Flying Dutchmen

The Flying Dutchmen drum and bugle corps was originally formed in 1930 as the Dunkirk Volunteer Firemen Department Hose Company No. 1.

The corps performed from 1931 to 1958 as a firemen's parade unit, joining the Western New York Volunteer Firemen's association. Awards included the 1952-59 New York State Firemen’s championships and the 1962-63 Southwestern Firemen’s title. In 1956, the Hose Company No. 1 participated in a parade in Washington that included a concert for President Dwight D. Eisenhower. When the President met with members of the group and was told that there were many more units back in Dunkirk, he proclaimed that the city of Dunkirk was the “drum corps capital of the world”.

In 1959, sporting their red, black and white colors, the group entered the field of competition as members of the New York-Pennsylvania circuit, placing 3rd in 1959 and 1961 as well as 2^nd in 1960. The Dunkirk unit sponsored their first annual “Holiday of Music” in 1961 and pursued competition in the NY-PA from 1962 to 1964. In their last 2 years of competition, the Flying Dutchmen competed independently, finishing in 5^th position in the 1965 New York American Legion state championships.

They disbanded in 1967.

Encyclopedia of Drum and Bugle Corps, 1966; Paul Legault (DCX)

CORPS 3 items

Flying Dutchmen

Flying Dutchmen Overseas cap from the Bill Ives Collection

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Flying Dutchmen

Flying Dutchmen Overseas cap from the Bill Ives Collection

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Flying Dutchmen

FlyingDutchmen,Dunkirk,NY,Pin1(BIV-2.0)AA_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection

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