Edward John Gracie

Edward John Gracie was born on 21 September 1911 in Acton, west London. He first entered the Royal Air Force on a short service commission in 1930, but was dismissed by court martial in 1933; he returned to uniform in 1937 on a reserve commission and was recalled to active duty when war broke out in September 1939. After early service with 79 Squadron, he became a flight commander with 56 Squadron, flying Hawker Hurricanes through the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain. He proved an aggressive fighter pilot, claiming around seven enemy aircraft destroyed before being shot down on 30 August 1940, suffering a broken neck. His Distinguished Flying Cross was gazetted on 1 October 1940. He later led 126 Squadron during the siege of Malta, then commanded 169 Squadron, a Mosquito night-fighter unit. On 15 February 1944 his Mosquito was attacked over Hanover; his navigator baled out, but Gracie was killed. He rests in Hanover War Cemetery.