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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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Air Commodore D D'A A Greig
David D'Arcy Alexander b: 1 Feb 1900 r: 23 Nov 1946 d: 7 Jul 1986
DFC - 28 Oct 1921, AFC - 4 Jun 1928.
(RAF):- 3AM: 4 Feb 1918, Pte2: 1 Apr 1918, Flt Cdt: 1 Jun 1918, 2 Lt: 20 Aug 1918, Plt Off: 1 Aug 1919, Fg Off: 12 Sep 1919, Flt Lt: 1 Jan 1927, Sqn Ldr: 1 Dec 1935, Wg Cdr: 1 Nov 1938, (T) Gp Capt: 1 Mar 1941, Act A/Cdre: 25 Feb 1943, Gp Capt (WS): 25 Aug 1943, Gp Capt: 1 Dec 1944, A/Cdre: Retained.
4 Feb 1918: U/T Pilot (117949), Recruit Depot
1 Jun 1918: Flight Cadet, Recruit Depot.
9 Jul 1918: Flight Cadet, No 192 Training Sqn.
20 Aug 1918: Appointed to a Commission in the A & S Branch, RAF.
27 Aug 1918: Embarked for France
28 Aug 1918: Attached, No 2 ASD
5 Sep 1918: Pilot, No 83 Sqn.
30 Sep 1918: Admitted to hospital
8 Oct 1918: Returned to England on 'St David'
12 Sep 1919: Granted a Permanent Commission in the rank of Flying Officer.
13 Feb 1920: Awaiting disposal, HQ Mesopotamian Wing.
xx xxx 1920: Pilot, No 6 Sqn.
14 Jan 1923: Supernumerary, RAF Depot.
1 Sep 1923: Pilot, No 24 Sqn.
9 Jun 1924: QFI, Central Flying School.
xx xxx 1927: Member, RAF High Speed Flight.
11 Apr 1927: Staff, HQ Fighting Area.
1 May 1928: Staff, M. A. E. E.
18 Oct 1929: Pilot, No 9 Sqn.
29 Mar 1930: Pilot, No 216 Sqn.
18 Jan 1932: Staff, RAF Depot, Middle East.
3 Oct 1933: Adjutant, RAF Amman.
2 Mar 1936: Squadron Commander/CFI?, No 9 FTS
4 May 1937: Supernumerary, Central Flying School.
17 May 1937: CFI, Central Flying School.
18 Nov 1938: Officer Commanding, No 75 Sqn (Honington/Harwell)
23 Dec 1939: In transit to Canada
xx xxx 1940 Staff Officer, HQ No 1 Training Command (Canada)
xx xxx xxxx: Officer Commanding, No 31 SFTS (Kingston, Canada)
25 Feb 1943: ? (Act A/Cdre)
xx xxx 1944 ?, No 15 Base
21 Jan 1946 Officer Commanding, No 26 OTU/RAF Wing
On 21 September 1918, he was flying a FE2b, when he was shot down being enemy lines, but managed to evade capture and walked home through the lines, a distance of 13 miles.
Whilst an Instructor at the Central Flying School, he carried out aerobatic displays with John Boothman, where they did a mirrored falling leaf, with Boothman being inverted. During one of these displays, Greig's aircraft fell apart in the air but fortunately he walked away from the wreckage uninjured. He also led the CFS aerobatic team of five Genet Moths in 1927.
Selected as a member of the High Speed Flight, he later (1928) raised the World Air Speed Record to 319.57 mph in the Supermarine S5.
Citation for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross
"Flying Officer David D''Arcy Alexander Greig, R.A.F.
For gallantry and devotion to duty. All through the period of hostilities this officer has proved himself to be a very keen and daring pilot, and has on every possible occasion engaged the enemy from very low altitudes with excellent results."
(London Gazette - 28 October 1921)
Citation for the award of the Air Force Cross
"GREIG, David D'Arcy Alexander, F/L, DFC
This officer served as a flying instructor at the Central Flying School for over three years, and by his extreme thoroughness, untiring energy and keenness, set a high standard to all.
Flight Lieutenant Greig has since been employed as Area Examining Officer in the Fighting Area and has performed excellent work in that capacity. On one occasion he displayed remarkable courage and skill in carrying out a test in connection with the investigation of the report that a particular type of aeroplane had a tendency not to come out of right hand spins. On the instructions of the Air Officer Commanding, he took an aeroplane in which this tendency was very marked, put it into a spin, and found that he was unable to check the spin after about twelve turns. He spun from 12,000 to 6,000 feet, and then, realizing that the aeroplane was completely out of control, managed with difficulty to leave the machine and descend by parachute - the machine being completely wrecked after spinning into the ground. It was, moreover, only by direct orders that Flight Lieutenant Greig was stopped from carrying out further similar tests."
(Source - Air 30/72)
This page was last updated on 11/08/23
A L Gregory 
