A Colchester man has unravelled the secrets of a special military squadron and dedicated a website to it.

Ron McKeon, of Greenstead, was researching his family tree when he uncovered details about his uncle Edmund Hurst.

All his family had known was that Sgt Hurst had died during a bombing mission in the Second World War. They thought he was an RAF mechanic and could not understand why he was flying.

However, Mr McKeon discovered that his uncle was a member of a top secret 624 (Special Duties) Squadron based in Blida, Algeria, from 1943-44, dropping agents and supplies behind enemy lines.

He also traced former members of the squadron and has now set up a website honouring them.

Mr McKeon said: "They are grateful at long last someone is doing something to recognise what they did."

Mr McKeon has been invited to a reunion with the squadron in June.

The site address is: http://members.xoom.com_XMCM/ronmckeon/624squadron.htm

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