Bill Crawford-Crompton

William Vernon Crawford-Crompton

Wing Commander Crawford-Compton, second from right, with Group Captain Adolph Malan and other pilots at Merston, Sussex, on the morning of D Day
Born (1915-03-02)2 March 1915
Invercargill, New Zealand
Died 2 January 1988(1988-01-02) (aged 72)
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  Royal Air Force
Years of service 1939–1968
Rank Air Vice Marshal
Commands held No. 22 Group RAF
RAF Gamil
RAF Bruggen
No. 64 Squadron RAF
Battles/wars Second World War
Awards Companion of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Order & Bar
Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar
Silver Star (United States)
Chevalier of the Legion of Honour (France)

Air Vice Marshal William Vernon "Bill" Crawford-Crompton CB, CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar (2 March 1915 – 2 January 1988) was a New Zealand-born pilot and air ace of the Second World War. After the war, he went on to serve as a senior commander in the Royal Air Force.

Early life and career

Crawford-Crompton was born in Invercargill, New Zealand on 2 March 1915. He joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1939. In 1941 he was commissioned into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as a pilot officer. He was then posted as a pilot to No. 485 Squadron RNZAF. He is credited with shooting down 21.5 enemy aircraft,[1] and for bravery was awarded the French Chevalier of the Legion of Honour and United States Silver Star. He took part in Operation Overlord and destroyed four enemy aircraft in July 1944 during that operation.

Post-war career

Following the end of the Second World War, Crawford-Crompton transferred from the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve to the regular Royal Air Force. After several staff tours, he commanded RAF Bruggen and then RAF Gamil. After several more senior appointments, he was promoted to air vice marshal and took up the post of Chief of Staff at HQ British Forces in Cyprus. His final tour was as Air Officer Commanding No. 22 Group RAF.

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Military offices
Preceded by
A A Case
Air Officer Commanding No. 22 Group
1966–1968
Succeeded by
G R Magill
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