Sgt Denis Maxwell Greey RAFVR and crew – 103 Squadron - RAF Elsham Wolds – 1941
Failed to Return - 5th August 1941 – Vickers Wellington IC – W5656 – Op Frankfurt.
Denis Greey, which I think is pronounced Grey, came from the Birmingham area.
He was posted to 103 Sqn at Newton approx February or early March 1941 and flew 10 ops as co-pilot with the experienced Sgt Muggeridge and crew as follows :-
21st March 1941 Lorient
9th April 1941 Kiel
13th April 1941 Brest - Scharnhorst and Gneisenau
16th April 1941 Kiel
17th April 1941 Berlin
24th April 1941 Kiel
30th April 1941 Kiel
3rd May 1941 Cologne
5th May 1941 Mannheim
8th May 1941 Bremen
..........
Greey was then made captain of his own crew and completed a further 13 ops being lost on the 14th.
Crew for first op Greey, Hare, Moules Alleway Griffin and Deges
12-Jun-41 – Osnabruck – Wellington – R1760 – Sgt DM Greey
16-Jun-41 – Duisburg – Wellington – R1760 – Sgt DM Greey - Twin engined enemy aircraft approached but no attack made.
17-Jun-41 – Duisburg – Wellington - R1760 - Sgt DM Greey
20-Jun-41 – Kiel – Wellington – R1760 – Sgt DM Greey
30-Jun-41 – Dusseldorf - Wellington - R1760 – Sgt DM Greey
03-Jul-41 – Bremen – Wellington – R1760 – Sgt DM Greey
05-Jul-41 – Bielefeld – Wellington - R1760 – Sgt DM Greey
07-Jul-41 – Cologne – Wellington – R1760 – Sgt DM Greey
08-Jul-41 – Bielefeld – Wellington – R1760 – Sgt DM Greey
10-Jul-41 – Cologne - Wellington X9675 – Sgt DM Greey
20-Jul-41 – Cologne - Wellington R1217 – Sgt – DM Greey
22-Jul-41 - Frankfurt Wellington – W5656 – Sgt DM Greey - Unable to locate primary. Bombed airfield at Nivelles
24-Jul-41 – Brest – Wellington – R1217 – Sgt DM Greey
05-Aug-41 – Frankfurt – Wellington – W5656 - Sgt DM Greey - FTR - Bombing signal received. Nothing further heard. Crashed SW of Calais, France.
All the crew were killed and rest at the Calais Canadian War Cemetery
..........
Sgt Denis Maxwell Greey RAFVR – Pilot - 28 – 103 Sqn - Son of Horace B. and Florence Geey, of Beoley, Worcestershire, England – Calais Canadian War Cemetery, Leubringen, France.
Sgt JP Taylor RCAF – Pilot - 25 – 103 Sqn - Son of Franklin Stearns Taylor and Margaret Ellis Taylor, of Toronto, Ontario - Calais Canadian War Cemetery, Leubringen, France
Sgt Jack Moules RAFVR – Observer – 103 Sqn - Calais Canadian War Cemetery, Leubringen, France
Sgt Frederick Williams Alleway RAFVR – Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - 21 – 103 Sqn - Son of Frederick Alfred and Minnie Louise Alleway, of Plymouth, England - Calais Canadian War Cemetery, Leubringen, France
Sgt Robert Grattan Gurney Griffin RAFVR - Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - 21 - Son of H. Gratton Griffin and Daphne F. I. Griffin, of Greystones, Co. Wicklow, Irish Republic - Calais Canadian War Cemetery, Leubringen, France
Sgt Carl Deges RAFVR – Air Gunner – 103 Sqn - Son of John and Jane Deges - Calais Canadian War Cemetery, Leubringen, France
This crew were lost on their return flight. The reason for the loss has never been established. Maybe flak but quite possibly accidental or mechanical issues could be the reason.
..........
05-Aug-41 – Frankfurt
103 Squadron detailed aircraft 8 for this attack on the German city of Frankfurt There was 8/10 to 10/10ths cloud breaking to 3/10ths the Continent. Visibility at the target was good. All except one aircraft reached the primary and good bombing results are reported. Opposition was intense with several machines hit by flak. Searchlight were very troublesome and persistent. 4 of our aircraft were caught in cones. Sgt Greey and crew are missing. All other aircraft returned to base.
For this attack on Frankfurt Bomber Command detailed 68 aircraft of which 3 were lost. Good bombing was claimed. Mainz 20 miles away reports some bombs fell there.
For photos and further information re this crew see the Aircrew Remembrance Society web page.
..........
Wellington W5656
23-Jun-41 – Cologne – Wellington – W5656 – P/O EC Ball
30-Jun-41 – Dusseldorf – Wellington – W5656 – P/O EC Ball
03-Jul-41 – Bremen – Wellington – W5656 – P/O EC Ball
05-Jul-41 – Bielefeld – Wellington – W5656 – P/O EC Ball
08-Jul-41 – Bielefeld – Wellington – W5656 – P/O EC Ball
10-Jul-41 – Cologne – Wellington – W5656 – P/O EC Ball - Unable to locate primary. Bombed marshalling yards south west of Brussels
20-Jul-41 – Cologne – Wellington – W5656 – P/O DL Petrie
22-Jul-41 – Frankfurt – Wellington – W5656 – Sgt DM Greey - Unable to locate primary. Bombed airfield at Nivelles
24-Jul-41 – Brest – Wellington – W5656 – P/O EC Ball
02-Aug-41 – Hamburg – Wellington – W5656 – P/O EC Ball
05-Aug-41 – Frankfurt – Wellington – W5656 – Sgt DM Greey – FTR - Bombing signal received. Nothing further heard. Crashed south west of Calais, France.
Compiled by David Fell
....................
|
