Air Force Career of Neill Currie
The Air Force Career of Flying Officer Neill Edward Currie (service number J25296) began when he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) on 20 February 1942 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He completed a distinguished tour of duty overseas in 1944. He also trained pilots from September 1947 to January 1949.
In 1945, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, which only about 1% of RCAF men received.
His only combat tour was from June to October 1944, during which time he flew 33 sorties, bombing various targets in France and Germany with the other six members of crew 103 of squadron 434 of group 6 of the RCAF; such a tour of duty had a survival chance of 37.86% based on squadron 434's total plane loss rate.
Training
Currie enlisted in Winnipeg, 20 February 1942. He trained at No.2 ITS (graduated 12 September 1942), No.15 EFTS (graduated 4 December 1942) and No.12 SFTS (graduated 16 April 1943).
Currie was commissioned April 1943 with service number J25296.
Service Overseas
Currie served overseas on a bomber crew in active service from June to October 1944.
Three thousand miles across a hunted ocean they came, wearing on the shoulder of their tunics the treasured name, "Canada," telling the world their origin. Young men and women they were, some still in their teens, fashioned by their Maker to love, not to kill, but proud and earnest in their mission to stand, and if it had to be, to die, for their country and for freedom. One day, when the history of the twentieth century is finally written, it will be recorded that when human society stood at the crossroads and civilization itself was under siege, the Royal Canadian Air Force was there to fill the breach and help give humanity the victory. And all those who had a part in it will have left to posterity a legacy of honour, of courage, and of valour that time can never despoil.
— from a speech by Father J.P. Lardie, Chaplain 419, 428 Squadron, at the dedication of the RCAF Memorial at Middleton St. George, 15 June 1985
He was in crew #103 of Squadron 434 ("Bluenose"), of No.6 Group Bomber Command of the RCAF.
[The Lancaster Bomber crews'] contribution to peace in Europe has often gone unsung and has sometimes been denigrated; yet it was a major contribution to that final victory.
For the bomber offensive had opened up a second front of vast complexity over the skies of Germany, long before the allies could gather the resources and build up the overwhelming superiority required for the invasion of Europe.
The blood, sweat, and tears they shed and the dangers and sacrifies they faced to humble the Nazi war machine must never be forgotten."
— Air Chief Marshall, Sir Michael Beetham, Chief of the Air Staff, Royal Air Force [sourced from Ted Currie, Muskoka Today, 5-16 May 1995]
Lancaster men remember when... Remember the Lancaster, forget not the men.
Like its contemporary, the Spitfire, the Lancaster became a legend in its own lifetime. Since World War II the legend has continued to grow, fostered by nostalgia and the memories of the men who flew and serviced the aircraft.
Inevitable, the legend has its element of myth. The Lancaster was, after all, particularly devastating in warfare. All too often its role was 'nasty, brutish - and short,' and yet, the legend remains, the stories prolifeate and photographs abound."
— Lancaster at War 2 by Mike Garbett and Brian Goulding, sourced from Ted Currie's article in Muskoka Today, 5-16 May 1995
Crew 103
Currie was in crew #103 of 178 in Squadron 434. Together they flew 33 sorties between June and October 1944. From 21 June to 28 October 1944, crew 103 flew 33 sorties totalling 167 hours and 40 minutes' flight time in Europe.
According to a photo of rear gunner Les Johnston they flew an Avro Lancaster, but for some missions it is possible they flew the new Halifax Mark III planes that had just arrived at the Squadron in May 1944. [2]
Within this crew, at least Currie and Flying Officer Jim Vipond were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
| Role | Rank | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot | Flying Officer | Neill Edward Currie | Awarded D.F.C. (24 June 1921 – 11 January 1995) |
| Navigator | Flight Lieutenant / Flying Officer | James French "Jim" Vipond | Awarded D.F.C. Later became an award-winning sports journalist for the Globe and Mail. (11 July 1911 - 4 December 1989) |
| Flight Engineer | Sergeant | G.E.J. Boyd | From Westlock, Alberta. |
| Mid gunner | Sergeant | G.A. Leach | |
| Rear gunner | Petty Officer | Lester Burton "Les" Johnston | From Muskoka, Ontario. Died 18 October 1983. |
| Wireless operator or Bomb aimer | Flying Officer | C.D. Rae | |
| Flying Officer | W.J. Knapp |
Yes it was my father [Les Johnston] that served with Neill Currie and I can tell you he thought very highly of him and all the other crew. He told me they were like brothers to him and felt he was lucky having served with them and having them as his fellow crew. My father didn't talk very much about his time overseas during the war, but as he got older, I was able to get [to] talk to him regarding this. Unfortunately he passed away [on 18 October 1983] before I could talk to him again, and the only picture I have of him is of him standing at his turret holding the machine guns he used, and the plane was a Lancaster bomber. It's funny because in the picture, my dad's hair is dark, but when he came home my mom told me it had turned mostly white. I still have the medals he received and requested and got from [the Department] of Defense all his war time records, from when he was in training out on east coast to when he went over seas and returned. Dad [Les Johnston] grew up near Huntsville Ontario in a small little farming community called Utterson Ontario where my grandparents ( dad's parents ) had a small farm. He didn't train out West but was sent to the east coast somewhere around Halifax Nova Scotia if I remember correctly. I have Dad's military records but their with my nephew right now who also has taken a great interest in his Poppa's war experience and Bryan writes for a living and the two of us hope to write a book regarding dad's war experience. When dad did talk to me about the war he did talk about his crew mates, and did mention that he and the other crew had great trust in your great uncle as their pilot plus because of the chance they wouldn't come back grew to be like brothers and love each other like brothers. Dad said that they always felt with your great-uncle [Neill Currie]] flying as pilot that they'd get home and they did some 33 times, which was quite amazing. No, my dad never mentioned anything about the actual raids they went on or what [happened] during them, something I wish we could have talked about but I never pushed when I felt it was a subject he didn't want to discuss. I know he was close to his crew during the time he was overseas as they went [through] so much.
— Michael Burton "Mike" Johnston, son of Les Burton Johston, rear gunner in crew 103 with Currie. Email conversation with Michael Currie, 24 October 2018
Return home
In December 1944 he received citations for his efforts:
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.
— Military Superior, 10 December 1944
completed...numerous operations against the enemy in the course of which [he has] invariably displayed the utmost courage and devotion to duty.
— Recommendation, 10 December 1944
He was back in Winnipeg for Christmas 1944, arriving 20 December. He was photographed for the Winnipeg Free Press front page, published 21 December 1944.
Bluenose Squadron 434 "Bluenose"
Currie's crew was a part of the Bluenose Squadron of 1,300 men stationed in northeast England.
The Number 434 "Bluenose" Squadron was a Royal Canadian Air Force heavy bomber squadron, formed in June 1943 as part of the Royal Canadian Air Force Number 6 Group. It was named after an old name for Haligonians, and so it fittingly took its emblem from 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 1944 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.
From Les Johnston's biography above it does appear that Currie's crew 103 did fly the Lancaster, however. These sources appear to conflict but the photograph of Les Johnstone does appear to be definitive evidence they flew the Lancaster, not the Halifax.
Neill's commanding officers in the Bluenose squadron, which had about 1,300 men total, were
Wing Commander Frank H. Watkins (1915-2006) (13 June 1944 - 29 August 1944), [3]
and
Wing Commander A. P. Blackburn (30 August 1944 - 7 April 1945) [4]
Royal Air Force Number 6 Bomber Group
The Number 6 (RCAF) Bomber Group [5] of the Royal Air Force's Bomber Command [6] was a unique bomber group, run by the RCAF. The other groups 1 to 5 and 8 were Royal Air Force bomber groups. Other RAF groups numbered all the way up to 200, but they were not bomber groups.
Number 6 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, with about 21,000 men, which was about 10% of total RCAF strength.
Statistics
During the Second World War, the Distinguished Flying Cross was awarded: 4,018 to Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), plus 213 first bars and six second bars.
The entire 434th squadron flew 2582 sorties in WW2; Uncle Neill flew in 33 of those. "Unit personnel received six bars to the Distinguished Flying Cross."
In total, 4,460 Distinguished Flying Crosses have been awarded to Canadians, plus 256 first bars and 6 second bars (see below). [7]
Since peak RCAF strength was 215,000 in January 1944, and probably double this actually served over the course of the way, only about 1% of RCAF men were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross!
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%.
This is consistent with the statement: 1374 airmen volunteered for this squadron, tragically 347 made the ultimate sacrifice, their pictures and written memories are numerous. (25% death rate) [8]
No. 6 group flew a total of 40,822 sorties during the war, so squadron 434 was 6.3% of the total for No. 6 group. [9]
Since there were 1,300 men in this squadron, group 6 likely had about 21,000 men. Total RCAF strength at its peak was 215,000 in January 1944. [10]
13,000 men died, making the probability of death 6% as a % of peak strength January 1944, but high turnover probably brings this % down to at least just the 3% experienced by squadron 434, and likely even lower.
Neill Edward Currie, Military Timeline
| Date | Time | Sortie | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 February 1942 | Enlisted in Winnipeg at Number 2 British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP)
"Trainees like Currie began their military careers at a Manning Depot where they learned to bathe, shave, shine boots, polish buttons, maintain their uniforms, and otherwise behave in the required manner. There were two hours of physical education every day and instruction in marching, rifle drill, foot drill, saluting, and other routines. After four or five weeks, a selection committee decided whether the trainee would be placed in the aircrew or groundcrew stream. Aircrew "Wireless Air Gunner" candidates went directly to a Wireless School. "Air Observer" and "Pilot" aircrew candidates went to an Initial Training School." | ||
| 12 September 1942 | Graduated in Regina from Number 2 Initial Training School (ITS) (4 weeks) | ||
| 4 December 1942 | Graduated in Regina from Number 15 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS) (8 weeks) | ||
| 16 April 1943 | Graduated in Brandon, Manitoba, from Number 12 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) (16 weeks) | ||
| April 1943 | Commissioned | ||
| 21 June 1944 | 04:10 | 1 | Oismemont, France (Currie was second pilot) |
| 24 June 1944 | 03:50 | 2 | Bonnetot |
| 25 June 1944 | 04:10 | 3 | Gorenflos (holed by flak) |
| 27 June 1944 | 03:50 | 4 | Wizernes |
| 1 July 1944 | 04:15 | 5 | Biennais |
| 4 July 1944 | 03:55 | 6 | Biennais |
| 18 July 1944 | 04:50 | 7 | Caen |
| 18 July 1944 | 03:50 | 8 | Vaires |
| 20 July 1944 | 04:00 | 9 | Anderbelck |
| 23 July 1944 | 05:55 | 10 | St. Nazaire |
| 25 July 1944 | 08:20 | 11 | Stuttgart
[11] "Subsequently, the Allied air forces struck Stuttgart four times between 25–29 July, dropping some 73,000 bombs on the city." |
| 28 July 1944 | 05:45 | 12 | Hamburg (fighters) |
| 3 August 1944 | 04:05 | 13 | Foret de Nieppe |
| 4 August 1944 | 05.05 | 14 | Bois de Casson |
| 7 August 1944 | 04:50 | 15 | La Hogue |
| 9 August 1944 | 04:25 | 16 | La Breteque |
| 12 August 1944 | 04:15 | 17 | La Neuville |
| 14 August 1944 | 04:45 | 18 | Falaise |
| 15 August 1944 | 03:30 | 19 | Soesterburg |
| 16 August 1944 | 05:05 | 20 | Kiel (RCAF photo PL-31958 (ex UK-14212 dated 24 August 1944) shows Sergeant G.E.J. Boyd (Westlock, Alberta) on left and F/O N.E. Currie (Winnipeg) on return from raid on Kiel. 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.") |
| 18 August 1944 | 05:45 | 21 | Bremen |
| 6 September 1944 | 04:10 | 22 | Emden |
| 10 September 1944 | 04:30 | 23 | Le Havre |
| 11 September 1944 | 05:15 | 24 | Castrop Rauxel (bags of flak) |
| 15 September 1944 | 06:15 | 25 | Kiel |
| 27 September 1944 | 05:20 | 26 | Sterkrade (badly holed by flak) |
| 6 October 1944 | 06:40 | 27 | Dortmund |
| 9 October 1944 | 06:55 | 28 | Bochum |
| 14 October 1944 | 06:00 | 29 | Duisburg |
| 14 October 1944 | 06:35 | 30 | Duisburg |
| 23 October 1944 | 05:55 | 31 | Essen |
| 25 October 1944 | 05:25 | 32 | Hamburg. Target: oil refineries [12] 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 | 06:05 | 33 | Cologne |
| 8 December 1944 | Repatriated to Canada | ||
| 10 December 1944 | Recommendation for "completed...numerous operations against the enemy in the course of which [he has] invariably displayed the utmost courage and devotion to duty." | ||
| 20 December 1944 | Repatriation complete, arrived at Number 2 Air Command in Winnipeg. Arrived in Winnipeg from overseas on CPR and CNR rail lines. Met Doug Currie and Alan Currie, photographed for Winnipeg Free Press front page, 21 December 1944. | ||
| 20 March 1945 | To Number 5 Release Centre, Winnipeg [13] | ||
| 26 March 1945 | Released from military service | ||
| 5 April 1945 | Distinguished flying cross award effective date as per London Gazette dated 13 April 1945. | ||
| 16 September 1947 | Start RCAF service again; teaching pilots. | ||
| 27 January 1949 | RCAF service stops for second and final time. |
Awards
Neill Currie served with distinction during the war, being awarded the following medals, in the order in which they are to be worn:
- Distinguished Flying Cross (no bars)
- 1939-45 Star
- France and Germany Star
- Defence Medal
- Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (Worn with marching figures to the front. With a bar for 60 days outside of Canada)
- War Medal 1939-45
Currie bequeathed his medals to his nephew and fellow RCAF pilot Allan Currie, who as of 2019 still has them in his possession.
Sources
Supplement to the London Gazette, 13 April 1945
DHist file 181.009 D.3260 (RG.24 Vol.20637)
http://www.dfcsociety.net/society-history/
http://www.bombercommandmuseum.ca/squadron_434.html
http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/medals-decorations/details/46
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._434_Squadron_RCAF
http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/medals-decorations/details/46