Cyril Marconi Crowe | |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | Billy |
Born | Oakengates, Shropshire, England | 6 January 1894
Died | 31 May 1974 Swindon, Wiltshire, England | (aged 80)
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | British Army Royal Air Force |
Years of service | 1914–1919 1937–1954 |
Rank | Wing Commander |
Unit |
No. 4 Squadron RFC No. 8 Squadron RFC No. 16 Squadron RFC No. 56 Squadron RAF |
Commands held |
No. 60 Squadron RAF No. 85 Squadron RAF |
Awards |
Military Cross Distinguished Flying Cross |
Wing Commander Cyril Marconi Crowe MC, DFC (6 January 1894 – 31 May 1974) was a World War I flying ace credited with 15 victories. [1]
Crowe was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Crowe of Saltburn-by-the-Sea, Yorkshire, [2] He was educated at Mill Hill School from 1907 until 1911. [3]
Crowe was granted Aviator's Certificate No. 898 on 8 September 1914 after flying at the Grahame-White Flying School at Hendon Aerodrome. [4] On 1 October, he was commissioned in the Royal Flying Corps as a probationary second lieutenant, [5] was appointed a flying officer on 22 December, [6] and confirmed in his rank on 6 January 1915. [7]
On 24 April 1915, he was promoted to lieutenant. [8] Crowe was appointed a flight commander with the temporary rank of captain on 14 October, [9] and 1 December was promoted from temporary captain to captain. [10]
When the founding Officer Commanding of No. 56 Squadron, Major Richard Blomfield, went recruiting pilots for the new unit, Crowe was chosen on the basis of his skills to be a flight commander. [11] He came aboard as leader of "B" Flight on 19 April 1917. [12] He scored his first victory on 24 April 1917; by 30 April, his count stood at four. [1] Crowe was involved in Albert Ball's last dogfight on 7 May, and was the last British pilot to see Ball still alive. [3] Crowe reported that Ball was last seen flying into a thunderhead. [13] Between 23 May and 16 June, Crowe increased his number of aerial victories by five, to bring his total to nine. [1]
On 26 October 1917 Crowe was appointed a squadron commander, with the temporary rank of major, [14] to serve as an instructor at the Central Flying School, [15] remaining in that post until 21 February 1918, [16] when he also relinquished his temporary rank. [17]
Crowe returned to No. 56 Squadron, accounting for five more enemy aircraft between 18 March and 1 July. [1] Upon James McCudden's death on 9 July, [18] Crowe took over as commander of No. 60 Squadron, with another appointment to the temporary rank of major. [19] By then, his tally stood at 14 victories. [1] On 29 July, he crashed a car into a tree while returning from a party in Dieppe. The accident killed his old schoolmate Owen Scholte, as well as Major Foggin. The resultant court-martial reduced Crowe to the rank of captain for a month. [3] He was then reinstated in the rank of major and given command of No. 85 Squadron. He scored his fifteenth and last victory for them on 16 September 1918. [1]
Crowe's talents as a fighter pilot were described by Arthur Rhys-Davids, one of the pilots in "B" Flight, 56 Squadron: "Crowe is not afraid of anything and goes after old Huns like a rocket and yet he is extraordinarily prudent." [1]
Crowe eventually left the RAF, being transferred to the Unemployed List on 25 September 1919. [20]
Crowe married Elena Temperley at Saint John's Anglican church in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 21 September 1929. [2] They went on to have four children: Peter, Robin Bettina and Sally [21]
Crowe was granted a commission as a flight lieutenant (and honorary squadron leader) in the Reserve of Air Force Officers on 20 November 1937. [22]
On 1 September 1939 Crowe relinquished his reserve commission [23] and joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as a flight lieutenant, with seniority from 13 March. [24] He rose to the rank of wing commander. [3]
On 24 September 1947 he returned to the Reserve of Air Force Officers with the rank of flight lieutenant, [25] until finally relinquishing his commission on 27 May 1954. [26]
Cyril Marconi Crowe | |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | Billy |
Born | Oakengates, Shropshire, England | 6 January 1894
Died | 31 May 1974 Swindon, Wiltshire, England | (aged 80)
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | British Army Royal Air Force |
Years of service | 1914–1919 1937–1954 |
Rank | Wing Commander |
Unit |
No. 4 Squadron RFC No. 8 Squadron RFC No. 16 Squadron RFC No. 56 Squadron RAF |
Commands held |
No. 60 Squadron RAF No. 85 Squadron RAF |
Awards |
Military Cross Distinguished Flying Cross |
Wing Commander Cyril Marconi Crowe MC, DFC (6 January 1894 – 31 May 1974) was a World War I flying ace credited with 15 victories. [1]
Crowe was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Crowe of Saltburn-by-the-Sea, Yorkshire, [2] He was educated at Mill Hill School from 1907 until 1911. [3]
Crowe was granted Aviator's Certificate No. 898 on 8 September 1914 after flying at the Grahame-White Flying School at Hendon Aerodrome. [4] On 1 October, he was commissioned in the Royal Flying Corps as a probationary second lieutenant, [5] was appointed a flying officer on 22 December, [6] and confirmed in his rank on 6 January 1915. [7]
On 24 April 1915, he was promoted to lieutenant. [8] Crowe was appointed a flight commander with the temporary rank of captain on 14 October, [9] and 1 December was promoted from temporary captain to captain. [10]
When the founding Officer Commanding of No. 56 Squadron, Major Richard Blomfield, went recruiting pilots for the new unit, Crowe was chosen on the basis of his skills to be a flight commander. [11] He came aboard as leader of "B" Flight on 19 April 1917. [12] He scored his first victory on 24 April 1917; by 30 April, his count stood at four. [1] Crowe was involved in Albert Ball's last dogfight on 7 May, and was the last British pilot to see Ball still alive. [3] Crowe reported that Ball was last seen flying into a thunderhead. [13] Between 23 May and 16 June, Crowe increased his number of aerial victories by five, to bring his total to nine. [1]
On 26 October 1917 Crowe was appointed a squadron commander, with the temporary rank of major, [14] to serve as an instructor at the Central Flying School, [15] remaining in that post until 21 February 1918, [16] when he also relinquished his temporary rank. [17]
Crowe returned to No. 56 Squadron, accounting for five more enemy aircraft between 18 March and 1 July. [1] Upon James McCudden's death on 9 July, [18] Crowe took over as commander of No. 60 Squadron, with another appointment to the temporary rank of major. [19] By then, his tally stood at 14 victories. [1] On 29 July, he crashed a car into a tree while returning from a party in Dieppe. The accident killed his old schoolmate Owen Scholte, as well as Major Foggin. The resultant court-martial reduced Crowe to the rank of captain for a month. [3] He was then reinstated in the rank of major and given command of No. 85 Squadron. He scored his fifteenth and last victory for them on 16 September 1918. [1]
Crowe's talents as a fighter pilot were described by Arthur Rhys-Davids, one of the pilots in "B" Flight, 56 Squadron: "Crowe is not afraid of anything and goes after old Huns like a rocket and yet he is extraordinarily prudent." [1]
Crowe eventually left the RAF, being transferred to the Unemployed List on 25 September 1919. [20]
Crowe married Elena Temperley at Saint John's Anglican church in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 21 September 1929. [2] They went on to have four children: Peter, Robin Bettina and Sally [21]
Crowe was granted a commission as a flight lieutenant (and honorary squadron leader) in the Reserve of Air Force Officers on 20 November 1937. [22]
On 1 September 1939 Crowe relinquished his reserve commission [23] and joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as a flight lieutenant, with seniority from 13 March. [24] He rose to the rank of wing commander. [3]
On 24 September 1947 he returned to the Reserve of Air Force Officers with the rank of flight lieutenant, [25] until finally relinquishing his commission on 27 May 1954. [26]