Curtis Goring was born on September 16, 1914, the eldest son of William Curtis Goring (born in Petrolia) and Amanda Flora (nee McLean, born in Brooke, Lambton County) Goring, of 133 Richard Street, Sarnia. He was also the nephew of Sarnians Mr. and Mrs. O.E. Mannen of Richard Street and Mr. and Mrs. Mose Hallam of Lakeshore Road. Curtis had four brothers: Ralph Archibald (born in Detroit in 1917), Keith Emerson (born 1918), Francis Carlyle (born 1921 – see below) and Scotty Ross; as well as two sisters: Marion (born 1919) and another one. When he was 16 years old, Curtis would lose his mother, Amanda, when she died in 1930. Four of the Goring boys would serve in the Armed Forces. At the time of Curtis’ death, three of his brothers were in the aerial division of the armed forces: Sergeant Ralph A. Goring was overseas with the U.S. glider infantry; Flight-Lieutenant Francis Carlyle who went overseas with Curtis, was in England with the RCAF; and brother LAC Scotty Ross Goring, who was stationed at an R.C.A.F. base in Quebec. Prior to enlisting, Curtis Goring had been residing with his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. O.E. Mannen of 133 Richard Street, Sarnia for a few years after coming from Petrolia, where he attended high school. Curtis was single and employed with St. Clair Motors of Sarnia Limited before joining the armed forces.

Curtis enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force in the early part of 1941. On December 26th of 1941, Curtis and his brother Lyle would leave for an Eastern Canada air command. Curtis would go overseas in February 1942 as a member of RCAF #405 City of Vancouver Squadron “Ducimus” (We lead), Pathfinder Force. He attained the rank of Warrant Officer Class II-Air Gunner. During his time overseas, he experienced and survived two mishaps; he was injured in a crash landing in England and spent some time in hospital; and another time, his warplane was forced down in the North Sea where he and other members of the crew were rescued after drifting for some time on a rubber raft.

Just over two years after enlisting, on September 1, 1943, his Halifax aircraft HR915 failed to return from night operations sent to target Berlin, Germany. Perishing along with Curtis Goring was WO1 Edwin M. McArthur. One Canadian, Squadron Leader Pearson, and four of the crew, not Canadians, were taken prisoners of war.

On September 3rd, 1943, William Goring in Sarnia would receive a telegram from Ottawa informing him that his son, Flight Sergeant Curtis Albert Goring was missing after air operations overseas. The telegram did not indicate the date on which his son was reported missing. His aunt, Mrs. Mannen had not heard from Curtis for a number of few weeks. In early October 1943, his father William would receive a telegram informing him that his son Curtis Goring was now listed as, Previously reported missing after air operations, now for official purposes, presumed dead, overseas (Germany). No details of the action in which Curtis had lost his life were given. Reports were later received that on September 1st, eight Canadian bombers were included in the total of 47 Allied planes lost in a 45-minute raid on Berlin, one of the heaviest of the war.

Twenty-eight year old Curtis Goring has no known grave. His name is inscribed on the Runnymede War Memorial, Surrey, United Kingdom, Panel 179. On the Sarnia cenotaph, his name is inscribed as G.A. Goring. For his widow father William Goring back in Sarnia, he would lose a second son in the war, Francis Carlyle of the RCAF, less than one year later.

SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, J, L, M, N, 2C, 2D