Northern Whig 27th August 1955.

A 21 year old English girl typist described at Ramsgate yesterday how she defied Napoleon Green, the coloured Chicago airman, who killed three people and wounded nine at Manston Airbase on Wednesday 24th August 1955.

An inquest jury were told that Acting Corporal Raymond Peter Grayer, of Clyde Road, Brighton, one of the three victims, was shot three times in the back by Green, who later turned the gun on himself after an hour’s beach battle with U.S. and English police.

They returned a verdict of murder against Green.

The typist, fair haired Margaret Shirley Hull, of Dane Road, Margate, who works in the commissary at the U.S. base said:

“I saw some fellows running towards me, with Green running after them. He was firing at them and firing up in the air and everywhere. Green called out: “Hey, I want you.”

“I took no notice,” said Miss Hull. Green caught hold of her arm, asked her if she could drive a car. She told him no and that she was going back to work. “No you are not, you are going with me,” he said.

“I WALKED OFF”

Margaret told the coroner: “I asked him who he was that he should tell me where to go and I walked off.”

Grayer, an R.A.F. police corporal, came cycling round the corner, slowed down beside them and then stopped.

Green said something to him. “Next minute I heard shots and turned round and saw the corporal fall off his cycle.”

Then, she turned back and asked Green what they should do to help the corporal. Green said “Leave him.”

“I went towards the corporal, lying in a pool of blood.” went on Margaret. “I turned my back on Green and started to call to people to come out of doors.”

“No one came forward at first.”

Green backed away and other people came to Margaret’s help.

At the end of the inquest the East Kent coroner, Mr. W.R. Mowll praised the bravery of the U.S. service and British civil police.

“This man was doubly armed and there was no doubt he was using his arms, he said.”

William Charles Emptage, of Ramsgate, a finance clerk at the base, said that Green, a rifle at his hip was firing at random when Gayer appeared.

“I saw Green deliberately point the rifle at the corporal’s back and fire at least three rounds.” he said.

U.S. Airman Third Class, James Robert Hall said that Green, pointing a .45 revolver towards him, took a hatchet and broke open the lock of the gun cage in the base gun room. He scooped up a handful of ammunition and took the carbine.

Airman Hall said he saw a note on the counter. It read: “Today I die Napoleon Green.”

Mt Vernon Register News 24th August 1955

The Air Force in Washington identified the gunman as Airman 2. C. Napoleon Green, son of Mr and Mrs Tom Green, 13227, South Langley Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.

Names of other Americans shot were withheld pending notification of their next of kin.

Lilly Ruth Green who said she is the sister of Napoleon Green, said the family had a letter from her brother about a month ago. She reported that he wrote he “liked” his assignment in England.

She said the family is Negro and the father works for the Pennsylvania Railroad.

Lilly Ruth said Napoleon had been in the Air Force for about 3 years. She said he is 21 years old and has given no indication of being in poor mental health.

Note:

William Charles Emptage 1900 – 1968, son of William Henry Emptage and Emma Terry. Husband of Gwendoline Stoddern.