It is with great sadness that we report the death of our Group President Wing Commander Christopher ‘Bunny’ Currant, D.S.O., D.F.C., Croix be Guerre on 12th March. He was aged 94.

Bunny was one of the Royal Air Force’s most successful pilots during the Battle of Britain, credited with destroying some thirteen enemy aircraft. During this time he was awarded the D.F.C. twice. In July 1942 he was awarded the D.S.O., being described as “a most courageous pilot and a brilliant leader”. In April the following year he added a Belgian Croix de Guerre to his British decorations.

On the 15th August he was a member of No. 605 Squadron based in the north of England when the Luftwaffe mounted its biggest raid off Newcastle. He shot down two Heinkel bombers and probably destroyed a third. No. 605 moved to Croydon and fought from there during the most intense phase of the Battle of Britain. On 8th September ‘Bunny’ damaged three more enemy aircraft and shot down another over Croydon airfield in full view of his ground crew. He had a share of two more the next day.

During a morning scramble on 15th September – now remembered as Battle of Britain day, he shot down two Dorniers and damaged three others before his own Hurricane was badly damaged and he had to crash land. This did not deter him from being airborne in the afternoon when he shot down a Messerschmitt.

‘Bunny’ came to Ibsley on 14th August 1941 as Commander of No 501 Squadron. One of his early tasks was to participate in the flying sequences of the film “The First of the Few” , the story of R.J. Mitchell and the development of the Spitfire. In between operational sorties, ‘Bunny’ played the part of Squadron Commander, Hunter Leader but because of wartime restrictions his name does not appear in the film credits.

In June 1942 ‘Bunny’ was promoted to Wing Commander and became Station Commander at Ibsley. However, two months later Ibsley was taken over by the 8th U.S.A.A.F. 1st Fighter Group. More details of his time at Ibsley can be found in our book “So Much Sadness, So much Fun”.
‘Bunny’ continued a distinguished career with the R.A.F. until retirement in 1959 after which he joined Hunting Engineering in Luton where he undertook research and development work on weapons for the R.A.F. until 1976.

He was a great supporter of the Group, attending many events over the years, including the unveiling of our Commemorative plaque, until his health forced him to slow down. He was the most appropriate person to become our first President in 1999.

There will be a memorial service to ‘Bunny’ on a date yet to be announced. A Hurricane will take part in a fly past at the service – the Hurricane being one that he flew during his time with No. 605 Squadron found in India some 50 years later and restored to flying condition.