No.5 Squadron
Role: Fighter-pilot training

Formed 7 May 1951 at Valkenburg with the B-25 Mitchells from 320 sqn. The unit specialised in patrol and SAR duties. The sqn shortly received a total of 11 Sea Otters, 4 Austers and 5 Oxfords also from 320 sqn, plus a small number of Fireflys. By 1954 some aircraft had been transferred to 8 sqn, and the unit had standardised on the Firefly and newly arrived TC-45J Navigators. The Fireflys were retired in 1960. The six Navigators were used for twin-engined conversion, observer/navigator and radio operator training until the sqn disbanded on 1 March 1974. Also operated by the unit were three P2V-7 Neptunes, for a short period in 1962 for training purposes, and a flight of 4 US-2N Tracker target tug/utility aircraft during the early 1970s (which went to 320 sqn upon unit disbandment).

Air Bases:

Base	Duration
Valkenburg	7 May 1951 to 1 March 1974

Aircraft Used:

Type	Qty	Service	Badge	Example Serials
B-25 Michell	1+	7 May 51 - 1954
Sea Otter	1+	1951 - 1954
Auster	1+	1951 - 1954
Oxford	1+	1951 - 1954
Firefly	1+	1951 - 1960
TC-45J	1+	1954 - 1 Mar 1974		21-43, 084/V,082/V
P2V-7 Neptune	1+	1962
US-2N	1+	1972 - 1 Mar 1974		151/V

Unit Insignia:

Figure 1

References:

• To be added