No. 83 Group Support Unit RAF
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= No. 83 Group Support Unit (83 GSU)
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|dates= March 1944 – October 1945
|country= United Kingdom
|branch= Royal Air Force
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|role= Supply pilots and aircraft for operational squadrons
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|command_structure= No. 83 Group RAF
|garrison= RAF Redhill (March-June 1944)
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|battles= World War Two
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|battle_honours= WW2
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|disbanded= October 1945
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|aircraft_attack=
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|aircraft_fighter=Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Typhoon, North American Mustang
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No. 83 Group Support Unit RAF was a "holding unit" for aircraft and pilots in WW2, supplying them to operational RAF combat squadrons.
History
No 83 SGU was formed in March 1944 at RAF Redhill, and was there until 25 June 1944 ([http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-R.htm#Redhill]) later moving to RAF Bognor, RAF Thorney Island, RAF Westhampnett and RAF Dunsfold in Surrey.
No 83 GSU maintained a substantial number of combat aircraft of all types, ready to replace losses in combat squadrons in the field. Pilots were often "rotated out" to combat squadrons within a few days of arrival. The instructors were usually pilots who were "resting" between operational tours.[http://www.rafcommands.com/archive/07221.php 83 GSU RAF at www.rafcommands.com] Retrieved 10 May 2022 83 GSU also operated "conversion flights" to train pilots on new aircraft types and maintain combat readiness of the existing pool of pilots.
In November 1944 83 GSU arrived at RAF Westhampnett in West Sussex, bringing with it Spitfires, Mustangs and Typhoons.[https://books.google.com/books?id=pbHjCgAAQBAJ&dq=No.+83+Group+Support+Unit+RAF&pg=PA188 Hiller, Mark A Fighter Command Station at War (2015)] Retrieved 10 May 2022
Flying accidents were not uncommon. On 9 February 1945 Flight Officer John Nesbitt Beattie was flying Typhoon 1B Serial MN704 when the aircraft suffered an engine malfunction leading to a crash in which Beattie was killed.[http://aircrewremembered.com/beattie-john-nesbitt.html 83 GSU at aircrewremembered.com] Retrieved 10 May 2022 On June 26, 1945, Flight Lieutenant Theos Llewellyn Lewis was flying Typhoon 1B EK432 over Dunsfold, Surrey carrying out a practice rocket attack on the aerodrome when his aircraft crashed and he was killed.[https://www.thetyphoonproject.org/raf/Theos%20Llewellyn-Lewis.html 83 GSU RAF at thetyphoonproject.org] Retrieved 10 May 2022
83 GSU RAF was disbanded in October 1945.[https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7161638 83 GSU at discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk] Retrieved 10 May 2022]
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7161638 83 GSU at discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk] Retrieved 10 May 2022
- [http://www.rafcommands.com/archive/07221.php 83 GSU RAF at www.rafcommands.com] Retrieved 10 May 2022
- [https://www.thetyphoonproject.org/raf/Theos%20Llewellyn-Lewis.html 83 GSU RAF at thetyphoonproject.org] Retrieved 10 May 2022
- [https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/212719 83 GSU at aviation-safety.net] Retrieved 10 May 2022
Category:Military units and formations of the Royal Air Force in World War II
Category:Military units and formations established in 1944
Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1945