Name: GREENHORN, DAVID SMITH
Initials: D S
Nationality: Indian
Rank: Pilot Officer
Regiment: Royal Indian Air Force
Age: 21
Date of Death: 03/05/1945
Service No: 2991
Additional information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. P. Greenhorn, of Calcutta, India.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Cemetery: DELHI / KARACHI 1939-1945 WAR MEMORIALS

A msg just to hand.

From: Sree Kumar <nospam@yahoo.co.uk>
To: john@nospam.vsdh.org
Subject: Re: P/O David Greenhorn, RIAF
Date sent: Tue, 18 Nov 2003 03:22:45 -0800 (PST)

G'day John:

You may have given up on this inquiry thread, but I have received some information on P/O Greenhorn from another RIAF veteran who, it will be obvious, knew him well. Here's what I have:

"Dave Greenhorn was a great friend of mine, on the same pilot's course 26 Pilot's Course. He was an excellent lightweight boxer, very fast on his feet and very quick with his punches which used to come in from all directions. I've only seen him once lose his cool in the ring. In Poona he was asked to engage in a demonstration bout with a British Army Physical Fitness Sergeant Boxing Instructor. They were only supposed to spar; but I think that the Army chap felt a bit put out with Dave's superior ability especially in front of a large British Army gathering and he deliberately floored Dave twice. On rising up from the second fall Dave cut up the Sergeant so badly that the match had to be stopped and the sergeant carried out of the ring. Forgive me for spouting but I am very fond of telling this anecdote.

As I've said I knew Dave very well. At Secunderabad on the Elementary Flyg. Trg. course we used to wrestle almost every day in our billet after the day's training. He was with me in Ambala at Advanced Flyg. Trg. School on Harvards and Hurricanes. We went to Operational Training Unit Peshawar together.

He died on 3rd May 1945 at OTU Peshawar, while carrying out Air to Air Firing practise in a Hurricane. We think he spun in at about 5000ft while carrying out a tight evasive turn. This what we (the trainees) assumed as details of the accident were not divulged to trainees, in the interest of morale.

A great chap with a wonderful sense of humour. I liked him a lot."

Hope this is what you were looking for. Is this for a school Old Boys' publication? Regards,

Sree

For an idea of the times that are being spoken of, read the following web page.

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1940s/Digby01.html

When you have finished there press BACK, on your browser to return.

David Greenhorn appears in a photograph on this web page Click here