No. 59 Squadron
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No. 59 Squadron was formed in 1916 as a reconnaissance squadron, and was disbanded in 1919. The squadron was reformed at Old Sarum in 1937, equipped with Hectors, initially specialising in night reconnaissance before being re-equipped with Blenheims in May 1939. It moved to France in October 1939 and undertook photographic reconnaissance of bridges, harbours and convoys before being forced back to England by the advancing Germans. It continued to operate over France from British bases. In July 1940 the Squadron started bombing raids on the Channel ports and anti-submarine patrols and continued night attacks during the winter. Twelve Blenheim crews were lost in the first half of 1941. Anti-shipping strikes began in July 1941 and No. 59 converted to Hudsons. The squadron became non-operational for a while but in March 1942 it resumed anti-shipping patrols off the Dutch coast. In August No. 59 converted to Liberators and continued with anti-submarine patrols. In December 1942 the Liberators were replaced with Fortresses although by March 1943 the Squadron was flying Liberators again. In May the Squadron moved to Northern Ireland and flew anti-submarine patrols over the Atlantic and convoy escort protection duties for the rest of the war. With the end of the war in Europe No. 59 Squadron was transferred in September 1945 to Transport Command and given the task of flying troops to India.
Airfields
No. 59 Squadron
flew from.
- RAF Andover from 3rd September 1939
- Poix, France from 3rd October 1939
- Crecy, France from 19th May 1940
- RAF Andover from 20th May 1940
- RAF Eastchurch, Kent from 30th May 1940
- RAF Odiham from June 1940
- RAF Thorney Island, Hampshire from 5th July 1940
- RAF Detling, Kent from June 1941
- RAF Thorney Island from August 1941
- RAF North Coates, Lincolnshire from January 1942
- RAF Thorney Island from August 1942
- RAF Chivenor, Devon from February 1943
- RAF Thorney Island from March 1943
- RAF Aldergrove, County Antrim from May 1943
- RAF Ballykelly, Londonderry from September 1943
- RAF Waterbeach from June 1945
- RAF St. Eval, Cornwall from 17th October 1940 (Detachment)
- RAF St. Eval from 11th November 1940 (Detachment)
- RAF St. Eval from 14th November 1940 (Detachment)
- RAF Manston, Kent from January 1941 (Detachment )
- RAF St. Eval from January 1941 (Detachment, )
- RAF Bircham Newton, Norfolk from January 1941 (Detachment )
- RAF Detling, Kent from January 1941 (Detachment )
- RAF Detling from August 1941 (Detachment)
- RAF Bircham Newton from August 1941 (Detachment)
- RAF St. Eval from August 1942 (Detachment )
- RAF Chivenor from August 1942 (Detachment )
- RAF St. Eval from May 1943 (Detachment )
- RAF North Front, Gibraltar from May 1943 (Detachment )
- Reykjavik, Iceland from 30th September 1943 (Detachment )
- Geck, Keflavik from 4th August 1944 (Detachment )
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List of those who served with
No. 59 Squadron
during The Second World War
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Flight Lieutenant Ernest E Allen Coastal Command 59 Squadron My father was RCAF on loan to the RAF. Before his Alzheimer's clicked in about 6 or 7 years ago he did a memoir of his wartime experiences which can be found here:
http://seawaymall.com/eallen/ There are some pictures that might be interesting to the Northcoates guys. I visited Northcoates with my mother maybe 20 years ago. |
Flight Sergeant A R Playford 59 Squadron Pilot, who sank U-990. |
Warrant Officer W N Prentice 59 Squadron Nav-Bomb |
Flight Lieutenant A Pickering 59 Squadron Air/Commander |
Flight Lieutenant Kknowles 59 Squadron U-540 was sunk on the night of 16/17th October 1943 by Flt Lt Knowles of 59 Squadron RAF and W/O Turnbull of 120 Squadron RAF, in the north Atlantic. |
Flight Lieutenant Knowles 59 Squadron U-540 was sunk on the night of 16/17th October 1943 by Flt Lt Knowles of 59 Squadron RAF and W/O Turnbull of 120 Squadron RAF, in the north Atlantic. |
Flight Lieutenant Wes G Loney 59 Squadron F/L was the pilot for the sinking of U-470 on the 16 October 1943. 18 days southwest of Iceland, a patrolling aircraft spotted U-470 with two sister boats. The aircraft radioed back to base, and soon a whole swarm of British Royal Air Force Liberator aircraft from 59 Squadron and 120 Squadron had descended on the trio, who decided to battle it out on the surface rather than dive, which would have made them easy targets for depth charges.
Over the course of the next several hours, the Liberators attacked the U-boats again and again, losing two of their number to anti-aircraft fire, one with all aboard and the other with two fatalities from the crew. |
Flight Lieutenant John Spiller DFC 59 Squadron (d.19th September 1945) F/L John Spiller DFC died in training, the 19th September, 1945. |
Pilot Officer H J P De La Bastita 59 Squadron P/O De La Bastita was with OTU Belgiu. |
Flying Officer Harry Hunt 59 Squadron missing in action |
Flying Officer Ronald H Le Grow 59 Squadron missing in action |
Flight Lieutenant Eric Knowles DFM 59 Squadron My Dad was Flt Lt Eric Knowles DFM of 59 Sqn RAF. I'd like to hear from anyone who flew with my late father. |
P/O Stanley William Ashton 59 Squadron (d.4th June 1940) Stanley Ashton is buried in our Swindon cemetery in the same plot as 11201 Frederick Loveday who died 6th November 1918 serving also with the RAF No. 1 transport depot. I'm looking for any more information on both men and the connection between them. |
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