No. 23 Operational Training Unit

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Those known to have served with
No. 23 Operational Training Unit
during the Second World War 1939-1945.

Bolstad Kenneth Wallace. F/O. (d.24th November 1943)
Curry DFC. George William. F/Lt.
Packer Roystyn Joseph. P/O.

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Want to know more about No. 23 Operational Training Unit?

There are:-1 items tagged No. 23 Operational Training Unit available in our Library

These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War.

F/Lt. George William Curry DFC. 75 (New Zealand) Squadron

George Curry completed a tour of duty with 75 (New Zealand) Squadron at RAF Feltwell, which was part of 3 Group Bomber Command. George was awarded the DFC during one of the Bombing missions in 1941. After operations, he was posted to RAF Pershore to train pilots on the Wellington Bomber as part of 23 OTU.

Neil Finlay

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P/O. Roystyn Joseph Packer No. 419 Squadron

Roystyn Packer and Dougie Cook crew, 419 Squadron RCAF

My father, Roy Packer, joined the RAFVR in 1941 whilst working in a reserved occupation in Birkenhead.
Following basic signals and Morse code training, he completed signals aircrew training in November 1942. Initially qualifying as a Wireless Operator, he was re-mustered as a W/Op-Air Gunner following completion of the air gunnery course at No. 1 A.G.S., RAF Pembrey in February 1943.
From March to April 1943, he attended operational aircrew training at No. 2 O.A.F.U., RAF Millom, and from May to June at No. 23 O.T.U, RAF Pershore. He was posted to 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit at RAF Topcliffe in July 1943 to qualify on the Halifax and, effective 1st of August 1943, to No. 419 Squadron, RCAF at RAF Middleton St. George, where he was a member of the Dougie Cook crew.
His first operational sortie was on 8th of August 1943, and he went on to complete 29 missions (all with P/O Cook as pilot) before being screened from ops on 25th of March 1944 and transferred to Instructor duties. He was commissioned as Pilot Officer on 15 December 1943 and remained in the RAF after the war, serving overseas and across the UK and retiring as a Squadron Leader in September 1972.
He never spoke voluntarily about his war service and even when asked, was of few words. The importance and significance of some of the targets he attacked would only be fully known after the war. He died in 1979 at age 64 following a long illness.

Adrian Packer

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F/O. Kenneth Wallace Bolstad 23 Operational Training Unit (d.24th November 1943)

Kenneth Bolstad was born in 1922 in Bengough, SK, the eldest child of 4 born to Jens, a former Norwegian sailor and Tilda Marie (nee Jorgenson), a native of Rock Dell Township, MN. Prior to enlisting with the Royal Canadian Air Force, at the tender age of 19, he had been working on the family farm in the Bengough area. He was a considerate, charming, and generous young man with a jaunty smile and a good sense of humour.
Ken died doing what he loved on 24th of November 1943 and is buried at Pershore Cemetery in Worcestershire, England. The Wellington Mk. lll, S/N Z1682, he was piloting crashed and exploded in bad weather at Holm Farm, Marston, Berkshire, on a training flight from No. 23 Operational Training Unit, Pershore. At the time of his death he was engaged to be married to Doreen Oldcorn, but died a week before the wedding could occur.

Karen Bolstad

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No. 23 Operational Training Unit

Logbooks

Those known to have served with
No. 23 Operational Training Unit
during the Second World War 1939-1945.

The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.

Announcements

Want to know more about No. 23 Operational Training Unit?

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project - No. 23 Operational Training Unit during the Second World War -

No. 23 Operational Training Unit

Logbooks

Those known to have served with No. 23 Operational Training Unitduring the Second World War 1939-1945.

The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.

Announcements

Want to know more about No. 23 Operational Training Unit?

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project
- No. 23 Operational Training Unit during the Second World War -

Those known to have served with
No. 23 Operational Training Unit
during the Second World War 1939-1945.