Michael Nicholson Crossley

Infobox Military Person
name= Michael "Red Knight" Crossley
lived=
placeofbirth=
placeofdeath=


caption=
nickname="Red Knight"
allegiance=flag|United Kingdom
serviceyears= 1936–1943
rank= Wing Commander
branch= air force|United Kingdom
commands= No. 32 Squadron RAF
unit= No. 32 Squadron RAF
battles= World War II
awards=Distinguished Service Order
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Flying Cross
laterwork=

Squadron Leader Michael Nicholson Crossley DSO, OBE, DFC was a Royal Air Force Flying ace who, during the Second World War, led No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron RAF in the Battle of Britain.

Crossley shot down 20 enemy aircraft and shared in the destruction of two others with one 'problable' and one 'damaged'. All of his victories were scored in the Hawker Hurricane. [Holmes 1998, p. 85.]

Early life

Born in Halford, Warwickshire 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.

econd World War

Crossley first saw combat during the Battle for France, strafing German troop carrying transports at Ypenberg Airfield in Holland. By the start of June he had claimed six enemy aircraft destroyed, including four Messerschmitt Bf 109s. [Holmes 1998, p. 51.] As a result of his actions he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on the 21 June 1940.

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. [Holmes 1998, p. 84. ] .

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 The Squadron was withdrawn to rest in late August.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 awarded 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. [Holmes 1998, p. 84.]

References

* Holmes, Tony. "Hurricane Aces 1939 - 1940". London: Osprey Publishing. 1998. ISBN 978-1-85532-597-5
* Shores & Williams, 'Aces High' (Grub Street 1994)

Notes