This is a List of facilities of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan in Australia (BCATP), a major program for training Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) air crews during World War II for service with the Royal Air Force. Agreed in December 1939, the program was known in Australia as the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS).Stephens, The Royal Australian Air Force, p. 60 The first Australian training schools were established the following year.Stephens, The Royal Australian Air Force, pp. 68–70 Course duration and content evolved over time but the basic structure of the scheme remained the same for the duration of the war.Gillison, Royal Australian Air Force, p. 108 Over 52,000 personnel enlisted in the RAAF as aircrew and some 37,000 graduated from EATS schools.Stephens, The Royal Australian Air Force, p. 72
Facilities
Central Flying School Formed in 1940, Central Flying School was responsible for training flying instructors and was located initially at Point Cook, Victoria. It soon relocated to Camden, New South Wales, then to Tamworth, New South Wales, in 1942 and Parkes, New South Wales, in 1944.RAAF Historical Section, Units of the Royal Australian Air Force, pp. 137–139
Initial Training Schools Recruits started their training at an Initial Training School (ITS) to learn the basics of Air Force life. The course ran 14 weeks for prospective pilots, 12 weeks for air observers, and 8 weeks for air gunners. No. 1 Initial Training School, Somers, VictoriaGillison, Royal Australian Air Force, p. 111 No. 2 Initial Training School, Bradfield Park, New South Wales No. 3 Initial Training School, Sandgate, Queensland. No. 4 Initial Training School, Victor Harbor, South Australia. No. 5 Initial Training School, Pearce, Western Australia No. 6 Initial Training School, Bradfield Park, New South Wales
Elementary Flying Training Schools The Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS) course lasted 12 weeks and gave recruits up to 75 hours of basic aviation instruction on a simple trainer like the Tiger Moth. Pilots who showed promise went on to advanced training at a Service Flying Training School. Others went on to different specialty schools, such as Wireless Schools, Air Observer Schools or Bombing and Gunnery Schools. No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School, initially No. 2 Flying Training School, Parafield, South Australia, renamed No. 1 EFTS, relocated to Tamworth, New South WalesGillison, Royal Australian Air Force, p. 72 No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School, initially No. 3 Flying Training School, Archerfield, Queensland, renamed No. 2 EFTS No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School, Essendon, Victoria No. 4 Elementary Flying Training School, Mascot, New South Wales No. 5 Elementary Flying Training School, Narromine, New South Wales No. 6 Elementary Flying Training School, Tamworth, New South Wales. No. 7 Elementary Flying Training School, Western Junction, Tasmania No. 8 Elementary Flying Training School, Narrandera, New South Wales No. 9 Elementary Flying Training School, Cunderdin, Western Australia No. 10 Elementary Flying Training School, Temora, New South Wales No. 11 Elementary Flying Training School, Benalla, Victoria No. 12 Elementary Flying Training School, Bundaberg, Queensland, relocated to Lowood, Queensland
Service Flying Training Schools The Service Flying Training School (SFTS) course ran for 24 weeks and provided advanced training for pilots on single- and multi-engined aircraft, closer in performance to the types they would eventually fly as operational or "service" pilots. Prospective fighter pilots underwent air gunnery instruction at the SFTS, while bomber pilots undertook two weeks instruction at a Bombing and Gunnery School. No. 1 Service Flying Training School, formed from No. 1 Flying Training School, Point Cook, VictoriaGillison, Royal Australian Air Force, p. 97 No. 2 Service Flying Training School, Forest Hill, New South Wales No. 3 Service Flying Training School, Amberley, Queensland No. 4 Service Flying Training School, Geraldton, Western Australia No. 5 Service Flying Training School, Uranquinty, New South Wales No. 6 Service Flying Training School, Mallala, South Australia No. 7 Service Flying Training School, Deniliquin, New South Wales No. 8 Service Flying Training School, Bundaberg, Queensland
Air Observer Schools No. 1 Air Observers School, Cootamundra, New South Wales, relocated to Evans Head, New South Wales No. 2 Air Observers School, Mount Gambier, South Australia No. 3 Air Observers School, Port Pirie, South Australia
Bombing and Gunnery Schools No. 1 Bombing and Gunnery School, Evans Head, New South WalesGillison, Royal Australian Air Force, p. 238 No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School, Port Pirie, South Australia No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School, West Sale, renamed Air Gunnery School Central Gunnery School, Sale, Victoria, relocated to Mildura, VictoriaPage, Wings of Destiny, p. 130 and later Cressy, Victoria.
Air Navigation Schools No. 1 Air Navigation School, Parkes, New South Wales No. 2 Air Navigation School, Mount Gambier, South Australia, relocated to Nhill, Victoria.
Wireless Air Gunners Schools No. 1 Wireless Air Gunners School, Ballarat, Victoria No. 2 Wireless Air Gunners School, Parkes, New South Wales No. 3 Wireless Air Gunners School, Maryborough, Queensland
General Reconnaissance School The General Reconnaissance School was formed at Point Cook, Victoria, in 1940 It subsequently relocated to Laverton, Victoria, then Cressy, Victoria,Scotland, Voice from the Stars, p. 52 and finally Bairnsdale, Victoria
See also List of British Commonwealth Air Training Plan facilities in Canada List of British Commonwealth Air Training Plan facilities in South Africa
Notes
References