619 SQUADRON 1591783 Sgt; David Greenley (AIR GUNNER) died 12/9/1944 buried in DURNBACH WAR CEMETERY GERMANY.
Was my fathers best friend and cousin,came from Yorkshire. Only child. Trying to find out what he was flying in and other crew members. Also what happened at ths event. Any help much appreciated. Thank you Pauline.
Hi Pauline, Just as a starter for you I have found this information on LostBombers.com Lancaster LM209 Information Type Lancaster Serial Number LM209 Squadron 619 X1D PG-H Operation Darmstadt Date 1 11th September 1944 Date 2 12th September 1944
Further Information "Serial Range LL617 - LM296 This aircraft was one of 450 Lancasters ordered from Armstrong whitworth Aircraft apr42 and built as 100 Mk.11s with Hercules XV1 engines, delivered from Oct43 to Mar44, and 350 mk.1s with Merlin 24 engines initially installed and deliverd from Nov43 to aug44. LM209 was a Mk.1 and was delivered to 619 Sqdn Jun44. Only other Key Operation was against Courtrai 20/21Jul44 When lost this aircraft had a total of 189 hours. LM209 was one of two 619 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation. See: LM191 Airborne 2045 11Sep44 from Dunholme Lodge. Crashed 0030 12Sep44 into a dense wood, about 1 km SW of Darmstadt Airfield between the town of Griesheim and the western side of Darmstadt. The wreckage lay undiscovered until 10May47, when the authorities examined a large crater and recovered the remains of the crew. all were initially taken for burial to Neckargem_nd. They have been subsequently re-interred in Durnbach War Cemetery. S/L R.A.Squibbs KIA Sgt A.Furnival KIA F/S J.Singer KIA F/O J.F.Parry KIA Sgt J.Davison KIA Sgt D.Greenley KIA Wo1 L.G.Evans RCAF KIA "
I hope this is a start for you. Regards, Gary
-- Edited by Starman 1957 on Friday 7th of January 2011 10:38:15 AM
Hello Gary. Wow what a surprise to get such a quick reaction to my request. I have always been curious since my dads sister in Yorkshire first told me of him. I felt so sorry for his parents whom I met when a child during the 50s, as he was their only child.
We were a very lucky not have lost anyone except David during the war from such a large family. But its nice to try and discover more about him.
Being hopeful or greedy... I hope some-one could supply more information or photos of him and the crew he was with.
Thank you so much for the trouble you have taken. Best wishes Pauline
Hi Pauline, Glad I could find something out for you. I have had a look around again and have found the link to his Commonwealth War Graves Commission entry on their register. It gives some detailed information about the cemetry and grave.
I lost my Uncle, he was also 19, in the same year (January, 1944) Photos are hard to come by but you may be lucky as someone may have a link to other information. I will keep looking for you and post anything else on here for you. Regards, Gary
A sad story , Looking at my fathers Pilots log book (Wing Commander Maurice A Smith DFC ) He flew LM209 on 15 different ops in this aircraft between 24/7/44 and 10/9/44 , he loved the Lancaster as written in an article by him I am sure he had got know like and trust LM209 after spending so many hours in it, so sad that luck ran out on 12/7/44
Thank you so much for your comments on my cousins Lancaster. Yes a sad story for all concerned. Did your father survive the war ? I do hope so.
I have always harboured a wish to see inside a Lancaster and hope one day that wish may come true.
David came from Hull in Yorkshire as had all my fathers family. I was born in Huddersfield Yorkshire but moved south when a very young child, I now live in Kent.
If you wish to contact me in the future you can do so on;- paulineabbott20@btinternet.com (all lower case)
Pauline,
If you would like details of previous operations flown by your cousin and his crew, let me know, as i have a copy of the 619sqdn Operations Record Book.
Alan.
According to Theo Boiten's book Nachtjagd War Diaries, they were most likely shot down by Oblt Friz E Krause of 1./NJG11 for his 4th victory. He would survive the war with a total of 6 victories.
Pauline,
Here is the information on Davids time with 619 Squadron, i will get the relevent pages together, and send via email over this weekend.
15th June 44, Posted in from 51 Base (Swinderby).
Ops......
24/6, Pommereval.
27/6, Marquise.
4/7, Creil.
18/7, Caen.
20/7, Courtrai.
23/7, Kiel.
24/7, Donges.
25/7, Stuttgart.
28/7, Stuttgart.
30/7, Cahagnes.
31/7, Rilly la Montage.
1/8, La Breteque.
2/8, Bois de Cassan.
5/8, St Leu de Esserrent.
6/8, Bois de Cassan.
29/8, Konigsberg.
2/9, Brest.
10/9 Le Havre.
11/9, Darmstadt, missing.
