Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 1, 2006 21:55:55 GMT 12
In the excellent book "Flying by Bradshaw" by Arthur Bradshaw, he mentions in two places being posted to No. 5 (BR) Squadron at nausori, Fiji.
This book was written in 1980 and published 20 years later after being edited by David Phillips and Graeme McConnell who seem to have checked all the facts and added in lots of historical footnotes to back up his text.
So, is this correct? Was there actually a No. 5 Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron in Fiji in May 1943?
All I have read and been told by veterans says otherwise. I've never heard of this.
No. 5 Sqn began as a General Reconnaissance Sqn with Singapore flying boats. It then gained Vincents too and was renamed No. 5 (Army Co-Operation) Squadron with a GR element (Singapores). I have the squadron as disbanding on the 22nd of January 1943, with its Vincents going to No. 4 (GR) Sqn.
I know that No. 5 Sqn reformed as a flying boat (FB) Sqn in 1944 with Catalinas. But, was there actually an unrecorded period between Jan 43 and 1944 when the Sqn reformed in the BR role with Hudsons?
Or is this all a mistake in the book and is it meant to be No. 4 (BR) Sqn, which was indeed operating Hudsons in the BR role from Fiji at that time?
I think the latter is the answer but I have to ask since I'm researching these suadrons for my book, and do not want to miss out a vital period of any squadron or unit.
This book was written in 1980 and published 20 years later after being edited by David Phillips and Graeme McConnell who seem to have checked all the facts and added in lots of historical footnotes to back up his text.
So, is this correct? Was there actually a No. 5 Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron in Fiji in May 1943?
All I have read and been told by veterans says otherwise. I've never heard of this.
No. 5 Sqn began as a General Reconnaissance Sqn with Singapore flying boats. It then gained Vincents too and was renamed No. 5 (Army Co-Operation) Squadron with a GR element (Singapores). I have the squadron as disbanding on the 22nd of January 1943, with its Vincents going to No. 4 (GR) Sqn.
I know that No. 5 Sqn reformed as a flying boat (FB) Sqn in 1944 with Catalinas. But, was there actually an unrecorded period between Jan 43 and 1944 when the Sqn reformed in the BR role with Hudsons?
Or is this all a mistake in the book and is it meant to be No. 4 (BR) Sqn, which was indeed operating Hudsons in the BR role from Fiji at that time?
I think the latter is the answer but I have to ask since I'm researching these suadrons for my book, and do not want to miss out a vital period of any squadron or unit.
