branch death_date allegiance unit name battles rank article_title birth_name
united kingdom 12 november 2010 united kingdom * no. 141 squadron raf albert edward gregory world war ii flight lieutenant albert gregory
 albert edward gregory
albert gregory

flight lieutenant albert edward gregory , dfc , ae was a world war ii royal air force air gunner during the battle of britain , and was one of the men known as `` the few '' .
albert gregory was born in 1917 .
before joining the raf he worked in a butcher 's shop and later as a co-op delivery man .
as an air gunner he was posted to no. 141 squadron raf to fly in blenheims before the squadron converted to defiants .
he could not fly in the defiant because he was too tall for the turret , so transferred to no. 219 squadron raf with whom he served throughout the battle of britain on beaufighters .
albert then served with 23 sqn in boston iiis on intruder patrols over occupied france , belgium and holland on bombing and strafing missions , before spending time with no. 275 squadron raf and no. 278 squadron raf both air-sea rescue squadrons .
he was awarded the distinguished flying cross in 1942 in recognition of his night flying service .
the citation read `` this officer has a long and meritorious record as an air gunner , having been engaged in night flying for nearly 3 years .
throughout his operational tour flying officer gregory has shown great courage , skill and devotion to duty '' .
gregory was one of the remaining members of `` the few '' and was present at many battle of britain events , including the unveiling of the battle of britain monument in london .
he was , however , always puzzled why people were so interested in him ; after all as he always said gregory died on 12 november 2010 after a short illness .
