Greenacre, Gordon Charles George
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | Gordon Charles George |
Surname | Greenacre |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 31-03-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Clifford Edward and Daisy May Greenacre, of Wroxham, Norfolk. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | LW647 |
Markings | MP-W |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Durnbach War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 6. F. 16. |
Epitaph | HOW BRIGHT THESE GLORIOUS SPIRITS SHINE! |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 173 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 156083 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 76 |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | St. Mary the Virgin Church,Wroxham, Norfolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brass Plaque on Wooden Kneeling Desk |
Memorial Text | In loving memory of Flying officer Gordon C.G Greenacre R.A.F V.R Born 1st Feb 1922 killed in action over Nuremberg 31st March 1944 A faithfull member of this church choir for 12 years |
Location | Behind old Main Guardroom, former Holme On Spalding Moor Airfield, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Pillar with inscribed Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | In Remembrance of the aircrew members from the UK,Australia,New Zealand,Canada and Norway,who gave their lives in the cause of freedom in operational sorties against the enemy from 76 Sqn 1941-1945 and to the ground personal who lost their lives by enemy |
Location | All Saints Church, Holme On Spalding Moor, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window and Roll of Honour within Wooden Box with inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | S G Window In memory of 76 Sqn R.A.F / Roll of honour In memory of those members of 76 Sqn R.A.F who were killed on active service 1939-1954 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/652/6 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/652/5 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 30-03-1944 |
End Date | 31-03-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Holme-on-Spalding-Moor |
Day/Night Raid | Night (45% moon) |
Operation | Nuremberg. 795 aircraft, 95 losses (11.9%)- the highest of any raid. High-cloud was expected to offer protection to the bomber stream but the target would be clear for the bombing run. A Mosquito meteorological flight had predicted that in fact that would not be the case, but the raid went ahead anyway. The German controller ignored the diversionary raids and had his fighters circling close to the route of the main force, using Tame Boar tactics. Consequently, the fighters engaged the bombers before they reached the Belgian border. The clear conditions allowed the fighters to pick off bombers at will with 82 of the 95 bombers being Lost on the outbound leg. Strong winds meant that some of the bombers went off the intended route and as a consequence many bombed Schweinfurt in error, some 50 miles from Nuremberg. The problem as exacerbated by two PFF aircraft dropping markers in Schweinfurt. Overall, the raid was a failure and little damage was caused. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter on the outbound leg and crashed at Nieder-Moos, NNW of Greiensteinau, Germany |