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| ...:::: "The Dawn Patrol" - A Memorial and Historical Website ::::.. |
"This site is dedicated to all the men and women who served with No. 59 Squadron RAF"
View the Service Honour Roll (WWII)
New Updates: November 2010
| "... From the airmen that flew high above to those on the ground that made sure that day after day, night after night the aircraft were in top fighting condition, ready to carry their crews into battle with the best chance of victory and survival. To the WAAF and administrative personnel who worked hard and long hours to make sure that whatever airfield the squadron was stationed at, it was a well run and welcoming place that they all called home at the end of the day and at the end of a long enduring mission. Lest we forget..." |
| :::: A friendly welcome from Lorenzo... the site creator ::.. |
Hello, welcome to the site and thank you for taking the time to drop by! I have built this site with the express purpose of honouring 'all those' who served with No.59 Squadron, although for the moment I have paid particular attention to those who served during WWII. Eventually, given the time and resources I intend to further expand into the Great War and post WWII years. It is hoped for now that this site will act as a "linked resource base" for others wishing to learn more about No. 59 Squadron. During my own research, I have discovered that there is a wealth of knowledge out there in cyberspace, in books and from many various sources but it would be helpful if there were 'somewhere or something' that connected the dots. So I hope this site will help in this regard. One of my aims for the site is that it become a place for families to pay tribute and honour those loved ones who served.
As well as the Honour Roll, there are mission and crew detail pages, personnel profile pages, a U-boat War section, a page for details on lost aircraft (Lost Wings) and an extensive squadron History section (links top and bottom of page). So far I have sourced approx 300 photos of personnel and over 650 names are included on the roll. This site is forever growing and as more information is found (and once I have the ORB's for the whole war period) a more in-depth picture of events will be possible. If you have any information you feel should be included or you would like to set up a memorial page for a relative, please let me know as I would be honoured to do what I can. Likewise if there is anything you feel should be omitted or revised, also please let me know: email me. Thanks once again for stopping by, enjoy your stay and all the best!
December 2011: Sorry to all who have contacted me over the last year. Due to circumstance, I have been unable to regularly update the site. The back log of emails will be sorted shortly. Thank you.
| ...::: Please visit the site Message Board :::.. |
| F/L Hervey Rae Longmuir RAAF - Nav-Bomb - No 59 Sqn RAF | |
 | A Bit of Background: My grandfather HR Longmuir served with 59 Sqn. He never spoke of the war and sadly he passed away before I came to be here undertaking this research. As I read and learn more about other peoples experiences during the war and thier service with 59 Sqn, I feel I am learning about my grandfathers too. Especially when the memoirs of his fellow 59 Sqn officers (EE Allen - HF Tuckwood etc) make mention of certain missions such as the Millennium II raid (Bremen), which my grandfather also took part in and flew with the men shown here (left). |
| View Hervey's memorial page | |
| (above) Hudson crew - LR - P/O Pennyquick, P/O Longmuir , S/L Dunkerley, Sgt Drabble | |
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| (Back LR): P/O Massina, Sgt Bailey, Sgt Pilon, P/O Lees (Front LR): F/O Blair, F/O Barson, F/O Longmuir: made the first 59 Sqn attack (causing damages) for which the U-boat (U-223) has been confirmed, on 01/03/1943 in Flying Fortress FL463 - 59/D. At this time the squadron were detached to RAF Chivenor for patrols in the Bay of Biscay. | |
| :::: Airmen of the Commonwealth :::.. |
 | Britain looks to the Empire and Dominions for help: At the start of the Second World War, the British Government looked to the Empire and Dominions for air training help because the United Kingdom did not have the space to accommodate training and operational facilities, and because aerodromes in the United Kingdom were vulnerable to enemy attack. The Agreement was signed by Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand on 17 December 1939, it listed the percentage of trainees each country would send, the percentage of costs each would take on, the training schedule, and the aerodrome opening schedule. Many of these Commonwealth nation airmen served with British squadrons in Europe and other theatres of the war. |
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| :::: Still Flying ::.. |
 | Alec McCurdy: A former RAF pilot (DFC & Bar) flew with 59 Sqn early on in his service, shortly after the squadron had returned from the Battle of France. Alec now resides in Berwickshire and is in the process of completing his memoirs. After the war, Alec built up a rewarding trade from the design and crafting of 'Cellos. |
 | Alan Johnson: Converting to twin engine aircraft, Alan, promoted to Flight Lieutenant, finally got his wings in March 1943, before being posted to Prince Edward Island to undergo coastal recognition training and then on to the Bahamas flying Mitchell B25’s and B24 Liberators. Joining 59 Squadron, Alan flew 29 operations protecting allied convoys crossing the Atlantic. view more |
 | Sir John Curtiss: In his memoires, F/L E Allen notes that in Sept. 1943, a second tour crew came in and their navigator, one S/L John Curtiss became thier captain (this having been the first occurence of a nav becoming a pilot that he recalls). He goes on to note that Curtiss went on to become 59 Sqn C/O and had been reposted by June of 1944 and replaced by W/C Gilchrist. view more |
 | Don Howard: When Don signed up for service in Australia in October 1941, he met and befriended Roly Hall. Both airmen were later posted to 59 Sqn as Nav/B's from Dec. 1943 till April 1945.They arrived as 2nd navigators and soon settled into life on the Squadron. Don and Roly are still great friends many years on... view more |
| | Roly Hall: Roly joined 59 Sqn with Don Howard on the 14th Dec. 1943. He served as a Nav/B reaching the rank of Flying Officer. Although on a different crew to Don, the two were able to arrange leave together at the same time and would travel to London for some holiday down time. |
| | Walter Joseph Hurst: Joe joined the RAF in 1938 at the age of 17. One year later he was an "AC plonk" when 59 Sqn went to France and was an air gunner for several pilots and crews. First note of Joe in the ORB's is in a RAF Form 541 (Mission report usually completed by the crew captain) along with P/O Grece (P) and Sgt Davis (Obs). The date was 17-5-40 and duty was a tactical recco flight. After service with 59 Sqn Joe trained to become a pilot in 1942 and later flew Sunderlands in W.Africa reaching the rank of S/L. Post war Joe took part in the Berlin Airlift and became C/O of No.1325 Flight that he later named Christmas Airways. The flight consisted of three Dakota C-47 aircraft which made regular supply trips to the observation sites during Britains era of nuclear testing on Christmas Island. He received the Air Force Cross in 1957 for his exemplary service. |
| Do you know of any other 59 Sqn member who's "Still Flying"..? | |
| :::: Recently Updated Memorial Pages ::.. |
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| :::: Folded Wings ::.. |
| W/C Geoffrey Bartlett AFC | |
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 | W/C Bartlett served as C/O from June 1942 till late 1943 when he was posted to No.111 OTU in the Bahamas as Chief Instructor. According to Alwyn Jay in his book Endurance, when the squadron converted to the Liberator (from the Hudson) W/C Bartlett flew the first flight on the 21st of Aug in LV342 59/V (ex 120/A) from Ballykelly to North Coates, being the first time that a four engine aircraft had been deliberately landed there. |
| Rest In Peace | |
| :::: Sources and Links ::.. |
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