Ronald George Dawson and his navigator: part one

Collection Dawson family

In 2011 I hadn’t look for more information on who were “Shorty” Dawson, Kit Cotter and for that matter Jim Coley.

“Shorty” Dawson, “Kit” Cotter, “Sticky” Murphy, “Baron” Goldie, Norman Conquer, Jim Coley and three Maltese young women were posing for posterity on Remembrance Day November 11, 1943.

The above picture was shared in 2011 by George Stewart, a 23 Squadron pilot, whom I had visited at his home in Hamilton, Ontario. George Stewart, who wanted me to call him George, had invited me so I could learn more about 23 Squadron.

To be honest I had never noticed the date of November 11 being more interested with “Baron” Goldie’s story.

This is post No. 504 where I am still learning and writing more about 23 Squadron when readers are asking for my help.

Request from Graham Topping

Someone had left a comment last month after I had written that post…

Loved the photos thanks very much. My uncle was a pilot with 464 squadron Ron (shorty) Dawson sadly he was shot down and lost his life on his way out after Operation Carthage: R.A.F. Mosquito Raid in Copenhagen March 1945.

Unfortunately I only have 1 photo.

THEY WERE ALL BRAVE MEN AND WILL BE REMEMBERED!

Best Regards

Gary Dawson

I had not connected the dots but had asked Gary Dawson if he could scan the photo. Gary hasn’t replied yet.

Then I got this private message last week…

I found your site when doing a Google search for R G Dawson RAAF, or rather bounced to it via another comment on the RAF Commands forum.

The only reference here was in a photo from “Peter Smith’s document”

https://no23squadron.wordpress.com/2012/08/02/hector-goldie-and-his-navigator-part-two/

Of course, I’m now interested in what else was in that document about “Shorty” Dawson. Ronald was killed in action near Copenhagen in March 1945, on his 2nd tour of duty.

(Date: 21 Mar 45 Aircraft: Mosquito FB.VI SZ999 Unit 464 Sqdn )

He could have been back in Australia in 1944 but wrote to his mother:

“Well Mother I suppose you have been wondering why I turned down the offer of a ticket back to Australia, it took quite a lot of deciding and at the time I thought, whichever I decided I would probably be sorry, especially being away from home so long. Anyway I should know my own mind. The fact of the matter is, which will probably come as a shock to you, I became engaged about two months ago. Now that you have heard the worst I had better tell you a little about her. Well her name is Joyce Schofield and she comes from Burnley, Lancashire. Joyce has just turned twenty-two and is a member of the WAAF. I first met her about seven months ago at the same camp as I was stationed during my rest period. I have been to her home several times on leave and met her people. They are quite a nice family and just ordinary people and I’m sure you’d like them. I’m sure if you knew Joyce too you would immediately be with me in saying that I have done the right thing. I wont go into details to tell you how much I think of her, I’ll just leave that to you own imagination.”

Joyce was my father-in-law’s cousin. I am now helping Ronald’s niece find out more about Joyce, but also delving into Ronald’s spell in Europe.

Any more information that you can share will be greatly appreciated.

Google search?

To be continued…

Hector Goldie and his Navigator: part three

This is part 3 of Hector Goldie and his Navigator: part 2 which was written more than ten years ago…

Hector Goldie and his Navigator: part two (link)

This is what I had written…

Yesterday was the busiest day on this blog about 23 Squadron. I am not surprised because Vicki has now all the answers she was looking for and much much more. I think she has been reading some of my other posts as well as her husband and her son.

This is post No. 90 about 23 Squadron, a little known RAF Squadron based at Little Snoring. Here is Vicki’s father-in-law Hector Goldie with his navigator Norman Conquer.

This is taken from Peter Smith’s manuscript who yesterday sent Vicki everything he had about her father-in-law. Peter does not keep what he found about 23 Squadron to himself, and Peter gave me the green light to write about Hector Goldie and his navigator on this blog using excerpts from his manuscript.

This story is amazing because it shows how brave these men were.

Imagine it’s a movie…

In the above picture taken from George Stewart private collection, another 23 Squadron pilot, we see ‘Shorty’ Dawson, Kit Cotter, Sticky Murphy, Baron Goldie, Norman Conquer and Jim Coley. The Maltese girls’ names are unknown.

You have surely noticed the nicknames given to these airmen. Shorty, Kit , Sticky, Baron. Where does the Baron nickname come from…? I could give you the answer right away, but I would spoiled the ending.

We will start with this first part of Peter’s manuscript he sent me two days ago… I will be posting several articles because of the amount of information on Hector “the Baron” Goldie. Norman Conquer was one of the Squadron’s senior Navigators. He and his pilot, Hector “Baron” Goldie, had crewed up at an Operational Training Unit (O.T.U.) where they had both ended up before being posted to 23 Squadron in 1943, where upon they had joined the Squadron in Malta, the normal route via the Bay of Biscay and Gibraltar.

However Norman was not a new recruit but he was like many others in the Squadron who had joined up in 1939 and 1940. Unlike many others in the Squadron Norman would be on his first tour of “ops” on the offensive. His path there had been perhaps more difficult than many of the others.

At the outbreak of war he had been all set to follow a different path. He had been already to join the BBC in fact. To be precise the BBC Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, as well as “touring” a small dance band of his own.

In December 1939 he had volunteered at Uxbridge as a pilot, and being a keen type (as most of the Chaps at 23 were) had volunteered for immediate duty, to fly of course, but had been “persuaded” to do one tour as a Navigator. So Norman had promptly found himself part of an RAF Gunnery squad on ground defence in Blackpool, since it would take time for the aircrew receiving centre to call prospective aircrew up for actual flying duties.

Norman Conquer, far right second row “Gunnery Squad”
(Courtesy of Norman Conquer)

While there were some benefit’s, such as the very hospitable Blackpool landlady who made them feel as though they were part of the family, a real home away from home. However it was not to last and with his unit he was soon at White Waltham in Berkshire “training”. However this too would only last a couple of months before a posting to Dumfries in Scotland. This was not the way young Conquer envisaged his notable talents being utilised, and he had got to the point, some ten months after joining, where he was almost resigned to the fact that this was “his lot”, when in mid-December he would be informed that he had been posted to No. 10 Initial Training Wing at Scarborough. He was on the move again.

At 10 ITW he would form several close friendships, Norman would later write,

Of the four I was closest too, one failed to survive training, two were lost on operations, and the last was the sole survivor of an entire Squadron destroyed in one raid in the Mediterranean.

Other Squadron members, who had started this early in the war, would all tell a very similar story, by the time the war ended. Norman’s training would continue in earnest, with in March ’41 a move to No. 10 Bombing and Gunnery School, where, that’s right “Dumfries”, again. His first experience in a “Harrow” did not fill either him or any of his colleagues with confidence.

An air experience flight in a “Harrow” did not create quite the impression we imagined our instructors wished to convey. I presume the pilot on that occasion had actually flown before – but perhaps he thought we would be more at home if we felt that he too was a beginner…

(Author’s note: a Handley Page “Harrow” was a twin engine heavy bomber designed and built in the 1930s).

Next time, more on The Baron and Norman Conquer.

To be continued with a tribute to Ronald “Shorty” Dawson.

What I was waiting for…

What I was waiting for from Leslie, Alex’s younger brother…

Alex (A A) Wilson was always known as the quiet man of the family. No fuss but an astute understanding of everything and carried responsibility well even as a teenager in short trousers going to the Glasgow docks to pay Norwegian sailors going ashore.

Alex trained at O.T.U. Greenwood in Nova Scotia which may have influenced his later life choices. When asked where Little Snoring was, his reply invariably was ‘6 miles from Greater Snoring’.

Alex came from a family with ties to the RAF with his father being a WWI soldier who transferred to ground maintenance crew in the Royal Flying Corps in 1917.

Sadly Alex’s cousins who were also flying with the RAF in WW2 were lost, one over Malta as a RCAF Spitfire pilot of 185 Squadron on 13/10/1942 and the other piloting a Lancaster bomber from 156 Squadron over Berlin on 2/1/1944.

Alex’s brother survived the war serving in the Fleet Air Arm in the Pacific. Alex made 39 sorties and at the conclusion of hostilities remained in the RAF till 1947 including time spent in West Africa.

After being demobbed he decided to emigrate to Canada in January 1948 and lived in Toronto working in transportation before transferring to the Canadian Government in Ottawa to work amongst other things on the introduction of GST.

Leslie, Alex’s younger brother

Little Snoring, 1945 – In Search of William Gordon Shearer

Updated 22 February 2021

I don’t make up these stories…

Relative found!

Hello Pierre This is amazing. Just recently I have been wondering about my Scottish cousins and now this. You may not remember our correspondence from some time ago. I told you how hard things were with my father. We never had anything to do with his family and so I never knew my cousins. The distress of the past has stopped me from trying to find them. Can you please let me have Colin’s email address or would you give mine to him. He has assumed that it was my brother who contacted you. Sadly my brother died in 1998 at the age of 47. This would never have happened but for your website. Thank you, Pierre.

Original post

Colin Shearer wants to contact William Gordon Shearer’s son or daughter.

Comment by Colin Shearer…

Hi
I’ve come across this blog by typing in William Gordon Shearer known as Gordon who was my Uncle. I note reference to his son having posted at least part of the blog and if there were a way you know of contacting him then I’d be most grateful as we have not had contact before now.
Many thanks
Colin Shearer

A reader had commented in February 2020.

My father was William Gordon Shearer known as Gordon. He was a Flight Lieutenant. He trained other pilots. He is in the top row to the right (on the photo) of the man in the peaked cap.

Eugene Gagnon 1945 HD (2)

Eugene Gagnon 1945 HD

The group picture features pilots and navigators of 23 Squadron. It was taken probably in June 1945, but no later than July 1945 since I know Eugene Gagnon, a French-Canadian Mosquito pilot, came back to Quebec.

I don’t believe anyone who finds this blog will read everything in it from the start. My blog was not created to monetise what I write. I don’t monetise the sacrifice of the Fallen or those who came back and relived what they went through during WWII.

The advertisements on this blog is generated by WordPress. It could be distracting sometimes, but that’s how you donate to keep this blog online.

Always feel free to comment because I always reply and help with any request.

This could be the start of the amazing story of the airmen of a forgotten squadron in Little Snoring.

Picture taken in 1945 before the squadron was disbanded (Courtesy Tom Cushing via Peter Smith)

More about Squadron 23 (Source Internet)

No. 23 Squadron formed at Fort Grange, Gosport on 1 Sep 1915 under the command of one of the RAF’s most experienced operational pilots – Captain Louis Strange. After a brief period attempting to counter German airship flights over London, the Squadron moved to France with its FE2Bs initially employed on escort duties. By early 1917, Spad single-seaters had arrived, and were being used on offensive patrols. By the end of the War, the Squadron had converted to Dolphins, and flew these until disbanded at the end of 1919.

On 1 July 1925, No. 23 Squadron reformed at Henlow with Snipes, but these were replaced shortly after with Gloster Gamecocks. In 1931, the Squadron was tasked with carrying out trials on the new Hawker Hart two-seaters, taking the production version, known as Demons, on strength in 1933. It wasn’t until late 1938 that the squadron received its first monoplanes in the form of Blenheims, and these were used as night-fighters in the early days of World War II whilst based at Wittering. In 1941, Havocs replaced the Blenheims, and these were used with great success in the intruder role, until themselves replaced by the Mosquito in mid-1942. At the end of the year, the squadron moved to Malta in support of allied operations in the Mediterranean before returning to the UK in 1944.

In September 1945, the Squadron had disbanded, reforming a year later at Wittering with Mosquito night-fighters. By late 1953, Venom night fighters had joined the Squadron, before Javelin all-weather supersonic fighters replaced these in 1957. In 1964, the Lightning replaced the Javelin, and it was with this classic aircraft that the squadron continued until Phantoms were received in late 1975, this coinciding with a moved to Wattisham in Suffolk. After the Falklands War in 1982, the Squadron occupied Port Stanley airfield until reduced to a Flight of four aircraft in 1988, reforming at Leeming with Tornado F3s. Defence cuts following the end of the Cold War saw the unit disbanded in March 1994. No. 23 Squadron was again reformed, this time as part of the Waddington AEW Wing in 1996, sharing not only the aircraft with the already established No. 8 Squadron, but operational duties in Europe and the Gulf.

The Squadron was officially disbanded on 2 Oct 2009.

If you have any information about 23 Squadron and you wish to share what you know, you can contact me using this form.

Paying homage to Allan Sticky Murphy

There are many ways to pay homage to 23 Squadron and to Wing Commander Allan Sticky Murphy.

This is what I had written in June 2011 on this blog to pay homage to Sticky…

But I found that there is another way I have just learned about. You can “view” it at the end.

Allan “Sticky” Murphy was Wing Commander of 23 Squadron.

Alan Michael ‘Sticky’ Murphy DSO and Bar, DFC, Croix de Guerre.
‘Sticky’. (Courtesy of Tommy Cushing)

Sticky Murphy was a pilot flying Lysander in 1941. He flew that particular mission in December 1941 and was hit in the neck.

He managed to get back to his base in England.

This is an excerpt of Peter Smith’s manuscript…

The loss of Sticky Murphy on December the 2nd 1944 would stay with the aircrew, and all whose lives he had touched for the rest of their lives.
Whenever they thought of all those lost, their friends that didn’t return, Sticky would be first in their memories.

His love of life and his love for his airmen would be passed down to their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren-a better friend and comrade no man had.

His accomplishments were at least those of the 23 Squadrons founder Col Strange, and perhaps what he accomplished with the moonlit Squadrons even more.

He would join, and be joined, by so many of his contemporaries- notably ‘Pic’ Pickard whom had also commanded 161 Squadron after Sticky. Outside the RAF Pickard was well known as Squadron Leader Dickson, the skipper of Wellington, F for Freddie, in the popular Crown Film Unit 1941 production ‘Target for Tonight’. He was also the commander of the legendary Amiens Prison Raid (Operation Jericho) when a British formation of 15 Mosquito twin-engine bombers escorted by eight Typhoon fighters bombed the prison and Gestapo headquarters at Amiens in Northern France.

Sticky’s wife, Jean, would marry again and finally find lasting happiness with her daughter Gail.

Gail would grow up with two loving parents-but knowing that her father was Sticky, and be reminded of it throughout her lifetime by stories that would reach her, of Sticky, his love for his men, and his fearless acts of derring-do’ relayed by his fellow aircrew and their children.

This is a comment I just received showing another way to pay homage to him and his navigator.

https://arcg.is/1eDXWK

See the link to my viewer.

I created a web viewer of all planes that are crashed during WW-2 in the province Gelderland, The Netherlands. At 02-12-1944 the Mosquito PZ456 of 23 Sdn crashed South of Wezep.
Pilot: W/Cdr A.M. Murphy and Navigator F/Sgt D. Darbon.
Burried at Oldebroek Cemetery

Jan

Little Snoring, 1945

This is an updated version of the first post I wrote back in April 2010.

I had written that my blog about 23 Squadron could be the start of the amazing story about airmen of a forgotten squadron in Little Snoring.

I had added this for my readers…

Please leave a comment…

The picture above was taken in 1945 before the squadron was disbanded. It was from the collection of Tom Cushing via Peter Smith. Tom Cushing was a teenager in 1945 and he was living in Little Snoring.

I had added for future readers the history of 23 Squadron by using the Internet since I knew nothing about that squadron.

You have to start somewhere don’t you?

Squadron 23

By early 1917, Spad single-seaters had arrived, and were being used on offensive patrols. By the end of the War, the Squadron had converted to Dolphins, and flew these until disbanded at the end of 1919.

It wasn’t until late 1938 that the squadron received its first monoplanes in the form of Blenheims, and these were used as night-fighters in the early days of World War II whilst based at Wittering.

In 1941, Havocs replaced the Blenheims, and these were used with great success in the intruder role, until themselves replaced by the Mosquito in mid-1942.

At the end of the year, the squadron moved to Malta in support of allied operations in the Mediterranean before returning to the UK in 1944.

After the Falklands War in 1982, the Squadron occupied Port Stanley airfield until reduced to a Flight of four aircraft in 1988, reforming at Leeming with Tornado F3s. Defence cuts following the end of the Cold War saw the unit disbanded in March 1994. No. 23 Squadron was again reformed, this time as part of the Waddington AEW Wing in 1996, sharing not only the aircraft with the already established No. 8 Squadron, but operational duties in Europe and the Gulf.

The Squadron was officially disbanded on 2 Oct 2009.

This is how I had ended my first post…

This Squadron has been virtually reformed…

Next time on this blog dedicated to 23 Squadron, how Philip Ensor became reunited with his family 10 years later.

As always, if you have any information about 23 Squadron and you wish to share what you know, you can contact me using this form.

Little Snoring, 1945 – Update WO Joseph David Thompson

UPDATE

From a reader

My father is in the photograph, second row, third from the right. He was a navigator. WO Joseph David Thompson.
Thank you for doing this it’s important history.
Kind regards

Amanda Carey

Eugene Gagnon 1945 HD

eugene-gagnon-1945-hd (2)

WO Joseph David Thompson

WO Joseph David Thompson is listed on this. He was teamed-up with Flight Sergeant Bird

Operational record final mission 5

homecoming - Eugene Gagnon in Bromptonville

The advertisements on this blog is generated by WordPress. It could be distracting sometimes, but that’s how you donate to keep this blog online.

Always feel free to comment because I always reply and help with any request.

This could be the start of the amazing story of the airmen of a forgotten squadron in Little Snoring.

Little Snoring - June or July 1945

Picture taken in 1945 before the squadron was disbanded (Courtesy Tom Cushing via Peter Smith)

More about Squadron 23 (Source Internet)

The Squadron was officially disbanded on 2 Oct 2009.

If you have any information about 23 Squadron and you wish to share what you know, you can contact me using this form.

Intermission – Forgotten airfields… Little Snoring

Cliff Adams shared this link about forgotten airfields.

https://forgottenairfields.com/airfield-little-snoring-1470.html

Little Snoring, 1945 – Update William Gordon Shearer

Two updates

Lastest comment by Colin Shearer.

Comment by Colin Shearer…

Hi
I’ve come across this blog by typing in William Gordon Shearer known as Gordon who was my Uncle. I note reference to his son having posted at least part of the blog and if there were a way you know of contacting him then I’d be most grateful as we have not had contact before now.
Many thanks
Colin Shearer

First comment

From a reader

My father was William Gordon Shearer known as Gordon. He was a Flight Lieutenant. He trained other pilots. He is in the top row to the right (on the photo) of the man in the peaked cap.

Eugene Gagnon 1945 HD (2)

Eugene Gagnon 1945 HD

The advertisements on this blog is generated by WordPress. It could be distracting sometimes, but that’s how you donate to keep this blog online.

Always feel free to comment because I always reply and help with any request.

This could be the start of the amazing story of the airmen of a forgotten squadron in Little Snoring.

Picture taken in 1945 before the squadron was disbanded (Courtesy Tom Cushing via Peter Smith)

More about Squadron 23 (Source Internet)

The Squadron was officially disbanded on 2 Oct 2009.

If you have any information about 23 Squadron and you wish to share what you know, you can contact me using this form.

	janclarke23 on Tony Marks Is Just a Name
	Pierre Lagacé on Tony Marks Is Just a Name
	Christopher Joule on Tony Marks Is Just a Name
	Pierre Lagacé on No. 23 Squadron is still …
	Gary on No. 23 Squadron is still …

Category: No. 23 Squadron

Ronald George Dawson and his navigator: part one

Hector Goldie and his Navigator: part three

What I was waiting for…

Little Snoring, 1945 – In Search of William Gordon Shearer

Paying homage to Allan Sticky Murphy

Little Snoring, 1945

This Squadron has been virtually reformed…

Little Snoring, 1945 – Update WO Joseph David Thompson

Intermission – Forgotten airfields… Little Snoring

Little Snoring, 1945 – Update William Gordon Shearer

The Mosquito in Battle