John Greenwood-Lest We Forget

The Cross to John Clifton on his grave in St John's Churchyard in Staplegrove,Somerset.

Churchyard where P/O Jenkins is buried

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone in the foregoround of the picturesque churchyard at St Margaret"s Church Bagindon, Gloucestershire, marks the last resting place of Pilot Officer David Jenkins of No.253 Squadron.

Listed below are most of the pilots who flew with 253 Squadron from August to October 1940, as remembered by John Greenwood.
S/Ldr Starr: He joined 253 Squadron a few days before he was shot down and killed while descending by parachute on 31 August 1940.
S/Ldr Gleave: Had been with 253 Squadron since it reformed in June 1940. He came as a supernumerary CO and finally lead the squadron after Starr was killed, however, he only lasted one day before being shot down in flames and very badly burnt. During his recovery he wrote a book featuring those in the squadron, titled " I Had a Row with a German". He was in and out of East Grinstead for three years having skin grafts on his face. He stayed in the RAF after the war in the historical branch. Tom and John became very good friends and whenever John returned to England they met up. Tom died a few years ago.
P/O Corkett: Was one of the original pilots. He joined with John in ERFTS Perth,Brize Norton,and formed 253 Squadron. They served in France together.He stayed in the RAF for some years after the war,retiring as a Squadron Leader. They met up in 1990 at the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, and hope to see each other this year at the 60th annivesary. He lives on his own in Bournmouth, his wife passed away and his daughter tragically killed in in a car crash.
P/O Murch: His initials being L.C, he was known as "Elsie". Also one of the originals from Perth and trained on twins, he was shot down on 3 September 1940, baled out and landed by chute in the middle of a laundry in Tunbridge Wells. He was wounded with cannon shell splinters so some of the squadron visited him in hospital that night. They could barely get into his room for flowers and gifts John recalls. "Elsie" was killed over Tobruk, North Africa in 1942.
P/O Greenwood:(Thats John) "Percy" as he was known by his squadron. He is still alive and one of the few aces without a DFC, blaming F/lt Duke-Wooley for this. In 1950 John sailed to Australia. He married a lovely Australian lady, Joyce, had 4 healthy children and is now retired in a quiet suburb just south of Perth in Western Australia.
P/O Strang: A New Zealander and John's best friend, an ex All Blacks rugby player before the war, he could not stomach the fighting, so he was made assistant adjutant, and flew very rarely afterwards. He went back to Timaru in the South Island of New Zealand, where he had his own place at the bar of the local pub. He became secretary of Christchurch Rugby Union club, and slowly drank himself to death. Sadly missed by John.
P/O Clifton: "Curly" another original. John and "Curly" played cricket for Brize Norton, "Curly" being the wicketkeeper. A very good pilot and was flying as John's number two when he was shot down and killed on 1 September 1940. No one saw him go down during a dogfight with a formation of DO17's.
F/Lt Cambridge: "Bill" joined 253 Squadron after France as 'A' Flight Commander, he became acting CO when Gleave was shot down, only lasting until 6 September 1940 when he was shot down and killed.
Sgt Innes: Joined 253 Squadron after France,was shot down and wounded on 15 September 1940. He survived the war and now lives in Spain. John met him at the 1990 reunion.P/O Samolinski, one of two Poles who joined 253 Squadron after France. A fine gentleman, who was shot down on 5 September, but soon rejoined 253 Squadron, only to be shot down into the sea and killed on 26 September 1940.
F/Lt Wedgewood: "The Colonel", took over Georgie Brown's flight when he was shot down and wounded, he survived until posted to the Western Desert. He was returning to England after his tour, in a Halifax, when it was shot down and all on board were killed.
P/O Jenkins: "Jenks" another original at 253 Squadron who John played his first game of golf at St Andrews with. His father was Dean at St Andrews University. He was shot down and killed on the squadrons first sortie during the Battle of Britain. It is believed an ME 110 shot him down.
P/O Nowak: The other Pole who joined 253 squadron with Samolinski, a real ladykiller, he survived with 253 squadron then joined the Polish wing. He was shot down over the channel in September 1941 and drowned. he is buried in France.
P/O Francis & P/O Carthew: Were close friends and known to the squadron as " Tweedledum & Tweedledee". Francis joined 253 squadron after France , and was posted as missing on the first sortie 30 August 1940. He was not found until 40 years later when he was dug up from a field in Kent. He was reburied with full military honours in Brookwood cemetery, Surrey.
G/Capt Gleave sent John a photo of it, as seen below.

Photo of Pilot Officer Bell Salter that would have been taked during the 1940 Battle of Britain period.

Portrait of Squadron Leader Jerry Edge

Many portraits were made of combat aircrew during the Battle of Britain. This one was of the C.O. of 253 Squadron, Squadron Leader "Jerry" Edge.

P/O Carthew: A Canadian who was devastated by his friend, Francis's death and never flew again. He survived the war, returning to Alberta, Canada, where he may still be living.
P/O Bell-Salter: Another original squadron member, was shot down on 2 September. His controls were shot away & he was diving straight for the ground. He had no recollection of leaving the cockpit, but was found hanging from a tree with a half opened parachute. He had broken several bones in his legs and arms. He survived the war, lived in the USA after the war & became a successful lumber dealer. He returned to England on retirement in 1994 and died in 1998.
P/O Trueman: A Canadian from Nova Scotia, joined 253 Squadron two weeks before they went to Kenley. He had transferred from Bomber Command where he had been flying Hampdens.He was shot down and killed on 4 September 1940. On the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, a great article featuring him and the family he left behind was published in the Sackville Tribune. ( Worth a read ).
F/Lt Georgie Brown: Joined 253 Squadron after France as "B" Flight Commander, was shot down on the first sortie and badly wounded. When he recovered, he became CO of the first Eagle squadron, composed mainly of Americans. He survived the war and died of Altzeimers Disease in 1997 in Sussex.
S/Ldr "Jerry "Edge: Came to 253 Squadron as CO after Bill Cambridge was killed. He was easily the best leader. John was his number 2 when the flight attacked 36 JU88's head on, the most frightening attack John ever made, but nine of the squadron shot down five of the enemy without loss. Jerry was shot down and wounded on the 26 September 1940.
P/O Dicky Graves: Joined 253 Squadron during September 1940, but was shot down and badly burnt on 29 September. John visited him in hospital at Virginia Waters where he lived, and Dicky sold his car, the original Jaguar, to John. He survived the war and became the chief representative of Mobile Oil in Paris. John met him again in 1965 at the 25th reunion in London, but tragically, he was killed in a motor accident in France a few years later.
Sgt Higgins: Joined 253 Squadron one day and was killed the next, 14 September 1940.
P/O Barton: Was with 253 Squadron for only 10 days, then was shot down and badly wounded. He started flying again in 1942 and was killed in a flying accident in 1943.
Sgt Metham: Joined 253 Squadron after France, was shot down on 2 September 1940 and wounded slightly. He became a flying instructor and was killed in 1942.
F/Lt Duke-Wooley: Regarded by John and most of the squadron as the worst CO 253 Squadron had. He was made CO when Jerry Edge was shot down. He awarded himself the first DFC that 253 Squadron ever got, and his good friend Eckford the other one. Both had joined the squadron in mid September. He died in the mid 1990's.