TracesOfWar needs your help! Every euro, pound or dollar you contribute greatly supports the continuation of this website. Go to stiwot.nl and donate!

Greswell, Jeaffreson Herbert

Date of birth:
July 28th, 1916 (Epsom/Surrey, United Kingdom)
Date of death:
November 19th, 2000 (Chiltern/Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom)
Nationality:
British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!

Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Flight Lieutenant
Awarded on:
January 1st, 1941
Mentioned in Dispatches
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Squadron Leader
Unit:
No. 172 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
July 28th, 1942
"On the night of June 3-4 1942, Greswell took off from Chivenor in a twin-engine Vickers Wellington bomber of No 172 Squadron. In the Bay of Biscay, he lit up and then depth-charged the Italian submarine Luigi Torelli.
Greswell's first approach to the Luigi Torelli was frustrated by an incorrect altimeter setting, which meant that his co-pilot, Flying Officer A W R Trigg, was unable to level the beam at the enemy.
After the altimeter was reset, Greswell took the Wellington to 50ft above the sea and attacked from the starboard beam, dropping two Torpex-filled depth charges either side of the submarine.
The charges' fuses were supposed to explode at a depth of 25 feet, but they proved defective and the explosions occurred at a greater depth. Even so the submarine's steering gear and compass system were badly damaged, forcing its captain Count Augusto Migliorani to seek refuge in Spanish waters.
He could not believe his luck when 10 minutes after his attack on the Luigi Torelli, his torch found a second Italian submarine, Morosini. Having already expended his depth charges he went in at 50 feet and attacked with machinegun fire.
Though neither submarine had been sunk by his action, Greswell had demonstrated the potential of the Leigh Light and this enabled Air Chief Marshal Sir Philip Joubert, Coastal's commander-in-chief, to obtain early delivery of Leigh Light Wellingtons. Greswell's mission also provided valuable lessons for the future, the most vital being that the attack aircraft's altimeter should always be set correctly."
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Wing Commander
Unit:
No. 179 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
March 28th, 1944
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Citation:
"Wing Cdr. Greswell, now on his third tour of Operational duty, has taken part in a large number of operational sorties. Both in the air and on the ground, he has set a magnificent example, of keenness and devotion to duty to his squadron."
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Wing Commander
Awarded on:
January 1st, 1946
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Period:
After War Period (1945-now)
Rank:
Air Commodore
Awarded on:
June 2nd, 1962
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Period:
After War Period (1945-now)
Rank:
Air Commodore
Awarded on:
June 10th, 1967
Companion of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB)

Sources

Photo