Do you remember the NO.5 SQUADRON OF THE RNZAF?
No.5 Squadron was one of a number of Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) units based in Fiji during the Second World War.
The squadron began operating Boeing PB2B-l Catalina flying boats from Laucala Bay in 1944, at the current location of the University of the South Pacific.
No.5 Squadron’s military role at Laucala Bay was to carry out long-range maritime reconnaissance, transport, and air-sea rescue missions.
The squadron is particularly remembered in Fiji today for its help to civilian communities.
This help included countless ‘mercy’ missions to bring seriously ill people to hospital; airlifting supplies to communities hit by natural disasters; and search and rescue flights to find persons missing at sea.
When the war ended in 1945, most of the New Zealand forces in Fiji returned home. However, with the agreement of the Fiji authorities, No.5 Squadron was retained. In 1953 its Catalinas were replaced with larger Short Sunderland MR5 flying boats.
In the early 1960s, the New Zealand Government decided to purchase a new maritime reconnaissance aircraft, the Lockheed P-3B Orion, a landbased aircraft that could be operated from New Zealand.
It was the end of the flying-boat era, and on January 31, 1965, the RNZAF Station at Laucala Bay was closed. A small detachment of Sunderlands, however, continued in service at Laucala Bay until 21 March 1967.
Their withdrawal marked the end of the 27 years of RNZAF service in Fiji. No 5. Squadron RNZAF, now based in Whenuapai, has recently upgraded its fleet of P-3K2 Orlons.