Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Flight Lieutenant

Awarded on:

January 1st, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Squadron Leader

Unit:

No. 172 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

July 28th, 1942

"On the night of June 3-4 1942, Greswell took off from Chivenor in a twin-engine Vickers Wellington bomber of No 172 Squadron. In the Bay of Biscay, he lit up and then depth-charged the Italian submarine Luigi Torelli.
Greswell's first approach to the Luigi Torelli was frustrated by an incorrect altimeter setting, which meant that his co-pilot, Flying Officer A W R Trigg, was unable to level the beam at the enemy.
After the altimeter was reset, Greswell took the Wellington to 50ft above the sea and attacked from the starboard beam, dropping two Torpex-filled depth charges either side of the submarine.
The charges' fuses were supposed to explode at a depth of 25 feet, but they proved defective and the explosions occurred at a greater depth. Even so the submarine's steering gear and compass system were badly damaged, forcing its captain Count Augusto Migliorani to seek refuge in Spanish waters.
He could not believe his luck when 10 minutes after his attack on the Luigi Torelli, his torch found a second Italian submarine, Morosini. Having already expended his depth charges he went in at 50 feet and attacked with machinegun fire.
Though neither submarine had been sunk by his action, Greswell had demonstrated the potential of the Leigh Light and this enabled Air Chief Marshal Sir Philip Joubert, Coastal's commander-in-chief, to obtain early delivery of Leigh Light Wellingtons. Greswell's mission also provided valuable lessons for the future, the most vital being that the attack aircraft's altimeter should always be set correctly."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Wing Commander

Unit:

No. 179 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

March 28th, 1944

Citation:
"Wing Cdr. Greswell, now on his third tour of Operational duty, has taken part in a large number of operational sorties. Both in the air and on the ground, he has set a magnificent example, of keenness and devotion to duty to his squadron."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Wing Commander

Awarded on:

January 1st, 1946

Rank:

Air Commodore

Awarded on:

June 2nd, 1962

Rank:

Air Commodore

Awarded on:

June 10th, 1967