No. 5 Operational Training Unit RAAF

No. 5 Operational Training Unit RAAF
Graduates of No. 12 Course at No. 5 OTU in 1943
Active	1942–47 1970–71
Country	Australia
Branch	Royal Australian Air Force
Role	Operational training
Garrison/HQ	Forest Hill, New South Wales (1942–43) , New South Wales (1943–44) Williamtown, New South Wales (1944–47, 1970–71)
Engagements	World War II
Commanders
Notable commanders	Dick Cresswell (1947)
Aircraft flown
Bomber	Bristol Beaufort Douglas Boston de Havilland Mosquito
Fighter	Bristol Beaufighter P-51 Mustang CAC Sabre
Trainer	Airspeed Oxford CAC Wirraway de Havilland Vampire Macchi MB-326

No. 5 Operational Training Unit was an operational training unit (OTU) of the Royal Australian Air Force. It was formed at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, in October 1942 to train pilots and navigators for service in World War II. The unit was initially equipped with Bristol Beauforts and Beaufighters, and later received Douglas Bostons and de Havilland Mosquitos, among other types. No. 5 OTU was transferred to in October 1943, and then to Williamtown in mid-1944. It was reorganised as a fighter conversion unit flying P-51 Mustangs and CAC Wirraways in February 1946, and disbanded in July 1947.

No. 5 OTU was re-raised at Williamtown in April 1970 as a jet fighter conversion unit, equipped with CAC Sabres, de Havilland Vampires, and Macchi MB-326s. It ceased operations in July the following year, when the Sabre was retired from service.

During World War II, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) established several operational training units (OTUs) to convert recently graduated pilots from advanced trainers to combat aircraft, and to add fighting ability to the flying skills they had already learned. Employing as they did warplanes that were more advanced and more powerful than trainers, and teaching combat techniques that often carried high risk, OTUs generally suffered higher accident rates than other flying training schools. No. 5 Operational Training Unit was formed at Forest Hill in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, on 26 October 1942, and initially equipped with two Bristol Beauforts and five Bristol Beaufighters. Its inaugural commanding officer was Squadron Leader Bruce Rose. The first training course ran from 2 November to 12 December 1942. At the end of the month the unit's strength was 170 personnel and sixteen aircraft. By mid-1943 this had increased to 387 personnel, including seventeen members of the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force, and twenty-five aircraft, including four de Havilland DH-84s and one de Havilland Moth Minor, the remainder being Beauforts and Beaufighters. The unit received its first Airspeed Oxford in August 1943.