There is no Operations Record Book for No. 5 Beach Balloon Detachment. What little information we have comes from the Operations Record Books of No. 976 Balloon Squadron and No. 6 Beach Balloon Detachment.
The Operations Record Book of No. 9876 Balloon Squadron tells us that, like No. 6 Beach Balloon Detachment, No. 5 Beach Balloon Detachment, with an establishment of one Flying Officer and 19 Other Ranks from No. 976 Balloon Squadron, was formed at Tripoli (Libya) on 13th August 1943. The Commanding Officer was F/O W.E.C. Mitchell.
Two references to No. 5 Beach Balloon Detachment are found in the Operations Record Book of No. 6 Beach Balloon Detachment.
9th September – Salerno -Several miles along the coast No. 5 Detachment is flying five balloons.
11th September – Salerno – No. 5 Beach Balloon Detachment is unlucky. They have lost all their balloons and their gas has not arrived for replacements.
Two further references are found in the Operations Record Books of No. 976 Balloon Squadron.
12th November – Tripoli, Libya – F/O Mitchell, one Sgt. and 11 Other Ranks of No. 5 Beach Balloon Detachment arrived from North Africa
3rd January 1944 – Tripoli, Libya – F/O Mitchell, one sergeant. two corporals and sixteen airmen of No. 5 B.B.D. ceased to be attached to No. 976 Balloon Squadron and left for Castel Benito.