F/Lt Richard A Curle RAFVR - Record of Service
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Name: Richard Alexander Curle
Service Number: 121280 Rank: Flight Lieutenant Date of Birth: 13 August 1914 Place of Birth: Darlington Date of Enlistment: 9 December 1940 Killed in Action: 4 March 1943 |
Richard Alexander Curle
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From volunteering to operations
Every member of ED559's crew went through a rigorous training regime. For Richard Curle his training would have involved:
Recruiting Centre Volunteer for RAFVR - Induction 1-3 day medical and aptitude tests
Initial Training Wing - Six weeks basic training
Elementary Flying Training School - 10 hours flying in a Tiger Moth
Service Flying School - 40 weeks
Operations Training Unit - 24 weeks
Heavy Conversion Unit - 12 weeks
Operational Squadron - 100 Squadron, RAF Grimsby
Recruiting Centre Volunteer for RAFVR - Induction 1-3 day medical and aptitude tests
Initial Training Wing - Six weeks basic training
Elementary Flying Training School - 10 hours flying in a Tiger Moth
Service Flying School - 40 weeks
Operations Training Unit - 24 weeks
Heavy Conversion Unit - 12 weeks
Operational Squadron - 100 Squadron, RAF Grimsby
Pilots and Observers on Course 23 at 27 OTU (RAF Lichfield) July to September 1942
Promotions, Reclassifications, Reversions
Richard Curle enlisted at Padgate (near Blackpool) in December 1940, serial number 1029107.
The large NE stamped on the above stands for Non Effective, RAF terminology relating to the loss of life.
AC2 = Aircraftman Second Class on 9 December, 1940
LAC = Leading Aircraftman on 19 July, 1941
The large NE stamped on the above stands for Non Effective, RAF terminology relating to the loss of life.
AC2 = Aircraftman Second Class on 9 December, 1940
LAC = Leading Aircraftman on 19 July, 1941
Dates of Commission and Substantive Promotions
Date of Gazette |
Rank |
With effect from |
2·6·42 (2375) |
Granted commn. for the emergency as P/O* on prob. (ExSqt) GD** Branch, RAFVR *P/O = Pilot Officer **GD = General Duties which is the officer branch of the RAF/RAFVR which covers all aircrew trades |
30·1·42 |
20·11·42 (5040) |
Flying Officier (W)* on prob (w) = War Substantive |
1·10·42 |
A 492206/43 |
Confirmed in Appt. |
- |
Cchist 1245 |
Death presumed on |
4·3·43 |
Movements
Richard Curle volunteered in early December of 1940 and was placed on reserve as part of No. 3 Reception Centre (3RC above).
On May 24 he was posted to 1RW (No. 1 Receiving Wing in Torquay).
A week later he was sent to No. 8 ITW (Initial Training Wing) based at Torquay in Devon. This is not an aerodrome but where future pilots and observers went through the rigmarole of basic induction into the RAF.
After ITW, he was posted to 50 Group Pool on 19 July, 1941.
He then embarked for Canada to join No.33 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) at Carberry, Manitoba between 14 October, 1942 and 29 January, 1942.
Right hand column POR = Personnel Occurrence Records
On May 24 he was posted to 1RW (No. 1 Receiving Wing in Torquay).
A week later he was sent to No. 8 ITW (Initial Training Wing) based at Torquay in Devon. This is not an aerodrome but where future pilots and observers went through the rigmarole of basic induction into the RAF.
After ITW, he was posted to 50 Group Pool on 19 July, 1941.
He then embarked for Canada to join No.33 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) at Carberry, Manitoba between 14 October, 1942 and 29 January, 1942.
Right hand column POR = Personnel Occurrence Records
After completion of his training in Canada, and now back in Britain, Richard was sent to No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre (at Bournemouth) in March 1942.
He was then posted in No. 12 (P) AFU ((Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit) on 12 May, 1942. This was located at RAF Spitalgate near Grantham in Lincolnshire. Here Richard moved from light basic trainers (Tiger Moth and Miles Magister) onto twin engine aircraft such as the Anson and Oxford.
On the 7 July 1942 Richard arrived at No. 27 OTU (Operational Training Unit) at RAF Litchfield. Richard and his crew were flying operations over Germany in a Wellington bomber.
From Litchfield he was transferred to No. 460 CF (Conversion Flight). But only for 24 hours - he rank was F/O (Flying Officer).
In late October Richard joined No. 1656 HCU (Heavy Conversion Unit) to fly Lancaster bombers) at RAF Lindholme.
On January 26, 1943 he joined No. 100 Squadron at RAF Grimsby with the rank of F/L (Flight Lieutenant).
Om 4 March 1943, Richard was noted as Supy N/E Missing (supernumerary no-effective missing) through the War Casualty Accounts Department.
The Missing (FB) correlates to Missing in Flying Battle akin to lost to enemy action.
Supy - supernumerary
He was then posted in No. 12 (P) AFU ((Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit) on 12 May, 1942. This was located at RAF Spitalgate near Grantham in Lincolnshire. Here Richard moved from light basic trainers (Tiger Moth and Miles Magister) onto twin engine aircraft such as the Anson and Oxford.
On the 7 July 1942 Richard arrived at No. 27 OTU (Operational Training Unit) at RAF Litchfield. Richard and his crew were flying operations over Germany in a Wellington bomber.
From Litchfield he was transferred to No. 460 CF (Conversion Flight). But only for 24 hours - he rank was F/O (Flying Officer).
In late October Richard joined No. 1656 HCU (Heavy Conversion Unit) to fly Lancaster bombers) at RAF Lindholme.
On January 26, 1943 he joined No. 100 Squadron at RAF Grimsby with the rank of F/L (Flight Lieutenant).
Om 4 March 1943, Richard was noted as Supy N/E Missing (supernumerary no-effective missing) through the War Casualty Accounts Department.
The Missing (FB) correlates to Missing in Flying Battle akin to lost to enemy action.
Supy - supernumerary
In honour of the fallen
Scroll dedicated to the ultimate sacrifice given by Richard Curle (Courtesy of Curle Family)