Lot Essay
Sold with the recipient's original Flying Log Book, covering the period December 1939 to November 1943, and one or two wartime photographs.
D.F.M. London Gazette 16.2.1943. Recommendation states 'This N.C.O. has shown exceptional keenness and devotion to duty over a long period of time. He has also shown great ability as a Navigator Radio Operator. By his skill and courage, he has been responsible for the interception at night of five enemy aircraft'.
Warrant Officer Frank William Curtis, D.F.M., joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve about March 1939 as an Airman for Aircrew Training. Called up in September 1939, he completed an Air Gunner's course and was posted to No. 25 Squadron in late May 1940. Subsequently engaged on a number of patrols in the Squadron's Blenheims throughout most of the Battle of Britain, his aircraft was compelled to make a forced-landing at Martlesham Heath on 13.7.1940, the starboard propeller having fallen off over Felixstowe. Curtis remained with No. 25 until June 1942, during which time the Squadron converted to Beaufighters and carried out many intruder operations, his aircraft claiming one Ju. 88 destroyed over Oakham on 9.4.1941.
For much of his time in No. 25, Curtis had flown with Flight Sergeant "Freddie" Shead, and the pair of them embarked on a memorable spate of successes when posted to No. 89 Squadron in North Africa in late July 1942. Initially, however, he flew as a Navigator Radar Operator to an old Etonian, Flying Officer John Etherton, who was shortly to become an Ace and D.F.C. Finally pairing up with Shead in the middle of October 1942, their first victories were notched up following a scramble to intercept an enemy raid on Benghazi on 21.12.1942, a Ju. 88 and an He. 111 falling victim to their guns ('Both flamers'), while a second Ju. 88 was claimed as a 'Probable' - 'Had several holes knocked in our own a./c. by return fire of second Hun' (Curtis' Flying Log Book refers). Other successful encounters followed on the night of 8-9.1.1943, when they brought down an He. 111 ('It took us about 15 minutes to shoot this Hun down. Had contact for 50 miles. 3 bursts. Went down in flames'), and later that month, on the night of 21st 22nd, a Ju. 88. Their final victory, bringing their tally to Ace-status, was another Ju. 88, brought down north of Tripoli on the night of 16-17.3.1943: "He was going all out" commented Shead at a press call, "but I managed to close up to about 100 feet and could clearly recognise a Ju. 88. After a full burst it soon packed up and went down in a steep dive with fuselage blazing. I followed it until I saw it hit the water and explode" (Flying Log Book insert refers).
Awarded the D.F.M. and advanced to Warrant Officer, Curtis continued to fly operationally with Shead until 8.6.1943, on which date their Beaufighter crashed in the desert, seriously injuring his Pilot. Given that Curtis' Flying Log Book contains no further entries, it is more than likely that he too was grounded through wounds.
D.F.M. London Gazette 16.2.1943. Recommendation states 'This N.C.O. has shown exceptional keenness and devotion to duty over a long period of time. He has also shown great ability as a Navigator Radio Operator. By his skill and courage, he has been responsible for the interception at night of five enemy aircraft'.
Warrant Officer Frank William Curtis, D.F.M., joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve about March 1939 as an Airman for Aircrew Training. Called up in September 1939, he completed an Air Gunner's course and was posted to No. 25 Squadron in late May 1940. Subsequently engaged on a number of patrols in the Squadron's Blenheims throughout most of the Battle of Britain, his aircraft was compelled to make a forced-landing at Martlesham Heath on 13.7.1940, the starboard propeller having fallen off over Felixstowe. Curtis remained with No. 25 until June 1942, during which time the Squadron converted to Beaufighters and carried out many intruder operations, his aircraft claiming one Ju. 88 destroyed over Oakham on 9.4.1941.
For much of his time in No. 25, Curtis had flown with Flight Sergeant "Freddie" Shead, and the pair of them embarked on a memorable spate of successes when posted to No. 89 Squadron in North Africa in late July 1942. Initially, however, he flew as a Navigator Radar Operator to an old Etonian, Flying Officer John Etherton, who was shortly to become an Ace and D.F.C. Finally pairing up with Shead in the middle of October 1942, their first victories were notched up following a scramble to intercept an enemy raid on Benghazi on 21.12.1942, a Ju. 88 and an He. 111 falling victim to their guns ('Both flamers'), while a second Ju. 88 was claimed as a 'Probable' - 'Had several holes knocked in our own a./c. by return fire of second Hun' (Curtis' Flying Log Book refers). Other successful encounters followed on the night of 8-9.1.1943, when they brought down an He. 111 ('It took us about 15 minutes to shoot this Hun down. Had contact for 50 miles. 3 bursts. Went down in flames'), and later that month, on the night of 21st 22nd, a Ju. 88. Their final victory, bringing their tally to Ace-status, was another Ju. 88, brought down north of Tripoli on the night of 16-17.3.1943: "He was going all out" commented Shead at a press call, "but I managed to close up to about 100 feet and could clearly recognise a Ju. 88. After a full burst it soon packed up and went down in a steep dive with fuselage blazing. I followed it until I saw it hit the water and explode" (Flying Log Book insert refers).
Awarded the D.F.M. and advanced to Warrant Officer, Curtis continued to fly operationally with Shead until 8.6.1943, on which date their Beaufighter crashed in the desert, seriously injuring his Pilot. Given that Curtis' Flying Log Book contains no further entries, it is more than likely that he too was grounded through wounds.