A CELEBRATED RAF fighter pilot who helped foil one of the largest Luftwaffe raids on the North-East has died.
Wing Commander Christopher "Bunny" Currant, who died aged 95, was twice awarded the DFC during the Battle of Britain when he was one of the RAF's most successful fighter pilots.
Mr Currant achieved his first success on August 15, 1940, - the day the Luftwaffe mounted its biggest raid on the North-East.
Bombers attacked from Norway and Denmark and were intercepted by the few RAF fighter squadrons based in the region. Mr Currant and pilots from 605 Squadron engaged the bombers off Newcastle. Currant shot down two Heinkel bombers and probably destroyed a third.
Mr Currant's squadron was transferred to Croydon and fought throughout the most intense part of the war.
On September 8, Mr Currant damaged three bombers and shot one down over the airfield in full view of his groundcrew.
A year after the Battle of Britain Mr Currant, who hailed from Luton, played himself in the film First of the Few, which starred David Niven and Leslie Howard.
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