5th Liaison Squadron | |
---|---|
![]() L-20 Beaver, last aircraft operated by the squadron, in Arctic markings | |
Active | 1942–1946; 1947–1949; 1949–1952; 1952–1954 |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() ![]() |
Role | light reconnaissance and transport |
Nickname(s) | Jungle Angels (CBI, World War II) |
Engagements | China-Burma-India Theater [1] |
Insignia | |
5 Liaison Sq emblem [note 1] [1] | ![]() |
The 5th Liaison Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was first activated during World War II as the 5th Observation Squadron. It served as a training unit for cooperation with field artillery until 1942, when that mission was assumed by the artillery. After training in the United States, it deployed to India in 1944, where it served in combat as the 5th Liaison Squadron until V-J Day, returning to the United States for inactivation in 1946. The squadron was active in the United States as a liaison and a helicopter unit. It was last active at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska in 1954.
The 5th Observation Squadron was activated on 7 February 1942, at Post Field, Oklahoma as the 5th Observation Squadron (Special). [1] The squadron replaced Flight E of the 16th Observation Squadron, which had supported the Field Artillery School since 1931. [2] It was initially equipped with the Curtiss O-52 Owl observation aircraft, but also flew the Douglas B-18 Bolo bomber, and a number of light aircraft, commonly called "Grasshoppers." [1]
The 5th was assigned directly to the Office of the Chief of Air Corps and attached to the Field Artillery School, [1] providing aircraft for training with the school. However, in July 1942, the United States Army decided that field artillery units would have assigned aircraft to serve as air observation posts. These planes and pilots would be assigned to the field artillery, not the air corps, and the school to train them would be located at Post Field. [3] In August, the squadron was relieved of its attachment to the artillery school and moved to Marshall Field, Kansas to make way for the first arriving class, which began in September. [1] [3]
The squadron moved to Desert Center Army Air Field, where it supported units training at the Desert Training Center, later relocating to Thermal Army Air Field in September. [1] It converted entirely to "Grasshopper" aircraft in April 1943, becoming the 5th Liaison Squadron. The pilots of these light planes were enlisted, rather than officers. [4] In October, it moved to Alamo Army Air Field, Texas and prepared for movement overseas. [1]
In February 1944, the squadron departed the United States for the China-Burma-India Theater, arriving at Ledo Airfield, India in April. [1] From August 1944 until May 1945, Tenth Air Force created the 1st Liaison Group, a provisional unit that included the 5th, along with the 19th, 71st and 115th Liaison Squadrons for operations. [5] While in the CBI Theater it flew 33,904 sorties. In the course of 14 months of operations, 40 squadron aircraft were destroyed in accidents or by enemy action, [6] on one occasion it lost three Stinson L-1 Vigilants in an attempt to rescue a downed bomber crewmember from an improvised airstrip in a jungle clearing. [7] Two squadron pilots were killed in the line of duty and two others were MIA and later declared dead. [6] It evacuated over 4,000 casualties [note 2] from makeshift jungle airstrips and carried hundreds of tons of equipment and supplies and thousands of passengers. [7]
In addition, the squadron's pilots often acted as forward air controllers, directing attacks against Japanese gun positions and troops. [8] The squadron remained in theater until late 1945, then returned to the United States and was inactivated at the Port of Embarkation, Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, in January 1946. [1]
A little over a year later, the squadron was activated at Greenville Army Air Base, South Carolina. It was inactivated there in April 1949. [1]
A few months later, the squadron was redesignated the 5th Helicopter Squadron. It was activated at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina in October 1949 and equipped with Sikorsky H-5 helicopters. It was inactivated in July 1952. [1]
The squadron returned to its designation as a liaison unit and was activated at Sewart Air Force Base, Tennessee in September 1952. [1] At Sewart, it trained for Arctic operations with de Havilland Canada L-20 Beavers. It moved to Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska in April 1953 and operated the Beaver from several locations in Alaska until inactivating in July 1954. [1]
Campaign Streamer | Campaign | Dates | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
| India-Burma | 20 April 1944 – 28 January 1945 | 5th Liaison Squadron [1] |
| China Defensive | 20 April 1944 – 4 May 1945 | 5th Liaison Squadron [1] |
| Central Burma | 29 January 1945 – 15 July 1945 | 5th Liaison Squadron [1] |
The 67th Cyberspace Operations Group is a unit of the 67th Cyberspace Wing. Headquartered on Kelly Field Annex's Security Hill, the group is an Air Force information operations unit.
15th Attack Squadron is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the 432d Wing, 732nd Operations Group at Creech Air Force Base near Indian Springs, Nevada. It flies the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft.
The 75th Air Base Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Hill Air Force Base, Ogden Utah. It provides base operating support for the Ogden Air Logistics Complex, the 388th, 419th Fighter Wing, 84th Combat Sustainment Wing, 309th Maintenance Wing, 526th ICBM Systems Wing, 508th Aircraft Sustainment Wing and 25 associate units.
The 77th Aeronautical Systems Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit, last assigned to the Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
The United States Air Force's 7th Space Operations Squadron is an Air Force reserve space operations unit located at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado.
The 69th Reconnaissance Group is an inactive United States Air Force that was part of Air Combat Command, the group was stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota where it was a tenant of the 319th Air Base Wing.
The 436th Training Squadron is a non-flying training squadron of the United States Air Force. The 436th Training Squadron, located at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, is a geographically separated unit within Air Combat Command’s 552nd Air Control Wing, at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma.
The III Reconnaissance Command is a disbanded United States Army Air Forces unit. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force stationed at Rapid City Army Air Base, South Dakota, where it was inactivated on 8 April 1946. After transferring to the United States Air Force in September 1947, it was disbanded in October 1948.
The 74th Reconnaissance Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 91st Air Division at Stewart AFB, New York.
The II Air Support Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Third Air Force at Biggs Field, Texas, as the II Tactical Air Division, where it was inactivated on 22 December 1945.
The I Tactical Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Second Air Force, based at Biggs Field, Texas. It was inactivated on 22 December 1945.
The 53rd Electronic Warfare Group was a component of the 53rd Wing of the Air Force Warfare Center, Air Combat Command, headquartered at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
The 14th Weapons Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the USAF Weapons School, stationed at Hurlburt Field, Florida.
The United States Air Force's 1st Air Support Operations Group is a combat support unit located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. The group provides tactical command and control of airpower assets to the Joint Forces Air Component Commander and Joint Forces Land Component Commander for combat operations.
The 3rd Special Operations Squadron flies MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft and is currently located at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. The squadron is under the command of the Air Force Special Operations Command.
The United States Air Force's 25th Air Support Operations Squadron is an Air Force Special Warfare unit located at Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii. The squadron provides tactical command and control of air and space assets to the Joint Forces Air Component Commander and Joint Forces Land Component Commander for combat operations.
The 375th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with 308th Bombardment Wing at Plattsburgh Air Force Base, New York.
The 541st Bombardment Squadron is the former name of the 541st Special Operations Squadron, an inactive United States Air Force (USAF) unit. During World War II the 541st served as a heavy bomber training unit until inactivated in a general reorganization of Army Air Forces training units. The squadron was redesignated in 1985, when it was consolidated with two other units.
The 2nd Troop Carrier Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last active in the reserve with the 65th Troop Carrier Group at Mitchel Air Force Base, New York where it was training with Curtiss C-46 Commandos. It was replaced by another unit, which absorbed its resources on 1 April 1953.
The 24th Tactical Air Support Squadron was a ground attack squadron of the United States Air Force. It was last active at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, prior to being inactivated during December 2020.
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency