Air Marshal Wilfred Austin Curtis, OC, CB, CBE, DSC & Bar, ED, CD (21 August 1893 – 14 August 1977) was a Canadian airman and Chief of the Air Staff of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) from 1947 until 1953. Early years He was born in Havelock, Ontario, having received his early education in Toronto. First World War He then joined the infantry of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1915; he graduated on 11 August 1916 and joining the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) as a fighter pilot. In 1917 Curtis was promoted to captain and awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) (DSC) for his skill and courage. The award citation read: In 1918, Curtis was awarded a Bar to the DSC. He proved his worth as a highly successful fighter pilot by shooting down 13 enemy aircraft confirmed; his final tally was 4 enemy planes destroyed, 3 of which were shared victories; also, he drove down 9 enemy planes out of control, one of which was shared. He transferred to the Royal Air Force (RAF) in April 1918. Interwar years On his return to Canada he maintained his interest in military as well as civil aviation. During the late 1920s and early 1930s, he served as an officer in the Toronto Scottish Regiment Reserve. For some time there were no available non-permanent military aviation positions. However, when the opportunity presented itself in 1933, he became involved in the formation of No. 10 (Army Co-operation) Squadron. Curtis became Officer Commanding in 1935 and initiated experimental air operations in mid-northern Ontario. Second World War Wing Commander Curtis was called to active duty in the RCAF on 1 September 1939 and became deputy air officer commanding, RCAF Overseas Headquarters in London in 1941. He became a member of the Air Council in 1944. Post-war years The singular success that marks his air force career in wartime decisions was rewarded by his appointment in 1947 as Chief of the Air Staff. In this appointment he guided the RCAF through the difficult stages of reorganization which followed the war and through the expansion of Canada's participation in the Korean War and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). He received French, American and Italian decorations in recognition of his contributions. He remained Chief of the Air Staff until his retirement in January 1953. On his retirement from the RCAF he accepted the position