• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Roberts and Arscott family history

Four centuries of my ancestors in Devon

  • Home
  • About
  • Information
  • Newspapers
  • Latest
  • Contact

ON THIS DAY…July 4, 1944: Victor killed in flying accident

4 July 2023

On this day in 1944, Victor ‘Vic’ Selwyn Curd (1916-1944), a New Zealand-born pilot of great ability, was killed in a flying accident in Scotland during the Second World War.

Victor, a 28-year-old lieutenant, and his passenger, Lt John Jefford, died on July 4, 1944 when their Avenger torpedo bomber crashed in bad weather into Black Loch Hill, a mountain summit in the Lammermuir-Dunbar to River Tweed region in East Lothian.

His best friend, pilot Graham Finlayson told Victor’s mother in a letter that he lived for flying because his heart was so much in it’.

He wrote: ‘So far as I can gather, he crashed in bad weather, when visibility was also nil, upon a mountainside.

‘As a pilot he was very good, cautious when things were hard going and a fearless crazy young pilot like the rest of us when everything was swell and life up in the air so grand.

‘I can’t understand why he should crash … unless the engine failed or one of those dangerous mountains suddenly popped up when it shouldn’t have done.

‘Countless pilots have been killed and lost up in those Highland mountains for sea fog and mist obscures everything in no time at all.’

Victor was buried at Kilkerran Cemetery in Campbeltown – his grave initially marked with a wooden cross.

The following details about Victor’s war service are on the Auckland War Museum Online Cenotaph:

‘Vic had a passion for flying and was a finalist in the New Zealand Herald Aviation Scholarship in May 1936.

‘After the start of the Second World War, he volunteered for the aircrew with the RNZAF. He was put on the waiting list for flight training but was given the option of joining the Fleet Air Arm with monthly drafts leaving for training in the UK.

In January 1941, Vic joined about 35 others as part of the 7th Scheme F draft in Wellington in the Royal New Zealand Volunteer Reserve (RNVR).

‘After travelling on HMS Akaroa from Wellington to the UK, Vic began training at HMS St Vincent – a Royal Navy training establishment – to become a pilot on the Fleet Air Arm.

‘He completed an elementary flying training course, flying Tiger Moths at RAF Elmdon, Birmingham. Between 1941 and 1942, Vic attended another flying training course at the Royal Naval Air Station Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus) which became the main training establishment and administrative centre of the Fleet Air Arm.

‘Here he learned to fly Harvards at RAF Netheravon, Wiltshire where he gained his pilot’s flying badge and was commissioned sub-lieutenant in February 1942.

‘Vic was than assigned to the 756 Fleet Air Arm Squadron at HMS Kestrel – the Royal Naval Air Station at Worthy Down, near Winchester – training airmen for air gunnery training.

‘During the end of 1942 he was in another training squadron at HMS Jackdaw – a Royal Naval Air Station at Crail in Fife, Scotland – flying torpedo-bombers used against German U-boats, including the Fairey Swordfish.

‘After being transferred to the 781 Squadron on January 20, 1943, Vic was promoted to lieutenant in April that year. He was part of 818 Squadron which sailed aboard HMS Unicorn.

‘The squadron’s mission was to provide cover for the Gibraltar convoy escort, to patrol for U-boats and search for enemy ships in the Bay of Biscay. In February 1944, he joined a training squadron at RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail) near Campbeltown for duty on the bombing ranges. In May that year he had joined 768 Squadron at Ayr, South Ayrshire (HMS Wagtail) to undergo a deck-landing course.

NOTE

Victor was a great-great nephew of Caroline Roberts (1847-1921), the youngest sister of John Roberts (1829-1919), my great-great grandfather, who had 30 grandsons serving in the Great War.

Born in Pukekohe, Auckland, New Zealand in 1916, Victor was the son of Henry Curd (1883-1953) and Clara Elizabeth Johns (1882-1976). Clara was the daughter of John Johns (1836-1929) and Martha Henwood (1851-1942). John was a brother of Caroline’s husband, Thomas Johns (1840-1893).

Picture below:

Victor Selwyn Curd, who died in a flying accident in Scotland in 1944. https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C22732

Share this post:

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Rifleman Louis survived Great War after being shot in the head
  • Your family history – told in a unique newspaper
  • Unveiled: An extraordinary story that would have shocked the world
  • Boy who went to Australia served as field ambulanceman in WW2
  • Cook’s mate Ernest’s day of high drama in Battle of Jutland

Search

Data, Terms & Privacy Statement | Home | Contact Me

Copyright © 2025 · Roberts and Arscott family history
Website designed and hosted by Mid Wales Design

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Read MoreAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT