No. 1 Operational Conversion Unit RAAF

No. 1 Operational Conversion Unit RAAF
Front three-quarter view of camouflaged twin-engined military jet on display, with a smaller silver twin-engined jet behind
Canberra Mk.20 flown by No. 1 Operational Conversion Unit in 1970–71 following service in the Vietnam War, now on display at RAAF Base Wagga, New South Wales.[1]
Active1959–71
CountryAustralia
BranchRoyal Australian Air Force
RoleBomber conversion and operational training
Part ofNo. 82 Wing (1959–68)
Garrison/HQRAAF Base Amberley
Aircraft flown
BomberEnglish Electric Canberra

No. 1 Operational Conversion Unit (No. 1 OCU) was an operational training unit of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Formed in January 1959 at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland, its role was to convert pilots and navigators to the English Electric Canberra bombers flown by Nos. 1, 2 and 6 Squadrons. The unit's complement of Canberras included T.4 and Mk.21 dual-control trainers, and Mk.20 bombers. Originally a component of No. 82 Wing, No. 1 OCU became an independent unit at Amberley in April 1968, its focus being the provision of operationally ready pilots for service with No. 2 Squadron in the Vietnam War. No. 1 OCU was disbanded in June 1971, following the withdrawal of No. 2 Squadron from South-East Asia. By then the RAAF's only Canberra unit, No. 2 Squadron ran its own conversion courses before disbanding in 1982.

  1. ^ Bennett, Highest Traditions, pp. 399–402