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| Name: |
Cyril Marconi "Billy" Crowe |
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| Country: |
England |
| Rank: |
Major |
| Service: |
Royal Flying Corps
Royal Air Force |
| Units: |
4, 8, 16, 56, 60, 85 |
| Victories: |
15 |
| Born: |
06 January 1894 |
| Place of
Birth: |
Oakengates, Shropshire |
| Died: |
31 May 1974 |
| Place of Death: |
Swindon, Wiltshire |
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Cyril Marconi Crowe pioneered "dive and climb"
tactics for the S.E.5. As a flight commander with 56 Squadron, despite having his goggles shot from his face in a fight on 7 May 1917, Crowe survived without injury and scored 14 victories. Upon the death
of James McCudden, he assumed command of 60 Squadron. But
shortly thereafter, returning from a party at Dieppe on 29 July 1918, Crowe drove his automobile
into a tree. His two passengers, Owen Scholte and a Major
Foggin, were killed in the crash. Crowe was court martialled and reduced in rank to Captain for a month before
being posted as a Major to 85 Squadron on 28 August 1918 for the duration of the war. With this unit he scored his final victory on 16 September 1918. Crowe was a Wing Commander in the Royal Air Force during World War II.
"[Crowe] is not afraid of anything and goes after old Huns like a rocket and yet he is extraordinarily prudent." Arthur Rhys Davids, member of Crowe's 'B' Flight, 56 Squadron |
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| Military Cross (MC) |
Capt. Cyril Marconi Crowe, R.F.C., Spec. Res.
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.
Supplement to the London Gazette, 18 July 1917 (30188/7225) |
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| Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) |
Capt. Cyril Marconi Crowe. M.C.
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 ibravery. 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.
Supplement to the London Gazette, 21 September 1918 (30913/11250) |
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| Victories |
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Date |
Time |
Unit |
Aircraft |
Opponent |
Location |
| 1 |
24 Apr 1917 |
1110 |
56 |
S.E.5 (A4860) |
C (DES) 1 |
Bellone |
| 2 |
29 Apr 1917 |
1500 |
56 |
S.E.5 (A4860) |
Albatros D.II (OOC) 2 |
Waziers |
| 3 |
29 Apr 1917 |
1500 |
56 |
S.E.5 (A4860) |
Albatros D.II (OOC) 2 |
Bugnicourt |
| 4 |
30 Apr 1917 |
0845 |
56 |
S.E.5 (A4860) |
Albatros D.II (DES) |
Douai |
| 5 |
23 May 1917 |
1915-2015 |
56 |
S.E.5 (A8902) |
C (OOC) |
Tilloy |
| 6 |
24 May 1917 |
1900-2000 |
56 |
S.E.5 (A8910) |
Albatros D.III (OOC) 3 |
S of Douai |
| 7 |
25 May 1917 |
0630-0730 |
56 |
S.E.5 (A8910) |
Albatros D.III (OOC) |
Courcelles |
| 8 |
27 May 1917 |
0615-0715 |
56 |
S.E.5 (A8910) |
Albatros D.III (DES) |
Erchin |
| 9 |
16 Jun 1917 |
0845-0930 |
56 |
S.E.5 (A8910) |
C (DES) |
Passchendaele |
| 10 |
18 Mar 1918 |
1110 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
C (OOC) |
W of Maquigny |
| 11 |
18 Mar 1918 |
1145 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
C (DES) |
NE of Rumaucourt |
| 12 |
28 Jun 1918 |
2020 |
56 |
S.E.5a (C1848) |
Pfalz D.III (OOC) |
Dompierre |
| 13 |
01 Jul 1918 |
0540 |
56 |
S.E.5a (C1848) |
Fokker D.VII (DES) |
NE of Albert |
| 14 |
01 Jul 1918 |
0540 |
56 |
S.E.5a (C1848) |
Fokker DR.I (DES) 4 |
NE of Albert |
| 15 |
16 Sep 1918 |
1845 |
85 |
S.E.5a (B8354) |
Fokker D.VII (DES) |
Sauchy-Couchy |
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| 1 |
Shared with 2/Lt Leonard Barlow, 2/Lt M A Kay (A4866) |
| 2 |
Shared with Lt J O Leach (A4856), Lt M A Kay (A4866) |
| 3 |
Shared with 2/Lt Reginald Hoidge, 2/Lt Arthur Rhys Davids, 2/Lt Keith Muspratt, 2/Lt John Turnbull |
| 4 |
Shared with Capt Gerald Maxwell |
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