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Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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Fighter command
14th July 1943 59 OTU Hurricane I P3475 Fl/Sgt. Humphrey

Operation: Training

Date: 14th July 1943 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 59 Operational Training Unit. 9 Group

Type: Hurricane I

Serial: P3475

Code: -

Base: RAF Millfield, Northumberland

Location: Church Farm Cottages, Elwick

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Charles Ivan Humphrey NZ/421056 RNZAF Age 21. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off on a training exercise when at 09:55 hrs collided with another of the units Hurricane. The young New Zealand pilot was killed.

The other aircraft Hurricane V7173 flown by Sgt. Ronald James Currie J/21861 RCAF managed to land safely with no injuries.

Sadly he was killed on the 18th August the following year. He was flying a Typhoon Ib MN623 with 184 squadron when it is thought he was hit by flak. His aircraft was seen streaming glycol and attempting to reach allied lines. He could not maintain height and crashed south wast of Turn in France. His aircraft burst into flames on impact.

Above L-R: Fl/Sgt. Charles Humphrey and Sgt. Ronald Currie

Burial and personal details:

Fl/Sgt. Charles Ivan Humphrey. Kirknewton Churchyard (St Gregory). Grave 10. Born on the 29th November 1921 at Timaru.A student teacher prior to service. Enlisted on the 08th February 1942 at Levin. Trained in NewZealand. Awarded his pilots badge on the 02nd September 1942 and promoted to sergeant on the 28th November 1942. Arrived in England on the 13th February 1943. After training at 17 Advanced Flying Unit joined 59 Operational Training Unit on the 08th June 1943. Son of Blanche Harriet Humphrey, ward of Alice Bosworth Bennewith (later Boorer) of Timaru, South Island, New Zealand. A total of 290 flying hours logged with 26 on the Hurricane.

Sgt. Ronald James Currie. Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery. Grave XVII. B. 10. A bank clerk prior to service. Awarded his pilots badge on the 18th December 1942. Son of the late Arthur Victor and Gladys Annie Currie (nee Wickwire). Husband of Margaret Merriam Morse Beutel of Parrsboro, Nova Scotia. Joined 184 squadron from 59 Operational Training Unit on the 27th January 1944.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Jenifer Lemaire and to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, AWMM, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

KTY 27-03-2021

KTY 23-07-2023 Images added

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Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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