Squadron badge heraldry A broken wheel. | ||
Active 1 August 1916 (RFC) to 4 August 1919
28 June 1937 - 15 June 1946
1 December 1947 - 31 October 1950
1 September 1956 - 4 January 1961 Motto(s) Latin: Ab uno disce omnes
("From one learn all") Squadron codes PJ Sep 1938 - Sep 1939
TR Sep 1939 - Oct 1942
1 Aug 1943 - Jul 1944
WE Jul 1944 - Oct 1945
BY Oct 1945 - Jun 1946, Dec 1947 - Oct 1950 | ||
No. 59 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force.
History
No.59 Squadron was formed at Narborough Airfield in Norfolk on 1 August 1916 as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. On 13 February 1917, the Squadron crossed the English Channel, deploying to Saint-Omer in northern France to operate in the army co-operation role, equipped with Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8s.
During the Second World War it was attached to RAF Fighter Command (1937–1940), Bomber Command (taking part in the Millennium II raid on Bremen) and Coastal Command (1940–1945). After the war, 59 Squadron was attached to Transport Command, flying troops to India from September 1945 until 15 June 1946, when the squadron was disbanded. On December 1st 1947 at RAF Waterbeach, half the crews of Number 51 Squadron were designated to reform as 59 Squadron. At 0800 the move from Waterbeach to RAF Abingdon commenced where upon arrival of their Commanding Officer, Squadron Leader E.V Best A.F.C at 1000, the squadron officially reformed, as a Long Range Transport Unit flying Avro Yorks. A detached flight would later take part in the Berlin Airlift (1948–49). The squadron disbanded again on 31 October 1950, then reformed at RAF Gutersloh, Germany in August 1956, when No. 102 Squadron was re-numbered 59, flying English Electric Canberra B.2s and B(I).8s. No. 59 Squadron was last disbanded in 1961, when it was re-numbered to No.3 Squadron.