Thomas Grier

With the Second World War having commenced the previous year, Grier commenced training on the Hawker Hurricane fighter at No. 6 Operational Training Unit at Sutton Bridge in May 1940. The following month, he was posted to No. 601 Squadron.^[1] Recovering from its involvement in the Battle of France, this was based at Tangmere. Equipped with Hurricanes, it was engaged in convoy patrols along the English Channel and became drawn into the Battle of Britain as the Luftwaffe commenced its campaign against British shipping traversing these waters.^[4]

Grier shared in the destruction of a Dornier Do 17 medium bomber to the west of Cherbourg on 7 July. He shared in the destruction of a Junkers Ju 88 medium bomber near the Isle of Wight on 16 July and four days later assisted in the shooting down of a Heinkel He 59 floatplane to the south of Selsey Bill. On 13 August, he probably destroyed a Ju 88 and shared in the probable destruction of a second, both in the vicinity of Arundel. On subsequent scrambles the same day, he destroyed a Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighter over Portland and a second near Winchester.^[2][5]

On 18 August, now known as The Hardest Day, Grier destroyed a pair of Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers to the south of Selsey Bill.^[2] No. 601 Squadron was shifted to Debden, supposedly for a rest from operations but as the Luftwaffe increased its range of operations deeper inland, the pilots of the squadron were still called upon for interceptions.^[4] Grier shared in the shooting down of a Heinkel He 111 medium bomber to the north of North Weald on 30 August and the next day, destroyed a Bf 110 near Colchester. Flying over Maidstone on 6 September, he engaged and destroyed two Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters.^[2] By this time he was a flying officer, having been promoted to this rank a few days prior.^[6] On 25 September he shot down a Ju 88 20 miles (32 km) to the south of Plymouth. His successes over the preceding months were recognised with an award of the Distinguished Flying Cross in October.^[1][2] The citation, published in The London Gazette, read:

This officer has taken part in a considerable number of engagements against the enemy and has destroyed eight of their aircraft as well as sharing in the destruction of others. He has displayed great courage, keenness and devotion to duty.

— London Gazette, No. 34958, 1 October 1940^[7]

By this time, No. 601 Squadron was based at Exeter, covering the West Country, and its pace of operations were much reduced. It was largely inactive for the next several months but on 9 October Grier damaged a He 111 over Dartmouth. From early 1941 it began to fly on fighter sweeps to German-occupied France as part of the RAF's Circus offensive.^[2][4]

Grier's substantive rank was made up to flight lieutenant in September and the next month he was promoted to acting squadron leader and given command of No. 32 Squadron.^[2][8] His new unit was based at Angle in the West Country and mostly engaged in convoy patrols along the coast. It moved to Manston in November and, using its upgraded Hurricane Mk IIbs, was switched to offensive missions.^[9][10] On one of these, carried out on 5 December, Grier was shot down and killed off Le Havre.^[2]

Grier was survived by his wife, Sybil who he married in July 1940, and is commemorated on the Runneymeade Memorial at Englefield Green.^[1][11] He is credited with having destroyed twelve aircraft, four being shared with other pilots. He is also believed to have probably destroyed two more aircraft, one shared, and damaged one other.^[2]

• Cull, Brian (2017). Battle for the Channel: The First Month of the Battle of Britain, 10 July – 10 August 1940. Stroud: Fonthill. ISBN 978-1-78155-625-2.
• Rawlings, John (1976). Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: MacDonald & James. ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
• Shores, Christopher; Williams, Clive (1994). Aces High: A Tribute to the Most Notable Fighter Pilots of the British and Commonwealth Forces in WWII. London: Grub Street. ISBN 1-8-9869-7000.