Wing Commander Cyril Marconi Crowe (6 January 1894 – 31 May 1974) was a

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

flying ace A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace is varied, but is usually co ...

credited with 15 victories.

Early life

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

Saltburn-by-the-Sea Saltburn-by-the-Sea, commonly referred to as Saltburn, is a seaside town in Redcar and Cleveland, North Yorkshire, England, around south-east of Hartlepool and southeast of Redcar. It lies within the historic boundaries of the North Ridi ...

, Yorkshire, He was educated at

Mill Hill School Mill Hill School is a 13–18 mixed independent, day and boarding school in Mill Hill, London, England that was established in 1807. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. History A committee of Nonconformist me ...

from 1907 until 1911.

World War I service

Crowe was granted Aviator's Certificate No. 898 on 8 September 1914 after flying at the Grahame-White Flying School at

Hendon Aerodrome Hendon Aerodrome was an aerodrome in London, England, that was an important centre for aviation from 1908 to 1968. It was situated in Colindale, north west of Charing Cross. It nearly became a central hub of civil aviation ("the Charing Cros ...

. On 1 October, he was commissioned in the

Royal Flying Corps "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colors = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = , decorations ...

as a probationary second lieutenant, was appointed a flying officer on 22 December, and confirmed in his rank on 6 January 1915. On 24 April 1915, he was promoted to lieutenant. Crowe was appointed a flight commander with the temporary rank of captain on 14 October, and 1 December was promoted from temporary captain to captain. When the founding

Officer Commanding The officer commanding (OC), also known as the officer in command or officer in charge (OiC), is the commander of a sub-unit or minor unit (smaller than battalion size), principally used in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. In other countries, ...

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. 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, (14 August 1896 – 7 May 1917) was a British fighter pilot during the First World War. At the time of his death he was the United Kingdom's leading flying ace, with 44 victories, and remained its fourth-highest scorer b ...

's last dogfight on 7 May, and was the last British pilot to see Ball still alive. Crowe reported that Ball was last seen flying into a thunderhead. Between 23 May and 16 June, Crowe increased his number of aerial victories by five, to bring his total to nine. On 26 October 1917 Crowe was appointed a squadron commander, with the temporary rank of major, to serve as an instructor at the

Central Flying School The Central Flying School (CFS) is the Royal Air Force's primary institution for the training of military flying instructors. Established in 1912 at the Upavon Aerodrome, it is the longest existing flying training school. The school was based at R ...

, remaining in that post until 21 February 1918, when he also relinquished his temporary rank. Crowe returned to No. 56 Squadron, accounting for five more enemy aircraft between 18 March and 1 July. Upon

James McCudden James Thomas Byford McCudden, (28 March 1895 – 9 July 1918) was a British flying ace of the First World War and among the most highly decorated airmen in British military history. Born in 1895 to a middle class family with military traditions ...

's death on 9 July, Crowe took over as commander of No. 60 Squadron, with another appointment to the temporary rank of major. By then, his tally stood at 14 victories. 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. 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. Crowe's talents as a fighter pilot were described by

Arthur Rhys-Davids Arthur Percival Foley Rhys-Davids, (26 September 1897 – 27 October 1917) was a British flying ace of the First World War. Rhys-Davids was born in 1897 to a distinguished family. His father was a professional academic and his mother a prolifi ...

, 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." Crowe eventually left the RAF, being transferred to the Unemployed List on 25 September 1919.

Between the wars

Crowe married Elena Temperley at Saint John's Anglican church in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 21 September 1929. They went on to have four children: Peter, Robin Bettina and Sally Crowe was granted a commission as a flight lieutenant (and honorary squadron leader) in the Reserve of Air Force Officers on 20 November 1937.

World War II

On 1 September 1939 Crowe relinquished his reserve commission and joined the

Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) was established in 1936 to support the preparedness of the U.K. Royal Air Force in the event of another war. The Air Ministry intended it to form a supplement to the Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF ...

as a flight lieutenant, with seniority from 13 March. He rose to the rank of

wing commander Wing commander (Wg Cdr in the RAF, the IAF, and the PAF, WGCDR in the RNZAF and RAAF, formerly sometimes W/C in all services) is a senior commissioned rank in the British Royal Air Force and air forces of many countries which have historical ...

. On 24 September 1947 he returned to the Reserve of Air Force Officers with the rank of flight lieutenant, until finally relinquishing his commission on 27 May 1954.

Honours and awards

;Military Cross (MC) :Captain Cyril Marconi Crowe, Royal Flying Corps (Special Reserve) :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) :Captain Cyril Marconi Crowe, MC. :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.

References

;Notes ;Bibliography * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Crowe, Cyril 1894 births 1974 deaths People from Oakengates People educated at Mill Hill School Royal Flying Corps officers British World War I flying aces Recipients of the Military Cross Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) Royal Air Force personnel of World War I Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War II Royal Air Force wing commanders