No. 5 Service Flying Training School RAAF
Encyclopedia
No. 5 Service Flying Training School (No. 5 SFTS) was a Royal Australian Air Force
flight training unit of World War II. Its role was to provide intermediate and advanced flight training to new pilots as part of Australia's contribution to the Empire Air Training Scheme
. No. 5 SFTS was one of eight Service Flying Training Schools established by the RAAF to train aircrew during the war. It was formed at RAAF Station Uranquinty
, New South Wales, in October 1941, and disbanded in February 1946. Its staff and equipment were employed to re-establish No. 1 Flying Training School
, which transferred to RAAF Station Point Cook
, Victoria, the following year.
(EATS). The Air Force's pre-war flight training facility, No. 1 Flying Training School
at RAAF Station Point Cook
, Victoria, was supplanted in 1940–41 by twelve Elementary Flying Training Schools (EFTS), eight Service Flying Training Schools (SFTS), and Central Flying School
(CFS). While CFS turned out new flight instructor
s, the EFTS provided basic training to prospective pilots who, if successful, would go on to SFTS for further instruction that focussed on operational (or "service") flying. The course at SFTS typically consisted of two streams, intermediate and advanced, and included such techniques as instrument flying, night flying, advanced aerobatics, formation flying, dive bombing, and aerial gunnery. The total duration varied during the war as demand for aircrew rose and fell. Initially running for 16 weeks, the course was cut to 10 weeks (which included 75 hours flying time) in October 1940. A year later it was raised to 12 weeks (including 100 hours flying time), and again to 16 weeks two months later. It continued to increase after this, peaking at 28 weeks in June 1944.
No. 5 Service Flying Training School (No. 5 SFTS) was formed at RAAF Station Uranquinty
, New South Wales, in October 1941, and came under the control of No. 2 Training Group. The unit's inaugural commander was Group Captain
Ulex Ewart, a graduate of the Royal Military College, Duntroon
, who had been seconded to the Air Force and learnt to fly on the first cadet course at No. 1 Flying Training School in 1923. At the time of its formation, No. 5 SFTS had a strength of 792 personnel, who were responsible for training about 200 pilots. One of its original instructors was Flying Officer Bill Newton, later to be awarded the Victoria Cross
for bombing raids in New Guinea
. Following the outbreak of the Pacific War
in December 1941, the school's CAC Wirraway
single-engined trainers were classified as Second Line (Reserve) aircraft in the defence of Australia
No. 5 SFTS began flight training in February 1942 using 28 Wirraways. The unit grew over the next two years, and by early 1944 was operating 128 Wirraways, two de Havilland DH.84 Dragons
, two de Havilland Moth Minors and a CAC Wackett. It typically graduated one course of pilots each month, although the wastage rate sometimes exceeded 40 per cent. Among its graduates was Len Waters
, the first Australian Aboriginal military aviator, and the only one to serve as a fighter pilot
in the RAAF during World War II. As a training facility, No. 5 SFTS regularly suffered flying accidents. Forty-two of its students died during the war, an average of around one per month. A near miss involving more experienced pilots occurred at the school in December 1943, when aces
Clive Caldwell
and John Waddy
, then instructors at No. 2 Operational Training Unit
in Victoria
, almost collided when they crossed paths during an aerobatics
display over the base. The amount of flying conducted by No. 5 SFTS declined throughout 1945 and its aircraft were being prepared for long-term storage by November. In February 1946 No. 5 SFTS was disbanded and its personnel and equipment were used to re-establish No. 1 Flying Training School (No. 1 FTS), which had operated during the war as No. 1 Service Flying Training School
before disbanding in 1944. No. 1 FTS relocated to RAAF Station Point Cook in August 1947. No. 5 SFTS also spawned Care and Maintenance Unit (CMU) Uranquinty, to look after the surplus aircraft stored at the base. These were auctioned off in November 1948, and CMU was dissolved the following month.
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...
flight training unit of World War II. Its role was to provide intermediate and advanced flight training to new pilots as part of Australia's contribution to the Empire Air Training Scheme
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan , known in some countries as the Empire Air Training Scheme , was a massive, joint military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, during the Second World War...
. No. 5 SFTS was one of eight Service Flying Training Schools established by the RAAF to train aircrew during the war. It was formed at RAAF Station Uranquinty
RAAF Base Uranquinty
RAAF Base Uranquinty was a Royal Australian Air Force base located at Uranquinty, New South Wales, Australia. Land was requisitioned in 1940 as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme during the Second World War for the formation of the No. 5 Service Flying Training School.The base was closed in...
, New South Wales, in October 1941, and disbanded in February 1946. Its staff and equipment were employed to re-establish No. 1 Flying Training School
No. 1 Flying Training School RAAF
No. 1 Flying Training School was a flying training school of the Royal Australian Air Force . It was one of the Air Force's original units, dating back to the service's formation in 1921, when it was based at RAAF Point Cook, Victoria. The school underwent a number of reorganisations during its...
, which transferred to RAAF Station Point Cook
RAAF Williams
RAAF Williams comprises the two bases of Point Cook and Laverton. Both establishments previously existed as separate RAAF Bases until 1999 when they were amalgamated to form RAAF Williams...
, Victoria, the following year.
History
RAAF aircrew training expanded dramatically following the outbreak of World War II, in response to Australia's participation in the Empire Air Training SchemeBritish Commonwealth Air Training Plan
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan , known in some countries as the Empire Air Training Scheme , was a massive, joint military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, during the Second World War...
(EATS). The Air Force's pre-war flight training facility, No. 1 Flying Training School
No. 1 Flying Training School RAAF
No. 1 Flying Training School was a flying training school of the Royal Australian Air Force . It was one of the Air Force's original units, dating back to the service's formation in 1921, when it was based at RAAF Point Cook, Victoria. The school underwent a number of reorganisations during its...
at RAAF Station Point Cook
RAAF Williams
RAAF Williams comprises the two bases of Point Cook and Laverton. Both establishments previously existed as separate RAAF Bases until 1999 when they were amalgamated to form RAAF Williams...
, Victoria, was supplanted in 1940–41 by twelve Elementary Flying Training Schools (EFTS), eight Service Flying Training Schools (SFTS), and Central Flying School
Central Flying School RAAF
The Central Flying School RAAF is a Royal Australian Air Force training establishment, based at RAAF Base East Sale. It was formed in March 1913, and during the First World War it trained over 150 pilots, who fought in Europe and the Middle East....
(CFS). While CFS turned out new flight instructor
Flight instructor
A flight instructor is a person who teaches others to fly aircraft. Specific privileges granted to holders of a flight instructor qualification vary from country to country, but very generally, a flight instructor serves to enhance or evaluate the knowledge and skill level of an aviator in pursuit...
s, the EFTS provided basic training to prospective pilots who, if successful, would go on to SFTS for further instruction that focussed on operational (or "service") flying. The course at SFTS typically consisted of two streams, intermediate and advanced, and included such techniques as instrument flying, night flying, advanced aerobatics, formation flying, dive bombing, and aerial gunnery. The total duration varied during the war as demand for aircrew rose and fell. Initially running for 16 weeks, the course was cut to 10 weeks (which included 75 hours flying time) in October 1940. A year later it was raised to 12 weeks (including 100 hours flying time), and again to 16 weeks two months later. It continued to increase after this, peaking at 28 weeks in June 1944.
No. 5 Service Flying Training School (No. 5 SFTS) was formed at RAAF Station Uranquinty
RAAF Base Uranquinty
RAAF Base Uranquinty was a Royal Australian Air Force base located at Uranquinty, New South Wales, Australia. Land was requisitioned in 1940 as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme during the Second World War for the formation of the No. 5 Service Flying Training School.The base was closed in...
, New South Wales, in October 1941, and came under the control of No. 2 Training Group. The unit's inaugural commander was Group Captain
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
Ulex Ewart, a graduate of the Royal Military College, Duntroon
Royal Military College, Duntroon
The Royal Military College, Duntroon is the Australian Army's officer training establishment. It was founded at Duntroon, in the Australian Capital Territory, in 1911 and is situated on picturesque grounds at the foot of Mount Pleasant near Lake Burley Griffin, close to the Department of Defence...
, who had been seconded to the Air Force and learnt to fly on the first cadet course at No. 1 Flying Training School in 1923. At the time of its formation, No. 5 SFTS had a strength of 792 personnel, who were responsible for training about 200 pilots. One of its original instructors was Flying Officer Bill Newton, later to be awarded the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
for bombing raids in New Guinea
New Guinea campaign
The New Guinea campaign was one of the major military campaigns of World War II.Before the war, the island of New Guinea was split between:...
. Following the outbreak of the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
in December 1941, the school's CAC Wirraway
CAC Wirraway
The Wirraway was a training and general purpose military aircraft manufactured in Australia by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation between 1939 and 1946...
single-engined trainers were classified as Second Line (Reserve) aircraft in the defence of Australia
No. 5 SFTS began flight training in February 1942 using 28 Wirraways. The unit grew over the next two years, and by early 1944 was operating 128 Wirraways, two de Havilland DH.84 Dragons
De Havilland Dragon
|-See also:-References:Bibliography ISBN 0-85177-813-5...
, two de Havilland Moth Minors and a CAC Wackett. It typically graduated one course of pilots each month, although the wastage rate sometimes exceeded 40 per cent. Among its graduates was Len Waters
Len Waters
Leonard Victor Waters was the first Australian Aboriginal military aviator, and the only one to serve as a fighter pilot in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II...
, the first Australian Aboriginal military aviator, and the only one to serve as a fighter pilot
Fighter pilot
A fighter pilot is a military aviator trained in air-to-air combat while piloting a fighter aircraft . Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and dogfighting...
in the RAAF during World War II. As a training facility, No. 5 SFTS regularly suffered flying accidents. Forty-two of its students died during the war, an average of around one per month. A near miss involving more experienced pilots occurred at the school in December 1943, when aces
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
Clive Caldwell
Clive Caldwell
Group Captain Clive Robertson Caldwell DSO, DFC & Bar was the leading Australian air ace of World War II. He is officially credited with shooting down 28.5 enemy aircraft in over 300 operational sorties. In addition to his official score, he has been ascribed six probables and 15 damaged...
and John Waddy
John Lloyd Waddy
John Lloyd Waddy OBE, DFC was a senior officer and aviator in the Royal Australian Air Force , who later served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and Minister of the Crown...
, then instructors at No. 2 Operational Training Unit
No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit RAAF
No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit is a Royal Australian Air Force training unit located at RAAF Base Williamtown. 2OCU's main role is to train pilots to operate the F/A-18 Hornet. New RAAF pilots enter 2OCU for training after first qualifying to fly jet fighters in No. 76 Squadron...
in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, almost collided when they crossed paths during an aerobatics
Aerobatics
Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in normal flight. Aerobatics are performed in airplanes and gliders for training, recreation, entertainment and sport...
display over the base. The amount of flying conducted by No. 5 SFTS declined throughout 1945 and its aircraft were being prepared for long-term storage by November. In February 1946 No. 5 SFTS was disbanded and its personnel and equipment were used to re-establish No. 1 Flying Training School (No. 1 FTS), which had operated during the war as No. 1 Service Flying Training School
No. 1 Flying Training School RAAF
No. 1 Flying Training School was a flying training school of the Royal Australian Air Force . It was one of the Air Force's original units, dating back to the service's formation in 1921, when it was based at RAAF Point Cook, Victoria. The school underwent a number of reorganisations during its...
before disbanding in 1944. No. 1 FTS relocated to RAAF Station Point Cook in August 1947. No. 5 SFTS also spawned Care and Maintenance Unit (CMU) Uranquinty, to look after the surplus aircraft stored at the base. These were auctioned off in November 1948, and CMU was dissolved the following month.