The highly emotive Distinguished Flying Medal group to PO Curtis / one of the youngest RAF sergeants to be awarded the DFM

GVI Distinguished Flying Medal. Correctly engraved 552463. Sgt. B.A. Curtis. R.A.F

1939 to 45 Star

Aircrew Europe Star

Defence Medal

War Medal

 

Condolence Slip and box of issue.

 

Condition GVF+

 

Basil Arthur Curtis was born in July 1921 in Yorkshire. He was to join 51 Squadron RAF. As a unit in Bomber Command, the Squadron made the first operational mission of the war on 3 September 1939 when 3 aircraft left Leconfield to drop leaflets over Hamburg, Bremen and the Ruhr. The Squadron also made the first reconnaissance flights over Germany and took part in the first British air raid of the war on 19 March 1940 when the seaplane base at Hornum and Sylt were attacked. The Squadron was also involved in the first attack on Italy when, on the night of 11 June 1940, the marshalling yards in Turin were the target. It was an action on the previous day that Sergeant Curtis was awarded the DFM aged 18. The crew of this 51 Squadron aircraft were tasked with flying an operational flight to attack road and rail communications in the Doullens area of Northern France. The aircraft took off from Dishforth at 21.35hrs and sustained flak damage to the tail of the aircraft. The rear gunner sustained injuries to the arm and neck in the flak burst. On their return to England, the aircraft was landed at Bircham Newton so that the rear gunner could be removed from the aircraft and receive hospital treatment. The remaining four crew then appear to have given the damage a quick check, and with none of the controls damaged, they resumed the flight to Dishforth, where they landed at 05.40hrs. The Pilot of Whitley N414 was to become one of the most highly decorated RAF officers of the war "Willie" Tait was involved in a number of minor mishaps during the early part of the War while he was stationed in Yorkshire. He became G/C Tait DSO and 3 Bars, DFC and Bar. The crew consisted of: Pilot - F/Lt James Brian Tait RAF (33291). Pilot (Navigator) - P/O Peter Gascoyne Brodie RAF (41662). Observer - Sgt Alfred Adair Griffin RAF (514579). Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Basil Arthur Curtis RAF (552463). Rear Gunner - Sgt Robertson Walker McNeil RAF (620473). Injured. By the end of 1940, Tait was to become commanding officer of 51 Squadron. 51 Squadron were to retain the Armstrong Whitley until late 1942.

 

The award of the DFM was gazetted on 22nd Ocotber 1940 the citation is as follows;

 

This N.C.O. has now completed 38 Operational sorties, either as a rear gunner or Wireless Operator. He has always shown great courage and set a good example to other gunners'. 

 

 

The Squadron was selected in 1941 to pioneer the dropping of troops by parachute and took part in the parachute attack at Trigino in Italy. 51 Squadron provided the air assets for Operation Biting, the legendary Bruneval Raid, transporting the 120 members of the Airborne forces who were evacuated by MTB’s after the raid. Leading the squadron on the raid was Wing Commander PC Pickard, Pickard was already somewhat of a celebrity as the Pilot of F for Freddie in the film Target for Tonight, whilst a Squadron Leader in 149 Squadron. Sadly he would be killed leading Operation Jericho, the Amiens Raid. In May 1942 the Squadron was transferred to Coastal Command for patrol duties against the U-Boats in the Bay Of Biscay returning to Bomber Command in October 1942 preceded the re-equipment with the Halifax at Snaith.

 

Curtis was promoted to Flying Officer and transferred to 196 Squadron. He was killed on April 29th 1943. Shot Down By A Bf110 Night Fighter At Over Jersdal Southwest of Haderslev During A Mine Laying Sortie to Kiel Bay