Eustace Grenfell

Group Captain Eustace Osborne Grenfell MC DFC AFC (26 August 1890 – 7 March 1964) was an early flying ace of World War I. He was credited with eight victories. He went on to make a career of the Royal Air Force. He was instrumental in developing the integrated radar/ground control system that won the Battle of Britain.[1]

Eustace Grenfell
Birth nameEustace Osborne Grenfell
Born(1890-08-26)26 August 1890
Southend, Essex, England
Died7 March 1964(1964-03-07) (aged 73)
Chichester, Sussex, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchInfantry; aviation
Years of service1913–1942
RankMajor
UnitDuke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, No. 1 Squadron RFC, No. 60 Squadron RFC, No. 23 Squadron RFC
Commands heldRAF Biggin Hill, RAF Thornaby, RAF Gosport
AwardsMilitary Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Force Cross
Other workDeveloped air defence system that led to Dowding system.

World War I service

On 2 June 1913, Eustace Osborne Grenfell was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry.[2] On 9 November 1914, he was granted Aviator's Certificate No. 966 after qualifying on a Maurice Farman biplane at the Central Flying School at Upavon.[3][4] On 22 December 1914, he was appointed a flying officer[5] On 17 August 1915, he was officially seconded to the Royal Flying Corps in the rank of lieutenant.[6]

On 5 September 1915, he was a lieutenant serving as a temporary captain and appointed a flight commander.[7][8] Grenfell scored his first aerial victory on 13 September 1915, flying a Morane-Saulnier and driving down an Albatros reconnaissance plane.[9] He used the Morane-Saulnier L, which was the world's first airplane built with a gun firing forward through the propeller.[10] Grenfell used this same crude early fighter to shoot down a second Albatros recce plane on 7 December 1915.[9]

By January 1916, Grenfell had upgraded to a Morane "Bullet", which he used in a quadruple victory on the 17th. On that day, in a forty-minute dogfight over the Houthoulst Forest, he drove down a Fokker Eindekker, forced another to land, put another one out of control, and drove down an Albatros two-seater.[9]

On 1 April 1916, he was appointed a flight commander at the Central Flying School back in England.[11] On 12 July 1916, he was succeeded as an instructor by J. P. C. Cooper.[12]

Grenfell returned to battle when he was assigned to 60 Squadron, which was commanded by Alan Scott, and where he served with Albert Ball.[13] Now using a newer fighter, a Nieuport, he drove an Albatros D.I fighter down out of control on 20 October 1916.[9] However, it was his last victory, on 28 December, that was the most memorable. Aided by Keith Caldwell, Henry Meintjes, and three other pilots, he forced an Albatros C.II to land in a field. Because the German plane was a new type, the victors were anxious to capture it whole for its intelligence value. They landed surrounding it, four of them crashing their Nieuports in the process. Grenfell was one of them, and the only casualty, with a broken leg. The unwounded German observer managed to set the Albatros afire; it exploded, injuring the observer and several British infantrymen.[14]

On 19 November 1917, Grenfell, who was a lieutenant brevetted as a temporary major, reverted from squadron leader back to flight commander and temporary captain with seniority set back 5 September 1915.[15]

Having scored five of his victories in the Morane-Saulnier N, he was the most successful pilot in the type.

Post World War I service

Despite his setback, Grenfell remained in the Royal Air Force. In December 1918, he was selected as officer commanding of RAF Biggin Hill.[16] In December 1918, he reverted from major back to captain.[17] In 1923, he transferred from 27 Squadron in India to 1 Squadron in Iraq.[18] On 30 June 1923, he was promoted from flight lieutenant to squadron leader.[19]

On 1 January 1924, he was transferred to the RAF Depot on Home Establishment.[20] Then, while assigned to 7 Squadron, he and Charles Portal won the Laurence Minot memorial bombing trophy in September 1927.[21]

On 1 July 1931, he was promoted squadron leader to wing commander.[22][23] On 3 August 1931, he was transferred to RAF Gosport for admin duties.[24] It was during this stretch that he served in administrative capacity; in mid 1932, Grenfell took on flying duties at Gosport.[25]

In January 1933, he was once again selected as OC of RAF Biggin Hill.[16] This would be the most momentous assignment of his life. Beginning 4 August 1935 and extending for seven months, he was in charge of experiments in intercepting attacking enemy aircraft. The system of ground control that was developed was integrated with the brand new radar that was being developed; that same system would be the key to British victory in the Battle of Britain and the continued existence of Britain.[1]

On 1 January 1937, Grenfell was promoted from wing commander to group captain.[26][27] He was briefly OC of RAF Thornaby 12 May 1938 – 28 July 1938.[28] On 28 August 1938, he moved on to the same post at RAF Gosport.[29] On 17 February 1942, he retired from the military.[30]

Honours and awards

Military Cross (MC)

Lieutenant (temporary Captain) Eustace Osborne Grenfell, Royal Artillery and Royal Flying Corps. For conspicuous gallantry and skill. He attacked single-handed and brought down three Fokker aeroplanes. Captain Grenfell has shown great bravery and initiative at all times." (Supplement to the London Gazette, 15 March 1916) 2877[31]

Awarded the Air Force Cross on 2 November 1918.[32][33]

Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 30 May 1924.[34]

Notes
  1. Goldman, Emily O., ed. (19 May 2005). Information and Revolutions in Military Affairs. Routledge. pp. 184–185. ISBN 978-0415701396.
  2. "No. 28753". The London Gazette. 5 September 1913. p. 6330.
  3. "Official Notices to Members", Flight: 1134, 20 November 1914
  4. http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/wiki/Aviators_Certificates_-_UK_1914 Archived 23 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  5. "No. 29038". The London Gazette. 12 January 1915. p. 382.
  6. "No. 29284". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 September 1915. p. 8812.
  7. "No. 29310". The London Gazette. 28 September 1915. p. 9552.
  8. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1915/1915%20-%200735.html (Flight: The Aircraft Engineer and Airship: First Aero Weekly in the World, 1 October 1915) Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  9. "Eustace Grenfell". The Aerodrome. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  10. "Morane-Saulnier L". www.theaerodrome.com. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  11. "No. 29641". The London Gazette. 21 June 1916. p. 6343.
  12. (Flight: The Aircraft Engineer and Airship: First Aero Weekly in the World, 1 October 1915) http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1916/1916%20-%200670.html Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  13. Scott 1920, p. 15
  14. Scott 1920, p. 31
  15. "No. 30388". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 November 1917. p. 11931.
  16. www.rafweb.org http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Station%20OCs-London.htm. Retrieved 28 February 2010. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  17. "No. 31112". The London Gazette. 7 January 1919. p. 365.
  18. "Royal Air Force Intelligence", Flight: 191, 5 April 1923
  19. www.flightglobal.com http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1923/1923%20-%200375.html. Retrieved 28 February 2010. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  20. (Flight: The Aircraft Engineer and Airship: First Aero Weekly in the World, 2 October 1924) shttp://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1924/1924%20-%200645.html Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  21. http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/h7.html Retrieved 28 February 2010. Archived 22 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  22. "No. 33731". The London Gazette. 30 June 1931. p. 4250.
  23. www.flightglobal.com http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1931/1931%20-%200699.html. Retrieved 28 February 2010. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  24. (Flight: The Aircraft Engineer and Airship: First Aero Weekly in the World, 28 August 1931) http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1931/1931%20-%200933.html Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  25. www.flightglobal.com http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1932/1932%20-%200587.html. Retrieved 28 February 2010. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  26. "No. 34356". The London Gazette. 1 January 1937. p. 17.
  27. "Half-Yearly Promotions", Flight: 19, 7 January 1937
  28. "RAF Station Commanders - Yorkshire" Air of Authority. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  29. www.rafweb.org http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Station%20OCs-SE.htm. Retrieved 28 February 2010. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  30. "No. 35467". The London Gazette. 24 February 1942. p. 908.
  31. www.flightglobal.com http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1916/1916%20-%200238.html. Retrieved 28 February 2010. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  32. "No. 30989". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 November 1918. pp. 12957–12958.
  33. www.flightglobal.com http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1918/1918%20-%201245.html. Retrieved 28 February 2010. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  34. "No. 32940". The London Gazette. 30 May 1924. p. 4313.

References
  • Scott, Alan John Lance (1920). Sixty Squadron, RAF: A History of the Squadron from its Formation. W. Heinemann.
  • Shores, Christopher F.; Franks, Norman & Guest, Russell F. (1990). Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.
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