Lincoln Conversion Flight RAAF
Encyclopedia
Lincoln Conversion Flight was a Royal Australian Air Force
(RAAF) training unit. The flight
was formed in July 1955 to provide operational conversion training on the Avro Lincoln
heavy bomber and was disbanded in March the next year.
on 11 July 1955. The flight was established to train new aircrew to operate the Lincoln bomber when the previous Lincoln operational conversion unit, No. 6 Squadron
, transitioned to the Canberra
bomber. All of No. 6 Squadron's Lincoln crews were transferred to the Lincoln Conversion Flight, and the squadron was re-manned by crews posted from No. 2 Squadron
. Lincoln Conversion Flight formed part of No. 82 Wing
, which was also based at Amberley.
The flight continued No. 6 Squadron's mission of providing trained aircrew to No. 1 Squadron
. This squadron was equipped with Lincolns and deployed to Malaya where it was operating against Communist forces in the Malayan Emergency
. The Lincoln Conversion Flight began to provide training as soon as it was formed. In addition to providing aircrew with experience in navigation, gunnery and bombing, formation flying and Army
co-operation, the flight also ferried Lincolns between Australia and Malaya and undertook search and rescue tasks. In addition, the unit occasionally dropped supplies to Army units during exercises and flew national service personnel to Darwin
in October 1955 to support one of No. 6 Squadron's training exercises. On 22 and 24 January 1956 two Lincoln Conversion Flight aircraft dropped supplies to flood affected areas near Goondiwindi
in Queensland. Further flood relief sorties were conducted on 11 February and between the 20th and 22nd of the month.
The Lincoln Conversion Flight was disbanded on 26 March 1956.
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
(RAAF) training unit. The flight
Flight (military unit)
A flight is a military unit in an air force, naval air service, or army air corps. It usually comprises three to six aircraft, with their aircrews and ground staff; or, in the case of a non-flying ground flight, no aircraft and a roughly equivalent number of support personnel. In most usages,...
was formed in July 1955 to provide operational conversion training on the Avro Lincoln
Avro Lincoln
The Avro Type 694, better known as the Avro Lincoln, was a British four-engined heavy bomber, which first flew on 9 June 1944. Developed from the Avro Lancaster, the first Lincoln variants were known initially as the Lancaster IV and V, but were renamed Lincoln I and II...
heavy bomber and was disbanded in March the next year.
History
The Lincoln Conversion Flight was formed at RAAF Base AmberleyRAAF Base Amberley
RAAF Base Amberley is a Royal Australian Air Force base located southwest of Ipswich, Queensland and southwest of Brisbane. It is currently home to No. 1 Squadron and No. 6 Squadron , No. 33 Squadron and No. 36 Squadron...
on 11 July 1955. The flight was established to train new aircrew to operate the Lincoln bomber when the previous Lincoln operational conversion unit, No. 6 Squadron
No. 6 Squadron RAAF
No. 6 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force training and bomber squadron. The squadron was first formed in 1917 and served as a training unit based in England during World War I. It was disbanded in 1919 but re-formed at the start of 1939...
, transitioned to the Canberra
English Electric Canberra
The English Electric Canberra is a first-generation jet-powered light bomber manufactured in large numbers through the 1950s. The Canberra could fly at a higher altitude than any other bomber through the 1950s and set a world altitude record of 70,310 ft in 1957...
bomber. All of No. 6 Squadron's Lincoln crews were transferred to the Lincoln Conversion Flight, and the squadron was re-manned by crews posted from No. 2 Squadron
No. 2 Squadron RAAF
No. 2 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron. From its formation in 1916, it has operated a variety of aircraft types including fighters, bombers, and Airborne Early Warning & Control.-World War I:No...
. Lincoln Conversion Flight formed part of No. 82 Wing
No. 82 Wing RAAF
No. 82 Wing is the Royal Australian Air Force's strike and reconnaissance wing. It is headquartered at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland, and operates the F/A-18F Super Hornet multirole fighter and Pilatus PC-9 forward air control aircraft. The wing was formed in August 1944, flying B-24 Liberator...
, which was also based at Amberley.
The flight continued No. 6 Squadron's mission of providing trained aircrew to No. 1 Squadron
No. 1 Squadron RAAF
No. 1 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron based at RAAF Amberley. The squadron is currently being re-equipped with F/A-18F Super Hornet multi-role fighters.-World War I:...
. This squadron was equipped with Lincolns and deployed to Malaya where it was operating against Communist forces in the Malayan Emergency
Malayan Emergency
The Malayan Emergency was a guerrilla war fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army , the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party, from 1948 to 1960....
. The Lincoln Conversion Flight began to provide training as soon as it was formed. In addition to providing aircrew with experience in navigation, gunnery and bombing, formation flying and Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
co-operation, the flight also ferried Lincolns between Australia and Malaya and undertook search and rescue tasks. In addition, the unit occasionally dropped supplies to Army units during exercises and flew national service personnel to Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
in October 1955 to support one of No. 6 Squadron's training exercises. On 22 and 24 January 1956 two Lincoln Conversion Flight aircraft dropped supplies to flood affected areas near Goondiwindi
Goondiwindi, Queensland
Goondiwindi is an Australian town of approximately 5,629 people. The town has an annual population growth of 1.4 percent. The name Goondiwindi derives from an Aboriginal word meaning "the resting place of the birds".-History:...
in Queensland. Further flood relief sorties were conducted on 11 February and between the 20th and 22nd of the month.
The Lincoln Conversion Flight was disbanded on 26 March 1956.