born in Illinois
died in Riverside, Riverside County California
Just prior to the beginning of World War II, Grinyer was the photographer of B-24A #40-2371. He and his crew belonged to the 88th reconnaissance Squadron, the bomber was assigned to the 1st Photographic Group, attached to Ferry Command and arrived at Hickam Field, Hawaii on December 5, 1941 to complete final preparations for a secret project to photograph Japanese military bases in the Marshall and Caroline Islands. They had flown to Hawaii from the Soviet Union through the Middle East, Singapore, Australia, New Guinea, and Wake Island. Problems were encountered in installing the machine guns and the aircraft was still there on the morning of 7 December. That morning, Grinyer and his crewmates were at hangar 15 at Hickam Field preparing their plane for a short check flight before leaving on the next leg or their journey when the Japanese attack began. A bomb hit the hangar, wounding four of the crew and killing two more (Grinyer was not injured). They were two the first Americans killed in World War II, and the plane was the first US aircraft destroyed in the war.
He later served with the 20th Air Force, 19th Bombardment Group and retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1960.
He married Helen Francis Lynch, RN. They had 7 children.
died in Riverside, Riverside County California
Just prior to the beginning of World War II, Grinyer was the photographer of B-24A #40-2371. He and his crew belonged to the 88th reconnaissance Squadron, the bomber was assigned to the 1st Photographic Group, attached to Ferry Command and arrived at Hickam Field, Hawaii on December 5, 1941 to complete final preparations for a secret project to photograph Japanese military bases in the Marshall and Caroline Islands. They had flown to Hawaii from the Soviet Union through the Middle East, Singapore, Australia, New Guinea, and Wake Island. Problems were encountered in installing the machine guns and the aircraft was still there on the morning of 7 December. That morning, Grinyer and his crewmates were at hangar 15 at Hickam Field preparing their plane for a short check flight before leaving on the next leg or their journey when the Japanese attack began. A bomb hit the hangar, wounding four of the crew and killing two more (Grinyer was not injured). They were two the first Americans killed in World War II, and the plane was the first US aircraft destroyed in the war.
He later served with the 20th Air Force, 19th Bombardment Group and retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1960.
He married Helen Francis Lynch, RN. They had 7 children.
born in Illinois
died in Riverside, Riverside County California
Just prior to the beginning of World War II, Grinyer was the photographer of B-24A #40-2371. He and his crew belonged to the 88th reconnaissance Squadron, the bomber was assigned to the 1st Photographic Group, attached to Ferry Command and arrived at Hickam Field, Hawaii on December 5, 1941 to complete final preparations for a secret project to photograph Japanese military bases in the Marshall and Caroline Islands. They had flown to Hawaii from the Soviet Union through the Middle East, Singapore, Australia, New Guinea, and Wake Island. Problems were encountered in installing the machine guns and the aircraft was still there on the morning of 7 December. That morning, Grinyer and his crewmates were at hangar 15 at Hickam Field preparing their plane for a short check flight before leaving on the next leg or their journey when the Japanese attack began. A bomb hit the hangar, wounding four of the crew and killing two more (Grinyer was not injured). They were two the first Americans killed in World War II, and the plane was the first US aircraft destroyed in the war.
He later served with the 20th Air Force, 19th Bombardment Group and retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1960.
He married Helen Francis Lynch, RN. They had 7 children.
died in Riverside, Riverside County California
Just prior to the beginning of World War II, Grinyer was the photographer of B-24A #40-2371. He and his crew belonged to the 88th reconnaissance Squadron, the bomber was assigned to the 1st Photographic Group, attached to Ferry Command and arrived at Hickam Field, Hawaii on December 5, 1941 to complete final preparations for a secret project to photograph Japanese military bases in the Marshall and Caroline Islands. They had flown to Hawaii from the Soviet Union through the Middle East, Singapore, Australia, New Guinea, and Wake Island. Problems were encountered in installing the machine guns and the aircraft was still there on the morning of 7 December. That morning, Grinyer and his crewmates were at hangar 15 at Hickam Field preparing their plane for a short check flight before leaving on the next leg or their journey when the Japanese attack began. A bomb hit the hangar, wounding four of the crew and killing two more (Grinyer was not injured). They were two the first Americans killed in World War II, and the plane was the first US aircraft destroyed in the war.
He later served with the 20th Air Force, 19th Bombardment Group and retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1960.
He married Helen Francis Lynch, RN. They had 7 children.
Inscription
LTCOL, US AIR FORCE
WORLD WAR II, KOREA
Gravesite Details
WORLD WAR II, KOREA
Family Members
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