Canadian Wings :: The History & Heritage of the Royal Canadian Air Force

No. 5 Squadron

Gannet

No. 5 Squadron Badge

Motto: VOLANDO VINCIMUS - "By Flying We Conquer"

Formed as a Flying Boat unit at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia on 16 April 19341 by the amalgamation of the five detachments then in the Maritimes (Nos. 8 to 12, formed at Ottawa in 1932), the squadron flew preventive (anti-smuggling and illegal immigration) patrols for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. When the RCMP formed its own air division at the end of 1936, the unit concentrated on service training and duties.

In 1937 it was redesignated Coastal Reconnaissance, and later the same year General Reconnaissance. Mobilized on 10 September 1939, and redesignated Bomber Reconnaissance on 31 October, the squadron flew Stranraer and Catalina flying boats on East Coast anti-submarine duty, sank one U-boat, and delivered Eastern Air Command's last attack on a submarine. The squadron was disbanded at Gaspé, Quebec on 15 July 1945.

Aircraft
  • Fairchild 71
    • Unit Code QN; Fairchild 71 (Dec 37 - Dec 38) 630, 636, 645, 647
  • Supermarine Stranraer
    • Unit Code QN; Stranraer (Nov 38 - Sept 41) 913 QN-B, 914 QN-O, 916 QN-P
  • Consolidated Catalina
    • Unit Code QN; Catalina Mk I (Jun 41 - Jul 41) W8430, W8431, Z2137, Z2139
  • Consolidated Canso
    • Unit Code '39-'42 QN; '42 DE (Oct 41 - Jun 45) 9737 E, 9738 E, 9739 K, 9740 L, 9741 B, 9742 X, 9743 N, 9744 P, 9745 O, 9753 C, 9756 M, 9764 D, 9773 G, 9807 F, 9858 S, 9875 R, 9879 Q, 11004, 11052, 11055
Historical Achievements

First Mission: September 10, 1939 Stranraer 908 from Dartmouth - paralled track search; sighted five vessels but not ememy activity.

Victory: U-Boat May 4, 1943 Canso A 9747 'W' from Gander - close convoy support - sank U-630, Eastern Air Commands fourth kill.

Last Mission: June 1, 1945 Canso A 11054 from Sydney - escort convoy HGI/31

Summary

  • Sorties: 3848
  • Operational/Non-Operational Flying Hours: 27,117 / 8197
  • Victories: U-boat: 1 sunk; 17 attacks
  • Casualties: Operational: Nil Non-Operational 3 aircraft; 11 aircrew killed
  • Honours and Awards: 14 DFC's, 2 AFC's, 2 DFM's, 2 AFM's, 1 BEM, 7 MiD's


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