No. 83 Group Support Unit RAF was a "holding unit" for aircraft and pilots in WW2, supplying them to operational RAF combat squadrons.
No. 83 Group Support Unit (83 GSU) | |
|---|---|
| Active | March 1944 – October 1945 |
| Disbanded | October 1945 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Role | Supply pilots and aircraft for operational squadrons |
| Part of | No. 83 Group RAF |
| Garrison/HQ | RAF Redhill (March-June 1944) |
| Engagements | World War Two |
| Battle honours | WW2 |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Typhoon, North American Mustang |
History edit
No 83 SGU was formed in March 1944 at RAF Redhill, and was there until 25 June 1944 ([1]) later moving to RAF Bognor, RAF Thorney Island, RAF Westhampnett and RAF Dunsfold in Surrey.[1][2]
No 83 GSU maintained a substantial number of combat aircraft of all types, ready to replace losses in combat squadrons in the field. Pilots were often "rotated out" to combat squadrons within a few days of arrival. The instructors were usually pilots who were "resting" between operational tours.[1] 83 GSU also operated "conversion flights" to train pilots on new aircraft types and maintain combat readiness of the existing pool of pilots.[1]
In November 1944 83 GSU arrived at RAF Westhampnett in West Sussex, bringing with it Spitfires, Mustangs and Typhoons.[3]
Flying accidents were not uncommon. On 9 February 1945 Flight Officer John Nesbitt Beattie was flying Typhoon 1B Serial MN704 when the aircraft suffered an engine malfunction leading to a crash in which Beattie was killed.[4] On June 26, 1945, Flight Lieutenant Theos Llewellyn Lewis was flying Typhoon 1B EK432 over Dunsfold, Surrey carrying out a practice rocket attack on the aerodrome when his aircraft crashed and he was killed.[5]
83 GSU RAF was disbanded in October 1945.[2]
References edit
- ^ a b c 83 GSU RAF at www.rafcommands.com Retrieved 10 May 2022
- ^ a b 83 GSU at discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk Retrieved 10 May 2022]
- ^ Hiller, Mark A Fighter Command Station at War (2015 Retrieved 10 May 2022
- ^ 83 GSU at aircrewremembered.com Retrieved 10 May 2022
- ^ 83 GSU RAF at thetyphoonproject.org Retrieved 10 May 2022
External links edit
- 83 GSU at discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk Retrieved 10 May 2022
- 83 GSU RAF at www.rafcommands.com Retrieved 10 May 2022
- 83 GSU RAF at thetyphoonproject.org Retrieved 10 May 2022
- 83 GSU at aviation-safety.net Retrieved 10 May 2022