Xercules
5 OTU Turnberry caught my eye as my father trained there as a Hampden pilot Sept 1942 to Feb 1943. 5(c) OTU was part of Coastal Command equiped with Beauforts and Hampdens both of which had been "fitted" with a single large torpedo for anti ship operations - you might see reference to 1 TTU Turnberry (Torpedo Training Unit). Right around Feb/Mar 1943 5 OTU moved to Long Kesh and Maghaberry. Turnberry retaining 1 TTU. I know that around the time your father was stationed in North Africa some graduating classes were being sent from Turnberry to Malta to shore up air support for the latter stages of Operation Torch (ousting Rommel from North Africa). Don't know anything about 5 Middle East Training School. Operation Torch ended in May '43 when the Germans capitulated.
If you are interested I can PM you with the e mail of a researcher having many records and photos of 5 OTU Turnberry.
Last edited by rmventuri; 7th Apr 2012 at 20:57.
Reason: corrections