and high winds remained a constant hindrance throughout the school's existence. As well as Ansons, the school operated Airspeed Oxfords. Thirty-nine fatalities were recorded during training flights, involving fourteen Ansons and two Oxfords. Two Ansons collided in mid-air on 14 October 1941, killing an instructor and student pilot in each plane. Another pair of Ansons collided on 13 February 1942, again killing both crew in each aircraft. Eight aircrew—four in each aircraft—died in a collision between two Ansons on 4 August. Five crewmen went missing during an extended test flight over the Gulf of St Vincent on 14 July 1943. All four crew members were killed when another Anson crashed on 23 September. The school suffered its last fatality on 28 November 1945, when a pilot crashed his Oxford while "shooting up" the school's recreation camp at Cape Parham. Following the outbreak of the Pacific War in December 1941, the RAAF began classifying aircraft at SFTSs as Second Line (Reserve) elements in the defence of Australia. No. 70 (Reserve) Squadron was formed at No. 6 SFTS, and was tasked with army cooperation, meteorological survey, and photo reconnaissance duties in the Adelaide vicinity. The RAAF rationalised its EATS facilities in March 1942, dividing the personnel and equipment of No. 3 Service Flying Training School at RAAF Station Amberley, Queensland, between No. 6 SFTS and No. 1 Service Flying Training School at RAAF Station Point Cook, Victoria. The last course at No. 6 SFTS concluded in September 1945, by which time 2,178 pilots had graduated. The school disbanded on 1 January 1946, re-forming as Care and Maintenance Unit (CMU) Mallala. CMU Mallala was one of forty such units across Australia responsible for the storage of surplus aircraft awaiting sale, scrapping or stripping for spare parts. From June 1947, the base facilities constructed for No. 6 SFTS were occupied by RAAF units supporting the Long Range Weapons Project at Woomera Rocket Range. Notes References 6 Military units and formations established in 1941 Military units and formations disestablished in 1946 1946 disestablishments in Australia