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Currie, Donald Russell (Pilot Officer)

Killed in Action 1944-December-23

Birth Date: 1923 (age 21)

Son of Russell H. Currie and Beatrice Mab Currie, of Owen Sound, Ontario.

Home: Owen Sound, Ontario

Service
RCAF
Unit
35 (PFF) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Uno Anima Agimus We Act with One Accord
Base
RAF Graveley
Rank
Pilot Officer
Marshal
Air Chief MarshalA/C/M
Air MarshalA/M
Air Vice MarshalA/V/M
Air CommodoreA/C
Group CaptainG/C
Wing CommanderW/C
Squadron LeaderS/L
Flight LieutenantF/L
Flying OfficerF/O
Pilot OfficerP/O
Warrant Officer 1st ClassWO1
Warrant Officer 2nd ClassWO2
Flight SergeantFS
SergeantSGT
CorporalCPL
Senior AircraftmanSAC
Leading AircraftmanLAC
Aircraftman 1st ClassAC1
Aircraftman 2nd ClassAC2
Position
Navigator
Service Numbers
J/93665
Prev: R/149979

Took off from Graveley on an operation to Cologne Germany.

Outbound from England at 10,000 feet on a daylight operation to Cologne, Germany, collided with another 35 Sqn Lancaster (PB-683 TL-H) and crashed into the English Channel off South Foreland, Kent.

Killed of PB-678 includes Currie: Pilot Officer James McGee RCAF J/95373 KIA Runnymede Memorial Panel 251. Pilot Officer Richard Joseph Clarke (Eire) RAF pilot KIA Runnymede Memorial Panel 210. Sergeant John Charles Mays RAF KIA Harrow Weald Cemetery, Section C. Grave 43. Pilot Officer Joseph William Webb RAAF KIA Brookwood Military Cemetery Plot 4. Row O. Grave 17. Pilot Officer Robert Keith Norsworthy RAAF KIA Runnymede Memorial Panel 258. Pilot Officer Thomas Eugene Craddock RAAF KIA Runnymede Memorial Panel 258.

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Canada Primary Source Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Home
Google MapOwen Sound, Ontario
Target
Google MapCologne Germany
Burial
Google MapBrookwood Military Cemetery
Plot 56 Row B Grave 7

Lancaster PB678

Avro Lancaster

Avro Lancaster Mk. X RCAF Serial FM 213
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

The Avro Lancaster is a British Second World War heavy bomber. It was designed and manufactured by Avro as a contemporary of the Handley Page Halifax, both bombers having been developed to the same specification, as well as the Short Stirling, all three aircraft being four-engined heavy bombers adopted by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the same wartime era.

The Lancaster has its origins in the twin-engine Avro Manchester which had been developed during the late 1930s in response to the Air Ministry Specification P.13/36 for a capable medium bomber for "world-wide use". Originally developed as an evolution of the Manchester (which had proved troublesome in service and was retired in 1942), the Lancaster was designed by Roy Chadwick and powered by four Rolls-Royce Merlins and in one version, Bristol Hercules engines. It first saw service with RAF Bomber Command in 1942 and as the strategic bombing offensive over Europe gathered momentum, it was the main aircraft for the night-time bombing campaigns that followed. As increasing numbers of the type were produced, it became the principal heavy bomber used by the RAF, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and squadrons from other Commonwealth and European countries serving within the RAF, overshadowing the Halifax and Stirling. Wikipedia

YouTube Lancaster Bomber

Wkikpedia Wikipedia

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

last update: 2021-09-18 14:32:33

Lancaster Mk.I/III PB678

TLRAF RoundelF
Delivered to No. 35 Sqn (TL-F) Oct 1944. Collided with Lancaster PB683 off North Foreland en route for Cologne on a daylight operation 23 Dec 1944.

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