Early life

Crowe was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Crowe of Saltburn

Saltburn

Saltburn is a long linear coastal village, which is situated on the northern shore of the Cromarty Firth, in Ross-shire, Scottish Highlands, and is in the Scottish council area of Highland....

. He attended Mill Hill School

Mill Hill School

Mill Hill School, in Mill Hill, London, is a coeducational independent school for boarding and day pupils aged 13–18. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, an organisation of public schools in the United Kingdom....

 from 1907 - 1911.

World War I service

He earned Aviator's Certificate No. 898 on 14 September 1914. On 1 October 1914, he was commissioned a probationary second lieutenant. On 22 December 1914, he was appointed a flying officer

Flying Officer

Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...

 in the Royal Flying Corps

Royal Flying Corps

The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...

.

On 24 April 1915, he was promoted to lieutenant. On 1 December 1915, he was further promoted, from temporary captain to captain.

When the founding Officer Commanding of No. 56 Squadron, Major Richard Blomfield, went recruiting pilots for the new unit, Cyril Crowe was chosen on the basis of his skills to be a flight leader. He came aboard as leader of B Flight on 19 April 1917. He scored his first victory on 24 April 1917; by 30 April, his count stood at four.

Crowe was involved in Albert Ball

Albert Ball

Albert Ball VC, DSO & Two Bars, MC was an English fighter pilot of the First World War and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British or Commonwealth armed forces...

's last dogfight on 7 May 1917, and was the last British pilot to see Ball still alive. Crowe reported that Ball was last seen flying into a thunderhead.

Upon James McCudden

James McCudden

James Thomas Byford McCudden VC, DSO & Bar, MC & Bar, MM was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for valour in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces...

's death on 9 July 1918, Crowe succeeded to command on No. 60 Squadron. By then, his tally stood at 14 victories. On 29 July 1918, he crashed a car into a tree while returning from a party in Dieppe. The accident killed his old schoolmate Owen Scholte

Owen Scholte

Captain Owen John Frederick Scholte , was the son of Frederick P. and Emma Scholte. He attended Mill Hill School from 1909 to 1912. During his service in World War I, he became a flying ace credited with eight aerial victories. He was riding in a car driven by fellow ace Cyril Crowe when Crowe hit...

, as well as Major Foggin. The resultant courtmartial reduced Crowe to the rank of captain for a month. He was then reinstated in the rank of major and given command of No. 85 Squadron. He scored his last victory for them on 16 September 1918

Cyril Crowe's talents as a fighter pilot were described by one of the pilots in his B Flight of 56 Squadron, Arthur Rhys-Davids: "Crowe is not afraid of anything and goes after old Huns like a rocket and yet he is extraordinarily prudent."

Between the wars

Crowe married Elena Temperley at Saint John's in Buenos Aires on 21 September 1929. They went on to have four children—Robin, Peter, Sally, and Bettina.

Crowe was commissioned as a flight lieutenant and honorary squadron leader on 20 November 1937, continuing in that status through 7 May 1938.

World War II

He became a Wing Commander

Wing Commander (rank)

Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...

 in World War II. He was still a flight lieutenant in the reserves on 24 September 1947.

Honors and award

Military Cross (MC)

Capt. Cyril Marconi Crowe, R.F.C., Spec. Res.

For conspicuous gallantry and skill as a leader of offensive patrols, many times attacking hostile formations single-handed, and descending to low altitudes under heavy anti-aircraft fire. He has been responsible for the destruction of several enemy machines.

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Capt. Cyril Marconi Crowe. M.C.

This officer has been engaged on active operations over the lines for over twelve months, and has accounted for ten enemy aeroplanes. He is a most successful leader, distinguished for skill and bravery. On a recent occasion he, accompanied by two other machines, attacked an enemy formation consisting of four biplanes and one triplane. Having destroyed a biplane he engaged the triplane at close range and destroyed that also.

Reference

• SE 5/5a Aces of World War I. Norman Franks. Osprey Publishing, 2007. ISBN 184603180X, 9781846031809.
• High in the empty blue: the history of 56 Squadron, RFC/RAF 1916-1920. Alex Revell. ISBN 0963711032, 9780963711038.
• Albert Ball, VC. Chaz Bowyer. W. Kimber, 1977. ISBN 0718300459, 9780718300456.