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Name: William George Sellar "Growler" Curphey
Military Cross (MC) and Bar William Curphey
Country: England
Rank: Captain
Service: Royal Flying Corps
Unit: 32
Victories: 6
Born: 1895
Place of Birth: London
Killed In Action: 15 May 1917 Killed In Action
Place of Death: Near Cagnicourt, France
Cemetery: Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, Pas de Calais, France
 
 
William George Sellar Curphey served with the Royal Berkshire Regiment before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps. In air combat with Erwin Böhme on 4 February 1917, he received a head wound and was forced to land his outdated D.H.2. Böhme was credited with his 10th victory. Curphey recovered from his wounds and returned to duty but was killed in combat three months later while attacking a German balloon. His "pusher" was shot down by an Albatros flown by Franz Walz of Jasta 2.
 
Military Cross (MC)
Temp. Lt. William George Sellar Curphey, Gen. List and R.F.C.
   For conspicuous skill and gallantry. He brought down an enemy machine, and two days later attacked and brought down another. He has frequently attacked formations of hostile aircraft and driven them down.
Supplement to the London Gazette, 14 November 1916 (29824/11050)
 
Military Cross (MC) Bar
Temp. Lt. (temp. Capt.) William George Sellar Curphey, M.C., Gen. List and R.F.C.
   For conspicuous gallantry in action. He, with a patrol of four machines attacked a hostile formation of ten machines. After a prolonged fight he drove one enemy machine down. Later, although wounded, he again led another attack on a hostile machine and succeeded in bringing it down. He has on many previous occasions done fine work.
   (The Military Cross was awarded in London Gazette dated 14th November, 1916.)
Supplement to the London Gazette, 12 March 1917 (29981/2476)
 
Victories
Date Time Unit Aircraft Opponent Location
1 22 Aug 1916 1745 32 D.H.2 (7851) LVG C (OOC) N of Bapaume
2 28 Sep 1916 1605 32 D.H.2 (A2536) LVG C (DES) Miraumont
3 30 Sep 1916 1435 32 D.H.2 (A2536) C (DES) 1 Grevillers
4 04 Feb 1917 1535 32 D.H.2 (A2536) Albatros D.II (OOC) Achiet
5 04 Feb 1917 1600 32 D.H.2 (A2536) Albatros D.II (DES) 2 Ablainville
6 07 Feb 1917 1430 32 D.H.2 Albatros D.II (OOC) 3 Gommecourt
1 Shared with Capt Leslie Peech Aizlewood (A2536)
2 Shared with Capt James Robb, Lt H D Davis
3 Shared with Lt H D Davis
 
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