No. 5 Operational Training Unit RAAF
No. 5 Operational Training Unit (No. 5 OTU) of the Royal Australian Air Force was formed in October 1942 at Forest Hill, Wagga Wagga, NSW to train pilots and navigators for World War II. It began with Bristol Beauforts and Bristol Beaufighters, later adding Douglas Boston bombers and de Havilland Mosquitos.
The unit moved to Tocumwal in October 1943 and then to Williamtown in mid-1944 after No. 4 OTU disbanded there. It ran conversion courses for experienced aircrews and training for newer personnel, including photo-reconnaissance later in the war.
After the war, on 1 February 1946 No. 5 OTU was reorganised as a Fighter Crew Conversion Unit, using P-51 Mustangs and CAC Wirraways to train crews for service with No. 81 Wing in Japan. It disbanded on 7 July 1947.
No. 5 OTU was re-formed at Williamtown on 1 April 1970 as a jet fighter conversion unit, operating CAC Sabres, de Havilland Vampires, and Macchi MB-326s. The Sabres were retired, and the unit disbanded by 31 July 1971. One Sabre (A94-983) was donated to Malaysia, returned to the RAAF in 1978, and later put on display; it was loaned to Temora Aviation Museum in 2005.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 08:12 (CET).