George Gribble (RAF officer)

On 4 June, No. 54 Squadron returned to Hornchurch. It became fully engaged in the Battle of Britain the following month, regularly flying from Rochford and Manston in the southeast of England. On 25 July, Gribble claimed to have shot down two Bf 109s over North Foreland, although these were unconfirmed. Two days later the squadron returned to Catterick for another rest period. By this time Gribble was a flight commander.[6] Another pilot in the squadron, Alan Deere, a New Zealand flying ace, described him as the "squadron joker".[8]

No. 54 Squadron was back at Hornchurch by early August and resumed flying in the ongoing battle over Britain.[6] On 13 August 1940, Gribble's award of a Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) was announced; the citation, published in the London Gazette, read:

Since the outbreak of war, this young officer has taken part in most of the offensive patrols carried out by his squadron, including operations over the Low Countries and Dunkirk, and intensive air fighting over the Channel. Pilot Officer Gribble has led his section, and recently his flight, in a courageous and determined manner. On one offensive patrol, having expended his ammunition, he did not hesitate to lead two other pilots of his section, under severe cross-fire, in an attack against a formation of six Dornier 17's. As a result the effective bombing of an important convoy was prevented. This officer has personally destroyed three Messerschmitt 109's, and damaged many others.

— London Gazette, No. 34920, 13 August 1940[9]

Two days after the announcement of his DFC, Gribble damaged a Junkers Ju 87 dive bomber, one of 30 that were intercepted over Dover by No. 54 Squadron. Later in the day he destroyed a Bf 109 and damaged a bomber, a Dornier Do 17, over Maidstone. He damaged another Bf 109 the next day. On 18 August he shot down a Bf 109, damaged a Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighter and damaged two Heinkel He 111 bombers. In an engagement near Deal on 22 August, he claimed a Bf 109 as probably destroyed. Flying over Dover two days later, he encountered and damaged a Bf 110. In a subsequent patrol the same day, he destroyed a Bf 109, seeing it crash near Faversham in Kent. He shot down two Bf 109s on 28 August; the first was in the morning, part of the fighter escort for a group of Do 17s that was targeting the RAF airfield at Rochford. The second was in the afternoon, one of several Bf 109s and Bf 110s engaged by the squadron. On the last day of the month Hornchurch was bombed while the squadron was taking off on a sortie. Four aircraft were lost but with the assistance of his wingman, Gribble was able to shoot down a Bf 109 at low level.[7][10]

The first few days of September proved to be busy, with a number of sorties being flown. Gribble claimed a Bf 109 as probably destroyed on 2 September[7] and the following day was promoted to flying officer.[11] The same day he went to Buckingham Palace, where he was presented with his DFC by King George VI. The squadron was shifted to Catterick shortly afterwards for a rest. Despite the move north, it was still called upon for interception missions, and on 27 October, Gribble was credited with damaging a Junkers Ju 88 bomber. He damaged another bomber, a He 111, to the southeast of Catterick on 6 November.[5][7][12]

No. 54 Squadron was transferred back to Hornchurch in February 1941. Now equipped with the updated Spitfire Mk IIa, it regularly flew across the English Channel to the Low Countries, carrying out offensive sweeps and escorting bombers.[5] On 4 June, and by this time a flight lieutenant, he was leading a section of Spitfires that were escorting bombers when they encountered a pair of Bf 109s. Attempting to engage these, he in turn was intercepted by other Luftwaffe fighters and the engine of his Spitfire was apparently damaged. He bailed out and came down in the sea, about 12 miles (19 km) from the English coast. Despite a search by Air and Sea Rescue vessels he was unable to be found and was presumed to have died.[13]

At the time of his presumed death, Gribble was the last pilot still flying with No. 54 Squadron who had been part of its pre-war establishment. He had the sole credit for destroying six German aircraft, with a share in another aircraft shot down. He had two unconfirmed aerial victories, plus two probably destroyed. He also was credited with damaging at least nine enemy aircraft.[7] He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runneymeade Memorial.[2]

His medals which, in addition to the DFC, included the 1939–45 Star with Battle of Britain Clasp, the Air Crew Europe Star, and the War Medal 1939–1945, came up for auction in September 2007. They sold for £35,000.[14] The medals are presently owned by Lord Michael Ashcroft.[15]