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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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264 squadron
13.05.1940 No. 264 Squadron Defiant I L6977 P/O. Greenhouse

Operation: Patrol - German troop transports

Date: 13th May 1940 (Monday)

Unit: No. 264 Squadron

Type: Defiant I

Serial: L6977

Base: RAF Duxford (via Martlesham)

Location: Rijsdijk dyke, Willemspolder

Pilot: P/O. Patrick E.J. Greenhouse 42000 RAF PoW No: 2262 Camp: Stalag Luft Sagan

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Frederick D. Greenhalgh 522982 RAF PoW No: 10964 Camp: Stalag Lamsdorf

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 04:15 hrs from Martlesham along with 5 other Boulton Paul Defiants together with 6 Spitfires from 66 Squadron acting as escort. The object being to patrol the Dutch coast between Ijmuiden and the Hague to attack German troop transport.

Attacked and shot down by members of JG26. The air gunner baled out but the pilot remained in the aircraft - both survived as PoW.

Above left: P/O. Patrick Greenhouse and right under guard Sgt. Frederick Greenhalgh

With thanks to Michel Beckers for photographs.

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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 MWO 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', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', 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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