No. 5 Airfield Construction Squadron RAAF
No. 5 Airfield Construction Squadron RAAF | |
---|---|
Active | 1942–1949 1951–1974 |
Country | Australia |
Branch | Royal Australian Air Force |
Role | Airfield construction |
Engagements | World War II
|
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Arthur Mander Harrison (1945–1948, 1951–1959)[1] |
No. 5 Airfield Construction Squadron (5ACS) was a
History
World War II
On 7 July 1942, 250 men of No. 1 Mobile Works Squadron were detached from the unit while it was stationed at Ascot Vale, Victoria and organised into a new squadron intended to serve in New Guinea.[2][3] This unit was designated No. 1 Mobile Works Squadron (Special Works Force), and arrived at Port Moresby on 7 August after a difficult voyage during which the ship carrying it from Australia it ran aground twice.[4] The squadron began work constructing Wards Airfield on 14 August, and the first of the airfield's runways was ready for use three weeks later. The airfield's completion was delayed until January 1943 due to shortages of personnel and equipment, however.[2][5] No. 1 Mobile Works Squadron (Special Works Force) was redesignated No. 5 Mobile Works Squadron (5MWS) on 16 November.[6] In order to support Allied offensives in New Guinea 5MWS moved to Goodenough Island between late February and March 1943 where it constructed Vivigani Airfield. This facility initially comprised a 1,524-metre (5,000 ft) fighter runway and 1,829-metre (6,001 ft) bomber runway as well as headquarters, maintenance and logistics facilities.[7] During March and April a detachment from the squadron also assisted No. 6 Mobile Works Squadron at Milne Bay.[2][8] 5MWS departed Goodenough Island on 21 November for a period of rest and reconstitution in Australia.[8]
In early 1944 5MWS became part of a force of RAAF and United States Army aviation engineer units which were selected to build airfields at Aitape in New Guinea from which air support would be provided to Allied operations around Hollandia after US Army forces landed there on 22 April. 5MWS departed Melbourne on 15 February, and eventually joined up with the main body of the airfield engineer force at Lae on 1 April where it received training in infantry tactics. The Landing at Aitape took place on 22 April, and 5MWS came ashore the next day. The airfield at Aitape was ready to be used from 25 April and was later expanded by the aviation engineers.[9] On 6 July 5MWS landed on Noemfoor Island where it again formed part of an aviation engineer force tasked with repairing and expanding the island's airfields.[10] Allied forces had first landed on the island on 2 July, and it was still not secure when construction work began. As a result, 5MWS personnel were required to man perimeter defences, during which they captured 12 Japanese personnel. While at Noemfoor 5MWS was redesignated No. 5 Airfield Construction Squadron (5ACS) on 18 July.[2] As at 25 November, No. 4 Airfield Construction Squadron and 5ACS were the main units of No. 62 Wing. This wing formed part of the Australian First Tactical Air Force, which was the RAAF's main mobile force.[11]
In January 1945 4ACS and 5ACS moved to Biak island where they worked on improving facilities used by the US Army and United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). In mid-May 1945 4ACS and 5ACS traveled together to Morotai. They remained on this island until June when they departed as part of the Australian-led Battle of North Borneo.[12] The two squadrons landed at Labuan on 11 June and worked on repairing and maintaining the island's airfield until the end of the war on 15 August.[13][14]
Occupation of Japan
While most of the RAAF's airfield construction squadrons were disbanded at the end of the war, on 17 November 1945 5ACS was informed that it would form part of Australia's contribution to the
5ACS provided engineering support to BCOF for the next three years. Its initial priorities were to repair the airfields at
Cold War
5ACS was reformed on 8 August 1951 at
Once RAAF Base Darwin was completed 5ACS headed south to develop RAAF Base Tindal near Katherine in the Northern Territory. The squadron's advance party arrived at Tindal in October 1963 and work began on the base in late 1964. The 2,743-metre (8,999 ft) runway was opened in March 1967 and the base was ready to support RAAF units in early 1968. Work on expanding Tindal continued during 1968 and 1969. During this period detachments of 5ACS also worked on projects at Darwin and Amberley, and 5ACS' headquarters moved to Amberley on 14 September 1969.[23]
Detachments from 5ACS formed part of Australia's contribution to the Vietnam War. Following the deployment of No. 79 Squadron to Ubon Air Force Base in Thailand in June 1962, a party of 5ACS personnel was also sent to Ubon to plan and oversee the construction of facilities for the squadron. Work on these facilities was undertaken by 100 Thai civilians who had built over 50 huts and other support infrastructure for No. 79 Squadron by the time the project concluded at the end of 1962.[24] RAAF units began to be deployed to South Vietnam in 1964, and in May 1966 Detachment A of 5ACS was formed at Vũng Tàu to improve the airfield there so it could support the UH-1 Iroquois-equipped No. 9 Squadron. The 19 members of this detachment returned to Australia on 8 October 1966. Detachment B of 5ACS was subsequently deployed to South Vietnam in January 1967 to build facilities for eight No. 2 Squadron Canberra bombers at Phan Rang Air Base. This task was completed in April, and in June Detachment B moved to Vũng Tàu to complete the construction of facilities there. Work on Vũng Tàu Airport was finished on 20 January 1968 and the detachment was disbanded on 17 February 1968.[25]
5ACS' last major project was the development of RAAF Base Learmonth in Western Australia. Initial works began on this project in March 1970 when Detachment E of 5ACS was formed there, and the main body of the squadron arrived on 1 February 1971. 5ACS' task was to extend the existing runway at the site and build facilities to support RAAF combat aircraft in the case of a war with Indonesia. These works were undertaken in difficult climatic conditions and the living conditions provided for the airmen and their families were inadequate. Nonetheless, the runway and extensive support facilities were officially opened on 15 December 1972, though further work needed to be completed at this time.[26] In August 1973 it was announced that 5ACS would be disbanded. The squadron's strength declined during 1974 as personnel left the RAAF or moved to other units, and it was disbanded at Learmonth on 15 December 1974.[27]
5ACS was the last of the RAAF's airfield construction units, and since its disbandment civilian contractors have been used to build and maintain air bases.[28] A memorial plaque commemorating 5ACS was unveiled at the RAAF Memorial Grove outside of Canberra on 21 March 2014.[29] In 2015 No. 65 Squadron was raised to centralise the RAAF's airfield repair and recovery capabilities: the '5' in its title was selected in recognition of 5ACS.[30]
References
- Notes
- ^ Wilson, David. "Harrison, Arthur Mander (1912–1986)". Australian Dictionary of Biography, Online Edition. Australian National University. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
- ^ a b c d RAAF Historical Section (1995), p. 19
- ^ Wilson (1998), p. 45
- ^ Wilson (1998), pp. 46–47
- ^ Wilson (1998), pp. 47–48
- ^ RAAF Historical Section (1995), p. 18
- ^ Wilson (1998), pp. 48–49
- ^ a b Wilson (1998), p. 50
- ^ Wilson (1998), pp. 62–65
- ^ Wilson (1998), pp. 66–67
- ^ Odgers (1968), p. 299
- ^ Wilson (1998), pp. 70–71
- ^ a b c d RAAF Historical Section (1995), p. 20
- ^ Wilson (1998), pp. 86–87
- ^ Wilson (1998), p. 93
- ^ Wilson (1998), pp. 95–98
- ^ Stephens (2006), pp. 214–215
- ^ Wilson (1998), p. 101
- ^ Wilson (1998), p. 102
- ^ Wilson (1998), pp. 135–136
- ^ Wilson (1998), pp. 137–138
- ^ Wilson (1998), p. 133
- ^ Wilson (1998), pp. 141–143
- ^ Wilson (1998), pp. 118–119
- ^ Wilson (1998), pp. 121–126
- ^ Wilson (1998), pp. 143–147
- ^ Wilson (1998), p. 147
- ^ Stephens (2006), p. 248
- ^ Morley, Dave (10 April 2010). "Paying respect". Air Force. p. 8. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
- ^ Hurford, Tim (12 February 2015). "New squadron on the way" (PDF). Air Force. Department of Defence. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
- Bibliography
- OCLC 1990609.
- RAAF Historical Section (1995). Units of the Royal Australian Air Force. Volume 9: Ancillary Units. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. ISBN 0-644-42802-3.
- Stephens, Alan (2006) [2001]. The Royal Australian Air Force: A History. Melbourne: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-555541-4.
- Wilson, David (1998). Always First: The RAAF Airfield Construction Squadrons 1942–1974. Canberra: Air Power Studies Centre. ISBN 0-642-26525-9.