William George Curtin
MilitaryCurtin's Grandson believes the image was taken in 1943. William G Curtin collection
From family memorabilia and research
William G Curtin joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve in 1938, where he trained at Hornchurch, Essex to become a flight controller, working in the operations room. He was stationed at Hornchurch throughout the Battle of Britain, when the station came under attack on at least five occasions. On 17 October 1941 Curtin was commissioned as an Officer and in November of that year began working in the Operations room at Debden first as Deputy Fighter Controller, then Fighter Controller.
No 71 Eagle Squadron was operating from Debden at the time of Curtin's arrival, and were flying 'Circus' and 'Rhubarb' missions. Among Curtin's responsibilities was the daily update of the Operations Records Book (ORB) for these missions.
On 29 September 1942, The Eagle Squadrons were absorbed in the US Army Air Forces and re-designated the 4th Fighter Group. Curtin remained at Debden as part of Headquarters 11 Group, when following the handover RAF presence at Debden began to wind down. After the base was taken over by the Americans, Curtin was one of a small number of personnel who remained in important roles on the base. He stayed at Debden until August 1943, when he was posted to 483GCC, the mobile Operations unit of RAF 83 Group (part of 2nd TAF combined operations unit) and promoted to Squadron Leader.
After Training exercises with 483 GCC he landed in Normandy on D-Day +5 (11th June 1944) and stayed with this unit as it provided air cover and fighter bomber support to the advancing allied armies through France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. He was introduced to Winston Churchill at Bazenville in Normandy on 23rd July 1994, and met King George VI on 11th October 1944 at Erp in Holland. He was based in Northern Germany on VE Day, and shortly afterwards remembered visiting Children who had just been released from the Belsen Concentration camp.
Curtin was present when Eleanor Roosevelt visited the Debden base on 4 November 1942, he celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the RAF on 1 April 1943 and recalled a visit by Princess Marina, the Duchess of Kent on 25 June 1943. Curtin befriended some of the American pilots from the Eagle Squadron and 4th Fighter Group including Colonel Chesley Peterson, Colonel Spiros "Steve" Pisanos, Lieutenant Frank Fink and Frank Smolinsky. He always fondly recalled his time with the Eagles' Squadrons at Debden and the many American friends he made whilst there.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Type Category: Fighter
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron No 121 'Eagle' Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-885172
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 4th Fighter Group 334th Fighter Squadron No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-9983A
- Highest Rank: Major General
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot/Group Commander
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 67th Fighter Wing 4th Fighter Group 334th Fighter Squadron No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-885405
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 335th Fighter Squadron No 121 'Eagle' Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-885174
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
West Ham, Canning Town, London | 15 April 1908 | |
Other Married Kathleen Card |
Green Street, London, UK | 26 December 1935 | |
Other Joined RAF Reserve |
Hornchurch, Greater London, UK | 21 November 1938 - 17 August 1945 | Originally enlisted at rank of Aircraft Hand 2nd Class (AC2). By the end of the war had been promoted to Squadron Leader. |
Other Commissioned |
Cosford, Wolverhampton, Shropshire WV7, UK | 17 October 1941 | Officer Training took place at RAF Cosford |
Other Promoted |
Promoted to Sergeant and Deputy Controller | ||
Based |
Debden | Fighter Controller for Eagle Squadrons | |
Died |
Revisions
Information and research provided by Simon Curtin, who is the Grandson of William Curtin