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Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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233 Squadron Crest
27.12.1942 No. 233 Squadron Hudson IIIA FH426 Sgt. John S. Greaves

Operation: Patrol

Date: 27th December 1942 (Sunday)

Unit: No. 233 Squadron (Coastal Command)

Type: Hudson IIIA

Serial: FH426

Code: Not known

Base: Tafaraoui, Algeria on detachment from Gibraltar

Location: Mediterranean Sea off Santa Pola, Alicante, Spain

Pilot: Sgt. John Stewart Greaves 1027013 RAFVR Age 22. Missing - believed killed

Obs: Sgt. Edward Brown 914755 RAFVR Age ? Missing - believed killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Edward Victor Evans 1377543 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. John Joseph Griffin 798715 RAFVR Age ? Missing - believed killed

The son of the Air Gunner would appreciate any further information on this loss - contact us and your details will be forwarded.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 06:45 hrs on what is understood to have been on an anti-submarine patrol east of Gibraltar, although we have not been able to confirm this.

Some reports state that it was hit from the guns of U-73 submarine, other reports that it was hit by marine anti-aircraft fire.

Above: Prior to its total loss, 59 Squadron had delivery of the aircraft when on the 06th August it was hit by anti-aircraft fire but managed to return to base for repairs. After repair it was transferred to 233 Squadron.

Above: In 1990 a small fishing boat 'Hermanos Ruso Antón' based in Santa Polo hooked its nets on the aircraft and recovered some parts including one of the Browning machine guns. At a later date one of the engines was also recovered and is now on display in the Aviation Museum of Madrid.Burial details:

Sgt. John Stewart Greaves. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 84. No further details - are you able to assist?

Obs: Sgt. Edward Brown. Malta Memorial. Panel 3. Column 2. No further details - are you able to assist?

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Edward Victor Evans. Minturno War Cemetery. Grave V.K.16. Son of Walter Daniel James Evans and Naomi Elizabeth Evans, of Walthamstow, Essex, England. Grave inscription reads: "Gone From Our Home. Your Brave Dead You Have Done, Rest In Peace".

Air/Gnr: Sgt. John Joseph Griffin. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 98. Understood to be from Corner Brook, Newfoundland. No further details - are you able to assist?

Right: Panel 98 - Sgt. Griffin (courtesy Andrea Ruddick)

Researched for David J Bright, son of Sgt. Griffin and dedicated to relatives of the crew with thanks to sources as quoted below.

KTY 24.04.2018

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Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and Captain François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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