Description
Title: RAAF No. 5 Operational Training Unit – No 5 Operational Training Unit, Royal Australian Air Force 1942 – 46 and 1970 – 71.
Author: Lever, John
Condition: Very Good
Edition: 1st Edition
Publication Date: 1999
ISBN: 0958721823
Cover: Soft Cover without Dust Jacket – 105 pages
Comments: The detailed history of No. 5 Operational Training Unit, RAAF.
5OTU was formed at formed at RAAF Base Forest Hill, Wagga Wagga on 26 October 1942 as a light bomber training unit equipped with Beaufort and Beaufighter aircraft. The unit was later equipped with Boston and Mosquito bombers and moved to Tocumwal in 1943 and RAAF Base Williamtown in 1944. After the disbandment of No. 4 Operational Training Unit (4OTU) at Williamtown on 30 April 1944, a small detachment from 4OTU was left behind at the base, pending the arrival of 5OTU. The detachment of 4OTU handed over RAAF Base Williamtown to a 5OTU detachment, which arrived on 1 May 1944. 5OTU became a crew conversion unit after the war and was disbanded in July 1947.
5OTU was reformed at Williamtown on 1 April 1970 to provide RAAF pilots with fast jet conversion training and was disbanded on 31 July 1971.