Russell Henry GRIGG

Russell Henry GRIGG Update Details

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GRIGG, Russell Henry

Service Number:	405284
Enlisted:	2 March 1941, No. 3 Recruit Centre Brisbane, QLD
Last Rank:	Warrant Officer
Last Unit:	No. 100 Squadron (RAAF)
Born:	Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 25 May 1909
Home Town:	Wamuran, Moreton Bay, Queensland
Schooling:	Brisbane Boys Grammar, Queensland Agricultural College and Queensland Univerity, Queensland, Australia
Occupation:	Fruit Grower and Tractor Contractor
Died:	Flying Battle, Gasmata, New Britain, Pacific Islands, 5 September 1943, aged 34 years
Cemetery:	No known grave - "Known Unto God" Rabaul Memorial, Rabaul, East New Britain, Papua New Guinea
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Rabaul Memorial, Wamuran National Servicemen's Memorial

World War 2 Service

2 Mar 1941:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 405284, No. 3 Recruit Centre Brisbane, QLD
3 Mar 1941:	Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 405284, No. 3 Initial Training School Sandgate
26 Apr 1941:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, No. 3 Initial Training School Sandgate
29 May 1941:	Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 405284, No. 1 Air Observers School Cootamundra
23 Aug 1941:	Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 405284, No. 1 Bombing and Air Gunnery School / No. 1 Air Observers School / Evans Head
13 Nov 1941:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, Unit: No. 1 Air Navigation School
23 Nov 1941:	Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 405284, 3 Embarkation Depot (Sandgate)
8 Dec 1941:	Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 405284, 2 Embarkation Depot
19 Dec 1941:	Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 405284, No. 1 Bombing and Air Gunnery School / No. 1 Air Observers School / Evans Head
1 Aug 1942:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, No. 1 Bombing and Air Gunnery School / No. 1 Air Observers School / Evans Head
8 Aug 1942:	Transferred Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, No. 22 Squadron (RAAF)
5 Jan 1943:	Transferred Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, No. 1 Operational Training Unit (RAAF) Nhill, Bairnsdale, East Sale
21 Mar 1943:	Transferred Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, Base Torpedo Unit (Nowra)
14 Jun 1943:	Transferred Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 1 Reserve Personnel Pool (RAAF - Garbutt)
15 Jun 1943:	Transferred Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, No. 100 Squadron (RAAF)
1 Aug 1943:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Warrant Officer, No. 100 Squadron (RAAF)
5 Sep 1943:	Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Warrant Officer, 405284, No. 100 Squadron (RAAF), New Britain, Killed in Air Operations on Gasmata Harbour

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Biography contributed by Karen Standen

On the 12th April 1943, Russell survived an aircraft accident without injury. He was the Navigator of Beaufort Bomber A9-266 at the RAAF Base Torpedo Unit (/explore/units/1478) (BTU), when during a low formation training exercise involving three aircraft, A9-266 "slipped in", crashing at Cabbage Tree Creek on the northeast side of Jervis Bay, NSW. Also surviving the accident were, Pilot Clement Batstone Wiggins and Wireless Operator Air Gunner (WOAG) Gordon Lewis Hamilton. Their crewmate, WOAG Cyril Wattie Jackson (/explore/people/633620) was the only fatality and was buried at the Nowra War Cemetery (/explore/cemeteries/3206).

Five months later, Russell was killed during a bombing raid on Gasmata. He was the Navigator of Beaufort Bomber A9-186, based at No. 100 Squadron (/explore/units/823), Gurney, New Guinea. It was one of three aircraft lost in the ten aircraft operation on the 5th September 1943. All four crew members of A9-186 were killed, including Pilot Clement Batstone Wiggins (/explore/people/652256), WOAG Gordon Lewis Hamilton (/explore/people/630816) and WOAG Albert Beckett (/explore/people/619517).

Russell Henry Grigg was survived by his wife Christian and their three children, John, Mary and Frank.

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