5 OTU, flying Hawker Hurricane single seat fighter aircraft, Supermarine Spitfire single seat fighter aircraft and Bristol Blenheim, a twin-engined light bomber.

55 OTU was posted to RAF Usworth in Sunderland, flying Hawker Hurricane.

In July 1941 one pilot was lost flying a Hurricane from RAF Usworth in Sunderland.

[3] In April 1942 the unit was transferred to RAF Annan in Dumfrieshire, flying Miles Master, a two-seat advanced trainer and Hawker Typhoon fighter-bomber.

4 Tactical Exercise Unit RAF was operational for only three months when it was disbanded and redesignated No.

During 1944 the unit relocated to RAF Aston Down, where it disbanded after nine months of operations on 18 December 1944, to be redesignated No.

It operated with a variety of aircraft: Gloster Gladiator I, Avro Tutor, Fairey Battle, North American Harvard I, Bristol Blenheim I and Hawker Hurricane I.