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Auction: 24002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 257

A fine Second World War night fighter's immediate D.F.M. group of five awarded to Warrant Officer F. W. Curtis, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, a veteran of the Battle of Britain

Having honed his skills as a Navigator / Radio Operator in No. 25 Squadron in the U.K. and helped to down a Ju. 88 over Rutland in April 1941 - Curtis raised himself to ace status with 4 further 'kills' over North Africa in Beaufighters of No. 89 Squadron

Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (746769 F./Sgt. F. W. Curtis, R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star, clasp, Battle of Britain; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, good very fine (5)

Provenance:
Spink, November 2000.

D.F.M. London Gazette 16 February 1943. The original recommendation states:

'This N.C.O. has shown exceptional keenness and devotion to duty over a long period of time. He has shown great ability as a Navigator Radio Operator. By his skill and courage, he has been responsible for the interception at night of 5 enemy aircraft, 4 of which were shot down.'

Frank William Curtis joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve around March 1939 as an airman for aircrew training and, having completed an Air Gunner's course, he joined No. 25 Squadron at Northolt on 25 May 1940. Then equipped with Blenheims - but shortly to convert to Beaufighters - the squadron was allocated to night fighter operations and flew 'X' patrols throughout the Battle of Britain. In addition to supporting convoys, Curtis's flying log book records the loss of his aircraft's starboard propeller over Felixstowe on 13 July 1940 and a forced landing at Martlesham Heath.

He remained actively employed in 25 Squadron until the summer of 1942, flying well over 50 operational sorties. And he vectored his pilot - Flying Officer B. D. Bennett - on to his first 'kill' on the night of 9-10 April 1941, when they downed a Ju. 88 of NJG 2 near Cottesmore in Rutland.

Having latterly teamed-up with Flight Sergeant H. F. W. 'Freddie' Sheard as his pilot, the pair of them were posted to No. 89 Squadron in North Africa. At first, however, Curtis flew as Navigator to old Etonian and ace, John Etherton D.F.C., but he was reunited with Sheard in October 1942 and quickly saw further action, as evidenced by his Flying Log Book entries.

On the night of 21 December 1942, they shot down a Ju. 88 and He. 111 - both flamers - in addition to claiming another Ju. 88 as a probable, but the return fire of the latter knocked several holes in their Beaufighter. Another successful encounter followed on the night of 8-9 January 1943 when they downed an He. 111, his log book entry stating, 'it took us about 15 minutes to shoot this Hun down. Had contact for 50 miles. 3 bursts. Went down in flames'. Again in action on the night of 21-22 January, they had a run-in with two Ju. 88s and claimed hits on one of them.

Finally, on the night of 16-17 March 1943 in a combat north of Tripoli they claimed a confirmed Ju. 88, thereby raising Curtis to ace status:

"He was going all out," commented Sheard in 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 down until I saw it hit the water and explode."

He was awarded the D.F.M. and advanced to Warrant Officer but, in common with Shead, appears to have sustained serious injuries on 8 June 1943 when their Beaufighter crashed in the desert. Curtis died in Colchester in 1983.

Sold together with the recipient's original R.A.F. Flying Log Book, covering the period December 1939-June 1943, together with two wartime photographs and a Squadron 'handout' message regarding the action fought over Tripoli on the 16-17 March 1943.


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Sold for
£9,500

Starting price
£3200