212465 F/Sgt. Stanley William Guy Currigan Royal Air Force 9 Squadron from:London (d.1st Jan 1945) My mother often spoke about her brave brother Stan, she knew he was a wireles operator/rear gunner of a Lancaster, who sadly was killed in action.
Later we found out more details; Flight Sergeant Stan Currigan was the wireless operator/air gunner of Lancaster aircraft NG223 from No 9 Squadron which took off from Bardney at 0745 hours on the 1 January 1945 to attack the Dortmund Ems Canal. Crew members were:
- 182747 F/O P W Reaks - Pilot - Killed
- 1569472 Sgt T Scott - F/Eng - Killed
- 1581274 F/Sgt F Alton - Navigator - POW
- 658883 W/O Bates - Air Bomber - Killed
- 1593005 F/Sgt S V Peace - Air Gunner - POW
- 1675387 F/Sgt W G Bamworth - Air Gunner - POW
It was later reported by the International Red Cross Committee that the aircraft was shot down by flak at 1120 hours on the 1 January 1945 near Schmiedshausen killing four of the seven crew members including my uncle. The other three crew members were taken Prisoners of War.
My uncle, F/O Reakes and Sgt Scott were buried by the Germans at the scene of the crash and Sgt Bates in the cemetery at Graven. After the war my uncle, F/Sgt Currigan and his comrades were reverently re-interred at the Reichswald Forest British Military Cemetery in the district of Kleve,Germany. I would love to hear from anyone who has any stories about Stan or any association, thanks.
|