Curtis Private is dedicated to Air Marshal Wilfred Austin “Wilf” Curtis, OC, CB, CBE, DSC & Bar, ED, CD.
Wilfred Austin Curtis was born in Havelock, ON, in August 1893. Completing his education in Toronto, he joined the Army in 1915, and later transferred to the Royal Naval Air Service as a fighter pilot. He was awarded a DSC and later a Bar to his DSC for the skill and courage he demonstrated throughout his First World War service.
During the inter-war years, Curtis served in the Toronto Scottish Regiment and transferred to the newly formed No. 10 Squadron in 1933, becoming its Officer Commanding in 1935. He was called back to active service in 1939 and was Deputy Air Officer commanding, RCAF Overseas the RCAF through the difficult stages of reorganization which followed the war and through the expansion of Canada’s participation in the Korean War and NATO.
He retired in 1953, joining the private sector where he continued to have substantial impact on the development of aviation in Canada, including the development of the CF-100 Canuck and the ill-fated CF-105 Arrow. He died in August, 1977.
