Editing Guy Griffiths 0 You are not logged in. The rich text editor does not work with JavaScript switched off. 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contenteditable="false" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">​ <table data-rte-washtml="1" data-rte-line-start="true" class="infobox vcard" data-rte-style="width:22em;width: 315px; border-spacing: 2px; font-size: 90%;;" style="width:22em;width: 315px; border-spacing: 2px; font-size: 90%;;" data-rte-attribs=" class=infobox vcard style=width:22em;width: 315px; border-spacing: 2px; font-size: 90%;;"><tr data-rte-washtml="1"><th data-rte-washtml="1" colspan="2" data-rte-style="text-align:center;font-size:125%;font-weight:bold;background-color: #B0C4DE; font-size: 100%;" style="text-align:center;font-size:125%;font-weight:bold;background-color: #B0C4DE; font-size: 100%;" data-rte-attribs=" colspan=2 style=text-align:center;font-size:125%;font-weight:bold;background-color: #B0C4DE; font-size: 100%;"><span data-rte-washtml="1" class="fn" data-rte-attribs=" class=fn">Guy Griffiths</span></th></tr><tr data-rte-washtml="1"><th data-rte-washtml="1" scope="row" data-rte-style="padding-right: 1em;" style="padding-right: 1em;" data-rte-attribs=" scope=row style=padding-right: 1em;">Birth name</th><td data-rte-washtml="1" class="nickname" data-rte-attribs=" class=nickname"> Guy Beresford Kerr Griffiths</td></tr><tr data-rte-washtml="1"><th data-rte-washtml="1" scope="row" data-rte-style="padding-right: 1em;" style="padding-right: 1em;" data-rte-attribs=" scope=row style=padding-right: 1em;">Nickname</th><td data-rte-washtml="1" class="nickname" data-rte-attribs=" class=nickname"> Griff</td></tr><tr data-rte-washtml="1"><th data-rte-washtml="1" scope="row" data-rte-style="padding-right: 1em;" style="padding-right: 1em;" data-rte-attribs=" scope=row style=padding-right: 1em;">Born</th><td data-rte-washtml="1"> <span data-rte-washtml="1" data-rte-line-start="true" data-rte-style="display:none" style="display:none" data-rte-attribs=" style=display:none">(<span data-rte-washtml="1" class="bday" data-rte-attribs=" class=bday">1915-06-06</span>)</span>6 June 1915</td></tr><tr data-rte-washtml="1"><th data-rte-washtml="1" scope="row" data-rte-style="padding-right: 1em;" style="padding-right: 1em;" data-rte-attribs=" scope=row style=padding-right: 1em;">Died</th><td data-rte-washtml="1"> 12 July 1999<span data-rte-washtml="1" data-rte-style="display:none" style="display:none" data-rte-attribs=" style=display:none">(<span data-rte-washtml="1" class="dday deathdate" data-rte-attribs=" class=dday deathdate">1999-07-12</span>)</span> (aged 84)</td></tr><tr data-rte-washtml="1"><th data-rte-washtml="1" scope="row" data-rte-style="padding-right: 1em;" style="padding-right: 1em;" data-rte-attribs=" scope=row style=padding-right: 1em;">Place of birth</th><td data-rte-washtml="1"> Pembroke Dock, Wales</td></tr><tr data-rte-washtml="1"><th data-rte-washtml="1" scope="row" data-rte-style="padding-right: 1em;" style="padding-right: 1em;" data-rte-attribs=" scope=row style=padding-right: 1em;">Place of death</th><td data-rte-washtml="1"> Chichester, England</td></tr><tr data-rte-washtml="1"><th data-rte-washtml="1" scope="row" data-rte-style="padding-right: 1em;" style="padding-right: 1em;" data-rte-attribs=" scope=row style=padding-right: 1em;">Allegiance</th><td data-rte-washtml="1"> <span data-rte-washtml="1" data-rte-line-start="true" class="flagicon" data-rte-attribs=" class=flagicon"><img data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22image%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BFile%3ARoyalMarineBadge.png%7C23px%5D%5D%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg%22%2C%22params%22%3A%7B%22alt%22%3A%22%22%2C%22border%22%3Afalse%2C%22caption%22%3A%22%22%2C%22width%22%3A23%2C%22height%22%3A15%7D%7D" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" alt="" src="https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/military/images/a/ae/Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/23?cb=20110222202211" width="23" height="12" class="image border" data-image-name="Flag of the United Kingdom.svg" data-image-key="Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg" type="image" /> </span>United Kingdom</td></tr><tr data-rte-washtml="1"><th data-rte-washtml="1" scope="row" data-rte-style="padding-right: 1em;" style="padding-right: 1em;" data-rte-attribs=" scope=row style=padding-right: 1em;">Service/branch</th><td data-rte-washtml="1"> <img data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22image%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BFile%3ARoyalMarineBadge.png%7C23px%5D%5D%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22RoyalMarineBadge.png%22%2C%22params%22%3A%7B%22alt%22%3A%22Cap%20badge%20of%20the%20Royal%20Marines%22%2C%22caption%22%3A%22%22%2C%22width%22%3A23%7D%7D" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Cap_badge_of_the_Royal_Marines.png/23px-Cap_badge_of_the_Royal_Marines.png" width="23" height="35" class="image" data-image-name="Cap badge of the Royal Marines.png" data-image-key="Cap_badge_of_the_Royal_Marines.png" type="image" /> <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Royal%20Marines%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Royal%20Marines%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BRoyal%20Marines%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" href="/wiki/Royal_Marines" title="Royal Marines">Royal Marines</a></td></tr><tr data-rte-washtml="1"><th data-rte-washtml="1" scope="row" data-rte-style="padding-right: 1em;" style="padding-right: 1em;" data-rte-attribs=" scope=row style=padding-right: 1em;">Years of service</th><td data-rte-washtml="1"> 1938-1953</td></tr><tr data-rte-washtml="1"><th data-rte-washtml="1" scope="row" data-rte-style="padding-right: 1em;" style="padding-right: 1em;" data-rte-attribs=" scope=row style=padding-right: 1em;">Rank</th><td data-rte-washtml="1"> <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Captain%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Captain%20%28British%20Army%20and%20Royal%20Marines%29%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BCaptain%20%28British%20Army%20and%20Royal%20Marines%29%7CCaptain%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" href="/wiki/Captain_(British_Army_and_Royal_Marines)" title="Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)">Captain</a></td></tr><tr data-rte-washtml="1"><th data-rte-washtml="1" scope="row" data-rte-style="padding-right: 1em;" style="padding-right: 1em;" data-rte-attribs=" scope=row style=padding-right: 1em;">Battles/wars</th><td data-rte-washtml="1"> <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22World%20War%20II%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22World%20War%20II%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BWorld%20War%20II%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" href="/wiki/World_War_II" title="World War II">World War II</a></td></tr></table>​</div> <p data-rte-fromparser="true">Captain <b>Guy Beresford Kerr "Griff" Griffiths</b> (6 June 1915 – 12 July 1999) was a <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Royal%20Marine%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Royal%20Marine%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BRoyal%20Marine%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" href="/wiki/Royal_Marine" title="Royal Marine" class="mw-redirect">Royal Marine</a> pilot. He served as a pilot during the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Second%20World%20War%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Second%20World%20War%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BSecond%20World%20War%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" href="/wiki/Second_World_War" title="Second World War" class="mw-redirect">Second World War</a> and gained notoriety as a <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22POW%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Prisoner%20of%20war%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BPrisoner%20of%20war%7CPOW%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" href="/wiki/Prisoner_of_war" title="Prisoner of war">POW</a> for using his artistic skills to forge documents and provide misinformation by feeding Nazi intelligence with fake sketches of British aircraft. After the War he continued to fly various types of aircraft as a test pilot and has the distinction of being the first Royal Marines officer to fly a helicopter. </p> <h2 data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">Early life</h2> <p data-rte-fromparser="true">Griffiths was born in 1915 at Pembroke Dock where his father was a senior Admiralty civil servant. </p> <h2 data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">Career</h2> <p data-rte-fromparser="true">Commissioned in the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Royal%20Marines%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Royal%20Marines%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BRoyal%20Marines%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" href="/wiki/Royal_Marines" title="Royal Marines">Royal Marines</a> on 1 September 1934,<span data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cref%3E%7B%7BLondon%20Gazette%7Cissue%3D34086%7Cdate%3D11%20September%201934%7Cstartpage%3D2%7Csupp%3Dyes%7Caccessdate%3D4%20August%202013%7D%7D%3C%5C%2Fref%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22ref%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false"><sup data-rte-washtml="1" id="cite_ref-0" class="reference" data-rte-attribs=" id=cite_ref-0 class=reference"><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%22104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255B%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ3636b75e3142d090-nowiki-00000001-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E1%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%22104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255D%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ3636b75e3142d090-nowiki-00000002-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22%23cite_note-0%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5B%23cite_note-0%7C%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%2243%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E1%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%2244%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" href="#cite_note-0"><span data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">[​</span>1<span data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">]​</span></a></sup>​</span> ‘Griff’ was on <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22HMS%20%3Ci%3EResolution%3C%5C%2Fi%3E%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22HMS%20Resolution%20%2809%29%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BHMS%20Resolution%20%2809%29%7CHMS%20%27%27Resolution%27%27%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" href="/wiki/HMS_Resolution_(09)" title="HMS Resolution (09)">HMS <i>Resolution</i></a> off the coast of Spain during the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Spanish%20Civil%20War%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Spanish%20Civil%20War%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BSpanish%20Civil%20War%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" href="/wiki/Spanish_Civil_War" title="Spanish Civil War">Spanish Civil War</a>.<span data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cref%3E%7B%7Bcite%20book%7Ctitle%3D%5B%5BNavy%20List%7CThe%20Navy%20List%5D%5D%7Cyear%3D1937%7Cpage%3D26%7Cpublisher%3D%5B%5BHer%20Majesty%27s%20Stationery%20Office%5D%5D%7D%7D%3C%5C%2Fref%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22ref%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false"><sup data-rte-washtml="1" id="cite_ref-1" class="reference" data-rte-attribs=" id=cite_ref-1 class=reference"><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%22104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255B%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ3636b75e3142d090-nowiki-00000004-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E2%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%22104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255D%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ3636b75e3142d090-nowiki-00000005-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22%23cite_note-1%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5B%23cite_note-1%7C%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%2249%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E2%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%2250%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" href="#cite_note-1"><span data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">[​</span>2<span data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">]​</span></a></sup>​</span> In 1938 his elder brother was killed in the Indian Army. He took up flying in January that year and was eventually assigned to <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22803%20Naval%20Air%20Squadron%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22803%20Naval%20Air%20Squadron%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5B803%20Naval%20Air%20Squadron%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" href="/wiki/803_Naval_Air_Squadron" title="803 Naval Air Squadron">803 Naval Air Squadron</a> flying <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Blackburn%20Skua%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Blackburn%20Skua%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BBlackburn%20Skua%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" href="/wiki/Blackburn_Skua" title="Blackburn Skua">Blackburn Skua</a> dive-bombers aboard <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22HMS%20%3Ci%3EArk%20Royal%3C%5C%2Fi%3E%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22HMS%20Ark%20Royal%20%2891%29%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BHMS%20Ark%20Royal%20%2891%29%7CHMS%20%27%27Ark%20Royal%27%27%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" href="/wiki/HMS_Ark_Royal_(91)" title="HMS Ark Royal (91)">HMS <i>Ark Royal</i></a>. </p> <h3 data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">World War II</h3> <p data-rte-fromparser="true">Eleven days into <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22World%20War%20II%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22World%20War%20II%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BWorld%20War%20II%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" href="/wiki/World_War_II" title="World War II">World War II</a>, HMS Ark Royal picked up an SOS from the merchant ship <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22SS%20%3Ci%3EFanad%20Head%3C%5C%2Fi%3E%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22SS%20Fanad%20Head%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BSS%20Fanad%20Head%7CSS%20%27%27Fanad%20Head%27%27%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" href="/wiki/SS_Fanad_Head" title="SS Fanad Head">SS <i>Fanad Head</i></a> under attack from <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22U30%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22German%20submarine%20U-30%20%281936%29%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BGerman%20submarine%20U-30%20%281936%29%7CU30%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" href="/wiki/German_submarine_U-30_(1936)" title="German submarine U-30 (1936)">U30</a>. Three Skuas, including one piloted by Griffiths conducted the first British Naval bombing of the war. Due to the incorrect fuse arming in relation to the height of attack, the bomb explosions of Griff’s aircraft and that of Lt Thurstan RN damaged the tails of both planes, and they crashed into the sea with the loss of each air observer. Griff and Thurstan were the first Naval officers captured in the war. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">At the time of their capture, the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22POW%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22POW%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BPOW%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" href="/wiki/POW" title="POW" class="mw-redirect">POW</a> camp infrastructure was only just developing; those in captivity found their conditions relatively relaxed. Griff was placed in a number of POW camps – including Spangenburg Castle (<a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Oflag%20IX-A%5C%2FH%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Oflag%20IX-A%5C%2FH%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BOflag%20IX-A%5C%2FH%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" href="/wiki/Oflag_IX-A/H" title="Oflag IX-A/H">Oflag IX-A/H</a>) and <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Dulag%20luft%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Dulag%20luft%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BDulag%20luft%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" class="new" title="Dulag luft (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvRHVsYWdfbHVmdD9hY3Rpb249ZWRpdCZyZWRsaW5rPTE=">Dulag luft</a> – before incarceration in <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Stalag%20Luft%20III%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Stalag%20Luft%20III%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BStalag%20Luft%20III%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" href="/wiki/Stalag_Luft_III" title="Stalag Luft III">Stalag Luft III</a>. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">Stalag Luft III achieved world wide notoriety thanks to the <i>The Great Escape</i> released in 1963. During Griff’s time in captivity there, he put his considerable artistic skills to good use. He was a forger, producing fake documents as required, and he also produced detailed paintings of aeroplanes based on aspects of those in current production, to provide misinformation to the enemy in order to buy time. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">Griff was also in contact with <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22MI9%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22MI9%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BMI9%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" href="/wiki/MI9" title="MI9">MI9</a> (British Military Intelligence Section 9) - his letters to the <i>Globe & Laurel</i> (the Royal Marines Corps’ publication) contained encrypted details for MI9 of identities of personnel in the camp. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">Griff spent the remainder of the war in <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Stalag%20Luft%20III%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Stalag%20Luft%20III%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BStalag%20Luft%20III%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" href="/wiki/Stalag_Luft_III" title="Stalag Luft III">Stalag Luft III</a>. In 1945 he led the captives of his camp out to the Americans after being mistaken by Germans as being a Hungarian officer. </p> <h3 data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">Post-War</h3> <p data-rte-fromparser="true">Following World War II, Griff underwent significant re-training to fly the latest aircraft. Once flying again, he served aboard <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22HMS%20Glory%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22HMS%20Glory%20%28R62%29%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BHMS%20Glory%20%28R62%29%7CHMS%20Glory%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" href="/wiki/HMS_Glory_(R62)" title="HMS Glory (R62)">HMS Glory</a>. During the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Korean%20War%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Korean%20War%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BKorean%20War%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" href="/wiki/Korean_War" title="Korean War">Korean War</a>, he was instrumental in providing the first visual confirmation of a downed MiG 15 jet, which led to the first capture of this type by the west. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">In later years, from 1953 to 1958, Griff became the Editor of the <i>Globe & Laurel</i> publication. He also ran the <i>Bolero</i> coffee shop in Chichester (West Sussex, England). Between 1969 and 1980, he was domestic superintendent for the Royal West Sussex Hospital, and subsequently the whole Chichester district. Griff died from a heart attack on 12 July 1999 aged 84. The complete collection of watercolours and drawings he completed during his service career were subsequently bequeathed to the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Royal%20Marines%20Museum%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Royal%20Marines%20Museum%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BRoyal%20Marines%20Museum%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" href="/wiki/Royal_Marines_Museum" title="Royal Marines Museum">Royal Marines Museum</a>. </p> <h2 data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">Publications</h2> <ul><li>Reece, Michael, 2012. <i>Flying Royal Marines</i>, Royal Marines Historical Society, Special Publication number 38 </li></ul> <h2 data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">References</h2> <div class="placeholder placeholder-double-brackets" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22double-brackets%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%7B%7Breflist%7D%7D%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%221%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22reflist%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22spacesafter%22%3A%22%22%7D" contenteditable="false">​ <div data-rte-washtml="1" data-rte-line-start="true" class="reflist" data-rte-style="list-style-type: decimal;" style="list-style-type: decimal;" data-rte-attribs=" class=reflist style= list-style-type: decimal;"> <ol class="references"><li id="cite_note-0"><a href="#cite_ref-0">↑</a> <span class="reference-text"><i>The London Gazette</i>: <span class="PDFlink"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34086/supplements/2">(Supplement) no. 34086. p. 2</a></span>. 11 September 1934. Retrieved 4 August 2013.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-1"><a href="#cite_ref-1">↑</a> <span class="reference-text"><span class="citation book"> <i><a href="/wiki/Navy_List" title="Navy List">The Navy List</a></i>. <a class="new" title="Her Majesty's Stationery Office (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvSGVyX01hamVzdHklMjdzX1N0YXRpb25lcnlfT2ZmaWNlP2FjdGlvbj1lZGl0JnJlZGxpbms9MQ==">Her Majesty's Stationery Office</a>. 1937. p. 26.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=%5B%5BNavy+List%7CThe+Navy+List%5D%5D&rft.date=1937&rft.pages=p.%26nbsp%3B26&rft.pub=%5B%5BHer+Majesty%27s+Stationery+Office%5D%5D&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Guy_Griffiths"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></span> </li></ol></div>​</div> <h2 data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">External links</h2> <ul><li><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22external%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Chapter%20One%3A%20About%20the%20Man%20-%20The%20life%20of%20Captain%20Guy%20Beresford%20Kerr%20Griffiths%20RM%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22http%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.royalmarinesmuseum.co.uk%5C%2Foldsite%5C%2Fonlineexhibitions%5C%2Fgriff%5C%2Fchapterone%5C%2Fchapterone-partone.html%22%2C%22linktype%22%3A%22text%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5Bhttp%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.royalmarinesmuseum.co.uk%5C%2Foldsite%5C%2Fonlineexhibitions%5C%2Fgriff%5C%2Fchapterone%5C%2Fchapterone-partone.html%20Chapter%20One%3A%20About%20the%20Man%20-%20The%20life%20of%20Captain%20Guy%20Beresford%20Kerr%20Griffiths%20RM%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.royalmarinesmuseum.co.uk/oldsite/onlineexhibitions/griff/chapterone/chapterone-partone.html">Chapter One: About the Man - The life of Captain Guy Beresford Kerr Griffiths RM</a> </li><li><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22external%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Culture%2024%20story%20on%20Royal%20Marines%20Museum%20exhibit%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22http%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.culture24.org.uk%5C%2Fhistory%2B%252526%2Bheritage%5C%2Fwar%2B%252526%2Bconflict%5C%2Fworld%2Bwar%2Btwo%5C%2Fart77499%22%2C%22linktype%22%3A%22text%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5Bhttp%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.culture24.org.uk%5C%2Fhistory%2B%252526%2Bheritage%5C%2Fwar%2B%252526%2Bconflict%5C%2Fworld%2Bwar%2Btwo%5C%2Fart77499%20Culture%2024%20story%20on%20Royal%20Marines%20Museum%20exhibit%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.culture24.org.uk/history+%2526+heritage/war+%2526+conflict/world+war+two/art77499">Culture 24 story on Royal Marines Museum exhibit</a> </li></ul> <div class="placeholder placeholder-double-brackets" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22double-brackets%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%7B%7BWikipedia%7CGuy%20Griffiths%7D%7D%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%221%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Wikipedia%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%7D" contenteditable="false">​​</div> <p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1"><span class="placeholder placeholder-double-brackets" data-rte-instance="104-10057695935df2c10edfa2f" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22double-brackets%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%7B%7BDEFAULTSORT%3AGriffiths%2C%20Guy%7D%7D%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%221%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22DEFAULTSORT%3AGriffiths%2C%20Guy%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%7D" contenteditable="false">​​</span> </p><p /> <!-- Saved in parser cache with key military:rte-parser-cache:252545 --> Loading editor 1915 births 1999 deaths British World War II pilots Royal Marines officers Royal Marines personnel of World War II World War II prisoners of war held by Germany Below are some commonly used wiki markup codes. 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