OCU Numberplates

[57mm]

Have been trying to recall the number plates of the various OCUs. Grateful for any corrections/additions:

226 Lightning
227 ?
228 Phantom
229 Hunter
230 ?
231 Canberra
232 Victor
233 Harrier
235 ?
236 Nimrod
237 Buccaneer

[syncro_single]

List of conversion units of the Royal Air Force - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_conversion_units_of_the_Royal_Air_Force)

[DeanoP]

242 Transport: Hastings Valetta Beverley Andover Argosy Hercules

[taffyhammer]

230 Vulcan

[NutLoose]

240 Wessex / Puma combined
240 Puma / Chinook combined

[ShyTorque]

240 OCU became 27(R) Sqn during my last tour on that unit. As it was a helicopter unit, I thought the humming bird mascot, rather than Nellie the elephant, was more appropriate.

[NutLoose]

And Train for Battle, more akin to a British Railways platform announcement.

P.S. still have my Cloth Humming bird patch and OCU stickers along with my 240 OCU Chinook Ground Crew ones.

[Jhieminga]

241 VC10 C.1 (it's in the list on Wikipedia but deserves a mention here too).

[BEagle]

241 VC10 C.1 (it's in the list on Wikipedia but deserves a mention here too).
Not just the VC10CMk1 - 241OCU also trained VC10K crews as well as C1K AAR conversions for 10 Sqn truckies, before becoming 55(R) squadron for a short while.

[Jhieminga]

Good point, thanks BEagle! I got my numbers mixed up and copied the Wiki fact without thinking. 241 OCU became 55(R) Sqn around 1993 if I’m not mistaken.

[BEagle]

241 OCU became 55(R) from October 1993 - July 1994.

[chinook240]

240 OCU became 27(R) Sqn during my last tour on that unit. As it was a helicopter unit, I thought the humming bird mascot, rather than Nellie the elephant, was more appropriate.
And now 28 Sqn!

[Top West 50]

241 VC10 C.1 (it's in the list on Wikipedia but deserves a mention here too).
Quite so!

[binbrook]

In the 1950s 231 OCU did Canberra bomber conversion at Bassingbourn, but the PR element was at Merryfield with PR3s and AFAIR Meteor PR10s as well.

[NutLoose]

And now 28 Sqn!

And prior to the OCU it was the HOCU which when answering the phone was often mistaken for people saying.. Foc U as related to me by one of the older members on the OCU.

[kintyred]

240 OCU became 27(R) Sqn during my last tour on that unit. As it was a helicopter unit, I thought the humming bird mascot, rather than Nellie the elephant, was more appropriate.

And the incoming OC 27(R) Sqn directed that all 240 memorabilia be disposed of. Chinook240 and I rescued a fair bit of it and it was still on display when the Chinook OCU was part of 18 Sqn. I doubt that it survived the move to 28 Sqn. A shame. The hummingbird was such an appropriate symbol for the unit.

[ShyTorque]

And the incoming OC 27(R) Sqn directed that all 240 memorabilia be disposed of. Chinook240 and I rescued a fair bit of it and it was still on display when the Chinook OCU was part of 18 Sqn. I doubt that it survived the move to 28 Sqn. A shame. The hummingbird was such an appropriate symbol for the unit.

In that case, I glad I kept my humming bird cloth badge.
Last time I worked alongside 28 they flogged off their aircraft, let alone old memorabilia!

[teeonefixer]

And the incoming OC 27(R) Sqn directed that all 240 memorabilia be disposed of. Chinook240 and I rescued a fair bit of it and it was still on display when the Chinook OCU was part of 18 Sqn. I doubt that it survived the move to 28 Sqn. A shame. The hummingbird was such an appropriate symbol for the unit.<br /><br />Thread drift, but it reminds me of when the HIOS team moved across the airfield at Valley and took over the 19 Sqn portakabins. A pile of 74 Sqn memorabilia was found in a hidden corner. It was picked up by a pilot from 19 Sqn but we weren't certain it had found a safe home!

[Jetset 88]

241 OCU
Reminisences.........In the year-long backlogged pilot wait of 1970/71, I spent it as the Adjt of 241 OCU at Brize. The Brits (99 & 511 Sqns) had just moved in from Lyneham and so their Air Training Sqn (ATS) joined 241 OCU, training not only VC10 crews but those destined for Britannias and also 53 Sqn with its Belfasts. Wg Cdr Eric Reeves was my delightful boss who allowed me umpteen trips gaining route experience on all types. Apart from learning much about the RAF's admin system whilst in the office from a most competent SAC clerk, I also sat in on 3 Ground School courses in some subjects.
That was before actually having to do the course itself which then ended with a Global Trainer eastabout in September 1970 before joining 99. Would have done the job until Squadron disbandment in Jan 76 for no money, as the job satisfaction was so high and enjoyable, especially after getting into the left hand seat whilst still almost in short pants aged just 27. Posted then to Belfasts but didn't even get to start the course. On Day 1 they announced that 53 was going too. Sad days. Hot summer of '76 was therefore spent in a tatty Mini going up and down the A1 to and from the CFS course, which had just moved from Rissie to Cranwell and Leeming.

[Mach2]

Have been trying to recall the number plates of the various OCUs. Grateful for any corrections/additions:

226 Lightning
227 ?
228 Phantom
229 Hunter
230 ?
231 Canberra
232 Victor
233 Harrier
235 ?
236 Nimrod
237 Buccaneer

226 OCU became the Jaguar OCU at Lossiemouth after the demise of the Lightning OCU

[Archimedes]

227 OCU was the OCU for the airborne observation post squadrons. 235 was the flying boat conversion unit. Both were then redesignated (or disbanded and reformed under a new name, dependent upon source material); 227 became the AOP School and 235 the Flying Boat Training squadron (the nomenclature used for the unit at formation in 1939).The former unit disbanded when the AAC was formed; the latter in 1956 to reflect the reduction in the need for crews as the Sunderland headed towards final retirement.