Reg Grant
Encyclopedia
Reginald Joseph Cowan Grant (1914 – 1944) DFC
and Bar
, DFM
was an officer of the Royal New Zealand Air Force
(RNZAF) who was killed in flying operations
during the Second World War.
, a small town in New Zealand
's North Island
. He was educated at Auckland Grammar School
. After schooling, he commenced working as a metal spinner
. Grant joined the RNZAF in November 1939 and having completed his flying training, he was posted to the United Kingdom
as a Sergeant Pilot
to join 145 Squadron
at Tangmere
in March 1941.
In June and July 1941, Grant was flying Spitfires
from Manston
, and during that period he destroyed four Messerschmitt Bf 109
's. By August 1941, and having taken part in 22 operations, Grant was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal
. That same month he was promoted to the rank of Pilot Officer
and posted to 485 Squadron
, the all-New Zealand fighter unit. By March 1942, Grant was promoted to flight lieutenant
and in that month he destroyed a Focke-Wulf Fw 190
during a sweep from Cap Gris Nez
to Dunkirk. In May 1942, he took command of 485 Squadron and in September of that year he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
for setting an excellent example of leadership and efficiency.
In November 1942, Grant's younger brother, Ian, was posted to 485 Squadron. On 13 February 1943, the Squadron took off for a mission across northern France
and shortly after crossing the French coast the Spitfires sighted and engaged a force of FW 190's. However, a further 20 German fighters attacked out of the sun
and 3 Spitfires were shot down killing Ian Grant. Reg Grant saw the threat but was unable to warn his brother in time. He immediately engaged the FW 190 which had carried out the attack and shot it down.
Grant completed his operational tour in March 1943, having carried out 150 sorties and destroying eight enemy aircraft. He was awarded a Bar
to his DFC in June. After some months in Canada
, where he lectured New Zealand air crew trainees, Grant returned to England in November 1943 and was given command of 65 Squadron
. Early in 1944 he was appointed Wing Commander Flying
of 122 Wing, equipped with Mustangs. On 28 February 1944, Grant took off for a sortie across the English Channel
. Shortly after take off, in cloud
, the engine of his fighter cut out. After ordering the Wing to carry on without him, he turned back to base. On coming out of cloud at 1000 feet, he baled out but was too low for his parachute
to open properly and fell to his death. The crash site is located on the east bound A13 carriageway approx 100 metres east of the A128 flyover above the main A13 London to Southend Road. Grant was buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery.
On 28 February 2004, 60 years to the day after Grant's death, a dedication of memorial and service was held for his Remembrance. In September 2010, a room naming and unveiling ceremony was held at HQ 485 Wing at Whenuapai
, outside Auckland
, in honour of three former World War II Commanding Officers of No 485 (NZ) Spitfire Squadron, one being Grant.
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
and Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
, DFM
Distinguished Flying Medal
The Distinguished Flying Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force and the other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active...
was an officer of the Royal New Zealand Air Force
Royal New Zealand Air Force
The Royal New Zealand Air Force is the air arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...
(RNZAF) who was killed in flying operations
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
during the Second World War.
Career
Grant was born on 3 June 1914, in WoodvilleWoodville, New Zealand
Woodville is a small town in the southern North Island of New Zealand, 75 km north of Masterton and 25 km east of Palmerston North. In the 2006 census 1,398 people are usually resident in Woodville, a decrease of 81 people, or 5.5%, since the 2001 Census.-Early History and Local...
, a small town in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
. He was educated at Auckland Grammar School
Auckland Grammar School
Auckland Grammar School is a state secondary school for years 9 to 13 boys in Auckland, New Zealand. It had a roll of 2,483 in 2008, including a number of boarders who live in nearby Tibbs' House, making it one of the largest schools in New Zealand...
. After schooling, he commenced working as a metal spinner
Metal spinning
Metal spinning, also known as spin forming or spinning, is a metalworking process by which a disc or tube of metal is rotated at high speed and formed into an axially symmetric part. Spinning can be performed by hand or by a CNC lathe....
. Grant joined the RNZAF in November 1939 and having completed his flying training, he was posted to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
as a Sergeant Pilot
Sergeant Pilot
A Sergeant Pilot was a non-commissioned officer who had undergone flight training and was a qualified pilot in the air forces of several Commonwealth countries and in the United States Army Air Force before, during and after World War II where they were called Flying Sergeants...
to join 145 Squadron
No. 145 Squadron RAF
No. 145 Squadron was a Royal Air Force squadron that operated during World War I, World War II and the Cold War. Its motto was Diu noctuque pugnamus .-History:...
at Tangmere
RAF Tangmere
RAF Tangmere was a Royal Air Force station famous for its role in the Battle of Britain, located at Tangmere village about 3 miles east of Chichester in West Sussex, England. American RAF pilot Billy Fiske died at Tangmere and was the first American aviator to die during World War II...
in March 1941.
In June and July 1941, Grant was flying Spitfires
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
from Manston
RAF Manston
RAF Manston was an RAF station in the north-east of Kent, at on the Isle of Thanet from 1916 until 1996. The site is now split between a commercial airport Kent International Airport and a continuing military use by the Defence Fire Training and Development Centre , following on from a long...
, and during that period he destroyed four Messerschmitt Bf 109
Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
's. By August 1941, and having taken part in 22 operations, Grant was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal
Distinguished Flying Medal
The Distinguished Flying Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force and the other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active...
. That same month he was promoted to the rank of Pilot Officer
Pilot Officer
Pilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
and posted to 485 Squadron
No. 485 Squadron RNZAF
No. 485 Squadron was a Spitfire squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force during the Second World War. It was the first RNZAF squadron formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme and served in Europe under the operational command of the Royal Air Force.-History:Manned by New Zealand...
, the all-New Zealand fighter unit. By March 1942, Grant was promoted to flight lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
and in that month he destroyed a Focke-Wulf Fw 190
Focke-Wulf Fw 190
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Würger was a German Second World War single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft designed by Kurt Tank in the late 1930s. Powered by a radial engine, the 190 had ample power and was able to lift larger loads than its well-known counterpart, the Messerschmitt Bf 109...
during a sweep from Cap Gris Nez
Cap Gris Nez
Cap Gris Nez is a cape on the Côte d'Opale in the Pas-de-Calais département in northern France....
to Dunkirk. In May 1942, he took command of 485 Squadron and in September of that year he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
for setting an excellent example of leadership and efficiency.
In November 1942, Grant's younger brother, Ian, was posted to 485 Squadron. On 13 February 1943, the Squadron took off for a mission across northern France
Langues d'oïl
The langues d'oïl or langues d'oui , in English the Oïl or Oui languages, are a dialect continuum that includes standard French and its closest autochthonous relatives spoken today in the northern half of France, southern Belgium, and the Channel Islands...
and shortly after crossing the French coast the Spitfires sighted and engaged a force of FW 190's. However, a further 20 German fighters attacked out of the sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
and 3 Spitfires were shot down killing Ian Grant. Reg Grant saw the threat but was unable to warn his brother in time. He immediately engaged the FW 190 which had carried out the attack and shot it down.
Grant completed his operational tour in March 1943, having carried out 150 sorties and destroying eight enemy aircraft. He was awarded a Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
to his DFC in June. After some months in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, where he lectured New Zealand air crew trainees, Grant returned to England in November 1943 and was given command of 65 Squadron
No. 65 Squadron RAF
No. 65 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force.-World War I:The squadron was first formed at Wyton on 1 August 1916 as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps with a core provided from the training ground at Norwich. By the end of World War I, it had claimed over 200 victories...
. Early in 1944 he was appointed Wing Commander Flying
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
of 122 Wing, equipped with Mustangs. On 28 February 1944, Grant took off for a sortie across the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
. Shortly after take off, in cloud
Cloud
A cloud is a visible mass of liquid droplets or frozen crystals made of water and/or various chemicals suspended in the atmosphere above the surface of a planetary body. They are also known as aerosols. Clouds in Earth's atmosphere are studied in the cloud physics branch of meteorology...
, the engine of his fighter cut out. After ordering the Wing to carry on without him, he turned back to base. On coming out of cloud at 1000 feet, he baled out but was too low for his parachute
Parachute
A parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag, or in the case of ram-air parachutes, aerodynamic lift. Parachutes are usually made out of light, strong cloth, originally silk, now most commonly nylon...
to open properly and fell to his death. The crash site is located on the east bound A13 carriageway approx 100 metres east of the A128 flyover above the main A13 London to Southend Road. Grant was buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery.
On 28 February 2004, 60 years to the day after Grant's death, a dedication of memorial and service was held for his Remembrance. In September 2010, a room naming and unveiling ceremony was held at HQ 485 Wing at Whenuapai
Whenuapai
Whenuapai is a suburb and airport located in the western Waitakere area of Auckland City, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located on the northwestern shore of the Waitemata Harbour, 15 kilometres to the northwest of Auckland's city centre. It is one of the landing points for the Southern...
, outside Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, in honour of three former World War II Commanding Officers of No 485 (NZ) Spitfire Squadron, one being Grant.
Further reading
- Martyn, Errol W. (1999). For Your Tomorrow: Fates 1943-1998. Published by Volplane Press, Christchurch, N.Z. . ISBN 9780473063108.
- Thomas, Andrew (2010). RAF Mustang and Thunderbolt Aces. Published by Osprey Publishing, . ISBN 9781846039799.