George Gribble (RAF officer)

No. 54 Squadron was transferred back to Hornchurch in February 1941. Now equipped with the updated Spitfire Mk IIa, it regularly flew across the English Channel to the Low Countries, carrying out offensive sweeps and escorting bombers. On 4 June, and by this time a flight lieutenant, he was leading a section of Spitfires that were escorting bombers when they encountered a pair of Bf 109s. Attempting to engage these, he in turn was intercepted by other Luftwaffe fighters and the engine of his Spitfire was apparently damaged. He bailed out and came down in the sea, about 12 miles (19 km) from the English coast. Despite a search by Air and Sea Rescue vessels he was unable to be found and was presumed to have died.

Following the outbreak of the Second World War, No. 54 Squadron carried out patrols and the occasional interception mission but otherwise saw little action until May 1940, when the Germans invaded France and the Low Countries. It then began to fly sorties over France as the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) retreated to Dunkirk. Gribble’s first flight to the Low Countries was on 16 May, patrolling over Ostend. On 24 May, when the squadron engaged a large group of Luftwaffe fighters near Calais, he shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter. The next day, his Spitfire was damaged in another encounter in the area and he force landed near Dunkirk. He was able to return to the United Kingdom on a steamer. During Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of the BEF and French troops from Dunkirk, No. 54 Squadron flew patrols over the area. At the end of the month, the squadron shifted north to Catterick for a rest.

No. 54 Squadron was back at Hornchurch by early August and resumed flying in the ongoing battle over Britain. On 13 August 1940, Gribble’s award of a Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) was announced; the citation, published in the London Gazette, read:

At the time of Gribble’s arrival, No. 54 Squadron operated Gloster Gladiator fighters from the RAF base at Hornchurch. However in March the following year it began reequipping with the Supermarine Spitfire fighter. His acting rank was made permanent in March 1939.

His medals which, in addition to the DFC, included the 1939–45 Star with Battle of Britain Clasp, the Air Crew Europe Star, and the War Medal 1939–1945, came up for auction in September 2007. They sold for £35,000. The medals are presently owned by Lord Michael Ashcroft.

Born in Hendon, Gribble joined the RAF in 1938 and was posted to No. 54 Squadron. During the Second World War he flew Supermarine Spitfires extensively during the Battle of France and the subsequent Battle of Britain, shooting down a number of German aircraft. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in August 1940. The following year, he was promoted to flight lieutenant and flew several operations on the Channel Front. During a dogfight with German fighters on 4 June, his Spitfire was damaged and he bailed out over the English Channel. Despite search efforts he was never found.

George Gribble, DFC (18 June 1919 – 4 June 1941) was a British flying ace of the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. He was officially credited with the destruction of at least six German aircraft.

Dorian George Gribble, known as George Gribble, was born on 18 June 1919, the son of David and Gladys Gribble. Although his place of birth was Hendon, in the north of London, United Kingdom, he was raised on the Isle of Wight and was educated there, at Ryde School. In March 1938, he applied to join the Royal Air Force (RAF) on a short service commission. His application was successful and he was granted his RAF commission, initially as an acting pilot officer on probation, with effect from 7 May 1938. Proceeding to No. 11 Flying Training School at Shawbury, in December he was posted to No. 54 Squadron.