Page 10 - Robert Joseph Harding

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confirm this. February 3 1948 saw Robert posted to 38 Group’s Transport Initial Conversion Unit,
possibly as an instructor. The unit’s location is not known.

April 13 1948 saw Robert posted back to his old O.T.U. airfield at Upper Heyford now controlled
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by 38 Group as a pilot within Transport Command. On May 1 1948 Robert was again posted to
Headquarters Reserve Command, records indicate he was awaiting disposal. July 19 saw Robert
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posted to Birmingham University Air Squadron as a flying instructor, this unit was stationed at RAF
Castle Bromwich which today is the residential area of Castle Vale within the city of Birmingham.

Robert undertook a flying instructor’s examination at RAF Little Rissington, Gloustershire on
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August 3 1950 passing the examination ʿAʾ2.
As Chief Flying Instructor Robert on February 1951 was posted to 44 Reserve Centre, part of 63
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(Western and Welsh Reserve) Group. This duty lasted until October 29 1951 when Robert
attended 61 Officers Advanced Training School course at the School of Administration RAF
Bircham Newton 13 miles to the east of Kings Lynn, Norfolk. This station was part of Technical
Training Command.

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On December 4 1951, Robert as Flight Lieutenant was posted back to RAF Castle Bromwich on
a General Service Training Course.

In early 1952 Robert was posted to No. 2 Basic Flying Training School at RAF Ansty, some 5
miles east of Coventry on General Duties. Here, he held the position of Station Adjutant. Come
May 10 1952 Robert was posted to 44 Reserve Centre as Station Adjutant, the location could be
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RAF Hendon, now the RAF Museum.

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Posted yet again on January 12 1954, this time as a flying instructor with the Home Command
Glider School, part of 61 (Southern Reserve) Group. This unit’s location is not known and by
August 12 Robert now Squadron Leader was promoted Officer Commanding this unit.
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Roberts’s command of this unit was not long as on pilot and navigation trainer.

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A further course from January 22 to April 2 1954 was completed by Robert, he attending
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course No: 35 at the School of Maritime Reconnaissance at RAF St Mawgan near
Newquay, Cornwall.
RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland was Roberts next posting on April 22 1954, after which a
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posting to RAF Kinloss in Scotland. 236 Operational Training Unit were the resident unit here and
the unit’s primary role was to train aircrew’s on reconnaissance (later Maritime Reconnaissance)
duties. Types used by the O.C.U. were initially the Avro Lancaster ASR Mk 3 which was later
supplemented by the Lockhesd Neptune MR Mk 1. Both these types were replaced by the Avro
Shackleton GR Mk 1, this type was a development of the Avro Lincoln Bomber,
(The Mk 5 Avro Lancaster).