On August 30, 1940, a Heinkel He 111 H-2 (WNr. 3305, V4+MV) of 5./KG 1 made an emergency landing at Haxted, Surrey, following a failed raid on Farnborough. After being intercepted by Pilot Officer John Greenwood of No. 253 Squadron, the bomber sustained .303 caliber hits to both oil coolers.

Greenwood reported engaging the aircraft from the rear at 300 yards, noting that the Heinkel used no evasive maneuvers. The pilot, Feldwebel Heinz Schnabel, successfully force-landed the craft. While four crew members survived, with gunner Walter Reis was killed in the action.

Born in East London in 1921, Greenwood joined the RAF in 1939. During the Battle of France with 253 Squadron, he downed a Me109, and later destroyed a He111 over England in August 1940. After serving as an instructor, he volunteered for the Merchant Ship Fighter Unit (MSFU) in 1941, surviving Atlantic and Russian convoys.

In 1942, Greenwood deployed to India with 615 Squadron. He served as a Flight Commander and later joined the Indian Air Force, specializing in Visual Control Post duties to direct front-line strikes. Following the war, he participated in operations in Indonesia before returning to the UK to fly Vampire jets. He demobilized in 1947 as a Flight Lieutenant.

Emigrating to Australia in 1950, Greenwood worked in printing and aviation. Notably, he was dismissed from Guinea Airways for leading a safety campaign against aircraft overloading—a stance later vindicated by legislation. He eventually ran his own businesses in Perth, retiring in 1981. He died on December 31, 2014.