|
|
| (4 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) |
| Line 12: |
Line 12: |
|
| |
|
| http://westmounthistorical.org/archives/ | | http://westmounthistorical.org/archives/ |
|
| |
|
| |
| He served in the 434 Squadron
| |
|
| |
| http://rcafassociation.ca/?s=neill+currie
| |
|
| |
| http://www.bombercommandmuseum.ca/squadron_434.html
| |
|
| |
| https://www.facebook.com/groups/1502826299947809/about/
| |
|
| |
| http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RCAF/434_wwII.html
| |
|
| |
| No.434 "Bluenose" Squadron was a RCAF heavy bomber squadron, formed in June 1943 as part of No.6 (RCAF) Group. It was named after the schooner "Bluenose", a successful racing ship and fishing boat, which became a symbol of Nova Scotia.
| |
|
| |
| The squadron operated the Handley Page Halifax from 12 August 1943-18 December 1944, and the Avro Lancaster from 24 December 1945 until the end of the war. Originally the squadron converted to the Canadian-built Lancaster B.Mk X, but this was soon supplemented by a number of Lancaster B.Mk Is. The squadron returned to Canada in June 1945, and was disbanded on 5 September 1945 after the Japanese surrender.
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| Royal Canadian Air Force Squadron 434 was under the No. 6 Group RCAF. The group operated out of airfields in Yorkshire, England from 1943 to 1945. At the peak of its strength, No. 6 Group consisted of 14 squadrons.
| |
|
| |
| He was in crew #103 of 178, flying 33 sorties between June and October 1944.
| |
|
| |
| His whole crew was awarded the distinguished flying cross.
| |
|
| |
| Flying Officer Neill Edward Currie
| |
| Flying Officer James French "Jim" Vipond [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Vipond]
| |
| Flying Officer C.D. Rae
| |
| Flying Officer W.J. Knapp
| |
| Sergeant G.A. Leach
| |
| Petty Officer L.B. Johnston
| |
| Sergeant G.E.J. Boyd
| |
|
| |
| In total, 4,460 Distinguished Flying Crosses have been awarded to Canadians, plus 256 first bars and 6 second bars (see below). [http://forvalour.patternhosting.com/english/distinguished-flying-cross-eng.html]
| |
|
| |
| In squadron 434 347 people died over 2582 sorties, with 75 aircraft lost. So each sortie had a % chance of losing the plane of 2.90%.
| |
|
| |
| The probability of surviving intact across 33 sorties was 37.86%.
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| CURRIE, F/O Neill Edward (J25296) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.434 Squadron (crew 103) - Award effective 5 April 1945 as per London Gazette dated 13 April 1945 and AFRO 824/45 dated 18 May 1945. Born 1921 in Port Arthur, Ontario; home in Starbuck, Manitoba (bookkeeper, former COTC); enlisted in Winnipeg, 20 February 1942. Trained at No.2 ITS (graduated 12 September 1942), No.15 EFTS (graduated 4 December 1942) and No.12 SFTS (graduated 16 April 1943). Commissioned April 1943. No citation other than "completed...numerous operations against the enemy in the course of which [he has] invariably displayed the utmost courage and devotion to duty." DHist file 181.009 D.3260 (RG.24 Vol.20637) has recommendation dated 10 December 1944 when he had flown 33 sorties (167 hours 40 minutes), 21 June to 28 October 1944.
| |
|
| |
| Sortie list says his aircraft was holed by flak (25 June, Gorenflos), met fighters over Hamburg (28 July), and was badly holed by flak again (Sterkrade, 27 September).
| |
|
| |
| This officer has completed a tour of operations including attacks on such targets as Hamburg, Stuttgart, Emden, and centres in the Ruhr area. He has at all times displayed the greatest determination and tenacity. On more than one occasion his aircraft has been damaged whilst in the target area but this has not deterred him from pressing home the attack. He is a highly skilled and courageous pilot whose example is worthy of emulation by other members of the squadron.
| |
|
| |
| The sortie list was as follows: (33 sorties total)
| |
|
| |
| 21 June 1944 - Oismemont (4.10, second pilot)
| |
| 24 June 1944 - Bonnetot (3.50)
| |
| 25 June 1944 - Gorenflos (4.10, holed by flak)
| |
| 27 June 1944 - Wizernes (3.50)
| |
| 1 July 1944 - Biennais (4.15)
| |
| 4 July 1944 - Biennais (3.55)
| |
| 18 July 1944 - Caen (4.50)
| |
| 18 July 1944 - Vaires (3.50)
| |
| 20 July 1944 - Anderbelck (4.00)
| |
| 23 July 1944 - St. Nazaire (5.55)
| |
| 25 July 1944 - Stuttgart (8.20) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Stuttgart_in_World_War_II]
| |
| "Subsequently, the Allied air forces struck Stuttgart four times between 25–29 July, dropping some 73,000 bombs on the city."
| |
|
| |
| 28 July 1944 - Hamburg (5.45, fighters)
| |
| 3 August 1944 - Foret de Nieppe (4.05)
| |
| 4 August 1944 - Bois de Casson (5.05)
| |
| 7 August 1944 - La Hogue (4.50)
| |
| 9 August 1944 - La Breteque (4.25)
| |
| 12 August 1944 - La Neuville (4.15)
| |
| 14 August 1944 - Falaise (4.45)
| |
| 15 August 1944 - Soesterburg (3.30)
| |
| 16 August 1944 - Kiel (5.05)
| |
| 18 August 1944 - Bremen (5.45)
| |
| 6 September 1944 - Emden (4.10)
| |
| 10 September 1944 - Le Havre (4.30)
| |
| 11 September 1944 - Castrop Rauxel (5.15, bags of flak)
| |
| 15 September 1944 - Kiel (6.15)
| |
| 27 September 1944 - Sterkrade (5.20, badly holed by flak)
| |
| 6 October 1944 - Dortmund (6.40)
| |
| 9 October 1944 - Bochum (6.55)
| |
| 14 October 1944 - Duisburg (6.00)
| |
| 14 October 1944 - Duisburg (6.35)
| |
| 23 October 1944 - Essen (5.55)
| |
| 25 October 1944 - Hamburg (5.25) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Hamburg_in_World_War_II]
| |
| target: oil refineries
| |
| Mission 688: 455 B-17s dispatched to hit the Harburg (221, including those of the 447th BG)and Rhenania oil refineries (214) at Hamburg. 297 B-17s dispatched to hit the primary hit secondaries, Harburg (179) and Rhenania oil refineries (106) at Hamburg.(cloud cover limited accuracy, devastigation of Harburg city
| |
| 28 October 1944 - Cologne (6.05)
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| http://www.dfcsociety.net/society-history/ | | http://www.dfcsociety.net/society-history/ |
Some ideas:
Interview the former Mayor of Westmount, who lauded Neill
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Trent
Here are all his columns:
https://www.westmount.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/OurMayorSays_1991_2001_13711.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westmount_Examiner
In 1984 there was a profile on Neill Currie in "The Examiner", which presumably means The Westmount Examiner. I have contacted their historical society to see if we can get a copy:
http://westmounthistorical.org/archives/
http://www.dfcsociety.net/society-history/