page_title: RAF Jurby
section_title: No. 5 Air Observer School
hierarchical_section_title: RAF Jurby / Second World War / No. 5 Air Observer School
caption_attribution_description: English: Royal Air Force Flying Training Command, 1940-1945. Bristol Blenheim Mark IV, Z5969 'P3', taxies past other Blenheims and Handley Page Hampdens of No. 5 Air Observers School, in an early January morning at Jurby, Isle of Man.
context_page_description: Royal Air Force Station Jurby or more simply RAF Jurby is a former Royal Air Force station built in the north west of the Isle of Man. It was opened in 1939 on 400 acres of land acquired by the Air Ministry in 1937, under the control of No. 29 Group, RAF. During the Second World War the station was used for training as No. 5 Armament Training Station, No. 5 Air Observer School, No. 5 Bombing & Gunnery School and the No. 5 Air Navigation & Bombing School. In addition RAF Jurby also played host to a variety of operational squadrons.
  RAF Jurby was originally a grass airfield but was later equipped with hard runways. Operationally it helped protect Belfast and Liverpool from German air raids, being strategically placed in order to offer fighter protection.
  During the 1950s and 60s the No. 1 Initial Training School subsequently replaced by the No. 1 Officer Cadet Training Unit was based at RAF Jurby, jokingly referred to by the trainee cadets as "The Camp on Blood Island".
  Following the closure of the station in 1963, the airfield was used as a diversion for Ronaldsway Airport.
context_section_description: Following the findings of the Butt Report, citing a required improvement in the standards of navigation, RAF Jurby reverted to its former title of No. 5 Air Observer School in July 1941 with navigation, bomb aiming and air gunnery now forming part the station's remit. As part of the re-organisation Handley Page Hampdens arrived at Jurby as they were removed from front line operations, joining the Avro Ansons and the other training aircraft. Instructors were screened personnel who had completed a tour of operations on a front line bomber squadron.
  By the beginning of 1943 the Hampdens had gone and were being replaced by Avro Anson trainers, a total of 60 being recorded in February. The station's compliment still included 6 Blenheim I's and 15 Blenheim IV's together with 10 Westland Lysanders.
  Further changes were being made to meet the demands of Bomber Command whose mainstay was now the Lancaster and Halifax which required seven crew members. The title 'Observer' disappeared to be replaced by more specialised categories- Navigator (N), Bomb Aimer (B) and Air Gunner (AG). At this time Bomber Command were also starting to benefit from advancements in radio navigation such as GEE and the ground mapping radar H2S.
  By 1944 the RAF Training Command was also receiving qualified Navigators, Bomb Aimers and Air Gunners from the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. This led to another re-organisation of the training undertaken at RAF Jurby which became known as the No. 5 Air Navigation and Bombing School from February 1944.
caption: Bristol Blenheim Mark IV, Z5969 'P3', taxys past other Blenheims and Handley Page Hampdens of No. 5 Air Observers School, in an early January morning at Jurby, Isle of Man
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