columbia on 31 July 1943 when control was lost due to a failure of the elevators while on an air test. The aircraft was destroyed), P5428 (Stalled and collapsed the port oleo on landing at Patricia Bay on 24 October 1942. The aircraft was repaired. Was struck by taxying Hampden P5429, same unit, at Patricia Bay on 5 September 1943 The aircraft was repaired), P5429 *HMB (Taxied into parked Hampden P5428, same unit, on 5 September 1943. The aircraft was written off), P5430, P5431 (Force landed in a field near Patricia Bay after the starboard engine failed on 24 February 1943. The aircraft was written off), P5432 (Collapsed the landing gear after swinging to port and ground looping on landing at Patricia Bay on 2 December 1942. The aircraft was written off), P5433 (Ground looped and collapsed the starboard oleo on landing at Patricia Bay on 17 October 1942. The aircraft was repaired. Dove vertically into Saanich Inlet on 14 March 1943 and exploded. The aircraft was destroyed), P5434 (Swung on landing at Patricia Bay on 4 July 1942 and collapsed the landing gear. The aircraft was repaired. Swung to starboard on take-off from Patricia Bay on 26 April 1943. The starboard wing struck a mound of earth and drove the oleo through the wing. A wheels up landing was made on the grass infield but the Hampden was destroyed by fire), P5435, P5436 (Ditched into the Saanich Inlet after developing a severe yaw after a torpedo drop on 15 November 1942. This aircraft was raised from 600 feet of water in 1986 and is undergoing restoration), AD751, AD961, AE295, AE363, AJ988 (Flew into the sea and exploded after an engine failed while low flying off Patricia Bay on 25 October 1942. The aircraft was destroyed), AJ989 (Crashed into the sea off Sidney Island after an engine fire on 10 July 1942. The aircraft was destroyed), AJ990 *HAO (Taxied into a communications trailer at Patricia Bay on 10 August 1943 damaging the port propeller. The aircraft was repaired), AJ991 *HAN (Bounced on landing, overshoot and overturned at Tofino on 27 May 1943 when the engine quit during night training. The aircraft was written off), AJ992 *HAJ (Crashed into the sea in bad weather on 14 June 1943 about 20 km West of Cape Flattery. The aircraft was written off), AJ993 *HAP (Lost at sea on 19 September 1943 when the aircraft dove into the water during bad visibility. The aircraft was written off), AJ994 (Spun into the ground at Retreat Cove on Galiano Island, British Columbia while conducting single engine flying training on 28 September 1943. The aircraft was destroyed), AJ995 (Swung on take-off and collapsed the port oleo at Patricia Bay on 12 August 1943. The aircraft was written off), AJ996 (Collapsed the port landing gear at Patricia Bay on 23 July 1943 in a heavy landing. The aircraft was written off), AJ997 *H2 (Taxied into parked Hampden P5298, same unit, at Patricia Bay on 8 November 1943. The aircraft was repaired), AJ998 (The landing gear collapsed due to mechanical failure while taxying at Patricia Bay on 6 December 1942. The aircraft was repaired. Under shot a landing at Patricia Bay on 4 September 1943 and burned out. The aircraft was destroyed), AJ999, AN100 (Reported missing on 4 June 1943 while on a navigation training flight from Patricia Bay. The aircraft was written off), AN101 (Swung to port and struck the aerodrome control hut at Patricia Bay on 20 December 1942. The aircraft was repaired. Lost power and struck the sea off Turn Point Light on 9 October 1943 during a torpedo drop off Stuart Island. The aircraft was destroyed), AN102 (Swung to port and collapsed the landing gear on landing at Patricia Bay on 29 November 1942. The aircraft was repaired. The landing gear collapsed on landing at Patricia Bay on 23 July 1943. The aircraft was written off), AN103 (Struck the propeller against the sea about 1¾ miles south of Fairfax Point, British Columbia on 19 October 1943. The aircraft was repaired), , AN104, AN105 (Flew into Mount Tuam on Saltspring Island, British Columbia on 4 October 1942 while on a night training flight. The aircraft was destroyed), AN106, AN107 (Taxied into Beaufort N1027, same Unit, at Patricia Bay on 26 October 1943 and damaged a wing tip. The aircraft was repaired), AN108, AN109 (Swung on take-off from Patricia Bay on 3 July 1942 collapsing the landing gear. The aircraft was repaired), AN110 (Swung on take-off from Patricia Bay on 3 July 1942 and collapsed the landing gear. The aircraft was repaired. Collapsed of the landing gear on take-off from Patricia, August 1942, exact date unknown. The aircraft was repaired. Undershot a single engine landing at Patricia Bay on 24 January 1943. The aircraft was written off), AN111, AN112, AN113 (Crashed into the bomb dump at Patricia Bay on 18 May 1943 when the starboard engine failed on take-off. The aircraft was destroyed), AN114 (Nosed up during a heavy landing on 6 May 1953 at Patricia Bay damaging the nose and both engines. The aircraft converted into a ground training airframe), AN115 (Crashed at Regina, Saskatchewan on 6 January 1943 while on a ferry flight. The aircraft was written off and reduced to spares), AN116, AN117, AN118 (Swung and collapsed the starboard oleo on take-off from Patricia Bay on 18 November 1942. The aircraft was repaired), AN119, AN120, AN121 (Severely damaged after nosing up while taxying at Patricia Bay on 17 January 1943. The aircraft was repaired. Dove into the sea in an inverted condition off Cowichan Head on 13 April 1943 after entering a steep climbing left hand turn at the completion of a bombing run. The aircraft was destroyed), AN122 (All three blades of the port propeller struck the water in the low flying area between Moresby Island and Sydney Island on 12 March 1943. The aircraft was repaired. Made a wheels up landing at Patricia Bay on 19 April 1943 due to mechanical failure. The aircraft was repaired. Swung on take-off and collapsing the landing gear at Patricia Bay on 21 January 1944. The aircraft was written off), AN128 (The landing gear collapsed on landing at Patricia Bay on 26 October 1942. The aircraft was written off), AN129, AN130, AN131 (Struck trees on the top of a hill 6 miles south-west of Ladysmith, British Columbia due to fog on 30 November 1943 and caught fire. The aircraft was destroyed), AN132 (Ran off the end of the runway and collapsed the landing after failing to become airborne while taking off from Patricia Bay on 8 December 1942. The aircraft was repaired. Flew into a hill north-west of Maggie Lake, near Ucluelet, British Columbia on 16 October 1943 while on a night navigation exercise. The aircraft was destroyed), AN133 (Swung to port on landing at Patricia Bay on 15 April 1943 and collapsed the landing gear. The aircraft was written off), AN134 (A number of bullet holes were found in the rear fuselage while doing an after flight check at Patricia Bay on 1 October 1943. The aircraft was repaired), AN135 (Crashed into the sea off Gulf Island, British Columbia on 18 May 1943 after the starboard engine failed. The aircraft was destroyed), AN136 (Flew into Mount Tuam on Saltspring Island on 14 January 1944 during a solo night training exercise. The aircraft was destroyed), AN138, AN139 (The port oleo collapsed while waiting to take off from Patricia Bay on 25 March 1943. The aircraft was repaired. Severely damaged on 17 April 1943. The aircraft was repaired), AN140 (Severely damaged after taxying into a crash tender at Patricia Bay on 30 November 1942. The aircraft was written off), AN141 (Ditched into the sea off James Island on 18 August 1943 after the starboard engine failed. The aircraft was written off), AN142 (Swung while attempting a landing with the starboard engine out at Patricia Bay on 23 May 1943. The aircraft caught fire and burned out), AN143 (Swung on take-off and collapsed the landing gear at Patricia Bay on 10 June 1942. The aircraft was converted into an instructional airframe), AN144 (Swung and collapsed the landing gear on take-off from Patricia Bay on 25 November 1942. The aircraft was repaired), AN145 (Swung to starboard on take-off and collapsed the landing gear at Patricia Bay on 16 March 1943 and caught fire. The aircraft was destroyed), AN146 (Spun into the ground on approach to Patricia Bay on 17 September 1943 and caught fire. The aircraft was repaired), AN147, AN150,

Hampden T.B. Mk. I - L4145 (Swung first to port then starboard on landing at Patricia Bay on 15 October 1943 and collapsed the landing gear. The aircraft was written off), L4157, P1200 (Went missing on 28 January 1944 while on a night navigation exercise. The aircraft was written off), P2133, X3137, X3149, AD754, AD767 (Dove into the ground at Dinner Point, Mayne Island, British Columbia on 13 January 1944 while making a turn to port. The aircraft was destroyed), AE258, AT147,

Oxford Mk. I - T1127, T1167 (The port engine failed on take-off from Patricia Bay on 26 February 1943 causing the aircraft to swing to starboard and strike a mound of earth. The aircraft was repaired), X7147, AS688,
Oxford Mk. II - X7118, X7147, X7147, AS912, AS920, AS922 (Taxied into a hangar at Patricia Bay on 3 January 1943. The aircraft was repaired), BM682, BM772, BM801, BM805, BM807, BM808

Dakota Mk. III - FL595, FL598, FL615, FL616, FL618 *DM, FL621, FL650 (Went missing at sea on 17 March 1944 while on a night navigational exercise. The aircraft was destroyed), FZ557, FZ558, FZ571, FZ575, FZ576 (Flew into high ground 4 miles north of Port Hardy on 20 April 1944. The aircraft was destroyed), FZ581 (Crashed into the sea off Patricia Bay on 26 February 1944 after fluid sprayed on the windshield, instruments and the pilot causing lose of visibility. The aircraft was destroyed), FZ583 (CHECK CRASH CARDS FOR 27 JUNE 1945), FZ584, FZ586, FZ596 (Lost at sea on 22 August 1944. The aircraft was written off CHECK CRASH CARDS), FZ634, FZ635 (Bounced on landing at Patricia Bay on 3 March 1944 and tipped onto its nose. The aircraft was repaired), KG382, KG479, KG485,

Dakota Mk. IIIN - 963,

Expeditor Mk. I - HB100 (Went missing off the lower mainland of British Columbia while on a ferry flight from RCAF Station Rockcliffe on 16 January 1944. The aircraft was destroyed), HB102, HB103, HB121, HB123, HB124 (Went out of control in bad weather and crashed inverted into a stand of tall fir trees near NAS Whitby Island, Washington on 12 April 1944. The aircraft was destroyed), HB127, HB129 (Went missing in bad weather on 19 May 1944 while on a night navigational exercise. The aircraft was destroyed), HB139, HB140, HB142, HB145, HB146 (Ditched between James and Vancouver Islands, British Columbia on 19 February 1944 due to engine failure. The aircraft was destroyed),
Expeditor Mk. IM - HB109 (Nosed up after running off the runway on landing at Boundary Bay on 22 January 1944. The aircraft was repaired), HB110, HB114 (Damaged the landing gear on a heavy landing at Comox on 19 May 1945. The aircraft was repaired), HB115, HB119, HB122, HB125, HB126, HB130,

Expeditor Mk. IMN - HB101, HB105 (Was struck by taxying Expeditor HB135, same Unit, while waiting to take-off from RCAF Station Boundary Bay on 19 February 1944. The aircraft was repaired), HB111, HB112, HB113, HB116, HB117, HB118, HB120, HB135 (Taxied into stationary Expeditor HB105, same Unit, on the runway at RCAF Station Boundary Bay on 19 February 1944. The aircraft was repaired), HB136, HB137, HB144 (Ground looped and damaged the rear fuselage at Comox on 10 May 1944. The aircraft was repaired),

Expeditor Mk. II - HB207, HB212,

[Kevin]

Hello Chris,

Wonderfull stuff. Thank you so much for that information. May I be a little more cheeky and ask if you have the details of the crew for the accidents on the Beauforts please that maybe you could forward me by e-mail.

Thanks also to Amrit and Bill.

Kind regards

Kevin