BLACK, Gregory James
| Service Number: | 409519 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 September 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Flying Officer |
| Last Unit: | No. 156 Squadron (RAF) |
| Born: | Chetwynd, Victoria, AUSTRALIA, 31 May 1912 |
| Home Town: | Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Bank Clerk |
| Died: | Shot down over Frisian Islands returning from raid, Texel Island, The Netherlands, North West Europe, 3 April 1943, aged 30 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, England, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial, Runnymede Air Forces Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 12 Sep 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 409519 | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Sep 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 409519, No. 156 Squadron (RAF) | |
| 6 Dec 1941: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, Aircrew Training Units | |
| 26 Jun 1942: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer | |
| 25 Dec 1942: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer | |
| 3 Apr 1943: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 409519, No. 156 Squadron (RAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45, Posted to 156 Squadron (RAF) at the time of death |
Help us honour Gregory James Black's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Steve Larkins
Flying Officer Greg Black was lost with all of the crew in Lancaster W4894 GT-T, on Greg's first operational flight with No.156 Squadron, not long after he completed his training as a Wireless Operator and joined his allocated squadron.
156 Squadron was one of the Pathfinder Force squadrons that led the bomber stream to its targets over Germany and occupied Europe.
The aircraft was shot down near Texel Island off the Netherland's coast.
The aircraft was discovered in 1989 when a Dutch fishing trawler snagged its wreckage.
In 2017, an identity disc belonging to Gregory Black was discovered, and it has since been re-united with his nephew in South Australia.
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