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  5 (Army Cooperation) Squadron Royal Air Force
Frangas non flectas - 'Thou mayst break but shall not bend me'

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> Units and Formations

Flying Squadrons
5 Sqn
6 Sqn
8 Sqn
9 Sqn
10 Sqn
11 Sqn
12 Sqn
15 Sqn
18 Sqn
21 Sqn
22 Sqn
23 Sqn
25 Sqn
27 Sqn
29 Sqn
33 Sqn
35 Sqn
39 Sqn
41 Sqn
43 Sqn
44 Sqn
46 Sqn
49 Sqn
50 Sqn
51 Sqn
54 Sqn
56 Sqn
57 Sqn
61 Sqn
64 Sqn
65 Sqn
68 Sqn
69 Sqn
70 Sqn
71 Sqn
73 Sqn
75 Sqn
81 Sqn
83 Sqn
85 Sqn
88 Sqn
90 Sqn
92 Sqn
97 Sqn
100 Sqn
101 Sqn
103 Sqn
104 Sqn
106 Sqn
109 Sqn
110 Sqn
111 Sqn
112 Sqn
113 Sqn
116 Sqn
121 Sqn
133 Sqn
136 Sqn
139 Sqn
141 Sqn
142 Sqn
143 Sqn
144 Sqn
148 Sqn
149 Sqn
150 Sqn
151 Sqn
153 Sqn
154 Sqn
166 Sqn
170 Sqn
189 Sqn
198 Sqn
199 Sqn
203 Sqn
206 Sqn
207 Sqn
209 Sqn
210 Sqn
211 Sqn
214 Sqn
222 Sqn
227 Sqn
228 Sqn
229 Sqn
235 Sqn
236 Sqn
248 Sqn
249 Sqn
251 Sqn
253 Sqn
254 Sqn
255 Sqn
256 Sqn
264 Sqn
266 Sqn
280 Sqn
288 Sqn
300 Sqn
301 Sqn
302 Sqn
303 Sqn
305 Sqn
307 Sqn
309 Sqn
310 Sqn
349 Sqn
350 Sqn
401 Sqn
402 Sqn
404 Sqn
407 Sqn
409 Sqn
410 Sqn
411 Sqn
412 Sqn
415 Sqn
416 Sqn
420 Sqn
421 Sqn
430 Sqn
438 Sqn
439 Sqn
441 Sqn
442 Sqn
443 Sqn
452 Sqn
455 Sqn
460 Sqn
463 Sqn
467 Sqn
486 Sqn
503 Sqn
504 Sqn
527 Sqn
528 Sqn
532 Sqn
538 Sqn
542 Sqn
550 Sqn
576 Sqn
601 Sqn
609 Sqn
613 Sqn
616 Sqn
617 Sqn
619 Sqn
625 Sqn
626 Sqn
627 Sqn
630 Sqn

Heavy Conversion Units
1654 HCU
1656 HCU
1660 HCU
1661 HCU
1662 HCU
1665 HCU
1667 HCU
1668 HCU
21 HGCU

Advanced Flying Schools
201 AFS

Advanced Flying Units
12 AFU
15 AFU

Flying Training Schools
1 FTS
2 FTS
3 FTS
6 FTS
7 FTS
12 FTS
1 Lancaster Finishing School
Central Flying School

Operational Training/
Conversion Units
(Fighter)
6 OTU
53 OTU

56 OTU

(Bomber)
228 OCU
230 OCU

Air Armament Schools
1 AAS
2 AAS
Empire Central AS

Other schools
1 Gp Aircrew School
1 Ground Defence School
1 Air Observers School
Central Gunnery School
5 Gp Anti Air School

Other units
Bomber Command
Coastal Command
Fighter Command
HQ No 5 Group
HQ No 23 Group
1485 Gunnery Flight
2782 Defence Sqn
178 Support Unit
399 Signals Unit
Nationality based Sqns

Updated: 27 May 07

Formed: 26 Jul 1913, Farnborough

Reformed: 1920, Quetta

Disbanded: 1947

Reformed: 1949, Pembrey

Disbanded: 1957

Reformed: 1959

Disbanded: ?2003

Reformed: 2004

Disbanded: still an active RAF Squadron

Squadron based at:

Quetta :: 1920 - 1940

RAF Pembrey :: 1949 - 1951

Germany :: 1951 - 1957; 1959 - 1965

RAF Binbrook :: 1965 - 1987

RAF Coningsby :: 1987 - 2003

RAF Waddington :: ?? - present

Aircraft operated:

BE2c :: Aug 1914 - 1920

Bristol Fighter :: 1920 - 1931

Wapiti :: 1931 - 1940

Hart :: 1940 - 1942

Mohawk :: 1942 -

Hurricane ::

Thunderbolt ::

Javelin :: 1959 - 1965

Lightning :: 1965 - 1987

Tornado F3 :: 1987 - 2003

SENTINEL R1 :: 2004 - present

Formed at Farnborough in 1913, 5 Sqn RFC provided reconnaissance for the BEF in Aug 1914. The Sqn has the distinction of recording the RFC's first war casualties when an aircraft was hit by rifle fire on 22 Aug 1914. It also records the Royal Flying Corps’ first ever victory 24 Aug 1914 when an Erich monoplane was forced down by a 5 Sqn Avro 540.

5 Sqn took a leading role in the development of aerial photography and wireless telephony during the early phases of the Great War. Artillery observation was the main task with the BE2C.

In 1915 it formed a close association with the Canadian 16 Corps which led to the maple leaf being adpoted as its emblem.

In 1920 the Squadron reformed at Quetta, India (now Pakistan) for army co-operation work on the North West Frontier. Its Bristol Fighters remained with them for 11 years until replaced in 1931 by Wapitis. These outdated biplanes remained until 1940 when they where replaced by the equally ancient Hart. These were replaced by the Mohawk fighter in 1942 for escort duties, accompanying Blenheim from Assam attacking targets in Burma. Up to disbandment in 1947 the Sqn also flew Hurricane and Thunderbolt.

5 Sqn reformed at RAF Pembrey on 11 Feb 1949 on target-towing duties. In Sep 1951, 5 Sqn moved to Germany and flew Vampire and Venom fighter bombers before disbanding in the 1957 defence round.

In 1959 it was reformed in the all-weather fighter force in Germany, flying Javelin. It stayed here until 1965, moving to RAF Binbrook to be re-equipped with with the Lightning F6. In 1987 the Sqn moved to RAF Coningsby and re-equipped to the Tornado F3.

A combined 5 Sqn and 29 Sqn force was the first RAF component to arrive in Saudi Arabia in Aug 1990 after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.

5 Sqn disbanded again in 2003 at Coningsby and reformed on 1 Apr 04 at RAF Waddington to operate SENTINEL R1, the Airborne STand-Off Radar (ASTOR) aircraft.

V Sqn Association

For details on the V Sqn Association please contact Bob Riste (01522 794035) or briste@btinternet.com

5 Sqn history on RAF website

RAF Waddington website

Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire
(Tourism)

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