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"The Dawn Patrol" - A Memorial and Historical Website
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"This site is dedicated to all the men and women who served with 59th Squadron RFC & No. 59 Squadron RAF"
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View Squadron Service Honour Roll :::... |
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190
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1196
Honoured |
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152
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| Honour Roll - Berlin Airlift | 121
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...::: Latest Site Updates -
20 April 2026 :::...
...::: Best viewed with Chrome (PC & Andriod) :::...
...::: Safari on Apple Devices :::...
| "... 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.." |
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A Friendly welcome from the site Maintenance Crew :::... |
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| 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 and those mentioned above. During my own research, I have discovered that there is a wealth of knowledge out there in cyberspace, books and from many various sources such as family members of veterans and even the veterans themselves... 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. For this purpose I have put together a Service Honour Roll with links to individual Aircrew pages. Eventually each person on the Roll will have their own page. The Roll covers the years 1937-1946, and is for 'service' and not only for those lost... There are also Service Honour Roll's for WW1 and The Battle of Britain. As well as the Honour Roll's, 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 managed to source approx 350 photos of personnel and over 1100 names are included on the 1937-46 Roll. This site is forever growing and as more information is found and sent in a more in-depth picture of events is unfolding. If you have any information you feel should be included or you would like to set up a tribute page for a relative or friend, 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 remember... "Ab Uno Disce Omnes - From One, Learn All". |
| FOR MORE INFO OR TO MAKE CONTACT CLICK HERE |
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| F/L Hervey Rae Longmuir RAAF - Nav-Bomb - No 59 Sqn RAF | ||
(L-R) P/O Pennycruick - P/O Longmuir - S/L Dunkerley - Sgt Drabble |
A
Bit of Background: (from
Lorenzo) 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 the experiences
and lives of other men and women during the war and their service
with 59 Sqn, I feel I am learning more about my grandfathers too.
Especially when the memoirs of his fellow 59 Sqn aircrew (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). |
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| View Hervey's Memorial page | ||
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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 one of the first 59 Sqn attacks (causing damages) for which the U-Boat (U-223) has been confirmed, on 01/03/1943 in Flying Fortress FL463 - D/59. At this time the squadron were detached to RAF Chivenor for patrols in the Bay of Biscay. |
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Airmen of the Commonwealth :::.. |
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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 aid in "air training" 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 aircrew served with British squadrons in Europe and other theatres of the war, as well as within their own nations. |
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Still Flying ::.. |
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Alec McCurdy: A former RAF pilot (DFC & Bar) flew with 59 Sqn early on in his service and was reassigned 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. (view more) |
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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. more to follow... |
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Sir John Curtiss: In his memoirs, F/L E Allen notes that in Sept. 1943, a second tour crew came in and their navigator, one S/L John Curtiss became their captain (this having been the first occurrence 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 re-posted by June of 1944 and replaced by W/C Gilchrist. view more |
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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 |
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Jimmy Winstanley: I was recently contacted by Jimmy's grandson in-law, who informed me that Jimmy is still flying, is living in Chorley, England and just turned 90 in Feb. 2012. More updates to come! |
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Ian Robinson: Ian got in touch with me in early May 2012. He was an observer on the Squadron between March 1941 and January 1942. He is now 92 and living in Canada. He was navigator on one of 18 crews re-assigned to the Far East in late 1941. (read more) Thanks for getting in touch Ian! |
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W/O Ronald E. Brown: I have recently been contacted by his son, who informs me that Ronald is "still flying".. more updates to come... (read more) |
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Sgt Leslie M. Waltham: I have recently been contacted by Leslie who submitted some details for the crew that sunk U-292 in May of 1944. Thank you Leslie. (read more) |
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F/Sgt Tom Clark: I have recently been contacted by Tom's son, Owen who submitted the following... (read more) |
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you know of any other 59'r who's still flying or have any updates
for those mentioned? Please get in touch. |
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Recently Updated Memorial & Tribute Pages ::.. |
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| Sgt Charles Ernest Crosher | Sgt Charles Brinn | |
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| Pilot Officer Thomas Kerr | Wing Commander de Gruyther | |
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| Sgt. John Woodcock | Cpl Leslie Otto Shvemar | |
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| Corporal R.K. Bartlett | F/O T.R. Chambers | |
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| F/L Herbert Lipsit | F/L Jack Catley | |
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| Sgt Len Hunt | Sgt Charlie West | |
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| F/O Harold Watts | F/Sgt Jack Jones | |
| VIEW ALL MEMORIAL UPDATES | ||
Did you send in this picture of Derek? Sadly I was unable to update the site before my old email was lost and along with it the accompanying information for the above airmen. If you sent this picture in, please contact me again at the new email address provided. Thank you. |
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All other memorial & tribute pages can be found (linked) off the Service Honour Roll's (see top of this page)
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The Crew Files ::.. |
| The
59 Squadron Crews |
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| These pages are currently under construction. I have managed to source quite a few pictures of crews, from the early years of the war when the Squadron was flying the Bristol Blenheim, to the later years flying Liberators and for a short period of time the Fortress. Some (like the image above) have been sent in by relatives of those pictured and others have been found online (ww2images.com). View them by selecting a link below... To view crews from the Berlin Airlift, please go to the "Post War" link in the "59 History" section... |
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59 Squadron Airmen told to Return Battle Honours :::... |
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| In 1960, revisions to the list of squadrons eligible to claim the Battle of Britain Bar, saw No.59 Squadron RAF taken off it and the airmen told they were no longer entitled to wear the bar and that they must return it... (read more) - Also visit the Battle of Britain section - "59 History" then click "Battle of France" and scroll down. |
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