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==History== |
==History== |
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===World War II=== |
===World War II=== |
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During World War II, the [[Royal Australian Air Force]] (RAAF) established several [[Operational conversion unit|operational training units]] (OTUs) to convert recently graduated pilots from advanced trainers to combat aircraft, and to add fighting ability to the flying skills they had already learned.<ref name=Stephens>Stephens, ''Going Solo'', pp. 167–168, 364</ref> No. 5 Operational Training Unit was formed at [[RAAF Base Wagga|RAAF Station Forest Hill]] in [[Wagga Wagga]], New South Wales, on 26 |
During World War II, the [[Royal Australian Air Force]] (RAAF) established several [[Operational conversion unit|operational training units]] (OTUs) to convert recently graduated pilots from advanced trainers to combat aircraft, and to add fighting ability to the flying skills they had already learned.<ref name=Stephens>Stephens, ''Going Solo'', pp. 167–168, 364</ref> No. 5 Operational Training Unit was formed at [[RAAF Base Wagga|RAAF Station Forest Hill]] in [[Wagga Wagga]], New South Wales, on 26 October 1942. Initially equipped with five [[Bristol Beaufighter]]s and two [[Bristol Beaufort]]s, its inaugural commanding officer was [[Squadron Leader]] B.F. Rose. The first training course ran from 2 November to 12 December 1942. At the end of the month the unit's strength was 170 personnel and sixteen aircraft.<ref name=Units>RAAF Historical Section, ''Training Units'', pp. 71–73</ref> By mid-1943 this had increased to almost 400 personnel and twenty-five aircraft, including four [[de Havilland Dragon|de Havilland DH-84]]s and one [[de Havilland Moth Minor]], the remaining twenty being Beauforts and Beaufighters. The unit's aircraft complement was augmented by its first [[Airspeed Oxford]] in August 1943.<ref name=Units/> |
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[[File:Mosquito bomber (P03823-001).jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2|Mosquito bomber of No. 5 OTU, c. 1945|alt=Twin-engined military monoplane parked on airfield]] |
[[File:Mosquito bomber (P03823-001).jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2|Mosquito bomber of No. 5 OTU, c. 1945|alt=Twin-engined military monoplane parked on airfield]] |
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By the time No. 5 OTU relocated to [[RAAF Station Tocumwal]], New South Wales, on 20 |
By the time No. 5 OTU relocated to [[RAAF Station Tocumwal]], New South Wales, on 20 October 1943, it had begun running courses on [[Douglas A-20 Havoc|Douglas Boston]]s. Its first [[de Havilland Mosquito]] arrived the following month. As of April 1944, the unit had a complement of sixty-three aircraft, including five Mosquitos. It ran conversion courses for experienced pilots and navigators, as well as training courses for newer aircrew.<ref name=Units/> [[No. 4 Operational Training Unit RAAF|No. 4 Operational Training Unit]] disbanded at [[RAAF Base Williamtown|RAAF Station Williamtown]], New South Wales, on 30 April 1944; a small detachment remained to hand the base over to an advance party from No. 5 OTU the following day.<ref>RAAF Historical Section, ''Training Units'', p. 70</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/Raaf/organisation/info_on/bases/williamtown/history2.htm|accessdate=28 December 2013|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070708234818/http://www.defence.gov.au/Raaf/organisation/info_on/bases/williamtown/history2.htm |archivedate=8 July 2007|title=Williamtown units during WWII|publisher=[[Royal Australian Air Force]]}}</ref> The rest of No. 5 OTU transferred to Williamtown during July. The unit commenced photo reconnaissance courses in August, and by October its strength was over 1,000 personnel.<ref name=Units/> Mosquito fighter ace [[Charles Scherf]] briefly served as chief flying instructor in late 1944.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/scherf-charles-curnow-11627|work=[[Australian Dictionary of Biography]] |last=McCarthy|first=John|title=Scherf, Charles Curnow (1917–1949)|accessdate=24 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=5248354&I=1&SE=1|title=Scherf, Charles Curnow – Personal file |accessdate=24 December 2013|publisher=[[National Archives of Australia]]|page=10}}</ref> November was marred by four fatal accidents in the space of three days.<ref name=Units/> |
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No. 5 OTU had thirty crews under training in January 1945, compared to a dozen in November 1942. By this time its complement of aircraft had increased to seventy-five, including twenty-eight Mosquitos. Staffing reached its highest level of 1,700 personnel in May.<ref name=Units/> Ace [[Charles Crombie]] was the unit's chief flying instructor when he was killed in a Beaufighter crash at Williamtown on 26 |
No. 5 OTU had thirty crews under training in January 1945, compared to a dozen in November 1942. By this time its complement of aircraft had increased to seventy-five, including twenty-eight Mosquitos. Staffing reached its highest level of 1,700 personnel in May.<ref name=Units/> Ace [[Charles Crombie]] was the unit's chief flying instructor when he was killed in a Beaufighter crash at Williamtown on 26 August 1945.<ref>Stephens, ''The Royal Australian Air Force'', pp. 89–90</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/crombie-charles-arbuthnot-9866|work=Australian Dictionary of Biography|last=Stephens|first=Alan|title=Crombie, Charles Arbuthnot (1914–1945)|accessdate=26 December 2013}}</ref> One of his fellow instructors at the time was Flight Lieutenant [[Bud Tingwell|Charles "Bud" Tingwell]].<ref>Lockwood, ''Charles "Bud" Tingwell's War Stories'', p. 161</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=5256549|title=Tingwell, Charles William – Personal file |accessdate=26 December 2013|publisher=National Archives of Australia|page=7}}</ref> Leading Aircraftman [[Jack Brabham]], then an engine mechanic at No. 5 OTU, witnessed the accident.<ref>Brabham; Nye, ''The Jack Brabham Story'', pp. 23–24</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/Veteran.aspx?serviceId=R&veteranId=999829|title=Brabham, John Arthur|work=World War 2 Nominal Roll|accessdate=26 December 2013}}</ref> The end of hostilities in the Pacific saw the dissolution of all the RAAF's OTUs.<ref name=Stephens/> On 1 February 1946, No. 5 OTU was reorganised as a crew conversion unit, CCU (Fighter), operating [[North American P-51 Mustang]]s and [[CAC Wirraway]]s.<ref name=Units/><ref>RAAF Historical Section, ''Introduction, Bases, Supporting Organisations'', p. 169</ref> By February 1947 the CCU had a complement of twenty-eight aircraft and just under a hundred personnel. Activity began winding down in May, and the unit was disbanded on 7 July 1947.<ref name=Units/> |
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===Re-establishment=== |
===Re-establishment=== |
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[[File:CAC Sabre Mk.32 - A94-983.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2|Sabre A94-983, operated by No. 5 OTU, on display at the Temora Aviation Museum in 2009|alt=Single-engined military jet parked on tarmac]] |
[[File:CAC Sabre Mk.32 - A94-983.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2|Sabre A94-983, operated by No. 5 OTU, on display at the Temora Aviation Museum in 2009|alt=Single-engined military jet parked on tarmac]] |
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No. 5 OTU was re-formed at RAAF Base Williamtown on 1 |
No. 5 OTU was re-formed at RAAF Base Williamtown on 1 April 1970 to provide pilots with operational training prior to their conversion to the [[Dassault Mirage III]] fighter. The unit's reactivation was celebrated with a dinner attended by its original commanding officer, B.F. Rose, and a flypast of forty-nine aircraft from [[No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit RAAF|No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit]] (OCU).<ref name=Units/> No. 5 OTU was divided into instructional and operational flights, and conducted exercises in concert with Mirages from No. 2 OCU and [[No. 76 Squadron RAAF|No. 76 Squadron]]. It was equipped with forty [[CAC Sabre]] jet fighters, some [[de Havilland Vampire]] jet trainers, and eight [[Aermacchi MB-326|Macchi MB-326]]s previously operated by No. 2 OCU for lead-in fighter training.<ref name=Units/><ref name=Units2OCU>RAAF Historical Section, ''Training Units'', pp. 62–64</ref> Vampire operations began winding down in September 1970, and the type was withdrawn in April 1971.<ref name=Units/> No. 5 OTU was disbanded on 31 July 1971, the date the Sabre was retired from RAAF service.<ref name=Units/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum/research/aircraft/series2/A94.htm|title=CAC Sabre|publisher=[[RAAF Museum]]|accessdate=24 December 2013}}</ref> The unit's Macchis were transferred back to No. 2 OCU.<ref name=Units2OCU/> |
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Following No. 5 OTU's disbandment, one of its Sabres, A94-983, was among several donated by the Australian government to the [[Royal Malaysian Air Force]].<ref name=Media>{{cite media release|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/media/2005/051125.doc|title=Chief of Air Force to sign historical aircraft agreement|publisher=[[Department of Defence (Australia)|Department of Defence]]|date=25 November 2005|accessdate=24 December 2013}}</ref><ref>Stephens, ''Going Solo'', p. 266</ref> The aircraft was returned to the RAAF in 1978, and subsequently put on display at [[RAAF Base Richmond|RAAF Bases Richmond]], New South Wales, and [[RAAF Williams|Point Cook]], Victoria. In 2005 the RAAF loaned it to the [[Temora Aviation Museum]], New South Wales, where it was restored to flying condition.<ref name=Media/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aviationmuseum.com.au/aircraft_colection/sabre/index.html|title=RAAF CA-27 Sabre|publisher=[[Temora Aviation Museum]]|accessdate=24 December 2013}}</ref> |
Following No. 5 OTU's disbandment, one of its Sabres, A94-983, was among several donated by the Australian government to the [[Royal Malaysian Air Force]].<ref name=Media>{{cite media release|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/media/2005/051125.doc|title=Chief of Air Force to sign historical aircraft agreement|publisher=[[Department of Defence (Australia)|Department of Defence]]|date=25 November 2005|accessdate=24 December 2013}}</ref><ref>Stephens, ''Going Solo'', p. 266</ref> The aircraft was returned to the RAAF in 1978, and subsequently put on display at [[RAAF Base Richmond|RAAF Bases Richmond]], New South Wales, and [[RAAF Williams|Point Cook]], Victoria. In 2005 the RAAF loaned it to the [[Temora Aviation Museum]], New South Wales, where it was restored to flying condition.<ref name=Media/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aviationmuseum.com.au/aircraft_colection/sabre/index.html|title=RAAF CA-27 Sabre|publisher=[[Temora Aviation Museum]]|accessdate=24 December 2013}}</ref> |
Revision as of 07:10, 3 January 2014
No. 5 Operational Training Unit RAAF | |
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Active | 1942–1947 1970–1971 |
Country | Australia |
Branch | Royal Australian Air Force |
Role | Operational training |
Garrison/HQ | RAAF Station Forest Hill (1942–43) RAAF Station Tocumwal (1943–44) RAAF Station Williamtown (1944–47) RAAF Base Williamtown (1970–71) |
Engagements | World War II |
No. 5 Operational Training Unit (OTU) was an operational conversion unit of the Royal Australian Air Force. It was formed at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, in October 1942 to train light bomber pilots and navigators for service in World War II. The unit was initially equipped with Bristol Beauforts and Beaufighters, and later acquired Douglas Boston and de Havilland Mosquitos, among other types. It was transferred to Tocumwal in October 1943, and then to Williamtown in mid-1944. Disbanded in July 1947, No. 5 OTU was briefly re-raised in April 1970 as a jet fighter conversion unit, operating CAC Sabres, de Havilland Vampires, and Macchi MB-326s. It ceased operations in July the following year.
History
World War II
During World War II, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) established several operational training units (OTUs) to convert recently graduated pilots from advanced trainers to combat aircraft, and to add fighting ability to the flying skills they had already learned.[1] No. 5 Operational Training Unit was formed at RAAF Station Forest Hill in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, on 26 October 1942. Initially equipped with five Bristol Beaufighters and two Bristol Beauforts, its inaugural commanding officer was Squadron Leader B.F. Rose. The first training course ran from 2 November to 12 December 1942. At the end of the month the unit's strength was 170 personnel and sixteen aircraft.[2] By mid-1943 this had increased to almost 400 personnel and twenty-five aircraft, including four de Havilland DH-84s and one de Havilland Moth Minor, the remaining twenty being Beauforts and Beaufighters. The unit's aircraft complement was augmented by its first Airspeed Oxford in August 1943.[2]
By the time No. 5 OTU relocated to RAAF Station Tocumwal, New South Wales, on 20 October 1943, it had begun running courses on Douglas Bostons. Its first de Havilland Mosquito arrived the following month. As of April 1944, the unit had a complement of sixty-three aircraft, including five Mosquitos. It ran conversion courses for experienced pilots and navigators, as well as training courses for newer aircrew.[2] No. 4 Operational Training Unit disbanded at RAAF Station Williamtown, New South Wales, on 30 April 1944; a small detachment remained to hand the base over to an advance party from No. 5 OTU the following day.[3][4] The rest of No. 5 OTU transferred to Williamtown during July. The unit commenced photo reconnaissance courses in August, and by October its strength was over 1,000 personnel.[2] Mosquito fighter ace Charles Scherf briefly served as chief flying instructor in late 1944.[5][6] November was marred by four fatal accidents in the space of three days.[2]
No. 5 OTU had thirty crews under training in January 1945, compared to a dozen in November 1942. By this time its complement of aircraft had increased to seventy-five, including twenty-eight Mosquitos. Staffing reached its highest level of 1,700 personnel in May.[2] Ace Charles Crombie was the unit's chief flying instructor when he was killed in a Beaufighter crash at Williamtown on 26 August 1945.[7][8] One of his fellow instructors at the time was Flight Lieutenant Charles "Bud" Tingwell.[9][10] Leading Aircraftman Jack Brabham, then an engine mechanic at No. 5 OTU, witnessed the accident.[11][12] The end of hostilities in the Pacific saw the dissolution of all the RAAF's OTUs.[1] On 1 February 1946, No. 5 OTU was reorganised as a crew conversion unit, CCU (Fighter), operating North American P-51 Mustangs and CAC Wirraways.[2][13] By February 1947 the CCU had a complement of twenty-eight aircraft and just under a hundred personnel. Activity began winding down in May, and the unit was disbanded on 7 July 1947.[2]
Re-establishment
No. 5 OTU was re-formed at RAAF Base Williamtown on 1 April 1970 to provide pilots with operational training prior to their conversion to the Dassault Mirage III fighter. The unit's reactivation was celebrated with a dinner attended by its original commanding officer, B.F. Rose, and a flypast of forty-nine aircraft from No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit (OCU).[2] No. 5 OTU was divided into instructional and operational flights, and conducted exercises in concert with Mirages from No. 2 OCU and No. 76 Squadron. It was equipped with forty CAC Sabre jet fighters, some de Havilland Vampire jet trainers, and eight Macchi MB-326s previously operated by No. 2 OCU for lead-in fighter training.[2][14] Vampire operations began winding down in September 1970, and the type was withdrawn in April 1971.[2] No. 5 OTU was disbanded on 31 July 1971, the date the Sabre was retired from RAAF service.[2][15] The unit's Macchis were transferred back to No. 2 OCU.[14]
Following No. 5 OTU's disbandment, one of its Sabres, A94-983, was among several donated by the Australian government to the Royal Malaysian Air Force.[16][17] The aircraft was returned to the RAAF in 1978, and subsequently put on display at RAAF Bases Richmond, New South Wales, and Point Cook, Victoria. In 2005 the RAAF loaned it to the Temora Aviation Museum, New South Wales, where it was restored to flying condition.[16][18]
Notes
- ^ a b Stephens, Going Solo, pp. 167–168, 364
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l RAAF Historical Section, Training Units, pp. 71–73
- ^ RAAF Historical Section, Training Units, p. 70
- ^ "Williamtown units during WWII". Royal Australian Air Force. Archived from the original on 8 July 2007. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
- ^ McCarthy, John. "Scherf, Charles Curnow (1917–1949)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
- ^ "Scherf, Charles Curnow – Personal file". National Archives of Australia. p. 10. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
- ^ Stephens, The Royal Australian Air Force, pp. 89–90
- ^ Stephens, Alan. "Crombie, Charles Arbuthnot (1914–1945)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
- ^ Lockwood, Charles "Bud" Tingwell's War Stories, p. 161
- ^ "Tingwell, Charles William – Personal file". National Archives of Australia. p. 7. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
- ^ Brabham; Nye, The Jack Brabham Story, pp. 23–24
- ^ "Brabham, John Arthur". World War 2 Nominal Roll. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
- ^ RAAF Historical Section, Introduction, Bases, Supporting Organisations, p. 169
- ^ a b RAAF Historical Section, Training Units, pp. 62–64
- ^ "CAC Sabre". RAAF Museum. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
- ^ a b "Chief of Air Force to sign historical aircraft agreement" (Press release). Department of Defence. 25 November 2005. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
- ^ Stephens, Going Solo, p. 266
- ^ "RAAF CA-27 Sabre". Temora Aviation Museum. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
References
- Brabham, Jack (2004). The Jack Brabham Story. Motorbooks International. ISBN 0-7603-1590-6.
{{cite book}}
: Unknown parameter|coauthors=
ignored (|author=
suggested) (help) - Lockwood, Kim (2009). Charles "Bud" Tingwell's War Stories. Melbourne: Wilkinson Publishing. ISBN 978-1-921332-68-5.
- RAAF Historical Section (1995). Units of the Royal Australian Air Force: A Concise History. Volume 1: Introduction, Bases, Supporting Organisations. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. ISBN 0-644-42792-2.
- RAAF Historical Section (1995). Units of the Royal Australian Air Force: A Concise History. Volume 8: Training Units. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. ISBN 0-644-42800-7.
- Stephens, Alan (1995). Going Solo: The Royal Australian Air Force 1946–1971. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. ISBN 0-644-42803-1.
- Stephens, Alan (2006) [2001]. The Royal Australian Air Force: A History. London: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-555541-4.
Further reading
- Lever, John (1999). RAAF Number 5 Operational Training Unit. Red Cliffs, Victoria: Sunnyland Press. ISBN 978-0-958721-82-0.