LEST WE FORGET

Flying Officer Richard GREGSON

Service No: 72527
Born: Gladesville NSW, 12 June 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 10 November 1942
Unit: No. 1 Squadron, Labuan
Died: Air Operations: (No. 1 Squadron Mosquito aircraft A52-510) Borneo, 8 August 1945, Aged 24 Years
Buried: Labuan War Cemetery, Malaysia
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Richard and Hannah Gregson; husband of Nancy Hilda Gregson, of Gladesville, New South Wales, Australia.
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 97, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT

On 8 August 1945 Mosquitos of No. 1 Squadron strafed barges on the river at Kuching and barracks north of the river. During this operation, Squadron Leader Richard Desmond Browne (406025) (Pilot) and Flying Officer Richard Gregson (72527) (Navigator Wireless Operator) crashed over the target and were killed.

Extract from Odgers, G.J. (George James) (VX127783) Air War Against Japan 1943-1945, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1957 – Page 475

Of the seven aircraft, only six returned to base. A52-510 turned on its back and crashed into the
Kuching River whilst over the target, possibly as a result of being hit from a nearby enemy gun position. Both crew members were killed.

Extract from Vincent, D. (David) Mosquito Monograph: A history of Mosquitoes in Australia and RAAF operations, David Vincent Highbury SA 5089, 1982 – Page 128

References:

Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-line Record A705, 166/16/747

Bibliography:

Vincent, D. (David) Mosquito Monograph: A history of Mosquitoes in Australia and RAAF operations, David Vincent Highbury SA 5089, 1982
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Beaufort, Beaufighter and Mosquito in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1990

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