Naval History by Country : ROYAL NAVY US NAVY GERMAN NAVY FRENCH NAVY MORE PAGES

2FTS

Name : 2FTS Founded : 20th April 1920

No 2 FTS was first formed in No. 3 Group RAF on 26 April 1920 from No 31 Training Squadron with a special flight attached to carry out research for the Professor of Aeronautical Services at Cambridge University. At the end of August 1921 it was transferred to No. 1 Group RAF but returned to No 3 Group on 1 July 1923. Initially equipped with Avro 504Ks and Ns for basic training it used Airco DH.9As, Bristol F2Bs and Sopwith Snipes for service training, the 504s were eventually replaced by the Avro Tutor and Armstrong Whitworth Siskins and Gloster Grebes replaced the Snipes. The school ceased operations on 29 July 1933 and disbanded on 15 December at RAF Digby, where it had moved on 30 Jun 1924. The school reformed on 1 October 1934 in No 23 Group at its previous home of Digby, now equipped with Tutors for basic training and Hawker Harts and Furies for the service training phase. In 1936 Hawker Audaxes were added and in September 1937 the school moved to RAF Brize Norton to move it away from the likely area of operations in the event of a war. By August 1939, basic flying training was being carrying out at civilian run Elementary and Reserve Flying Training Schools and the FTSs were concentrating on the service flying phase of training and to the end it was equipped with Harvards and Airspeed Oxfords. With the outbreak of war on 3 September 1939 the school’s title was changed to No. 2 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) and on 24 June 1940 it was reclassified as a Group II school concentrating on twin engined training with Oxfords. By 1942 the Commonwealth Air Training Plan was in full swing and most aircrew were being trained up to SFTS level in Canada, South Africa or Southern Rhodesia before arriving in or returning to Britain so it was decided to convert the SFTSs to (Pilot) or (Observer) Advanced Flying Units. These units would concentrate in training the personnel arriving from overseas in the techniques and conditions of flying in a blacked-out Northern Europe. As a result, No 2 SFTS became No 2 (Pilots') Advanced Flying Unit on 14 March 1942.

Known Service Details :
Pilot or Aircrew	Rank	Start of Service	End of Service	Known Dates	Aircraft	Airframes	Notes
Peter Strickland Ball		unknown	9th September 1930				Killed in Action
John Edward Furlong Chapman	Pilot Officer	unknown	12th January 1931		Vimy	F9168	Killed in Action
Swain Josiah		unknown	unknown	02nd May 1931			AC2 Josiah Swain injured in Crash OF Avro 504K F8813, of 2 FTS, Digby which Stalled on turn and crashed, Ashby-de-la-Launde The Pilot Fg Off Stewart Sinclair Mackay (24) killed
Geoffrey Maynard Edward Shaw	Flight Lieutenant	unknown	12th January 1931		Vimy	F9168	Killed in Action

Pilots and Aircrew for : 2FTS
A list of all aircrew from our database who are associated with this squadron. A profile page is available by clicking their name.
Name	Info
Ball, Peter Strickland Click the name above to see a profile of Ball, Peter Strickland    Died : 9 / 9 / 1930	Ball, Peter Strickland Plt Off Peter Strickland Ball was killed when his Avro 504N J9007,of 2 FTS, at Digby Hit tree and crashed, at Nocton Heath he was 19
Chapman, John Edward Furlong Click the name above to see a profile of Chapman, John Edward Furlong    Died : 12 / 1 / 1931	Chapman, John Edward Furlong Vimy F9168, 2 FTS, Digby Hit dyke bank on landing, near Westwoodside, Lincs Flt Lt Geoffrey Maynard Edward Shaw (31) killed Plt Off John Edward Furlong Chapman (19) killed Flt Sgt Alfred George Rogers (34) killed LAC Thomas Graham injured
Josiah, Swain Click the name above to see a profile of Josiah, Swain    Died : 2 / 5 / 1931	Josiah, Swain AC2 Josiah Swain injured in Crash OF Avro 504K F8813, of 2 FTS, Digby which Stalled on turn and crashed, Ashby-de-la-Launde The Pilot Fg Off Stewart Sinclair Mackay (24) killed
Shaw, Geoffrey Maynard Edward Click the name above to see a profile of Shaw, Geoffrey Maynard Edward    Died : 12 / 1 / 1931	Shaw, Geoffrey Maynard Edward 6th August 1966 promoted to Flying Officer Flt Lt Geoffrey Maynard Edward Shaw (31) killed was killed while flying Vimy F9168, 2 FTS, Digby Hit dyke bank on landing, near Westwoodside, Lincs all three were killed Plt Off John Edward Furlong Chapman (19) Flt Sgt Alfred George Rogers (34) and LAC Thomas Graham injured

Aircraft for : 2FTS
A list of all aircraft associated with 2FTS. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name.
Aircraft	Info
Vimy Click the name above to see prints featuring Vimy aircraft. Manufacturer : Vickers	Vimy Full profile not yet available.