Cyril Crowe
| Cyril Marconi Crowe | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Billy |
| Born |
6 January 1894 Oakengates, Shropshire, England |
| Died | 31 May 1974 (aged 80) Swindon, Wiltshire, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1914–1919 1937–1954 |
| Rank | Wing Commander |
| Unit |
No. 4 Squadron RFC No. 8 Squadron RFC No. 16 Squadron RFC No. 56 Squadron RAF |
| Commands held |
No. 60 Squadron RAF No. 85 Squadron RAF |
| Awards |
Military Cross Distinguished Flying Cross |
Wing Commander Cyril Marconi Crowe MC, DFC (6 January 1894 – 31 May 1974) was a World War I flying ace credited with 15 victories.
Crowe was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Crowe of Saltburn-by-the-Sea, Yorkshire, He was educated at Mill Hill School from 1907 until 1911.
Crowe was granted Aviator's Certificate No. 898 on 8 September 1914 after flying at the Grahame-White Flying School at Hendon Aerodrome. On 1 October, he was commissioned in the Royal Flying Corps 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 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'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, remaining in that post until 21 February 1918, when he also relinquished his temporary rank.
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