| Royal Flying Corps |  | | Recon Unit |  | Royal Air Force | | History: 59 Squadron has a proud history of service since formation on 1st August 1916 at Narborough Airfield in Norfolk. Narborough was Britain's largest aerodrome during the First World War comprising 7 large hangers and 1000 acres of land but little remains of it today other than a track leading across the fields. The hard work of the Narborough History Society saw in 2011 the unveiling of the Narborough Aerodrome Memorial to pay hommage to the men and women who served there during the First World War. Ready for Duty: During its operational years, 59 served with and under the Royal Flying Corps - RFC - (1916-1918). The RFC was nenamed the Royal Air Force on 1st April 1918 and they remained part of the RAF until they were disbanded on 4th August 1919, Duren, Germany. In 1937, they reformed at RAF Old Sarum and served under Fighter Command (1937-1940) as a unit of No.22 Army Co-Operation Group. As WWII hostilities began, they served in France as part of the British Expeditionary Force's Air Component Wing. In 1941, they officially came under the control of Coastal Command until the end of the war. At which time, 59 was attached to Transport Command and tasked with flying troops to India, from Sept 1945 until 15 June 1946 when the squadron was disbanded. | | | No. 59 Squadron Avro York - TB-X pictured here along side one of two English Eagle Aviation Halifax's in operation during the Lift - the "Red Eagle". | They once again reformed flying York's and taking part in the Berlin Airlift (1948-49). The squadron disbanded again on 31 October 1950, then reformed in Gutersloh, Germany in Aug 1956 (when 102 Squadron was re-numbered 59) as a British Strike Squadron flying Canberra B2's and B(1)8's. 59 Squadron was finally disbanded when in 1961 it was re-numbered RAF No. 3 Squadron. Maybe one day, No. 59 Squadron will return... __________________________________________________________ The Great War: When 59 Squadron first formed on 1/8/1916 they were under the command of Lieutenant A.C Horsbrugh. Shortly after on the 14th, command was handed over to Major R. Edgerton. A few months passed as (I would assume) the squadron was trained up and in February of 1917, they left for France and the War. The Squadron was mainly employed as a Corps unit, apart from two intervals of three weeks each, in which is was on Army work. According to the Squadron ORB, Major Edgerton was killed in a flying accident on 25th Dec. 1917 and on the 27th, command was passed to Major C.J Mackay and he assumed command until the end of hostilities. During the Great War they flew R.E.8 and Brisfit (Bristol F.2 fighter) bi-planes and were attached to the Royal Flying Corps (renamed Royal Air Force 1st April 1918) flying artillery spotting and recon missions. "...Of the forty pilots and observers deemed ready for duty overseas, more than half had been to France before. This time they were to sustain heavy losses and figure prominently in the Honours and Awards lists - eleven Military Crosses, twelve Distinguished Flying Crosses (and one bar), seven Military Medals and one Distinguished Conduct Medal. The squadron was employed at the Front from Arras to St. Quentin, and by the time the war ended 108 officers were killed, wounded, or taken prisoner. 59 Squadron also claimed a unique reputation for its excellent photographs, copies of which were continually being demanded by various units..." (source) | | No. 59 Squadron RE.8 on a reconnaissance flight over the Western Front - (source) | | | | The Red Baron - was especially well known to 59 Sqn airmen, after he took part in the shooting down of six 59 Sqn RE.8's within minutes of them engaging Jasta 11 (led by the Baron) on the 13th of April 1917, claiming his 41st victory. I have come across a page on flicker that deals with this encounter. It contains an image of one of the crashed 59 Sqn aircraft (shot down on this day) with a German officer posing by the charred remains of the crew... personally I find this image rather morbid but I will leave the decision to view it up to you. 2nd Lt Andrew Omerod was also shot down during this air battle. His memorial site contains detailed information about this fateful mission and also excerpts from the 59 Sqn Work Record Book and also from the Squadron Record Book. This story has inspired a mission to be added to the online game "Rise of Flight" (view). The Squadron ORB files Air 27/554-557 contain little information of the Great War era and the information it does contain is a basic fact one page summary. 59 Sqn was later disbanded at Duren, Germany on August 4th 1919. It would be a number of years before they were next called up for duty... The Dawn Patrol: In 1938 British film director Edmund Goulding released an American remake of the 1930's classic, The Dawn Patrol. Starring Errol Flynn, Basil Rathblone, David Niven and also casting Michael Brooke, the 7th Earl of Warwick. The movie portrays the trials and tribulations of No.59 Squadron RFC on the Western Front during the Great War. Although not strictly accurate to the service of 59 Sqn (as they were a recon unit, not a fighter squadron..) the name however seems to have re-surfaced during WWII and it appears that it was brought back into use by W/C Robert Niven in mid 1942. Perhaps the shared surname with one of the actors in the movie was a factor. On the bill of a play the Squadron produced in august of 1942, they are also named as The Dawn Patrol (view). It appears that the name stuck as Niven's replacement C/O, W/C Geoffrey Bartlett AFC, refers to 59 Sqn as "The Dawn Patrol" in the memoirs of his RAF Service. |
| | Prepared for War Again: The squadron reformed again on June 28, 1937 at RAF Old Sarum under the command of Squadron Leader J. Warburton. By 28 July, they had received their full compliment (of interim aircraft) in 16 Hawker Hector's, until the Bristol Blenheim MkIV arrived. 12 of the Hawkers were designated as UE (Unit Equipment) and 4 as IE (Immediate Reserve). As part of No.22 Army Co-Operation Group, serving under Fighter Command (founded 1st May 1936) they were signed off as Night Reconnaissance Squadron for 2nd Corps (Southern Command in peace time). The Squadron code at this time was "PJ". Personnel for the Squadron were slow to arrive due to the expansion of the RAF and the number of new squadrons being formed. By August, all three Flights were under the command of Flying Officers and six out of the eleven, were seconded from the Army (Army personnel granted commissions into the RAF). Night flying training commenced in Sept. and from there on, weather permitting. The ORB notes that progress with flight training was made more difficult given that Old Sarum was a "very unsuitable aerodrome for this task.." |
| Dec. 1937 | The Squadron annual leave begins on the 15th, and the Squadron is closed until Jan 15th 1938. S/L Warburton was posted to the Air Ministry and S/L J.B Fyfe DFC took command. | | Jan. 1938 | Squadron resumes Armament Training for practice camp. | | Feb. 1938 | Air and ground Training programs were produced. Anti-gas lectures were given to all ranks. | | Mar. 1938 | Demonstrations to O.T.C units and Air experience for Supplementary Reserve Officers together with necessary instruction was provided this month. One Magistar aircraft for inter-communication was collected from READING. The Squadron entered for the Sassoon Photographic Trophy. F/L R. LEIGH took over command on attachment of the Commanding Officer to Central Flying School, UPAVON. All training proceeded steadily. | | Apr. 1938 | A long distance flight was carried out by 8 aircraft covering 1400 miles without trouble in 2 and 1/2 days. Co-Operation with ALDERSHOT Command gave the first real experience in night reconnaissance of road movement using reconnaissance flares. Results were gratifying. 28/29: Squadron participated in Southern Command exercise with night reconnaissance - night flying BOSCOMBE DOWN aerodrome. | | May: 1938 | Photography for the Sassoon Trophy carried out. Flying for Empire Air Day, Affiliation with No.1 (F) Squadron. Demolition exercises with the Royal Engineers. The attachment of Staff College Camberley students for a week. A low level flying attack demonstration and demonstrations to 50 all ranks of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and 40 all ranks of the Loyal regiment, together with photography and night flying kept the Squadron busy. Two airmen were unfortunately killed in a night flying accident. | | Jun. 1938 | PORTON was used for practice bombing. Several Army photographic demands were completed. | | Jul. 1938 | The Squadron proceeded to NORTH COATES FITTIES for Armament Training Camp. Low bombing and air to ground gun practices were carried out - weather was good. | | Aug. 1938 | Weather deteriorated and the period allotted for air to air firing was considerably reduced, although more training would have been welcome. The Squadron just managed to get sufficient to pass all u/t Air Gunners. | | Sept. 1938 | Night reconnaissance was carried out with the Royal Tank Corps, Warwick Regiment and Northern Command. Palestine methods of co-operation with low bombing, were used in an exercise with the 7th Infantry Brigade. 16th-19th: The Commanding Officer, Air Liaison Officers, Signals Officer and Wireless personnel were detached to HERLOW for a War Office exercise 26th: Emergency declared as a result of the International Political situation. Officers and airmen recalled from leave and Orderly Room staff and various personnel sent to Mobilisation Pooles. Officers detailed for War Appointments, standing by to proceed to new stations. 27th: Instructions for Aircraft Identification signals in case of air combat received. 28th: Passive defence arrangements made for black-out of the station in the event of attack. Instructions for Army Co-Operation Squadrons in Home Defence received. Policy of keeping No.59 (AC) Squadron at OLD SARUM on Peace Strength. Practice dispersal of aircraft on aerodrome. 29th: No.11 (Fighter) Group battle orders received. System of: Battle "Stand By" and "Stand Down" Flights instituted in the Squadron. Air Liaison Officer's office converted to Squadron Operations Room. 30th: Aircraft camouflage scheme received. Dope drawn from stores and camouflage doping of aircraft started. Black out of station from 2030hrs to 2130hrs. | | Oct. 1938 | 1st: Aerodrome defence practice. All personnel wearing gas-masks from 1030hrs to 1100hrs. Aircraft dispersed. Attack warnings received. Mock attacks by Battle flights. 11-12th: Inspection by Air Officer Commanding No.22 (AC) Group. 14th: Test of ODIHAM STATION defence scheme. Attack carried out by six aircraft of this Squadron. | | Dec. 1938 | Several Pilots were attached to No.90 (B) Squadron, BICESTER for instruction on Blenheim aircraft. Annual leave commenced on the 16th and the Squadron ceased normal work. | | Jan. 1939 | Work recommenced on the 16th. Night flying was carried out satisfactorily during this month. | | Feb. 1939 | The G.O.C in Chief, Southern Command was piloted on various cross country flights by the Squadron. Not possible to proceed with Blenheim instruction due to Bomber Squadron commitments and lack of a free to carry on. Army photographic demands were successfully completed. Night flying handicapped by bad weather. | Mar. 1939 | Squadron attached to No.2 ATS ALDERGROVE. Bad weather at ALDERGROVE seriously curtailed the amount of practice but a considerable improvement was noticed in Air Gunners firing. Squadron crest presented by Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh C.T Dowding, GCVO, KCB, CMG, ADC. | Apr. 1939 | Squadron returned to OLD SARUM on April 1st. A flying instructor detailed by No.22 (AC) Group was consulted and arrangements made for dual instruction on the Blenheim aircraft received in March. | May. 1939 | The Squadron changed station on the 11th and became located at ANDOVER under No.51 (AC) Wing. Rehearsals for Empire Air Day on the 20th and detachments of aircraft for this event absorbed considerable flying time. 14 Blenheim's of the re-equipment in place of the hectors arrived. During this month an unfortunate accident occurred in which an officer and one Air Gunner were killed. | June. 1939 | The Inter-Unit Station Sports Athletic Trophy was won by the Squadron on Thurs 29th. At the end of this month, the Squadron held its full quota of Blenheim's together with six Hectors retained for night co-operation. | | July. 1939 | Photography for the Army Units absorbed considerable flying time, the Squadron having now, during the past three months completed a number of negatives equal to that of the whole of the previous year. | Aug. 1939 | Air Vice Marshal C.H.B Blount, OBE, MC visited the unit on the 28th. Pilots commenced night flying on the Blenheim's | Sept. 1939 | 1st: Mobilisation was declared. Squadron prepares for war. | | | | (above) The first 59 Sqn Blenheim PJ-L makes a textbook landing on arrival... ("Keep Them Flying", Richard Los) | | |
