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SiRJohnCurtiss

A veteran interview with

John Curtiss

Like many men on the Berlin Airlift, Sir John Curtiss had bombed Germany during WWII.  Sir John passed away on the 14th September, 2013.

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About John Curtiss

Air Marshal Sir John Curtiss recounts his 41 year military career, beginning with his enlistment in the RAF in 1942 at 17, his service in Bomber Command during the war, and during the Berlin Airlift after. Sir John finishes by reflecting on the Falklands War and his role commanding operations.

Sir John initially trained as a navigator, eventually becoming the first navigator to achieve the rank of Air Marshal. He describes his experiences flying with various crews and surviving dangerous missions, including a harrowing incident where a bomb fell through their aircraft!

After the war, Sir John moved to Transport Command, where he was redirected from a mission to Singapore to participate in the Berlin Airlift, completing around 263 return trips to Berlin. He highlights the significance of the airlift, and talks proudly about his role in providing essential supplies to the people of Berlin.

Sir John’s career continued to evolve, involving training navigators, serving as a fighter controller, the Ministry of Defence, and eventually commanding operations during the Falklands War as an Air Vice-Marshal. He reflects the heightened stress of leadership where he says he felt the stress of “sending people out, possibly to die”.

Throughout his story Sir John talks proudly about his service, expressing a sense of fulfillment and pride in his contributions.

Credits


Reviewed by:
Mark Mason

Transcripts:
Please note that transcripts and closed captions in the video player are automatically generated by Vimeo.

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Home | Veterans | John Curtiss

A veteran interview with

John Curtiss

SiRJohnCurtiss

Like many men on the Berlin Airlift, Sir John Curtiss had bombed Germany during WWII.  Sir John passed away on the 14th September, 2013.

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https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/john-curtiss/

Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Curtiss, John. A Veteran Interview with John Curtiss. Interview by Unknown. Legasee, 10 Jun. 2012 https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/john-curtiss/. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.
APA Style:
Curtiss, J. (2012, June 10). A Veteran Interview with John Curtiss [Interview by Unknown]. Legasee. Retrieved September 10, 2026, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/john-curtiss/
Chicago Style:
Curtiss, John. 2012. A Veteran Interview with John Curtiss. Interview by Unknown. Legasee, June 10. Accessed September 10, 2026. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/john-curtiss/
Harvard Style:
Curtiss, J. (2012). A Veteran Interview with John Curtiss. [Interviewed by Unknown]. Legasee, 10 June. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/john-curtiss/ (Accessed: 10 September 2026)
Vancouver Style:
Curtiss, J. A Veteran Interview with John Curtiss [Internet]. Interview by Unknown. Legasee; 2012 Jun 10 [cited 2026 Sep 10]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/john-curtiss/
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