Sir John Curtiss, twice knighted for his distinguished military service, flew over 260 missions into a blockaded city during the Berlin Airlift, masterminded British air operations in the Falklands War, and became the first navigator in RAF history to reach the rank of Air Marshal.
One of the most respected senior officers of his generation, his remarkable career spanned more than four decades and shaped key moments in modern British military history. Now, more than a decade after his death, his voice and story are being shared once again in a powerful new podcast series – and, for the first time, his son Peter Curtiss speaks publicly about the father, leader and man behind the uniform.
“I want people to know who my father really was. He didn’t just serve, he shaped history. He flew hundreds of missions into a starving city during the Cold War’s most dangerous standoff. And when the Falklands happened, they turned to him again.”
Sir John Curtiss’ original words and reflections feature in The Veterans’ Voice: Berlin Airlift, a new podcast from military charity Legasee Educational Trust, based on veteran interviews recorded in 2013. The series brings listeners into the cockpit with aircrew who risked their lives flying into Soviet-blockaded Berlin in 1948-49, an operation Sir John called “the moral victory of the century.”
“He had this huge laugh, always cheerful, never angry. His friends called him ‘Laughing John’. But when it came to duty, he was serious. The Airlift meant everything to him. He believed without it, Berlin, and Europe, would have fallen to the Soviets.”
Peter Curtiss offers rare insight into the private man behind the public accolades: “He never bragged. Like many of that generation, he just got on with it. But it’s vital his story is remembered, because he helped shape events we still live with today.”
Sir John joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1942, aged 17. The Berlin Airlift was a response to the Soviet Union’s blockade of West Berlin in 1948, which cut off all land and water access to the city in an attempt to force the Allies to surrender control. In one of the largest humanitarian and logistical efforts of the Cold War, Allied forces flew thousands of missions to deliver vital supplies and keep West Berlin alive without escalating into open conflict.
Initially training as a pilot, he was later selected for navigation, eventually becoming the first RAF navigator to reach Air Marshal rank. During WWII, he flew 28 missions over occupied Europe with Bomber Command.
After the war, he was redirected from a planned posting in Singapore to join the Berlin Airlift. Over 11 months, he completed 263 return flights to Gatow airfield, delivering coal, food, and medicine to a starving city under Soviet siege.
“He never forgot it, and was immensely proud. He believed it was one of Britain’s finest moments, saving a city without firing a shot. He kept every speech and article about it, even wrote one titled ‘The Victory That Britain Forgot.’ He was furious when the Post Office refused to issue a commemorative stamp. He thought the nation owed it more recognition.”
Between June 1948 and May 1949, Allied aircraft flew over 277,000 missions during the Airlift under gruelling conditions. The mission was widely regarded as vital in preventing further conflict and ultimately stopping a war.
In later decades, Sir John served in senior roles including station commander at RAF Bruggen, Commandant of RAF Staff College, and Air Officer Commanding No. 18 Group, where he oversaw maritime air operations. His leadership during the 1982 Falklands War, coordinating British air assets including Vulcan bomber raids from Ascension Island, earned him his first knighthood. He later received a second knighthood, one of few officers awarded both the KBE and KCB.
Sir John retired in 1983 but remained engaged in defence and aviation. He actively participated in the British Berlin Airlift Association, attending commemorations into his 80s. He died in 2013 at his home in Hampshire, surrounded by family. He left four children and eleven grandchildren.
“He adored his family, every one of us. He was devoted, warm, and had a huge laugh that lit up a room. But he was quietly proud of what he’d done. He never bragged. He always knew how important the Airlift was for Berlin and Europe. Without it, he said, the Soviets would have taken the city. He kept speeches, clippings, photos, a whole box file, determined to keep the story alive, even if he didn’t talk much about himself.”
The Veterans’ Voice: Berlin Airlift podcast, produced by Legasee Educational Trust, preserves voices like Sir John’s for future generations. By repurposing filmed interviews recorded shortly before his death, the series offers a firsthand glimpse into this critical moment in history.
Martin Bisiker, Founder of Legasee Educational Trust and podcast Executive Producer, said,
“Sir John Curtiss was one of the RAF’s most decorated and respected figures, a key player in shaping history. His role in the Berlin Airlift and Falklands War reminds us of how courage, strategy, and resolve preserve peace. We’re honoured to share his voice and now grateful to Peter for openly sharing his father’s legacy. At a time when tensions in Europe echo the past, these stories are more important than ever. Thanks to support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, we’re able to keep these memories alive.”
Listen to The Veterans’ Voice: Berlin Airlift podcast on all major podcast platforms: https://shows.acast.com/665d7cd11eb93600121653b9/episodes/685a67ee1776394d133d1e3e
The series is accompanied by a digital archive of filmed interviews, available through Legasee Educational Trust’s website: www.Legasee.org.uk
