Michael Nicholson Crossley
Encyclopedia
Wing Commander
Michael Nicholson Crossley DSO
, OBE
, DFC
was a Royal Air Force
Flying ace
who, during the Second World War
, led No. 32 Squadron RAF in the Battle of Britain
.
Crossley shot down 20 enemy aircraft and shared in the destruction of two others with one 'probable' and one 'damaged'. All of his victories were scored in the Hawker Hurricane
.
on 29 May 1912, Crossley was educated at Eton College
and The College of Aeronautical Engineering
in Chelsea
before he joined the RAF in 1936. He was posted to No. 32 Squadron after training, and became a Flight Commander just before the outbreak of war.
s. As a result of his actions he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
on the 21 June 1940.
During the Battle of Britain
, Crossley was promoted to Squadron Leader
on 16 August after the departure of John "Baron" Worrall
to Biggin Hill
. Between 12–18 August he shot down another 10 aircraft and was credited with one shared. Crossley survived being shot down twice on 18 and 25 August. On the 18 August 1940, known as The Hardest Day
, Crossley and his Squadron were heavily engaged in the morning and afternoon battles. In the last raid of that day, he was shot down.
Crossley was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
on the 20 August 1940. The Squadron was withdrawn to rest in late August. Crossley remained with the unit until April 1941, when he was sent as Test Pilot for the British Air Commission in the USA. Promoted to Wing Commander in September 1942, he returned to the UK in 1943, where he was made Wing Leader, RAF Detling
. However soon after Crossley's operational flying career ended when he contracted tuberculosis. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1946 before discharge from the RAF later that year.
After the war he emigrated to South Africa to farm, where he died in 1987.
Crossley was nicknamed "Red Knight" after he had commanded "Red Section" of No. 32 Squadron.
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
Michael Nicholson Crossley DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
was a Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
Flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
who, during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, led No. 32 Squadron RAF in the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
.
Crossley shot down 20 enemy aircraft and shared in the destruction of two others with one 'probable' and one 'damaged'. All of his victories were scored in the Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
.
Early life
Born in Halford, WarwickshireHalford, Warwickshire
Halford is a small village and civil parish in the English county of Warwickshire. It is located south-east of Stratford-on-Avon.By the River Stour are the earthworks and buried remains of Halford Castle, a motte castle believed to be the predecessor of the present manor house....
on 29 May 1912, Crossley was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and The College of Aeronautical Engineering
College of Aeronautical Engineering
The College of Aeronautical Engineering is located at the Pakistan Air Force Academy, Risalpur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, and is affiliated with the National University of Sciences and Technology ....
in Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
before he joined the RAF in 1936. He was posted to No. 32 Squadron after training, and became a Flight Commander just before the outbreak of war.
Second World War
Crossley first saw combat during the Battle for France, strafing German troop carrying transports at Ypenburg Airfield in Holland. By the start of June he had claimed six enemy aircraft destroyed, including four Messerschmitt Bf 109Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
s. As a result of his actions he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
on the 21 June 1940.
During the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
, Crossley was promoted to Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
on 16 August after the departure of John "Baron" Worrall
John Worrall (pilot)
Air Vice Marshal John "Barron" Worrall CB, DFC was a Royal Air Force pilot who, during the Second World War, led No. 32 Squadron in the Battle of Britain, flying the Hawker Hurricane.-Early years:...
to Biggin Hill
Biggin Hill
Biggin Hill is an area and electoral ward in the outskirts of the London Borough of Bromley in southeast London, United Kingdom.-History:Historically the settlement was known as Aperfield and formed part of the parish of Cudham...
. Between 12–18 August he shot down another 10 aircraft and was credited with one shared. Crossley survived being shot down twice on 18 and 25 August. On the 18 August 1940, known as The Hardest Day
The Hardest Day
The Hardest Day was the name of a Second World War air battle fought during the Battle of Britain on 18 August 1940, by the Luftwaffe and British Royal Air Force . By June 1940 the Allies had been defeated in Western Europe and Scandinavia...
, Crossley and his Squadron were heavily engaged in the morning and afternoon battles. In the last raid of that day, he was shot down.
Crossley was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
on the 20 August 1940. The Squadron was withdrawn to rest in late August. Crossley remained with the unit until April 1941, when he was sent as Test Pilot for the British Air Commission in the USA. Promoted to Wing Commander in September 1942, he returned to the UK in 1943, where he was made Wing Leader, RAF Detling
RAF Detling
RAF Detling was a station of the Royal Naval Air Service in World War I and the Royal Air Force in World War II. Situated 600 feet above sea level, it is located near Detling, a village about three miles north-east of Maidstone, in Kent....
. However soon after Crossley's operational flying career ended when he contracted tuberculosis. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1946 before discharge from the RAF later that year.
After the war he emigrated to South Africa to farm, where he died in 1987.
Crossley was nicknamed "Red Knight" after he had commanded "Red Section" of No. 32 Squadron.
Further reading
- Holmes, Tony. (1998). Hurricane Aces 1939 - 1940. London: Osprey Publishing.
- Shores & Williams. (1994) Aces High. Grub Street.