{5MWS / 5ACS MOVEMENTS & COMMANDING OFFICERS }
{AWAYS FIRST}
No.5 AIRFIELD CONSTRUCTION SQUADRON
7/7/42 No. 1. Mobile Works Squadron received. ASCOT VALE instructions from Air Force Headquarters for a detachment from No. 1. Mobile Works Squadron to be created and proceed on special Duties to North Eastern Area. Detachment was organised and named No. 1. Mobile Works Squadron (Special Works Force).
22/07/42 Squadron Leader T. M. Scott, OBE appointed to command.
07/08/42 Detachment arrived at Port Moresby No. 1. Mobile Works Squadron Special Works
11/11/42
Force renamed No. 5. Mobile Works Squadron. Port Moresby 11 Nov 1942
Force renamed No. 5. Mobile Works Squadron. Port Moresby 11 Nov 194226/02/43 (Det) Goodenough. Det Milne Bay. Goodenough.
(Det) Goodenough. Det Milne Bay. Goodenough. 29/03/43
11/05/43 Unit movement to Goodenough complete
22/07/43 Flight Lieutenant G. VV. Barlow (Temp)
Flight Lieutenant G. VV. Barlow (Temp)07/08/43 Flight Lieutenant J. F. Hawe(Temp)
Flight Lieutenant J. F. Hawe(Temp)17/08/43 Squadron Leader J. N. Edwards (Temp)
Squadron Leader J. N. Edwards (Temp)26/12/43 Squadron Leader J. N. Edwards appointed to command.
Squadron Leader J. N. Edwards appointed to command.01/01/44 Ransford, VIC
Ransford, VIC 23/04/44 (Persecution (Aitape NG
(Persecution (Aitape NG 06/07/44 Noemfoor
Noemfoor18/07/44 No. 5. Mobile Works Squadron re titled No. 5 Airfield Construction Squadron.
No. 5. Mobile Works Squadron re titled No. 5 Airfield Construction Squadron.31/01/45 Unit completed movement to Biak Biak DNG
Unit completed movement to Biak Biak DNG10/06/45 Labuan Island
Labuan Island11/09/45 Flight Lieutenant A. J. Fowler
Flight Lieutenant A. J. Fowler16/11/45 Wing Commander A. M. Harrison
Wing Commander A. M. Harrison24/02/46 Iwakuni
Iwakuni03/04/47 Flight Lieutenant A. S. Brown (Temp)
Flight Lieutenant A. S. Brown (Temp)31/08/47 Wing Commander A. M. Harrison (resumed) Bofu (Det) Miho
Wing Commander A. M. Harrison (resumed) Bofu (Det) Miho15/10/48 Flight Lieutenant T. A. Westley (Temp)
Flight Lieutenant T. A. Westley (Temp)30/06/49 No. 5. Airfield Construction Squadron disbanded at Iwakuni Japan
No. 5. Airfield Construction Squadron disbanded at Iwakuni Japan08/08/51 No. 5. Airfield Construction Squadron Bankstown Re formed at Bankstown NSW
No. 5. Airfield Construction Squadron Bankstown Re formed at Bankstown NSW Group Captain A. M. Harrison OBE
03/52 (Det) (Monte Bello (Islands
(Det) (Monte Bello (Islands15/11/52 Williamtown
Williamtown12/01/53 Detachment 'B' Regents Park
Detachment 'B' Regents Park03/02/53 Detachment 'A' formed Woomera
Detachment 'A' formed Woomera26/05/55 Detachment 'A' formed Williamtown
Detachment 'A' formed Williamtown2/6/55 Headquarters No. 5 ACS ceased operations Darwin at Williamtown and opened at Darwin
Headquarters No. 5 ACS ceased operations Darwin at Williamtown and opened at Darwin 17/7/59 Wing Commander A. G. Wooley (Temp)
23/05/61 Group Captain P. G. Lings M.B.E.
29/11/63 Wing Commander J. F. Dawson
NO.5.AIRFIELD CONSTRUCTION SQUADRON
This unit, along with its sister outfits, became absorbed into the American machine, No. 5. Squadron appearing in the Order of Battle as "5th Task Force Engineers" under General Kreuger, later reverting to Australian 9th Division (24th Brigade) to perform the engineering tasks for General Morsehead and lastly, to S. E. Asian Command (Mountbatten’s) at the finale.
The tasks allotted to the organisations 61 and 62 Wings, R.A.A.F., commanded by Group Captains Rooney and Dale respectively, involved us in operations and campaigns from Milne Bay Moresby area in 1942 to Borneo and the Phillipines in 1945 ending in Japan itself after the capitulation. The motto of "Advance the Bomber line" was the practical object of 3 years in the Pacific War Theatre.
"F1yinqShovels" 5 A.C.S. 5 M.W.S.. R.A.A.F. Unit Strength 500 History of Campaigns
1942 Formed in Melbourne from earlier experimental unit which was raised and used in Darwin 1941.
1942 Built Wards Strip, Port Moresby, in record time. Planes from this strip hammered Japanese Supply
Lines, while A.I.F. stopped Japs at Kokoda. Navy won Coral Sea Battle.
1943 Goodenough Island most advanced Allied Territory. Vivigani Strips built under threat of enemy air
and ground attack. Jap. remnants from Bismark Sea battle landed but were despatched.
22nd April 1944 Landing at Aitape, Karako Village; Tadji Strip in use 45 hours after capture.
2nd July, 1944 Noemfoor Island . 62 Wing H. C. elements landed 9 a.m. 'D' day, No. 5. A.C.S. 'D + 6'. Two
strips completed one 5,000 ft. fighter strip at Kamiri and one 9,000 ft. bomber strip at Kornasoren from Virgin jungle, operating in 72 days. Furthest West base in S.W.P.A. No other Australian troops so far
advanced. Sporadic bombing raids.
Dec. 1944 Biak Island maintenance of Worido Borokoe and Mokmer strips, whilst awaiting
orders for next invasion force.
April May 1945 Morotai. Formation of Borneo invasion convoy. No. 5. A..C.S. and associated Units of Airfield Engineers awaiting Australian 9th Division moving up from South. 10th June 1945 Labuan
Island, North Borneo. First combined services operation by Australians No. 5. A.C.S. landed 'D' day
with 24th Brigade A.I.F. Labuan Airfield, the most bombed strip in the S.W.P.A., was operating by 'D+ 6'.
September October 1945 Time expired men for home, remainder of unit on to Japan.
Since the War. No. 5. A.C.S. still exists and has operated in Darwin, and is now back in North Australia.
Footnote: In the two Wings, comprising nine Squadrons, serving in the Pacific War there were at least 10,000 who saw action allowing for 3 changes of personnel during the 32 years the units served in the islands. Some of the men served during both tours of service.
