The Airmen's Stories - F/O R D Grassick

Robert Davidson Grassick was born in London, Ontario, Canada on 22nd May 1917. He joined the RAF on a short service commission in November 1938.

He did his intermediate and advanced training at 5 FTS Sealand and then joined 242 Squadron, then reforming at Church Fenton, on 5th November 1939.

Grassick went to France on 14th May 1940 on attachment to 607 Squadron. He moved to 615 Squadron on the 16th and returned to England on the 19th. Whilst in France he destroyed two Me109's and a Ju88 on 15th and 16th May. He destroyed Me109's over Dunkirk on 25th, 29th and 31st May.

242 was posted to France on 8th June to reinforce 1, 73 and 501 Squadrons. Grassick did not go over until 12th June and he returned with the other pilots to England on the 16th. In late August he was injured in a motorcycle accident and was off flying for some time.

On 1st April 1941 Grassick shared in destroying a Ju88, on the night of 10th/11th May he destroyed a He111, on 17th June a Me109 and probably another and on the 23rd probably another.

Grassick was made a Flight Commander on 17th June 1941, awarded the DFC (gazetted 15th July 1941) and posted away to 73 OTU Aden on 28th September.

He was serving with 260 Squadron in the Western Desert in March 1942 and in June was posted to a Communications Flight at Eastleigh, South Africa.

From January 1943 Grassick was on test pilot duties in East Africa until February 1944 when he was posted to 216 Group. He transferred to the RCAF on 1st May 1945 and returned to Canada.

He died there on 28th October 1978.