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Difference between revisions of "No. 5 Initial Training School RAAF"

From Our Contribution

(1944)
(1942)
Line 48: Line 48:
 
* [[Alfred Arthur Shepherd]] 1 Feb - 23 Jun 1942
 
* [[Alfred Arthur Shepherd]] 1 Feb - 23 Jun 1942
 
* [[Phillip Herbert Martin DFC & Bar]] 26 Apr - 20 Sep 1942
 
* [[Phillip Herbert Martin DFC & Bar]] 26 Apr - 20 Sep 1942
 +
* [[Marguerite Isabella (Peg) Stevens]] 19 Mar - 22 Dec 1942
 
* [[Colin Lindsay Ottaway DFC]] 19 Jul - 11 Nov 1942  
 
* [[Colin Lindsay Ottaway DFC]] 19 Jul - 11 Nov 1942  
 
* [[William Albert Beattie]] 1 Oct 1942 - 13 May 1943
 
* [[William Albert Beattie]] 1 Oct 1942 - 13 May 1943

Revision as of 19:41, 27 April 2024

5 ITS.jpg
Clontarf Boy's Home


Brief History

No. 5 Initial Training School was established at Pearce, Western Australia, on 21 Oct 1940, with a strength of three officers and 18 airmen. Early on the unit suffered from a lack training equipment and facilities. New training rooms were provided in August 1941, and on 14 Sep 1941 the largest intake to date was posted with trainees from Adelaide and Perth, plus 16 trainees from within the Service. During November, training in air frames was undertaken within sight of the tarmac, and normal hangar activity was found useful for instructional purposes.


On 27 February 1942 approval was given for the School to move to the Clontarf Orphanage, but there were many problems with accommodation and essential services at Clontarf. Much of the corrective work was undertaken by students and staff. Squadron Leader J.W. Darling commenced three-day expeditions in which practical experience- in map reading, grid reference systems, travel by magnetic compass, weather observation and star recognition could be given. The first course of four officers, one non-commissioned officer and 27 trainees commenced on 15 September 1942.


Facilities at Clontarf were improved, but maintenance of the buildings was proving to be a problem. During July an alternative site for No. 5 Initial Training School were sought However, on 27 November, the school was notified that training would cease on 2 Dec 1944, and that the School would be disbanded and not reformed. Prefabricated huts were dismantled and moved to No. 77 Operational Base Unit at Carnarvon, and the unit was disbanded on 20 Jan 1945

Unit Personnel

Trainees

1940

1941

1942

1943

1944

Notes

Source of information - Units of the Royal Australian Airforce - A Concise History - Vol 8 Training Units - Australian Government Publishing Service - 1995


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