Reginald Richard Curtis
Born 31 Aug 1921 - Died 10 May 1944
- Service number
- WWII NZ413252 AWMM
- WWII 413252 AWMM
- Also known as
- R. R. Curtis AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Last rank
- Warrant Officer AWMM Royal New Zealand Air Force, No. 30 Squadron AWMM
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
About
- Title
- —
- Forenames
- Reginald Richard AWMM
- Surname
- Curtis AWMM
- Ingoa
- —
- Also known as
- R. R. Curtis AWMM
- Service number
- WWII NZ413252 AWMM
- WWII 413252 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
- —
- Religion
- —
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 31 Aug 1921 AWMM
Karamea, Nelson, New Zealand AWMM - Date of birth
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- Place of birth
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- Birth notes
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- Address before enlistment
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- Post war occupation
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- Next of kin
- WW2 Mrs C.J. Curtis (mother), North Beach, Westport, New Zealand AWMM
- WW2 Mother: Mrs. C. J. Curtis of Westport North Beach, Westport AWMM
- Relationship status
- Single/WWII AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
- Pacific Theatre of War AWMM
- Pacific Theatre of War AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Service number
- WWII NZ413252 AWMM
- WWII 413252 AWMM
- Military service
- —
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
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Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- 1 Wireless School, Montreal Canada AWMM
- 1 Bombing and Gunnery School, Jarvis, Ontario, Canada AWMM
- US Naval Airo Operational Training Unit, Jacksonville, Florida AWMM
- British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 1 Wireless School, Montreal, Quebec, Canada AWMM
Course 1: Class 24A. Graduation Date: 2/03/1942. AWMM - British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 1 Bombing and Gunnery School, Jarvis, Ontario, Canada AWMM
- Branch Trade Proficiency
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- Enlistment
- WW2 Jun 1941 AWMM Labourer/Civilian AWMM
- Age on enlistment
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- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Vessel was Dominion Monarch AWMM Royal New Zealand Air Force AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
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- Days interned
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- Liberation date
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- POW liberation details
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- Liberation Repatriation
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- POW serial number
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Medical history
- Medical notes
- Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- Warrant Officer AWMM
Royal New Zealand Air Force, No. 30 Squadron AWMM - Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Reginald Curtis was the son of Charles John and Edith Marion Curtis, of Hamilton.
Reginald Curtis gained his Proficiency in Neslon before going to Westport Technical High School, where he palyed football and cricket. From 1938 until his enlistment in 1941 he was employed on bridge building by the Public Works Department. Prior to his enlistment at Levin on 28 June 1941 he worked through the pre-entry course.
He embarked for Canada and trained at No 1 Wireless School in Montreal. He was then posted to No 1 Bombing and Gunners School, Jarvis, Ontario where he gained his Air Gunners badge and promotion to Sergeant on 2 April 1942. In June Sergeant Curtis returned to New Zealand and in July was posted to No 5 Bombing ..Squadron, Nausori, where he flew as Wireless Air Gunner in Vincents on convoys and anti submarine patrols. Sergeant Curtis did a course at Gisborne from February to May 1943 and was promoted Flight Sergeant on 1 May 1943.
On 17 June he was on a course at the United States Naval Airo Operational Training Unit, Jacksonville, Florida, flying Avengers. On his return on 30 March 1944 he joined 30 Squadron and was stationed at Piva. At the time of his promotion to Warrant Officer on 1 May 1944 he was flying as Wireless Operator Air Gunner with Flight Officer Bailey and was engaged chiefly on bombing strikes.
On 10 May 1944 Warrant Officer Curtis was in the crew of an Avenger which was hit by ack-ack fire and crashed into the sea near Creet Harbour off the Lakunai airstrip. All the crew were classified as missing, believed killed. The other members of the crew were Flying Officer A M Bailey (Pilot) and Sergeant L G Schlesinger.
Attended Westport Technical High School (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845609)) AWMM
About death
- Death
- 10 May 1944 AWMM
Age 22 AWMM - Date of death
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- Age at death
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- Place of death
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- Cause of death
- Killed in Action AWMM
- Death notes
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- Cemetery
- —
- Cemetery name
- —
- Grave reference
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- Obituary
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- Memorial name
- —
- Memorial reference
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Memorial
- Memorial name
- Bourail Memorial, Bourail New Zealand War Cemetery, New Caledonia AWMM
- RNZAF Memorial, Gisborne Airport, Gisborne AWMM
Sources
- External links
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2187179
Sources Used - RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Co - Dy. Archives New Zealand (R17845609)
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845609
Sources Used - List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. Archives New Zealand (R17845746)
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845746
Sources Used
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
- References
- Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
- The Weekly News
The Weekly News 1944 - Information kindly provided by family
Official Defence Department papers - This record is a work in progress and was partially compiled from the “Database of New Zealand Airmen who took part in Advanced Air Training in Canada during WW2”. Researched by Ivan and Lorna Lindsey of Tauranga. N.Z. 2003 – 2012. Reproduced with permission.
- RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Co - Dy. Archives New Zealand (R17845609) - Former archives reference: AIR118
- Please note that the 11 volumes of the "RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939-1945" held at Archives NZ (formerly known as AIR118) should be used in conjunction with Errol Martyn's "For Your Tomorrow". FYT reflects detailed examination of all of the AIR118 bios which contain many inaccuracies and omissions.
- List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. [Missing believed killed - Officers, Airmen]. Archives New Zealand (R17845746)
- List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - Embarkation Lists, November 1940 - July 1942. Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R17845762).
- Royal New Zealand Air Force. (1941–1945). Contact: National magazine of the R.N.Z.A.F.; the official organ of the Air Force Association (Inc.). Levin, New Zealand: Royal New Zealand Air Force.
V3,n4,p79 - Information in this record was kindly provided from No. 30 Squadron and Servicing Unit research by the late Wally Ingham and Dave Homewood (2025)
- Ingham, W. (1990). The Avengers: 30 Squadron & Servicing Unit, RNZAF: a record of service. Auckland, N.Z.: Author.
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