No . 5 Squadron Royal Air Force

5 Squadron was founded in August 1913 at Farnborough. It saw action throughout the First World War along the front in France, and after the armistice it remained on reconnaissance duties in Germany until 8th September, 1919. The squadron returned to England and was stationed at Bicester but was disbanded on 20th January 1920.
On 1st February 1920, No. 5 Squadron was re-formed out of No. 48 Squadron. at Quetta, India (now part of Pakistan) operating under No. 3 (Indian) Wing. In May 1924 the titles of R.A.F. squadrons officially indicated their duties and 5 Squadron became No. 5 (Army Co-operation) Squadron.
In May 1935 occurred the great Quetta earthquake in which the R.A.F. quarters were directly hit with 23 British and 17 Indian personnel killed (the total death toll was estimated to be 56,000), and only three out of the 27 planes belonging to the wing still serviceable. In the days following the disaster every squadron in India ferried doctors, nurses and medical supplies to Quetta, carrying injured persons on return flights.
When hostilities broke out in Europe on September 3, 1939, the squadron was reduced to one flight to continue with peace keeping role in the NW frontier, and the rest of the aircraft and crews were drafted into other squadrons in Britain. The squadron at this time was equipped with the Hawker Audax, an obsolete biplane.
Immediately after the Japanese entered the war the Squadron moved to Calcutta where it was re-equipped with the Curtis Mowhawk. It remained on the Indian coast providing defence cover and was eventually re-equipped with Hurricanes and providing training to other squadrons making that conversion. The Squadron returned to operations at the seige of Imphal and was part of the effort to turn back the Japanese invasion.
No.5 Squadron was then re-equipped with the Thunderbolt and took them into Burma, where they remained until the fall of Rangoon. They then returned to India.
Airfields at which No.5 Squadron was based during WW2:

10 June 1938-4 October 1939: Risalpur (India)
4 October 1939-10 June 1940: Fort Sandeman
10 June 1940-18 February 1941: Lahore
18 February-11 December 1941: Risalpur
11 December 1941-5 May 1942: Dum Dum
5 May-29 September 1942: Dinjan
29 September-1 October 1942: Feni
1-6 October 1942: Alipore
6 October 1942-1 June 1943: Agartala
1 June-7 December 1943: Khargpur
7 December 1943-24 March 1944: Sapam
24-31 March 1944: Wangjing
31 March-6 June 1944: Lanka
6-22 June 1944: Dergaon
22 June-24 October 1944: Vizagapatam
24-29 October 1944: Cholavarum
29 October-2 December 1944: Kajamalai (RAF Trichinopoly)
2-12 December 1944: St. Thomas Mount
12 December 1944-19 April 1945: Nazir
19 April-28 April 1945: Cox's Bazaar
28 April-10 June 1945: Kyaukpyu (Burma)
10 June-24 June 1945: Vizagapatam (India)
24 June-30 August 1945: Bobbili

June 1940 Re-equipped for new role

15th October 1941 New Squadron formed in India

10th December 1941 Defence of Calcutta

April 1942 Re-equipped again

5th May 1942 Reorganisation of fighter squadrons

6th July 1942 Ground and river Attacks

September 1942 On the move

6th October 1942 Offensive role

November1942 Preparation for Arakan offensive

January 1943 Chindit support

10th April 1943 Airfield bombed

June 1943 Hurricanes delivered

June 1943 Return to Argatala

7th December 1943 Back on ops

31st March 1944 On the move

13th April 1944 Battle for Imphal

22nd June 1944 Vital role of Hurricanes

23rd June 1944 Respite

29th October 1944 Back on Ops.

28th April 1945 Into Burma

24th June 1945 Rest and Recuperation

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No . 5 Squadron Royal Air Force
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No . 5 Squadron Royal Air Force
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Those known to have served with No . 5 Squadron Royal Air Forceduring the Second World War 1939-1945.

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Those known to have served with
No . 5 Squadron Royal Air Force
during the Second World War 1939-1945.