9 & 5 Squadrons of the RAAF
TIMELINE
No. 5 Squadron
WWI
1917
No. 5 Squadron formation
1918
Official Recognition of 5SQN
1919
Piloting in WWI
The First Era
1925 – 1944
1925
101 Fleet Co-operations Squadron
1926
101 Moves to Bowen
1928 - 1929
HMAS Albatross
1936
No. 5 Squadron (Fleet Co-operation) Formed
1939
No. 9 Squadron Formed
1941
No. 5 Squadron, 1941
1942
No. 5 Squadron relocated
Nov 11, 1944
No. 5 Squadron 1944
Dec 31, 1944
No. 9 Squadron 1944
Sept, 1945
No. 5 Squadron
Oct, 1945
No. 5 Squadron Disbanded
Dec 1, 1945
Solomon Islands
Bougainville Island, Solomon Islands – Airmen of No. 5 (Army Co-operation) SQN RAAF at Piva airfiled, Torokina, moving a Boomerang propeller to the workshop. Source: AWM
The Second Era
1962 – 1971
1962
9 Squadron Reformed
Oct, 1962
Iroquois Arrive
May, 1966
Advanced Party to Vietnam
June, 1966
Deployed to Vietnam
The squadron deployed to South Vietnam in mid-1966 as part of the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF). On 13th June 1966 4000 kg of ammunition was frown to Nui Dat in support of 1ATF unit, 5RAR. Deploymemt included 8 x Bell UH-1B Iroquois Helicopters and about 90 personnel.
Aug, 1966
Battle of Long Tan
1967
Vietnam ’67
July, 1967
RAN & RNZAF Fly with 9SQN
8 RAN pilots were attached to 9SQN for 12 months and RNZAF pilots were posted to 9SQN from July 1967 to the squadron’s withdrawal in December 1971.
It was on 29 July 1967 that the RAAF suffered their first wounded.
Nov, 1967
Santa Fe
November 1967 – 9 Squadron Iroquois lands to pick up members of the 7th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (7RAR) during operation Santa Fe, a gruelling three week-long operation through inhospitable country some 23 kilometres from the Task Force Base at Nui Dat. [AWM COL/67/1127/VN source: anzacportal.dva.gov.au]
1968
Apr, 1969
Bushrangers
Iroquois gunships (call sign “Bushranger”) became operational on April 21, 1969. This new firepower gave 9SQN the ability to support SAS recon patrols, and escort and provide fire support for 1ATF operations.
April 23, 1968
18 June 1970
40,000 hours flight time
June 18, 1970 marked an important day for 9 Squadron. After four years of the Huey, a new and impressive milestone had been reached; 40,000 hours of flight time.
1971
Outstanding Operational Performance
Dec 8, 1971
The Third Era
1972 – 1989
1970s-1980s
5 Squadron
1982-1989
5/9 SQN Sinai Peninsula
1984
AS350B Squirrel
1986
Government Decision on 9 SQN
1989
5 Squadron Disbanded
Feb 14, 1989
9 SQN Disbanded
The Fourth Era
2023 –
Late 2023
MQ-4C Triton
9SQN re-forming in late 2023 to operate the MQ-4C Triton fleet – scheduled to be delivered from 2024.
The squadron will be based in Tindal (Northern Territory) and at Edinburgh (South Australia).