Group Captain CP Green

The First Ten Months

Four No 92 Squadron Spitfire pilots were shot down over France on May 23rd two lost their lives, South African born Squadron Leader Roger Bushell and Flying Officer Gillies became “POW’s” while a badly injured Flight Lt CP Green, also South African born, flew his damaged Spitfire back to the squadron’s base. Bushell and Green would not have seen that day’s “Daily Mail” story headlined “Britain Swoops on Fascists” following the arrests of US Embassy Clerk Tyler G Kent, Captain Maule Ramsay, Anna Wolkoff, Sir Oswald Moseley and 33 British Union Fascists. A reminder for South Africans in the RAF that Hitler enjoyed support at home!

Against Unfavourable Odds

Born in Pietermaritzburg, Charles Patrick Green was 3 years - old when his father, Major Charles Green was killed in action during the First World War. A talented sportsman, Harrow educated Green joined No 601, “The Millionaires Squadron” 36 in 1937 and followed fellow Cambridge graduate Roger Bushell to No 92 Squadron in 1939. Wounded during a Dunkirk patrol when two squadron colleagues were killed and two others including Bushell were captured, he was unable to fly operationally until October but was shot down on the 12th. Awarded the “Distinguished Flying Cross” in 1941, he served in North Africa and Malta and was awarded the “Distinguished Service Order” in 1943. Released from service in 1947, Group Captain CP Green DSO DFC died in 1999.