Operation: Strafing

Date: 30th April 1941 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 274 Squadron (motto: 'I overcome). 258 Wing. 204 Group

Type: Hurricane I

Serial: V7555

Code: V

Base: LG10 Gerawala, Egypt

Location: Near Tobruk, Libya

Pilot: P/O. Douglas James Spence 42445 RAF Age 20. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

From 06:00 hrs the squadron sent off a Hurricane every 15 minutes on strafing strikes on the road between Gazala in Libya to Sollum in Egypt. Two failed to return, the other, 26 year old, F/O. Charles Greenhill 40472 RAF flying Hurricane I V7734.

Contrary to other websites that state he was shot down by enemy aircraft from 1/JG27 we are reliably informed he was in fact shot down by the allied anti-aircraft fire in error.

He had flown earlier with 245 squadron based at Aldergrove in Belfast during the Battle of Britain.

Burial details:

P/O. Douglas James Spence. Tobruk War Cemetery. Grave 3.P.2. Born on the 26th August 1920 at Christchurch. Educated at Somerfield School and Christchurch Boys' High School. Worked as a clerk for Temperance General Mutual Life Assurance Company. A member of the Canley Aero Club, obtaining his 'A' licence on the 09th February 1939. Accepted by the RAF short service commission on the 24th April 1939.

Embarked for England in the RMS Rangitane (1) on 6th May 1939 on the 06th May 1939, arriving on the 8th June. Attended N0. 9 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School on the 12th of June 1939. Trained further with No. 6 Service Flying Training School on the 19th August 1939.

Son of Alexander William and Mary Henrietta Spence (née Steward), of Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand. Grave inscription: 'In Loving Memory Of Douglas Killed In Action. Born At Christchurch New Zealand'. Battle of Britain pilot.

F/O. Charles Fabian Greenhill. Alamein Memorial. Column 241. Son of Christopher Benjamin and Ethel Annie Greenhill, of Puriton, Somerset, England.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Jenifer Lemaire and to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, Weekly News of New Zealand, AIR 81/6168, other sources as quoted below:

(1) RMS Rangitane launched on 27 May 1929. She could carry nearly 600 passengers in 1st, 2nd and 3rd classes, 200 crew members, and substantial cargo. On her final voyage, which had been delayed by labour disputes, she carried 14,000 tons of cargo, including foodstuffs and silver bullion, valued at over £2 million at 1940 prices. She carried 111 passengers, including CORB nurses, Polish sailors, servicemen and Radar technicians. The captain was Lionel Upton, a naval reservist who had been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his 'services in action with enemy submarines' during his command of auxiliary boats based at Scapa Flow during World War I.

Rangitane left Auckland harbour in the early afternoon of Sunday 24th November 1940, en route to Britain via the Panama Canal. She was intercepted early on the morning of 27th November 300 miles east of New Zealand by the German surface raiders Komet and Orion and their support ship Kulmerland. Another ship, SS Holmwood, had been stopped and sunk by the German raiders on 24th November, but warning of the danger had not been passed on to Rangitane. This was later held to have been a factor in her sinking. Sixteen people, eight passengers and eight crew, died as a result of the action, including those who died later of their injuries.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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