Russell Henry GRIGG

Russell Henry GRIGG Update Details

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GRIGG, Russell Henry

Service Number:	405284
Enlisted:	2 March 1941
Last Rank:	Warrant Officer
Last Unit:	No. 100 Squadron (RAAF)
Born:	Brisbane, Queensland, 25 May 1909
Home Town:	Wamuran, Moreton Bay, Queensland
Schooling:	Brisbane Boys Grammar, Queensland Agricultural College and Queensland Univerity
Occupation:	Fruit Grower and Tractor Contractor
Died:	Flying Battle, Gasmata Harbour, New Britain, 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

3 Sep 1939:	Involvement Warrant Officer, 405284
2 Mar 1941:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, 405284
2 Mar 1941:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Warrant Officer, 405284, No. 100 Squadron (RAAF)
5 Sep 1943:	Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Warrant Officer, 405284, No. 100 Squadron (RAAF)

Help us honour Russell Henry Grigg's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

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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