Michael Crossley

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.

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.

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 109s. As a result of his actions he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 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 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 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 The Squadron was withdrawn to rest in late August.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.