No. 5 Airfield Construction Squadron RAAF
Encyclopedia
No. 5 Airfield Construction Squadron (5ACS) was a Royal Australian Air Force
construction squadron
. The unit was first formed in July 1942 and served in New Guinea
and Borneo
during World War II
. Following the war it formed part of Australia's contribution to the occupation of Japan until it was disbanded in June 1949. 5ACS was re-raised in August 1951 and worked on airfields in Australia as well as sending detachments to South Vietnam
and Thailand
during the Vietnam War
. The squadron was disbanded in December 1974.
on 7 July 1942 as a 250-man strong detachment of No. 1 Mobile Works Squadron for service in New Guinea. The new unit was designated No. 1 Mobile Works Squadron (Special Works Force) and arrived at Port Moresby
on 7 August after a difficult voyage during which the ship carrying it ran aground twice. It began work on constructing Wards Airfield
on 14 August, and the first of the airfield's runways was ready for use three weeks later. Completion of the airfield was delayed until January 1943 due to shortages of personnel and equipment, however. During this period No. 1 Mobile Works Squadron (Special Works Force) was redesignated No. 5 Mobile Works Squadron (5MWS) on 16 November. In order to support Allied offensives in New Guinea 5MWS moved to Goodenough Island
between late February and March 1943 and constructed Vivigani Airfield
, which initially comprised a 1524 metres (5,000 ft) fighter runway and 1829 metres (6,000.7 ft) bomber runway as well as headquarters, maintenance and logistics facilities. During March and April a detachment from the squadron also assisted No. 6 Mobile Works Squadron at Milne Bay
. 5MWS departed Goodenough Island on 21 November to return to Australia for a period of rest and reconstitution.
In early 1944 5MWS became part of a force of RAAF and United States Army
aviation engineer units which was to build airfields at Aitape
in New Guinea from which air support would be provided to Allied operations around Hollandia
after US Army forces landed there on 22 April. 5MWS departed Melbourne
on 15 February and eventually joined up with the main body of this force at Lae
on 1 April where it received training in infantry
tactics. The Landing at Aitape took place on 22 April and 5MWS came ashore the next day. The airfield at Aitape was ready to be used from 25 April and was later expanded by the aviation engineers. On 6 July 5MWS landed on Noemfoor Island where it again formed part of an aviation engineer force tasked with repairing and expanding the island's airfields. Allied forces had first landed on the island
on 2 July, and it was still not secure when construction work began. As a result, 5MWS personnel were required to man perimeter defences, during which they captured 12 Japanese personnel. While at Noemfoor 5MWS was redesignated No. 5 Airfield Construction Squadron on 18 July. As at 25 November No. 4 Airfield Construction Squadron and 5ACS were the main units of No. 62 Wing. In January 1945 4ACS and 5ACS moved to Biak
island where they worked on improving facilities used by the US Army and United States Army Air Forces
(USAAF). In mid-May 1945 4ACS and 5ACS traveled together to Morotai
where they remained until June when they departed as part of the Australian-led Battle of North Borneo
. The two squadrons landed at Labuan
on 11 June and worked on repairing and maintaining the island's airfield until the end of the war on 15 August.
(BCOF) in Japan. For this deployment it was assigned to No. 81 Wing
. 5ACS' advance party arrived in Japan in late 1945 and the rest of the squadron arrived at Iwakuni
to the east of Hiroshima
on 22 February 1946. At this time it was understrength as only 14 officers and 189 airmen had volunteered for occupation duties, though a further 173 personnel arrived in March and April.
5ACS provided engineering support to BCOF for the next three years. Its initial priorities were to repair the airfields at Bofu
, Iwakuni
and Miho
. By mid-1946 5ACS was working on these airfields as well as building small forward airstrips for army reconnaissance aircraft and maintaining another four airfields in BCOF's area of responsibility. These tasks were of great importance to the BCOF, and Australian aviation historian Alan Stephens has assessed that "No. 5 ACS's achievements were probably the most significant of any Australian unit—land, sea or air" during the occupation of Japan. Japanese labourers were employed on all of 5ACS' projects, with the squadron's personnel undertaking specialist roles. The size of BCOF was reduced in 1948 and the Australian Government decided to reduce the RAAF force in Japan to a single flying squadron. Accordingly, 5ACS' remaining responsibilities were gradually transferred to the works officer of No. 77 Squadron
and the squadron was disbanded at Iwakuni on 30 June 1949.
to fill the RAAF's need for engineering units and provide a nucleus for the potential formation of other airfield construction squadrons. It initially worked on projects in Sydney before moving to RAAF Base Williamtown
in 1952 where it worked on a major upgrade of that base which lasted until 1955. During this period the squadron also worked on other RAAF facilities in New South Wales. Between March and November 1952 a detachment of 30 men from 5ACS was deployed to the Montebello Islands
off the coast of Western Australia to support the British nuclear weapons test in the area, Operation Hurricane
. Another detachment from the squadron also assisted with the construction of range facilities at the Woomera Test Range
in South Australia between 1952 and 1955. Most of 5ACS moved to Darwin
in 1955 to build a 13000 feet (3,962.4 m)-long runway and supporting facilities at RAAF Base Darwin
though a detachment remained at Williamtown until June 1963 and two other detachments were formed to undertake engineering tasks in the Sydney region and rebuild the runway at RAAF Base Amberley
. The expansion of RAAF Base Darwin was completed in 1964. Following the disbandment of No. 2 Airfield Construction Squadron on 28 April 1961 5ACS was left as the RAAF's only construction unit and took on some of 2ACS' personnel and equipment. For a short period the remnants of 2ACS formed 'Detachment C' of 5ACS while they completed works on RAAF Base East Sale
; this sub-unit was disbanded in September 1961.
Once RAAF Base Darwin was completed 5ACS headed south to develop RAAF Base Tindal
near Katherine
in the Northern Territory. The squadron's advance party arrived at Tindal in October 1963 and work began on the base in late 1964. The 2743 metres (8,999.3 ft) runway was opened in March 1967 and the base was ready to support RAAF units in early 1968. Work on expanding Tindal continued during 1968 and 1969. During this period detachments of 5ACS also worked on projects at Darwin and RAAF Base Amberley, and 5ACS' headquarters moved to Amberley on 14 September 1969.
Detachments from 5ACS formed part of Australia's contribution to the Vietnam War
. Following the deployment of No. 79 Squadron
to Ubon Air Force Base
in Thailand in June 1962 a party of 5ACS personnel was also sent to Ubon to plan and oversee the construction of facilities for the squadron. Work on these facilities was undertaken by 100 Thai civilians who had built over 50 huts and other support infrastructure for No. 79 Squadron by the time the project concluded at the end of 1962. RAAF units began to be deployed to South Vietnam
in 1964, and in May 1966 Detachment A of 5ACS was formed at Vũng Tàu
to improve the airfield there so it could support the UH-1 Iroquois-equipped No. 9 Squadron
. The 19 members of this detachment returned to Australia on 8 October 1966. Detachment B of 5ACS was subsequently deployed to South Vietnam in January 1967 to build facilities for eight No. 2 Squadron
Canberra bombers
at Phan Rang Air Base
. This task was completed in April and in June Detachment B moved to Vũng Tàu to complete the construction of facilities there. Work on Vung Tau Airport
was finished on 20 January 1968 and the detachment was disbanded on 17 February 1968.
5ACS' last major project was the development of RAAF Base Learmonth. Initial works began on this project in March 1970 when Detachment E was formed there, and the main body of the squadron arrived on 1 February 1971. 5ACS' task was to extend the existing runway at the site and build facilities to support RAAF combat aircraft in the case of a war with Indonesia
. These works were undertaken in difficult climatic conditions and the living conditions provided for the airmen and their families were inadequate. Nonetheless, the runway and extensive support facilities were officially opened on 15 December 1972, though work on finalising the base continued. In August 1973 it was announced that 5ACS was going to be disbanded. The squadron's strength declined during 1974 as personnel left the RAAF or moved to other units and it was disbanded at Learmonth on 15 December 1974. 5ACS was the last of the RAAF's airfield construction units and civilian contractors have since been used to build and maintain air bases.
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
construction squadron
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
. The unit was first formed in July 1942 and served in New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
and Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Following the war it formed part of Australia's contribution to the occupation of Japan until it was disbanded in June 1949. 5ACS was re-raised in August 1951 and worked on airfields in Australia as well as sending detachments to South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
and Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. The squadron was disbanded in December 1974.
World War II
5ACS was formed at Ascot Vale, VictoriaAscot Vale, Victoria
Ascot Vale is a suburb 7 km north-west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moonee Valley. At the 2006 Census, Ascot Vale had a population of 12,398....
on 7 July 1942 as a 250-man strong detachment of No. 1 Mobile Works Squadron for service in New Guinea. The new unit was designated No. 1 Mobile Works Squadron (Special Works Force) and arrived at Port Moresby
Port Moresby
Port Moresby , or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea . It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea, which made it a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43...
on 7 August after a difficult voyage during which the ship carrying it ran aground twice. It began work on constructing Wards Airfield
Wards Airfield
Wards Airfield is a former World War II airfield near Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The airfield was abandoned after the war and was developed into the Waigani area of Port Moresby....
on 14 August, and the first of the airfield's runways was ready for use three weeks later. Completion of the airfield was delayed until January 1943 due to shortages of personnel and equipment, however. During this period No. 1 Mobile Works Squadron (Special Works Force) was redesignated No. 5 Mobile Works Squadron (5MWS) on 16 November. In order to support Allied offensives in New Guinea 5MWS moved to Goodenough Island
Goodenough Island
Goodenough Island in the Solomon Sea is the westernmost of the three large islands of the D'Entrecasteaux Islands in Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea. It lies to the east of mainland New Guinea and south west of the Trobriand Islands.It should not be confused with Goodenough's Island...
between late February and March 1943 and constructed Vivigani Airfield
Vivigani Airfield
Vivigani Airfield was an airstrip at Vivigani on Goodenough Island, part of the D'Entrecasteaux Islands in Papua New Guinea.-World War II:The Australian 2/12th Battalion reached Vivigani on 27 October 1942, occupying the island after defeating the Imperial Japanese troops marooned on the island...
, which initially comprised a 1524 metres (5,000 ft) fighter runway and 1829 metres (6,000.7 ft) bomber runway as well as headquarters, maintenance and logistics facilities. During March and April a detachment from the squadron also assisted No. 6 Mobile Works Squadron at Milne Bay
Milne Bay
Milne Bay is a large bay in Milne Bay Province, southeastern Papua New Guinea. The bay is named after Sir Alexander Milne.The area was a site of the Battle of Milne Bay in 1942....
. 5MWS departed Goodenough Island on 21 November to return to Australia for a period of rest and reconstitution.
In early 1944 5MWS became part of a force of RAAF and United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
aviation engineer units which was to build airfields at Aitape
Aitape
Aitape is a small town of about 8,000 people on the north coast of Papua New Guinea in the Sandaun Province. It is a coastal settlement that is almost equidistant from the provincial capitals of Wewak and Vanimo, and marks the midpoint of the highway between these two capitals...
in New Guinea from which air support would be provided to Allied operations around Hollandia
Jayapura
Jayapura City is the capital of Papua province, Indonesia, on the island of New Guinea. It is situated on Yos Sudarso Bay . Its approximate population in 2002 was 200,000....
after US Army forces landed there on 22 April. 5MWS departed Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
on 15 February and eventually joined up with the main body of this force at Lae
Lae
Lae, the capital of Morobe Province, is the second-largest city in Papua New Guinea. It is located at the start of the Highlands Highway which is the main land transport corridor from the Highlands region to the coast...
on 1 April where it received training in infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
tactics. The Landing at Aitape took place on 22 April and 5MWS came ashore the next day. The airfield at Aitape was ready to be used from 25 April and was later expanded by the aviation engineers. On 6 July 5MWS landed on Noemfoor Island where it again formed part of an aviation engineer force tasked with repairing and expanding the island's airfields. Allied forces had first landed on the island
Battle of Noemfoor
The Battle of Noemfoor was a battle of World War II that took place on the island of Noemfoor, in Dutch New Guinea, between 2 July and 31 August 1944. United States and Australian forces attacked to capture Japanese bases on the island.-Background:...
on 2 July, and it was still not secure when construction work began. As a result, 5MWS personnel were required to man perimeter defences, during which they captured 12 Japanese personnel. While at Noemfoor 5MWS was redesignated No. 5 Airfield Construction Squadron on 18 July. As at 25 November No. 4 Airfield Construction Squadron and 5ACS were the main units of No. 62 Wing. In January 1945 4ACS and 5ACS moved to Biak
Biak
Biak features a tropical rainforest climate with nearly identical temperatures throughout the course of the year. The average annual temperature in the city is 27 degrees celsius, which is also generally the average temperature of each day in Biak...
island where they worked on improving facilities used by the US Army and United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
(USAAF). In mid-May 1945 4ACS and 5ACS traveled together to Morotai
Morotai
Morotai Island Regency is a regency of North Maluku province, Indonesia, located on Morotai Island. The population was 54,876 in 2007.-History:...
where they remained until June when they departed as part of the Australian-led Battle of North Borneo
Battle of North Borneo
The Battle of North Borneo took place during the Second World War between Allied and Japanese forces. Part of the wider Borneo campaign of the Pacific War, it was fought between 10 June and 15 August 1945 in North Borneo...
. The two squadrons landed at Labuan
Labuan
Labuan is a federal territory in East Malaysia. It is an island off the coast of the state of Sabah. Labuan's capital is Victoria and is best known as an offshore financial centre offering international financial and business services via Labuan IBFC since 1990 as well as being an offshore support...
on 11 June and worked on repairing and maintaining the island's airfield until the end of the war on 15 August.
Occupation of Japan
While most of the RAAF's airfield construction squadrons were disbanded at the end of the war, on 17 November 1945 5ACS was informed that it would form part of Australia's contribution to the British Commonwealth Occupation ForceBritish Commonwealth Occupation Force
The British Commonwealth Occupation Force , was the name of the joint Australian, Canadian, British, Indian and New Zealand military forces in occupied Japan, from 21 February 1946 until the end of occupation in 1952...
(BCOF) in Japan. For this deployment it was assigned to No. 81 Wing
No. 81 Wing RAAF
No. 81 Wing is the Royal Australian Air Force's air superiority wing. Formed during World War II, it operated in the South West Pacific theatre, flying P-40 Kittyhawks. Following the end of hostilities, it converted to P-51 Mustangs and was based in Japan as part of the Allied occupational forces...
. 5ACS' advance party arrived in Japan in late 1945 and the rest of the squadron arrived at Iwakuni
Iwakuni, Yamaguchi
is a city located in Yamaguchi, Japan.On March 20, 2006, the old city of Iwakuni absorbed the towns of Kuga, Mikawa, Miwa, Nishiki, Shūtō and Yū, and the village of Hongō, all from Kuga District, to form the new, expanded city of Iwakuni.- History :...
to the east of Hiroshima
Hiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
on 22 February 1946. At this time it was understrength as only 14 officers and 189 airmen had volunteered for occupation duties, though a further 173 personnel arrived in March and April.
5ACS provided engineering support to BCOF for the next three years. Its initial priorities were to repair the airfields at Bofu
Hōfu Air Field
is a military aerodrome of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force . It is located southwest of Hōfu in the Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.-History:Hōfu Airfield's origins appear to begin as a World War II airfield, as its runway pattern is indicative of wartime fields built in that era...
, Iwakuni
Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni
Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni or MCAS Iwakuni is a United States Marine Corps air station located in the Nishiki river delta, southeast of the Iwakuni Station in the city of Iwakuni, Yamaguchi in Japan.-Tenant commands:...
and Miho
Miho-Yonago Airport
-Access:The airport is connected to various locations by bus. Also, there is a railway line, the Sakai Line, which connects the airport with the Yonago Station and Sakaiminato Station.-References:...
. By mid-1946 5ACS was working on these airfields as well as building small forward airstrips for army reconnaissance aircraft and maintaining another four airfields in BCOF's area of responsibility. These tasks were of great importance to the BCOF, and Australian aviation historian Alan Stephens has assessed that "No. 5 ACS's achievements were probably the most significant of any Australian unit—land, sea or air" during the occupation of Japan. Japanese labourers were employed on all of 5ACS' projects, with the squadron's personnel undertaking specialist roles. The size of BCOF was reduced in 1948 and the Australian Government decided to reduce the RAAF force in Japan to a single flying squadron. Accordingly, 5ACS' remaining responsibilities were gradually transferred to the works officer of No. 77 Squadron
No. 77 Squadron RAAF
No. 77 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron. The Squadron was formed in 1942 and currently operates F/A-18 Hornet aircraft from RAAF Base Williamtown.-History:...
and the squadron was disbanded at Iwakuni on 30 June 1949.
Cold War
5ACS was reformed on 8 August 1951 at Bankstown, New South WalesBankstown, New South Wales
Bankstown is a suburb of south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Bankstown is located 20 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of the City of Bankstown.-History:Prior to European...
to fill the RAAF's need for engineering units and provide a nucleus for the potential formation of other airfield construction squadrons. It initially worked on projects in Sydney before moving to RAAF Base Williamtown
RAAF Base Williamtown
RAAF Base Williamtown is a Royal Australian Air Force base and headquarters to Australia's Tactical Fighter group. The base is located north of the coastal city of Newcastle, New South Wales in the Local Government Area of Port Stephens. The military base shares its runway facilities with...
in 1952 where it worked on a major upgrade of that base which lasted until 1955. During this period the squadron also worked on other RAAF facilities in New South Wales. Between March and November 1952 a detachment of 30 men from 5ACS was deployed to the Montebello Islands
Montebello Islands
The Montebello Islands, also known as the Monte Bello Islands, are an archipelago of around 174 small islands lying north of Barrow Island and off the Pilbara coast of north-western Australia. Montebello is Italian for "beautiful mountain"...
off the coast of Western Australia to support the British nuclear weapons test in the area, Operation Hurricane
Operation Hurricane
Operation Hurricane was the test of the first British atomic device on 3 October 1952. A plutonium implosion device was detonated in the lagoon between the Montebello Islands, Western Australia....
. Another detachment from the squadron also assisted with the construction of range facilities at the Woomera Test Range
Woomera Test Range
The RAAF Woomera Test Range is a weapons testing range operated by the Royal Australian Air Force Aerospace Operational Support Group...
in South Australia between 1952 and 1955. Most of 5ACS moved to Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
in 1955 to build a 13000 feet (3,962.4 m)-long runway and supporting facilities at RAAF Base Darwin
RAAF Base Darwin
RAAF Base Darwin is a Royal Australian Air Force base located in the city of Darwin, Northern Territory. The base shares its runway with Darwin International Airport.-History:...
though a detachment remained at Williamtown until June 1963 and two other detachments were formed to undertake engineering tasks in the Sydney region and rebuild the runway at RAAF Base Amberley
RAAF Base Amberley
RAAF Base Amberley is a Royal Australian Air Force base located southwest of Ipswich, Queensland and southwest of Brisbane. It is currently home to No. 1 Squadron and No. 6 Squadron , No. 33 Squadron and No. 36 Squadron...
. The expansion of RAAF Base Darwin was completed in 1964. Following the disbandment of No. 2 Airfield Construction Squadron on 28 April 1961 5ACS was left as the RAAF's only construction unit and took on some of 2ACS' personnel and equipment. For a short period the remnants of 2ACS formed 'Detachment C' of 5ACS while they completed works on RAAF Base East Sale
RAAF Base East Sale
RAAF Base East Sale is one of the main training establishments of the Royal Australian Air Force, including where Australian Air Force Cadets have their annual General Service Training. It is home to the Roulettes aerobatic team. It is also now the home of the RAAF's Officers' Training School ...
; this sub-unit was disbanded in September 1961.
Once RAAF Base Darwin was completed 5ACS headed south to develop RAAF Base Tindal
RAAF Base Tindal
RAAF Base Tindal is a Royal Australian Air Force air base located near the town of Katherine in the Northern Territory. The base is currently home to No...
near Katherine
Katherine, Northern Territory
Katherine is a town situated southeast of Darwin in the "Top End" of Australia in the Northern Territory. It is the fourth largest settlement in the Territory after the capital Darwin, Palmerston and Alice Springs...
in the Northern Territory. The squadron's advance party arrived at Tindal in October 1963 and work began on the base in late 1964. The 2743 metres (8,999.3 ft) runway was opened in March 1967 and the base was ready to support RAAF units in early 1968. Work on expanding Tindal continued during 1968 and 1969. During this period detachments of 5ACS also worked on projects at Darwin and RAAF Base Amberley, and 5ACS' headquarters moved to Amberley on 14 September 1969.
Detachments from 5ACS formed part of Australia's contribution to the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. Following the deployment of No. 79 Squadron
No. 79 Squadron RAAF
No. 79 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force flight training unit which has been formed on four occasions since 1943. The squadron was established in May 1943 as a fighter unit equipped with Supermarine Spitfires, and subsequently saw combat in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II...
to Ubon Air Force Base
Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base
Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base is a Royal Thai Air Force facility and is the home of Wing 21 of the RTAF 2nd Air Division. It is located in East-Central Thailand, near the city of Ubon Ratchathani, in the Ubon Ratchathani Province. It is approximately 305 miles North-East of Bangkok...
in Thailand in June 1962 a party of 5ACS personnel was also sent to Ubon to plan and oversee the construction of facilities for the squadron. Work on these facilities was undertaken by 100 Thai civilians who had built over 50 huts and other support infrastructure for No. 79 Squadron by the time the project concluded at the end of 1962. RAAF units began to be deployed to South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
in 1964, and in May 1966 Detachment A of 5ACS was formed at Vũng Tàu
Vung Tàu
Vũng Tàu is a city in southern Vietnam. Its population in 2005 was 240,000. The city area is including 13 urban wards and one village. It is the capital of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, and is the crude oil extraction center of Vietnam. It is also known as one of the most beautiful cities of tourism...
to improve the airfield there so it could support the UH-1 Iroquois-equipped No. 9 Squadron
No. 9 Squadron RAAF
No. 9 Squadron was a unit of the Royal Australian Air Force. The Squadron saw active service in World War II and the Vietnam War before being disbanded in 1989.-Fleet co-operation:...
. The 19 members of this detachment returned to Australia on 8 October 1966. Detachment B of 5ACS was subsequently deployed to South Vietnam in January 1967 to build facilities for eight No. 2 Squadron
No. 2 Squadron RAAF
No. 2 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron. From its formation in 1916, it has operated a variety of aircraft types including fighters, bombers, and Airborne Early Warning & Control.-World War I:No...
Canberra bombers
English Electric Canberra
The English Electric Canberra is a first-generation jet-powered light bomber manufactured in large numbers through the 1950s. The Canberra could fly at a higher altitude than any other bomber through the 1950s and set a world altitude record of 70,310 ft in 1957...
at Phan Rang Air Base
Phan Rang Air Base
Phan Rang Air Base is a Vietnam People's Air Force military airfield in Vietnam. It is located north-northwest of Phan Rang-Thap Cham in Ninh Thuan Province....
. This task was completed in April and in June Detachment B moved to Vũng Tàu to complete the construction of facilities there. Work on Vung Tau Airport
Vung Tau Airport
Vung Tau Airport is a small airport in southern Vietnam. The airport serves the city of Vung Tau and is located near the downtown of the city.-Facilities:There is a 1,800 m paved runway...
was finished on 20 January 1968 and the detachment was disbanded on 17 February 1968.
5ACS' last major project was the development of RAAF Base Learmonth. Initial works began on this project in March 1970 when Detachment E was formed there, and the main body of the squadron arrived on 1 February 1971. 5ACS' task was to extend the existing runway at the site and build facilities to support RAAF combat aircraft in the case of a war with Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. These works were undertaken in difficult climatic conditions and the living conditions provided for the airmen and their families were inadequate. Nonetheless, the runway and extensive support facilities were officially opened on 15 December 1972, though work on finalising the base continued. In August 1973 it was announced that 5ACS was going to be disbanded. The squadron's strength declined during 1974 as personnel left the RAAF or moved to other units and it was disbanded at Learmonth on 15 December 1974. 5ACS was the last of the RAAF's airfield construction units and civilian contractors have since been used to build and maintain air bases.