# No. 53 Operational Training Unit RAF

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{{Short description|Operational Training Unit of the Royal Air Force}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= No. 53 Operational Training Unit<BR>90px
| image= Sgt.-Kreb-823x322.jpg
| image_size = 250
|caption= 55 Sgt. W.M. Krebs photographed in the cockpit of [Spitfire](/source/Supermarine_Spitfire) Mk 1A P9375 in 53 OTU [RAF, Heston](/source/Heston_Aerodrome)
|dates= 1941 – 1945
|country= {{flagicon|UK}} [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom)
|allegiance=
|branch= {{air force|UK}}
|type= Operational Training Unit
|role= Pilot [Training](/source/Training)
|size=
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|nickname= 53 OTU
|patron=
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|battles= [World War Two](/source/World_War_Two)
|anniversaries=
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|disbanded=
|flying_hours=
|website=
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<!-- Aircraft -->
|aircraft_attack=
|aircraft_bomber=
|aircraft_electronic=
|aircraft_fighter=[Supermarine Spitfire](/source/Supermarine_Spitfire)
|aircraft_helicopter=
|aircraft_helicopter_attack=
|aircraft_helicopter_cargo=
|aircraft_helicopter_multirole=
|aircraft_helicopter_observation=
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}}
'''No. 53 Operational Training Unit''' RAF was an Operational Training Unit of the [Royal Air Force](/source/Royal_Air_Force), formed in 1941 to train Spitfire pilots, and disbanded in 1945.

==History==
53 OTU RAF was an Operational Training Unit of the [Royal Air Force](/source/Royal_Air_Force). It was formed at [RAF Heston](/source/RAF_Heston) in February 1941 to train [Spitfire](/source/Supermarine_Spitfire) pilots for [Fighter Command](/source/Fighter_Command).<ref name="rafweb">[https://www.rafweb.org/Organsation/OTU_3.htm 53 OTU at www.rafweb.org] Retrieved 9 May 2022</ref> In July 1941 it moved to [RAF Llandow](/source/RAF_Llandow) in [Wales](/source/Wales), and in May 1943 to [RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey](/source/RAF_Kirton-in-Lindsey) in [Lincolnshire](/source/Lincolnshire). Pilots trained initially on [Miles Master](/source/Miles_Master) aircraft and later on Spitfires.

Had a German invasion of England taken place, 53 OTU RAF would have become No's 553 and 554 Squadron, operating from [RAF Church Fenton](/source/RAF_Church_Fenton).<ref name="rafweb"/>

When WW2 ended in Europe, No 53 OTU was disbanded at Kirton-in-Lindsey on 15 May 1945.<ref name="rafweb"/><ref>[https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7161026 53 OTU at nationalarchives.gov.uk] Retrieved 9 May 2022</ref>

== Commanding Officers ==
* March 1943 [Wing Commander](/source/Wing_Commander) P H Hamley
* 18 May 1943 [Group Captain](/source/Group_Captain) G C Tomlinson
* 24 November 1943 Group Captain J G Hawtrey
* 18 January 1945 Group Captain M H Rhys<ref name="rafweb"/>

==See also==
*[List of Royal Air Force Operational Training Units](/source/List_of_Royal_Air_Force_Operational_Training_Units)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7161026 53 OTU at nationalarchives.gov.uk] Retrieved 9 May 2022
*[http://aircrewremembered.com/carruthers-donald.html 53 OTU at aircrewremembered.com] Retrieved 9 May 2022
*[https://www.rafweb.org/Organsation/OTU_3.htm 53 OTU at www.rafweb.org] Retrieved 9 May 2022

{{RAF Operational Training units}}

Category:Operational training units of the Royal Air Force
Category:Military units and formations established in 1941
Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1945

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [No. 53 Operational Training Unit RAF](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._53_Operational_Training_Unit_RAF) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._53_Operational_Training_Unit_RAF?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.