Looking for info on a RAF 91 Sqd pilot

[Tim Paul]

My grandfather was Ronnie Greenaway. R W Greenaway. He flew with the 91Sqd at Manston from Dec 1944. Elcock and O Shaughnessy were in the squadron at this time. He had to land behind enemy lines early 1945 and escorted Montgomery to Brussels for the Liberation Celebrations. He also flew on the bombing raids over Germany Feb 1945 escorting Lancs. I have a few pages of his log book which were copied from an auction site in 2015 but I am still seeking the actual book. Does anyone have any info. on him.?

 

[Snautzer01]

Welcome.

 

[Juha3]

He is not mentioned in the Index of Peter Hall's No 91 'Nigeria' Squadron, Osprey Aviation Elite 3 (2001) nor in the Index of the Volumes One to Three of 2nd Tactical Air Force by Christopher Shores & Chris Thomas (2004 - 2006)

 

[Mike Williams]

My grandfather was Ronnie Greenaway. R W Greenaway. He flew with the 91Sqd at Manston from Dec 1944. Elcock and O Shaughnessy were in the squadron at this time. He had to land behind enemy lines early 1945 and escorted Montgomery to Brussels for the Liberation Celebrations. He also flew on the bombing raids over Germany Feb 1944 escorting Lancs. I have a few pages of his log book which were copied from an auction site in 2015 but I am still seeking the actual book. Does anyone have any info. on him.?

F/Lt Ron Greenaway's name pops up in 91 Squadron's records, available from the National Archives.

A couple of pages for starters:

 

[Tim Paul]

F/Lt Ron Greenaway's name pops up in 91 Squadron's records, available from the National Archives.

A couple of pages for starters:
View attachment 736034View attachment 736035
View attachment 736039

That's great thanks. I have found the details of 'work carried out' forms on the National Archives but not the first page, above (numbered 224), that you posted. I assume its part of a Squadron Diary? Is there more to it, if so where can I find it? This is all new to me as I've only just discovered through Ancestry that Ronnie was my Grandad. Thanks.

 

[Tim Paul]

That's great thanks. I have found the details of 'work carried out' forms on the National Archives but not the first page, above (numbered 224), that you posted. I assume its part of a Squadron Diary? Is there more to it, if so where can I find it? This is all new to me as I've only just discovered through Ancestry that Ronnie was my Grandad. Thanks.

Its ok I've found it, thanks.

 

[Tim Paul]

He is not mentioned in the Index of Peter Hall's No 91 'Nigeria' Squadron, Osprey Aviation Elite 3 (2001) nor in the Index of the Volumes One to Three of 2nd Tactical Air Force by Christopher Shores & Chris Thomas (2004 - 2006)

Yes I wonder why?, The copied section I have of his flying log states he emergency landed in enemy territory (and once had to apparently hide in a cellar until he could escaped), flew on many Lanc escorts in Jan/Feb 45, and even escorted Montgomery to the Belgium liberation celebrations but yet no mention in Peters Book. He is not mentioned, other than arriving at Manson, in the Sqn Diary either, I wonder if the book was mainly taken from the Diary rather than the log books and talking to the pilots? I'd love to find the whole log book, it was sold in 2015.

 

[Juha3]

Hello Tim, Hall's book is a book from Osprey's Elite series, it deals with the history of 91 Sqn 1940-1945 in 126 pages and has also many photos and nine pages of colour side views of the unit's aircraft, so there is a limit how much details it can include.

 

[Tim Paul]

Hi yes, and it covers the full sqn history of course. I've read two books on the 91 sqn, and there is no mention of Ron nor many other pilots, in fact there is little info from 1945 onwards, its a shame as there must be many more stories out there. Apparently Ron hid in a cellar possibly in Holland and drank with the locals until he escaped to the advancing Americans ( I wonder how and what happened to his plane? ) Also when he and the 91 escorted Monty he took time out to chat with them - I wonder what was said. Regarding the bombing raids over Germany I understand some pilots were injured by flack, possibly Ron included. When the 91 sqn leaves for Ludham Ron stays behind at Manston - why, what was he up to, did any others stay behind. It would be difficult but finding the flight logs would make another book, possibly several. I only have nine photo copied pages of his log and all of the above is mentioned plus references to Tim Burnett and Big Elcock, I wonder what I'm missing and what's in the other log books?

 

[MiTasol]

I'd love to find the whole log book, it was sold in 2015.

Do you know who the vendor was?

If fleabay you probably have no chance of tracking it but if it was an auction house and you wrote to them informing them you are a grandson and would like to purchase the original or a photocopy you might get lucky. You only lose a few minutes but may gain what you seek.

 

[Tim Paul]

Do you know who the vendor was?

If fleabay you probably have no chance of tracking it but if it was an auction house and you wrote to them informing them you are a grandson and would like to purchase the original or a photocopy you might get lucky. You only lose a few minutes but may gain what you seek.

No, I was lucky in that a guy in Denmark downloaded the pages and amazingly remembered he had them, incredible as he downloaded them in 2015, but he can not recall where from. However one page he did have showed Ron was at RAF Kirton exactly when my Dad was conceived and Ancestry was showing two people in Australia as half cousins I didn't know I had, they suspected Ron was my Grandad as he was theirs, the flight log page from Denmark showed which bases he was at and confirmed he was in the right place at the right time c August/ Sep 1944. Hence my Dad finally discovered who his dad was at almost 80 years of age, thanks to DNA, global detective work, and a string of incredible coincidences.