About This Unit
No. 8 Operational Training Unit Parkes
OTU were the last stage of training for aircrew before being assigned to an operational unit. By this stage, individuals had 'crewed up' (ie formed and trained) with the other men who were to make up their crew with whom they would fly until separated by death injury illness or re-posting. Students would pass through in course of varying duration depending on aircraft types on which the aircrew were training.
No. 8 Operational Training Unit (8OTU) was an operational training unit of the Royal Australian Air Force formed at RAAF Station Narromine, Narromine, New South Wales on 25 June 1944. No. 8OTU moved to RAAF Station Parkes, Parkes, New South Wales on 25 September 1944.
It was primarily involved with the training of pilots to fly single engined fighter aircraft such as the P40 Kittyhawk, Supermarine Spitfire and P51 Mustang.
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