Page 7 - Gordon John Grindell

At some point in the early 1930’s Gordon was gifted a De Havilland 60G Gypsy Moth 1804 Bi
plane similar to this restored type. In this machine he would have developed his flying experience
which would have well prepared him for his future RAF service.

These are the owners of the biplane DH 60G Gypsy Moth 1804

UK registration G-ABDK serial number X5033

Brian Lewis & CD Barnard Ltd
GJ Grindell based at Hanworth

Lt Sir RA Clayton based at Woodley

Marquess of Donegal based at Heston

Airwork Ltd based at Heston

NM Gibbins based at Hanworth

London Air Park FC Ltd

Bournemouth FC Ltd

Impressed by RAF on 11 Nov 1939 and used as a decoy. This we think is using actual civilian
th
aircraft painted in RAF colour schemes and then parked up in the open at decoy sites for the
Luftwaffe to photograph and perhaps bomb. In this manner the RAF hoped to deflect the
Luftwaffe’s attentions away from RAF Fighter Command airfields.