Air Marshal Sir John Curtiss: From Bomber Command to the Falklands War

Milford on Sea has had more than its fair share of notable residents, one of the most recent was Air Marshal Sir John Curtiss who was Air Commander of the British forces involved in the Falklands War. 

In his later year's, Sir John, or to give him his full title: Air Marshal Sir John Bagot Curtiss, KCB, KBE, FRAeS, lived in Milford on Sea and sadly passed away on the 14th September 2013.

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Sir John's long and distinguished career in the RAF from WW2 to The Falklands War has been captured in six fascinating short films highlighting his career.

The films were made by Legasee Veterans Video Archive interviewing Sir John a few years ago.

 

Please click image to view
videos of Sir John discussing his career

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About Sir John Curtiss 

Sir John's career was as a senior Royal Air Force officer. He served in Bomber Command during the Second World War and was Air Commander of the British forces involved in the Falklands War. He was also the first navigator to reach the three-star rank of air marshal.

Air Marshal Sir John Curtiss (2nd Right)
Service chiefs briefing during the Falklands War 

Born on 6th December 1924 in England with a mother from New Zealand, and father from Australia. His parents moved to England in 1914 after his father fought in World War One with the Royal Flying Corps.

Sir John's early public school education was in both in the UK and New Zealand. In 1942, he attended a university short course at Worcester College, Oxford in preparation for joining the Royal Air Force, and he was a member of the Oxford University Air Squadron from 1942 to 1943.

Photo from The Telegraph

He began pilot training in April 1943 and learnt to fly the Tiger Moth. He was passed over during pilot selection, and became a navigator. From 1944 to 1945, he flew with Bomber Command, and shortly after the Normandy landings undertook attacks on retreating German forces.

After the war Curtis served with Fighter Command before being appointed a Director at the RAF Staff College, Bracknell in 1967, this was followed by serval senior positions.

His final posting was as Air Component Commander during the Falklands War. He retired in 1983.

After retiring form the RAF, he was director and chief executive of Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC) from 1984 to 1989, and secretary of the Defence Industries Council from 1985 to 1989. Through his work with the SBAC, he was involved in planning the Farnborough Air Show.

In September 1989, on the 50th Anniversary of the declaration of War, Air Marshal Sir John Curtiss unveiled the Royal Air Force, Commonwealth and Allied Air Forces Monument on Plymouth Hoe.

The monument is dedicated to those men and women who served during the Second World War, both in the air and on the ground, and it is the only international air monument in the world.

Among the several hundred RAF veterans who paraded that day were representatives from seventeen countries, including the USA, the USSR, Poland, Czechoslovakia, the Netherlands, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Picture from
BBC Radio 4 Interview with his son, Peter

To read more of Sir John Curtiss' distinguished career, please click here.

Sir John's Obituary in The Independent, please click here.

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Famous residents of Milford on Sea, please click here.