"To RAF Base Gosport for BTS" Date... 1930's "BTS" Meaning

[paulmcmillan]

I have a few RN Naval Pilots (going to RAF Base Gosport for BTS) in the early 1930's

I assume it is something to do with Torpedo training ?

Bu can anyone tell me what BTS means ??

I also have see

S1651 Deld D Flt "BTS" Gosport ('D5') by 2.32 - @3.32; cv to Baffin


Many Thanks
Paul

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello,

One meaning of BTS - Base Training Station.

Col.

[Resmoroh]

Or 'Squadron'? But neither Sturtivant, nor RAFWEB, list a similar possibility. Paul - is this typescript, or hand-written?
HTH
Peter Davies

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello,

My reference for "BTS" - Base Training Station, is Ray Sturtivant, in his :The Swordfish Story (Glossary), p.8.

Col.

[paulmcmillan]

I thought it may have been

Base Training Squadron (from very wide google search)

But then BINGO

"The Base Training Squadrons at Gosport and Leuchars are also to get the
" Nimrod " in place of the " Flycatcher.""

https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1931/1931%20-%201200.html?search=gosport



It is in numerous Postings announced in Flight in early 1930's an example

https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1932/1932%20-%200847.html?search=gosport


Thanks to you all

[paulmcmillan]

Once you get a "way in"

Military Airfields of Britain: Southern England

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=MqR8AwAAQBAJ&pg=PT197&dq=%22Base+Training+Squadron%22+Navy&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22Base%20Training%20Squadron%22%20Navy&f=false

A number of operational and other units came and went during the 1920's
but Gosport remained primarily a trials unit, a role that increased in 1930
with the formation of the base Training Squadron, with four main
flights

Four Main Fights
A = Army and Navy Co-operation
B - TAG Training
C - Deck Landing
D - Torpedo training


I now know that my "man" Lt Patrick George Osric Sydney-Turner RN attached RAF was on D Flight at Gosport flying an "unknown" Ripon on March 10, 1932 when he had to use a parachute

"The second escape with the Irvin Quick-Release Equipment was effected by Lieut. Sidney-Turner, R.N., attached to the R.A.F. He was flying a Blackburn "Ripon" torpedo bomber off Gosport, Hants, practising torpedo dropping attacks in formation. Being the last to go down to attack, he put the aircraft into a stern dive, then it took control and started a stabilised dive on its back at 4,000 feet. At 2,000 feet he abandoned it after trying in vain to correct it, and soon had his Irvin Air Chute open. It functioned perfectly, he said, and he checked hit descent fifty feet from the water.
He alighted about 200 yards away from the aircraft and spent twenty minutes in the water (temperature 38 degrees) waiting to be picked up. The Quick-Release Harness worked well, was his other comment, and a slight delay in pulling the rip cord ring, which has occurred, was entirely due to the fact that he was wearing gloves."


He had learned to fly at RAF Leuchars from May 1931 and then when qualified went to the newly re-commissioned HMS Furious after the incident above

He flew and commanded Sqn's during ww2 and died in 1947 (but I am unsure how)


The only remaining unknown is the aircraft he was flying it may be S1651 Deld D Flt BTS Gosport ('D5') by 2.32 - @3.32; cv to Baffin

Assuming the aircraft was recovered and repairable

[Resmoroh]

Col (et al),
I was using Sturtivant's "FT&SU since 1912". Problem appears to have been solved (except!!) - what did a Base Training Squadron actually do? Or was it just one of those inventions that were there for "ease of administrative purposes" so that flying Units, their blokes/paraphernalia, etc, etc, could be accommodated/dispersed without too much 'difficulty', and too many signals/letters to Wing/Group/Command??
HTH
Peter Davies

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello,

Re: SYDNEY-TURNER.

HMS FURIOUS

Fleet Carrier. First commissioned as a Fleet carrier in September 1925. Placed in reserve in September 1944.

London Gazette 25 June 1940 - For air operations over the Norwegian Coast.

SYDNEY-TURNER, Patrick George Osric - LtCdr. MiD.

See:

Seedie's List of Fleet Air Arm Awards 1939 - 1969. p.37.

See also:

Fledgling Eagles
Shores,Christopher et al.
London:Grub Street,1991.
p.259.

and...

12.4.40 (Swordfish) P4212?/'U3A' - 818 Sqn 'Furious' Ditched Ofot Fjord in attack on German warships at Narvik.

Pilot: Lt-Cdr P.G.O. Sydney-Turner RN
Obs: Lt W.B. Kellett RN
TAG: P/O W.H. Dillnutt

Rescued by destroyer "Grenade".

The Swordfish Story
Strurtivant,Ray
London:Arms and Armour,1993
pp.28,176 & 199.

Col.

[paulmcmillan]

Col thanks for that I was unaware he was MiD

[COL BRUGGY]

Paul,

Forgot to add the link - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34882/supplement/3919

Col.

[paulmcmillan]

"
He flew and commanded Sqn's during ww2 and died in 1947 (but I am unsure how)"

Friday, 7 November 1947

Peregrine

SYDNEY-TURNER, Patrick G O, Lieutenant Commander, died


Coventry Evening Telegraph - Saturday 08 November 1947 OFFICER DEAD ON FLOATING BRIDGE Lieut.-Commander Patrick George Osric Sydney-Turner (38) of the Royal Naval Air Station. Lee-on-Solent. Hants. was found shot dead shortly alter midnight last night on floating bridge which runs between Southampton and Woolston. A passenger on the bridge heard a shot. and found Commander Sydney-Turner lying on the deck with a bullet wound in his forehead. Near his hand was a .45 automatic pistol. He was in civilian clothes. He left the air station yesterday evening apparently to visit his parents at Southampton.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woolston_Floating_Bridge