Air Marshal Sir John Curtiss KCB KBE (deceased)

John Curtiss trained as a navigator in RAF Bomber Command. He joined his first operational squadron - He flew bombing operations over Germany with Nos 578 and 158 Squadrons, flying the Halifax. He joined the air transport force and in 1949 was promoted to be a flight commander on a York squadron, he flew more than 260 missions into blockaded Berlin during the 1948–49 airlift. In 1953 Curtiss converted to a night-fighter role and flew in Meteor and Javelin aircraft with Nos 29 and 5 Squadrons, the latter providing a quick reaction alert force in Germany. After commanding the operations wing at RAF Wittering, the home of Victor bomber squadrons equipped with the Blue Steel nuclear missile, he returned to Germany as the station commander at Bruggen, the RAF’s largest operational base. Curtiss managed the introduction of four Phantom strike/attack squadrons to the base where he flew with the units, Sir John held many high ranking posts in the RAF, in 1980, he was promoted to air marshal and appointed AOC No 18 Group and Nato Commander Maritime Air Forces, Eastern Atlantic and the Channel, not expecting to find himself commanding air operations “out of area” during his final appointment in the RAF and was Air Commander Falklands Operations in 1982. he coordinated British air assets, including Vulcan bombers flying long-range raids from Ascension Island. His leadership earned him a knighthood, followed by a second, making him one of the few officers to hold both the KBE and KCB. He retired a year later in 1983. Air Marshal Sir John Curtiss KCB KBE passed away on 14 September 2013, aged 88 at his Milford-on-Sea home

Items Signed by Air Marshal Sir John Curtiss KCB KBE (deceased)

Packs with at least one item featuring the signature of Air Marshal Sir John Curtiss KCB KBE (deceased)