Interview with John Bagot Curtiss

British officer served as navigator with 578 and 158 Sqdns, No 4 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 6/1944-8/1945; served with 59 Sqdn, Transport Command, RAF during Berlin Airlift in Germany, 1948-1949; served as Air Component Commander with Headquarters Commander-in-Chief Fleet at Northwood, GB during Falkland Islands War, 4/1982-6/1982

REEL 1 Background in London, GB, 1924-1940: family; education; reasons for family move to New Zealand, 1940; attitude of New Zealanders to outbreak of Second World War in Europe. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Air Force in GB, 1942-1943: flying with Oxford University Air Squadron, RAF, 1942-1943; effects of Second World War on University of Oxford, 1942; flying training with No 16 Elementary Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Burnaston, 1943; selection to become navigator; crewing up at No 21 Operational Training Unit, RAF at RAF Enstone; 1943; success of crewing up system; opinion of Vickers Wellington and Handley Page Halifax aircraft; worn out aircraft used by No 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit, RAF at RAF Marston Moor, 1944. Recollections of operations as navigator with 578 Sqdn, No 4 Group, Bomber Command in GB, 6/1944-3/1945: posting to squadron, 6/1944; arrival at RAF Burn; memories of Wing Commander David Wilkinson and his death in aircraft accident; relatively easy introduction to operations with raids on Normandy, France, 6/1944-7/1944; nature of operations to Germany later in 1944; change of pilot in his aircraft. REEL 2 Continues: training accident and lucky escape from aircraft, 1/1945; leaving squadron, 3/1945. Aspects of operations as navigator with 158 Sqdn, No 4 Group, Bomber Command in GB, 3/1945-5/1945: transfer to squadron at RAF Lissett, 3/1945. Recollections of operations as navigator with 578 and 158 Sqdns, No 4 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 1944-1945: account of typical raid on a German city, including use of Gee; question of why German Air Force did not carry out more intruder work; incident of successful German Air Force intruder operations, 3/1944; story illustrating strength of Handley Page Halifax construction; concern of being hit by bombs from other Royal Air Force aircraft during raids; handling of returning bomber crews in GB; question of morale of bomber crews. REEL 3 Continues: opinion of Air Marshal Sir Arthur Harris' leadership; adulation of Air Marshal Sir Arthur Harris in Bomber Command Association after Second World War; post-war memories of Air Marshal Sir Arthur Harris; question of need for bomber offensive in Second World War and what it achieved; Air Marshal Sir Arthur Harris' reprimands for bomber crews who had failed to hit target; story of Air Marshal Sir Arthur Harris' brush with English policeman over speeding; attitude of bomber crews to carrying out tasks; importance of attacks on Dortmund-Ems Canal; gaggle formation used on bomber operations; daylight raids with escorting fighter aircraft on Germany, 1944-1945; disposal of surplus bombs in North Sea, whilst with 158 Sqdn; scrapping of Handley Page Halifax aircraft, summer 1945; duties ferrying British Army and British Indian Army troops to India, 1945. Recollections of period as navigator with 59 Sqdn, Transport Command, RAF during Berlin Airlift in Germany, 1948-1949: flying Avro York from RAF Wunstorf to RAF Gatow; use of Eureka Beacons; organisation of airlift. REEL 4 Continues: servicing aircraft; success of airlift and gratitude of Germans; personalities who played key role to success of airlift; different types of aircraft used during airlift; method of handling aircraft stream on landing at RAF Gatow. Recollections of period as Air Component Commander with Headquarters, Commander-in-Chief Fleet at Northwood in GB during Falklands War, 4/1982-6/1982: role planning Royal Air Force's use of resources; command structure; problem of range of aircraft; importance of Ascension Island; conversion of Hawker Sidderley Nimrod MR.2 to in-flight refuelling aircraft; role of 1 Sqdn, RAF Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.1 aircraft as back up for Fleet Air Arm British Aerospace Sea Harrier aircraft; use of Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft; attacks on Stanley Aircraft and problems of putting it out of action. REEL 5 Continues: logistics of Avro Vulcan attacks on Stanley Airfield; problems of using Ascension Island as staging post; question of defence of Ascension Island; ingenuity required in thwarting possibility of Argentinean offensive action; relations between Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm; opinion of Air Vice-Marshal George Chesworth's role in Operation Blackbuck; aspects of co-operation with United States of America during Falklands War including communications, torpedoes and making Ascension Island airstrip available.