Jeaffreson Greswell

Jeaffreson Herbert Greswell
Born 28 July 1916
Epsom, Surrey, England
Died 19 November 2000 (aged 84)
Chiltern, Buckinghamshire, England
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  Royal Air Force
Years of service 19351968
Rank Air Commodore
Commands held OC No. 179 Squadron RAF
OC RAF Kinloss 1957 – 1959
Commandant Royal Observer Corps 1964 - 1969
Battles/wars World War II
Awards

Companions of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Order

Distinguished Flying Cross

Air Commodore Jeaffreson Herbert Greswell CB CBE DSO DFC RAF (28 July 1916 19 November 2000) was a British pilot during World War II and a senior Royal Air Force officer in the post-war years.

As an Air Commodore, Greswell served as the eleventh Commandant Royal Observer Corps between June 1964 and June 1968.

Service history

Greswell joined the RAF in 1935 and served for over thirty years. Much of his war time service was spent with Coastal Command operating on convoy protection duties. Initially flying Ansons with No. 217 Squadron RAF and later in Wellingtons, promoted to Squadron Leader with No. 172 Squadron RAF.[1] He was heavily involved in the development and testing of the 'Leigh Light' illumination system used effectively in the war against the U-boat menace. On the first serious test of the system in 1942, a Wellington piloted by Greswell, located two U-boats and seriously damaged both with depth charges and machinegun fire.[2]

On his return from a detachment in the United States, where he had overseen American manufacturers on the fitting of the Leigh Light system in Liberators and trained aircrew in its use, he was promoted to Wing Commander and posted to No. 179 Squadron RAF in Gibraltar.[1]

At the end of the war Greswell was placed on the reserve list of RAF officers. Upon recall in the 1950s he was promoted to Group Captain and his post war appointments included involvement in the air support planning for the British forces landings in Egypt during the Suez crisis in 1956.[2]

Royal Observer Corps

On promotion to Air Commodore rank in June 1964, Greswell was appointed as the 11th Commandant of the ROC during a period which saw the greatest reorganisation and upheaval in the organisation’s history.[2]

Honours and awards

References

  1. 1 2 "Air Commodore J H Greswell". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Air Commodore Jeaffreson Greswell". The Telegraph. 4 December 2000. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  3. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35646. p. 3303. 28 July 1942. Retrieved 9 October 2008.
  4. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36443. p. 1444. 28 March 1944. Retrieved 9 October 2008.
  5. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37407. p. 35. 1 January 1946. Retrieved 9 October 2008.
  6. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 42683. p. 4315. 2 June 1962. Retrieved 9 October 2008.
  7. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 44326. p. 6271. 10 June 1967. Retrieved 9 October 2008.

External links

Military offices
Preceded by
C M Wight-Boycott
Commandant Royal Observer Corps
1964 1968
Succeeded by
D F Rixson
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