First names would definitely help here, especially with the more common surnames. I found a little bit about two of them if that helps, both are deceased unfortunately: http://number59squadron.com/roll/awards/kassie_bem.html http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/timescolonist/obituary.aspx?pid=168886905

EDIT: Found an interview given by LAC (Harry) Schiff in 2008 about his recollections in the Canadian Air Force (I'm assuming that this is the correct LAC Schiff). Could be useful for you. http://contentdm.library.uvic.ca/cdm/ref/collection/collection13/id/2410

I'm a carpenter, I have almost no experience in researching this sort of thing. I really appreciate any help r/askhistorians could offer, thank you.

http://www.raf.mod.uk/ahb/recordsofservice/

These guys may well be the guys to talk to. Historical Branches tend to be pretty useful - very keen to help.

Cpl Kassie is listed on a website for veterans of the 59th Squadron (http://number59squadron.com/roll/honour.html).

His page is located here:

http://number59squadron.com/roll/awards/kassie_bem.html

That was from a quick search, I will try and see if I can find more information.

59, 86 and 120 Squadron were RAF Coastal Command squadrons flying Liberators on anti-submarine patrols. The Liberators mounted ASV (Air to Surface Vessel) radar.

Britain was desperate for skilled radar technicians, and requested assistance from Canada; the RCAF recruited and trained many technicians, who generally served on attachment to RAF squadrons. I couldn't be certain, but I believe the Radar Section at Ballykelly would be a mix of RCAF and RAF personnel. That gives two main avenues to follow up.

From digging around, your best bet on the RCAF side of things may well be the [Canadian Radar History Project] (http://www.rquirk.com/cdnradar/cdnradar.htm). Unfortunately it seems that activity has somewhat faded as veterans sadly pass away, but the [Secrets of Radar Museum] (http://secretsofradar.com/contact/) looks like a good bet, and the [Canadian War Museum] (http://www.warmuseum.ca/newsletter/archive/honouring-canadas-radar-veterans/) have an exhibition and perhaps further details.

On the RAF side, the [Coastal Command and Maritime Air Association] (http://www.griffon.clara.net/ccmaa/ccmaa_about.htm ) may have some members from the three squadrons; individually there's a detailed site about 59 Squadron as some others have linked ( http://number59squadron.com/homepage.html ), but there doesn't seem to be so much about 86 or 120 from a quick search.

Get him to write down all the background details that he can remember for each of the other soldiers. Then contact Veterans UK for advice on the best place to start looking for them: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/veterans-uk

This is a complex but fascinating task. I won't lie and say that what you're trying to accomplish will be easy, but it's doable. You may also very well find out that your grandfather is indeed the last member of his squadron: it depends on how old he was at the time of service and whether or not anyone younger or older (!) has survived him. Having said that, the two eldest veterans of the First World War both passed away in the last five years so you may have a better chance than you think of striking gold.

The first step in this process is to acknowledge that it will take some time and sleuthing on your part. Finding out what happened to forty people in the last ten years can be difficult, but finding out what happened to forty people in the past 70 years following a major conflict is... a challenge. Your biggest obstacle will be privacy laws, which are relatively similar in all of the Commonwealth realms. These laws prevent you from accessing the personnel records of your grandfather's comrades unless they have been dead for at least 25 years (sometimes more) and each record costs £30 to obtain. This isn't financially feasible. There are some shots in the dark that you could (and should) take:

• Forces Reunited is a leading resource for British forces although there is a substantial contingent of Imperial veterans as well

• The Royal Canadian Air Force Association is quite a decent organization and their director, Mr. Block, is willing to speak to you about further resources. They wouldn't go into depth over the phone since this is a private matter for you to address, but you can reach him directly at director@airforce.ca at your leisure. He is, according to the very nice lady who answered the phone, your best bet as he's quite plugged into the RCAF veteran community.

• Veterans Affairs will have the records of any surviving members of your grandfather's unit who haven't died or emigrated. I don't know if you could obtain them, but your grandfather's status will have quite an impact on them if he makes a direct inquiry in person.

• The Canadian Directorate of History and Heritage is the Canadian Armed Forces' repository of all things historical. They answer questions within 2 to 30 business days. They may be a good, if amorphous, lead.

Please PM me if I can be of help in any way. I don't check this account everyday so do bear that there may be some lag in response time.

bumped into these: http://www.forcesreunited.org.uk/namearchive/units/RAFNames/RAF-Ballykelly.html

http://www.forgottenairfields.com/united-kingdom/northern-ireland/londonderry/ballykelly-s933.html

http://www.sandes.org.uk/news_detail.asp?id=13

http://www.sandes.org.uk/template.asp?pid=52&area=1&aName=

looks as though some may be helpful.

OP, since you mentioned that he was stationed in Ballykelly, Northern Ireland, it wouldn't hurt to cross-post this to /r/northernireland.

There's a chance that someone might know how to find out more about your granda's squadron or could point you in the right direction.

For general research on finding people, use of www.pipl.com can be very effective human search engine. Also quite a few will be listed in public records as it is the older Births Deaths and Marriage registrar information which is publicly searchable.

http://www.myheritage.com/ https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Canada_Genealogy

Hello, I maintain the site for 59 Squadron cited in previous posts. I will check the Squadron movement orders for your grandfathers name... Finding information in records of members who werent aircrew is very difficult, as previously noted its usually just rank and surname but on more official records, service numbers are included... do you happen to know your grandfathers service number? Even a google search with those three pieces of information may turn something useful up!

The movement orders are where non aircrew attached to the Squadron at the time are recorded. Please feel free to contact me either through here, or the details on my site www.number59squadron.com

Please offer your grandfather my most sincere well wishes and greetings. Its great to hear that he's still going strong. Whether or not he served with 59, he certainly served amongst and with other 59ers. I would be honoured to include your grandfathers name on the honour roll along with those he served with and set up a Tribute page for him, at a time that is convenient.

Kindest regards to you both.

I hope your grandpa does an AMA - I worked for Veterans Affairs, I know that department gets a bad reputation, but I was always proud to serve Veterans any way I could. I truly hope you get your answers, and Mr. Macdonald can reunite with some of his fellow soldiers.

SHIRKIE, LAC James Traquair (R163818) - Mention in Despatches - Overseas - Award effective 14 June 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 1647/45 dated 26 October 1945.� Born 29 March 1916; home in Toronto; enlisted in Regina, 16 May 1942.� Radar Mechanic; posted overseas April 1943; repatriated 23 November 1945; released 1 December 1945. http://rcafassociation.ca/uploads/airforce/2009/07/ALPHA-SH.html

Can I get an update?

BACH, Corporal Harry (R158787) - Mention in Despatches - No.120 Squadron (AFRO gives unit only as "Overseas") - Award effective 14 June 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 1647/45 dated 26 October 1945. Born 19 February 1917. Home in Hamilton; educated at King Edward Public School and Hamilton Technical School. Employed in purchasing and office management for an auto parts firm. Enrolled under National Resources Mobilization Act, 5 February 1942 and took infantry training at No.20 Basic Training Centre, Brantford. Enlisted in RCAF in Hamilton 18 March 1942. At No.3 Manning Depot, Edmonton, 18 March to 25 April 1942; University of Saskatchewan (Radar Course), 26 April to 23 August 1942 (promoted Leading Aircraftman on 22 August 1942); on strength of No.1 Manning Depot, Toronto, 24 August to 16 September 1942; at No.31 Radio Direction Finding School, Clinton, 17 September 1942 to 20 January 1943; assigned to RAF Delegation to Washington, 23 January 1943, being attached to American units in Texas until 3 April 1943 when he proceeded by air (No.45 Group) to Britain. To No.59 Squadron, 6 April 1943; to No.524 Squadron, 21 November 1943; to No.201 Squadron, 17 January 1944; to No.422 Squadron, 3 March 1944; to No.120 Squadron, 12 May 1944. Promoted Corporal, 10 October 1944. To Station Ballykelly, 24 June 1945; to No.73 Base, 30 June 1945; to North Luffenham, 24 August 1945. Repatriated to Canada, 16 November 1945; released 15 December 1945. Photograph PL-40423 shows LAC C.R. McNair (Burlington, Ontario) and LAC H. Bach (Hamilton), described as "Canadian radar mechanics stationed in northern Ireland". Although no citation can be found, a report filed as he was being released noted that he had been Mentioned in Despatches "for efficient work in his trade as radar mechanic". It added, "He is considered to have outstanding learning ability and also outstanding mechanical knowledge."

http://rcafassociation.ca/uploads/airforce/2009/07/ALPHA-BA.1.html

Note that LAC C.R McNair of Burlington Ontario is also mentioned.

Ballykelly had a brief moment of fame about 10 years ago when an airliner accidentally landed there by mistake -http://www.theguardian.com/business/2006/mar/30/theairlineindustry.travelnews

One of our Government departments is moving there if he's interested in what's become of the place - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-28103520

I would recommend crossposting in /r/northernireland, someone locally might be able to help.

It may be worth a shot to register and post on arrse.co.uk (an inofficial British forum for all military things), especially in the old&bold part.

This may be a man your grandfather remembers...

http://number59squadron.com/memorial/memorial_collins.html

[This] (http://rcafassociation.ca/uploads/airforce/2009/07/ALPHA-M.MAC.html) may prove useful

/r/askreddit might not be a bad idea. Tons more eyes and there might be someone who knows someone.

EDIT: Can someone explain the downvotes? There's been several occasions where people have had pretty good results on similar Veteran issues by posting in /r/askreddit...

Know if he worked with a Wellington Earl Smith (WES) during the radar thing? It's a bit of a long shot, but that's a thing my grandpa did at that time.

120 Sqdn werent posted to Ballykelly till March 1944, disbanded there June 1945. 59 Sqdn arrived there in Sept 1943, left June 1945. 86 Sqdn to Ballykelly Sept 1943 till March 1944.

If the above is correct, then the only time during the war all three were stationed at Ballykelly together, is March 1944. According to the information below, LAC Bach was with 59 Sqdn April-Nov 1943, but did not join 120 Sqdn until May 1944, which if correct, puts 86 Sqdn not in Ballykelly...

Is it possible that your grandfathers picture was taken post war? Before they all were repatriated or demobilised? The date 1943-1945 could just be the period that the 59 sqdn radar operatives were stationed there, ie the longest serving members of the group...

The link below to the interview with Harry Schiff, appears to be the same man, he states that his C/O was "Richardson"... He also talks about Cpl Kassie as "E" and going with him to receive his B.E.M. It seems Kassie was his best mate...

▪	Ballykelly Radar Section (1943 - 1945)
▪	R.A.F. Sqd. 59 - 86 -120
▪	// Top Row L-R // {{ Sergeant JACKSON - Sept 1943 - 59 Sqdn - #963 - Cpl Jackson (Radar Section) }} {{ Sergeant HODGSON - May 1943 - 59 Sqdn - #928 - Cpl Hodgson (59 HQ) }} {{ LAC SHIRKIE - NA }} {{ LAC ZOEGER - NA }} {{ LAC COOKSON - NA }} {{ LAC TEASDALE - NA }} {{ LAC McNAIR - NA (probably 120 Sqdn) }} {{ Corporal KASSIE - Sept 1943 - 59 Sqdn - #429 - LAC Kassie (Radar Section) }} {{ Corporal HOLLOWS - NA }} {{ LAC JANES - NA }} {{ LAC INGLIS - NA }}
▪	//Middle Row L-R// {{ LAC GANS - NA }} {{ LAC SHARPE - NA }} {{ Corporal BARRETT - Sept 1943 - 59 Sqdn - #933 - LAC Barrett (Radar Section) }} {{ LAC HEYWOOD - Sept 1943 - 59 Sqdn - #708 - LAC Heywood (Radar Section) }} {{ LAC LOUGHLIN - NA }} {{ LAC LEHMAN - NA }} {{ LAC LITTLE - NA }} {{ LAC KIPP - NA }} {{ LAC MacDONALD - May 1943 - 59 Sqdn - #141 - LAC MacDonald }} {{ LAC HOPE - NA }} {{ Corporal NOSDEST - May 1943 - 59 Sqdn - #268 - LAC Nostedt (S.E. Section) }}
▪	//Bottom Row L-R// {{ LAC SCHIFF - Sept 1943 - Possible 59 Sqdn (Friends with Cpl Kassie) }} {{ LAC HARPUR - May 1943 - 59 Sqdn - #202 - LAC Harper (Radar Section) }} {{ LAC DUNCAN - NA }} {{ Corporal ROSS - Sept 1943 - 59 Sqdn - #499 - LAC Ross (Radar Section) }} {{ LAC SAUNDERS - NA }} {{ F/O FOSTER-COULL - NA }} {{ F/Lt RICHARDSON - NA }} {{ P/O ZACHARIS - NA }} {{ Sergeant HAMES - NA }} {{ Corporal BACH - May 1943 - 59 Sqdn #787 - LAC Bach - posted Ballykelly with 120 Sqdn 1944 }} {{ Corporal WHEELER - NA }} {{ LAC COLLEN - NA }} {{ Sergeant SOUTHCOTT - NA }}
▪	*May 1943 - Movement Order No. 3 - RAF Thorney Island to RAF Aldergrove.
▪	**Sept 1943 - Movement Order No. 4 - RAF Thorney Island to RAF Ballykelly.
▪	*** Both 59 and 86 Sqdn were stationed at RAF Aldergrove (86 Sqdn arr 03/1943 - 59 Sqdn arr 05/1943) prior to move (both Sqdn's) to Ballykelly in Sept 1943. 120 Sqdn were at Aldergrove between Feb and April 1943 and posted to Ballykelly March 1944 till wars end.
▪	**** March 1944 is the only time that all three were stationed at Ballykelly together.