Tracing New Zealand Mosquito Navigator Flt/Sgt Bob Grieg

[mikeuk]

Topical at the moment with the restoration of John Smith's Mosquito FB.VI TE910/NZ2336, and I hope I have posted this question in the appropriate section of Proboards.

My father Flt/Sgt (at that time) Richard Livermore was a RAF pilot with the Overseas Ferry Unit (1946-57) and flew TE910/NZ2336 on air tests from Pershore in 1948 before it was flown out. 

However, my question relates to another Mosquito FB.VI TA373 that he flew to NZ in November 1947.
The navigator on that trip was Flt/Sgt Bob Grieg who was returning home, presumably after wartime service in Europe, for demob upon arrival.
My father (died 2012) always spoke highly of Bob Grieg, and indeed he spent Christmas 1947 with his family in Dunedin.  Bob obviously remained in NZ after Christmas, while my father caught Lancastrian VM701 at Ohakea for the return trip to UK.

I have several photos of Bob Grieg and my father during the trip to NZ, the house in Dunedin, his brothers etc.

I am looking for any advice on how to contact Bob Grieg or his family, who might like copies of the photographs.  My father also wrote a short piece about the flight to NZ in TA373.   
Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

Mike,
Wiltshire
UK

[Dave Homewood]

Welcome Mike. I am sure we'd love to see the photos here, and have the opportunity to read what your father wrote about that ferry flight please.

I'll see what I can find on Bob Grieg and his family, and hopefully others may come up with some clues.

I moved this thread into the postwar section since it's about 1947.

[Dave Homewood]

There are no deaths in the death notices for any males spelled Grieg after 1947.

And no Grieg in the NZ whitepages.

I wondered if it should be spelled Greig, but I checked some paperwork I have on the Mosquito Ferry Flight, and it does indeed spell his name as F/S Grieg.

[McFly]

Thinking that the spelling may well be ‘Greig’ as there’s a "Robert GREIG 40103 1939-45 Flt. Sgt. R.N.Z.A.F. died 6.12.1974 aged 54 yrs." in the 'Te Henui Returned Services Cemetery' in New Plymouth (Presume his Service Number is NZ40103). Also interred with him is “Alison S. GRIEG died 23.9.2001 aged 76 yrs.” and presumably his wife? See link (Here).


And this photo from the National Library with a Mosquito dated 8 Nov 1946 - See Link (Here).

“Group portrait of RNZAF officers, left to right; Flight Lieutenants IO Breckon, JM Stevenson, Squadron Leaders JD Robins, RM Mackay, Flight Lieutenants S Martin, M Kidson, A George, Flight Sergeant R Greig”




And this one as well - See link (Here)

"Portrait of RNZAF officers Flight Lieutenant A George, DFC, DEM, and Flight Sergeant R Greig" (8 Nov 1946).

[errolmartyn]

NZ40103 Robert Greig (full name) enlisted at Levin as a Wireless Operator, 5 Jan 40. 'tis all that I know of him.

Errol

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks chaps.

[camtech]

So were those two photos were taken in New Zealand, or were they taken in UK during conversion training?

[angelsonefive]

Nov 15, 2020 14:09:44 GMT 12 camtech said:

So were those two photos were taken in New Zealand, or were they taken in UK during conversion training?

Both photos taken by Whites Aviation according to the links.

[McFly]

Nov 15, 2020 15:00:16 GMT 12 angelsonefive said:

Nov 15, 2020 14:09:44 GMT 12 camtech said:

So were those two photos were taken in New Zealand, or were they taken in UK during conversion training?

Both photos taken by Whites Aviation according to the links.

Whites Aviation Ltd was established in 1945 by Leo White (1906-1967) to produce a series of popular illustrated publications of aviation history and aerial photography. White began to freelance as a photographer in the 1920s, and later worked for the Weekly News. He was closely involved with aviation in Auckland 1920s-1930s, and pioneered aerial photography in the region. He compiled 'Wingspread, a history of New Zealand aviation', in 1941; and served as a photographer with the RNZAF during WWII. During the early 1950s he covered New Zealand by air, taking photographs for 'Whites pictorial reference of New Zealand'.

[camtech]

So obviously photos were taken in NZ prior to departure for UK on ferry duties.
Although having spent many hours going through Whites photos, these are two I hadn't seen before.

[Dave Homewood]

So the Mosquito seen must be one of the ex-Australian dual control examples I guess.

[davidd]

Yes, looks like that is the case Dave, you can clearly see the blanked off cannon apertures in second shot, although obviously this is a different Mosquito to the one in first shot, which has no Browning M/Gs. The Australian trainers were indeed employed to familiarise pilots and Nav (W) personnel preparatory to transport to the UK. All the early deliveries of Mosquitos from UK to New Zealand were manned by RNZAF and RAF personnel remaining in UK after the end of WW2.
David D

[McFly]

Nov 16, 2020 6:13:07 GMT 12 davidd said:

Yes, looks like that is the case Dave, you can clearly see the blanked off cannon apertures in second shot, although obviously this is a different Mosquito to the one in first shot, which has no Browning M/Gs. The Australian trainers were indeed employed to familiarise pilots and Nav (W) personnel preparatory to transport to the UK. All the early deliveries of Mosquitos from UK to New Zealand were manned by RNZAF and RAF personnel remaining in UK after the end of WW2.
David D

Some additional photos from the Whites collection taken on the same date (8 Nov 1946) seems to confirm davidd's comments re these being the Australian trainers with some blanked over gun ports and others with cannons/MG's etc. Mosquito reg A52-1006 also ties in with the ex Australian trainers.

'Side profile view of a de Havilland DH 98 Mosquito aeroplane A52-1006, at RNZAF Station, Whenuapai, Auckland'


'De Havilland DH 98 Mosquito aircraft A52-1006, at RNZAF Station, Whenuapai, Auckland'


'De Havilland DH 98 Mosquito aeroplane at RNZAF Station, Whenuapai, Auckland, showing hangar in background'


'Two unidentified men refuelling a de Havilland DH 98 Mosquito aircraft, RNZAF Station, Whenuapai, Auckland'


'De Havilland DH 98 Mosquito aircraft, on tarmac at RNZAF Station, Whenuapai, Auckland, showing two men standing under nose of aeroplane'


'De Havilland DH 98 Mosquito aeroplane, at RNZAF Station, Whenuapai, Auckland'

[davidd]

Note the style of props on these aircraft, HS Hydromatics, but with very pointy "toothpick" blades, typical of an earlier era. So far as I know, all the ex-RAF Mosquitos which came to NZ from UK in 1946/48 had paddle-blade props, and they would have been equipped with the full armament specified for the FB Mk. VI type.
David D

[angelsonefive]

There's some heavy hitters in that group of seven officers and one NCO.

I.O.Breckon. Pilot. DFC and Bar, Mention in Despatches (3). The DFCs were awarded for his service flying the Mosquito in 109 (Pathfinder Force) Sqdn, and one of the MiDs.

A.George. Pilot. DFC, DFM, and PFF Badge. 139 (PFF) Sqdn, Mosquito. Took part in the first Mosquitoes delivery from Australia. Two deliveries ex.the UK.

M.Kidson. Career path Air Gunner, Observer, and Navigator/Wireless. DFC, DFM. Took part in the first deliveries from Australia, later one delivery from Aust. and three from the UK.

R.M.McKay (correct spelling) Pilot. Prominent in the field of flying training in WW2. Was shot down accidentally in a P-40 in June 1944 at Gisborne when live rounds were mistakenly loaded aboard the other P-40 in a cine-gun exercise, and finger trouble on the part of the other pilot did not help. Demonstrated a Meteor throughout NZ. Flew one Mosquito from Aust. and two from the UK. Was awarded OBE, AFC. Was later ADC to the Gov.General, and Serjeant of Arms in the Parliament.

J.D.Robins. Pilot. 139 (PFF) Sqdn, Mosquito. DFC. One delivery ex. Aust. and two from the UK. Retired as Group Captain.

The above from their bios in 'By Such Deeds' by Group Captain C.M.Hanson.

[McFly]

Nov 16, 2020 18:10:18 GMT 12 angelsonefive said:

There's some heavy hitters in that group of eight officers and one NCO.

R.M.McKay (correct spelling) Pilot. Prominent in the field of flying training in WW2. Was shot down accidentally in a P-40 in June 1944 at Gisborne when live rounds were mistakenly loaded aboard the other P-40 in a cine-gun exercise, and finger trouble on the part of the other pilot did not help. Demonstrated a Meteor throughout NZ. Flew one Mosquito from Aust. and two from the UK. Was awarded OBE, AFC. Was later ADC to the Gov.General, and Serjeant of Arms in the Parliament.

"Kittyhawk NZ3142, flown by Squadron Leader RM McKay, from the Fighter Gunnery School, after belly landing at RNZAF Station Gisborne.
This aircraft was 'shot down' by Kittyhawk NZ3147 when live ammunition was mistakenly loaded for a cine camera exercise." (GisG730)

[mikeuk]

Gentlemen,
Thank you for the discussion and information you've posted; it makes for interesting reading.

Its interesting that F/S Bob Greig (apologies for my incorrect spelling originally) was in NZ November 1946 when the picture was taken in front of the Mosquito above, yet was at RAF Pershore, UK in Nov 1947 for the flight back to NZ with TA373.
My father had been on the FU since July 1946 and never flown with him before. In fact, the only flying the two did together was entirely in 373 in preparation for the ferry, and the actual trip itself. So it may seem Bob Greig was in the UK for a year on some other posting other than ferry operations, but was able to get a working trip home as an aircraft was going. I understood he left the service upon his return.

I am currently scanning photographs of the ferry with TA373, and a short piece my father wrote of the trip some time afterwards. 373 was a refurbished FB.VI that he collected from the MU at RAF Shawbury. It had seen operation service in France during the war.
My father also took FB.VI TA485 out to NZ in 1948. It became NZ2393 and declared surplus by WARB in February 1952 and wings cut off before being sold by GSB tender number 4641 of 18 February 1952.

Once scanned I will post them here, or failing that email them to Dave Homeward for posting.
I would ask that credit is made to "Flt Lt R.Livermore, via M.Livermore"
Would it be possible to send them to the Omaka museum for their story of the NZ Mosquitos?