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No. 58 Squadron, R.F.C., was formed at Cramlington, Northumberland, in 1916. In December 1917 No. 58 was mobilised and subsequently flew F.E.2b's on the Western Front where it remained until the Armistice. It re-formed in England in 1924 as a heavy bomber unit and in the years which followed was mainly engaged in routine training.
No. 58 was flying Whitleys from Yorkshire at the outbreak of the Second World War, and first went into action on the night of 3rd/4th September, 1939, when it made a leaflet raid over Germany. A few weeks after this operation No. 58 was ordered to an airfield in South-West? England for duty with Coastal Command and until late January, 1940, it escorted convoys and flew anti-submarine patrols. The squadron returned to Yorkshire in February and from April, 1940 to March, 1942, played a prominent part in the night-bombing offensive. Its targets were of the widest variety, from airfields, road and railway communications, marshalling yards and industrial centres, to the Channel Ports, oil and petrol installations and shipping at sea. Three highlights of this period were the squadron's participation in the first big attack on the German mainland (München-Gladbach) on 11th/12th May, 1940; the first attack on Italy (primary target Turin) on 11th/12th June, 1940; and the first attack on Berlin, on 25th/26th August, 1940.
In April, 1942, No. 58 Squadron was transferred to Coastal Command and during the remainder of the war, as a general reconnaissance unit, flying Halifaxes. from 1943 onwards until it was disbanded on 25 May 1945.
Airfields No. 58 Squadron RAF flew from.
- RAF Boscombe Down, Wiltshire. from 6th Oct 1939 to 5th Apr 1942
- RAF St. Eval, Cornwall. from 5th Apr to Aug 1942 and Mar to Jul 1943
- RAF Stornoway, Outer Hebrides. from August to Dec 1942
- RAF Holmsley South, Hampshire. from Dec 1942 to Mar 1943 and Jul to Dec 1943
- RAF St Davids, Pembrokeshire. from Dece 1943 to Aug 1944
- RAF Stornoway from August 1944 to 25th May 1945
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Flt.Sgt. Leonard Stanley Williams 58 Squadron (d.10th Aug 1942) Leonard Williams took off from Wick, northern Scotland at 12.00 hrs on 6th of August 1942 in Whitley Mk VII, Z 9525 for and anti submarine patrol. The aircraft and crew failed to return. |
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