GREIZIS, PETERIS

• March 12, 1903 - born, near Valmiera (Katvaru pagasts).
• Completed high school in Valmiera
• 1923 - enrols in military college, artillery section.
• 1926 - graduates from military college, promoted to rank of Lieutenant, and assigned to the Kurzeme artillery regiment in Liepaja.
• 1930 - transferred to the Aviation Regiment.
• October 16, 1930 - graduates from flight school (observer) and assigned to a recon squadron, eventually as a flight commander.
• December 29, 1931 - J.Indans crashes Udet Flamingo #89 with flight student Greizis on board.
• June 5, 1932 - Participates in the Aviation Festival at Riga/Spilve.
• May 28, 1933 - Participates in the Aviation Festival at Riga/Spilve.
• 1935 - serves as a flight instructor. Then student Emils Briedis recalls that he had a habit of rating a student's performance, even when completed perfectly, as "almost satisfactory". He would not explain why he chose such a discouraging phrase.
• September 8, 1935 - Participates in the Aviation Festival at Riga/Spilve.
• August 3, 1936 - serves as Chief of the Civil Aviation administration.
• September 27, 1936 - participates in the first "Flight Around Latvia" competition.
• 1938 - assigned to the Aviation school to serve as an instructor.
• September 1939 - on the roster of the 2nd Fighter Squadron, based in Riga (Gloster Gladiators)
• October 31, 1939 - assigned combat aviator status.
• 1940 - (Soviet occupation) - assigned to the aviation squadron of the 24th Territorial Corps, based at Gulbene.
• June 23 1941 - while flying with the 24th Territorial Corps Greizis and his observer baled out of their aircraft and, when landing, they each injured a leg. The two aviators reported that they had been attacked by German aircraft and, on the second attack, their engine had been damaged. They were at only 200 metres altitude, so the parachute jump was dangerous. They became separated but were assisted by locals who had been celebrating 'Jani' (midsummer night) and were taken to the hospital. K.Krastins and A.Graudins suggest that the two aviators may have actually been trying to defect to the advancing german troops but baled out of their aircraft too soon and came down in Soviet territory. It should be noted that both Greizis and the observer firmly deny the second theory.
• 1941 - (German occupation) - a member of the Latvian Legion, Infantry, and participates in battles at Novogorod and Volkov.
• 1944 - Transfers to the Luftwaffe Legion Lettland and flies over 100 night combat missions.
• Awarded the Iron Cross and other decorations.
• After the war lives in Kassel, Germany.
• 1950 - emigrates to the USA, settling in Detroit and finding employment in the auto industry there.
• 1972 - retires.
• 1981 - In the Catskills cemetary, unveils a memorial to the aviators of the Aviation Regiment and the Luftwaffe Legion Lettland.
• February 2, 1991 - Died, in Dearborn Michigan.