Gordon CG Greenacre

This web page is dedicated to Gordon Charles George Greenacre and the crew of LW647, a Halifax III bomber of the 76 Squadron RAF. Gordon was my great-uncle's son, my grandmother's brother Clifford's son. Gordon has been described by one of his friends as 'a tenacious and gallant' pilot.

This is what I know about his pre-war years. He lived in Wroxham, England with his parents, Clifford and Daisy. Gordon won a county scholarship at age 11 to Paston Grammar School, North Walsham. Before his military service in World War II, he was employed by the Norfolk County Council government offices.

This excerpt is from the book "To See the Dawn Breaking" by W.R. Chorley, regarding a reference to an attack on Cologne in July 1943; "The flak barrage was strong, Sgt Gordon Greenacre's aircraft was hit in several places and his rear gunner, Sgt Brawn received a painful wound. Disoriented, Greenacre wandered from his intended course and their return to an emergency landing at Flartford Bridge near Basingstoke was only accomplished with much difficulty. This must have been an unnerving experience for this young crew operating for only the second time, but Gordon Greenacre would prove to be a pilot of exceptional courage in the coming months of the campaign."

On March 30, 1944 at 2211, the crew of LW647 took off from Holme-on-Spalding Moor, England. This was the crew's 21st mission and Gordon's 32rd, but he volunteered for this mission when the pilot for the crew became sick. They were to bomb the city of Nuremburg, Germany on the night of March 30-31, 1944. Enroute to the target, the bombers found the target covered with thick clouds and the aircraft bathed in the light of a full moon. To make matters worse, the straight flight path over German defenses combined to make the bombers easy targets. After two German fighters missed the A/C, a German night fighter shot down the aircraft, the 49th shot down attacking Nuremburg that night.

From the account published in the book, "Raid on Nuremberg" by Martin Middlebrook, Gordon's plane was attacked from underneath by twin 20mm upward (60-80 degrees) firing cannons called "Schräge Musik". These were first used in August 1943 and were fitted to rear bulkhead of the cockpit of Messerschmitt Bf 110 night fighters. This allowed the fighters to attack A/C from underneath, where they were very vulnerable. Hit in the left wing from below, a fire broke out and spread rapidly to the fuselage. Gordon ordered everyone to bail out, shouting 'For God's sake get out!'. Jack Henthorn was able to abandon his wireless operator post and get out. Shortly after, the crippled bomber went into a dive and exploded. The flight engineer, Tony Monk, survived this event.

The aircraft crashed in Nieder-Moos (Niedermoos) , 4 miles NNW of Greiensteinau, Germany, 20kms SW of Fulda, Germany. Five members of the crew were killed including the pilot and two were taken prisoner. The killed were buried April 1st at Niedermoos, later reinterred at the Durnbach War Cemetery.

Pilot:
Greenacre, Gordon Charles George (156083), Flying Officer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (killed - age 22). Only child, son of Clifford Edward and Daisy May Greenacre, of Wroxham, Norfolk, England.

Thorpe, Alfred (155998) Flying Officer, Navigator, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (killed - age 25). Son of Lawrence and Mary Jane Thorpe, of Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire; husband of Joan Louise Thorpe, of Sutton-in-Ashfield, England.

Arneil, (Jack) Adam Scott (173604) F/S Pilot Officer - Bomb-aimer, (killed - 21). Son of Robert A. B. Arneil, and of Agnes W. Arneil, of Barnton, Midlothian, England. (Note: name was spelled Arnell on other site, Arneil name has been confirmed on a Greenacre family photograph)

Henthorn, Jack A Sgt, WOp (Wireless Operator), (POW Stalag 357 (Kopernikus), POW number was 3430)

Maw, Arthur Douglas (J/19452), Royal Canadian Air Force, Pilot Officer, Air Gunner, (killed)

Death, Arthur Henry, (J/19181), Royal Canadian Air Force, Pilot Officer, Air Gunner, (killed - age 23). Son of William H. Death and Lizzie Death, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Arneil, A S - Grave 6. F. 17
Death, A H - Joint grave 6. F. 18-19
Greenacre, G C G - Grave 6. F. 16
Maw, A D - Joint grave 6. F. 18-19
Thorpe, A - Grave 6. F. 15

This article was posted in the Eastern Daily Press newspaper in England on October 14/15, 1946:

IN MEMORY OF R.A.F. OFFICER

Litany Desk Dedicated in Wroxham Church

At St. Mary's Church, Wroxham, on Sunday morning the vicar, the Rev. D. Davies dedicated a carved litany desk and service books in memory of F/O Gordon C. G. Greenacre, R.A.F.V.R., which was presented to the church by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Greenacre, of Wroxham and friends.

F/O Greenacre, & pilot of Halifax bombers, had completed 32 missions, including one to Milan, and, taking the place of a sick pilot, he flew with a formation to Nuremberg in March, 1944. On this mission four of his crew baled out and Greenacre, who remained at his post, was reported missing.

The Rev. Aubrey Aitkin (vicar of Spowston) gave the address.

Kept in the Lady Chapel, the desk still used today every Wednesday morning. Thanks Reverend Andrew Parsons of Wroxham Church for the information.

After attending church on Sunday, January 19, 2003, a friend of mine suggested the name of a web site to research fallen British soldiers of both world wars. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission proven to be an incredible source of information. Having only Gordon's name and war served, I was able to find out the date and location of burial. His mother Daisy did visit the grave site. Gordon's name is mentioned on his parents gravestone in Wroxham.

Site maintained by Richard Stinchcomb richAA@stinch.com (Please remove anti-spam "AA" from e-mail address)