Denis Crowley-Milling

Sir Denis Crowley-Milling
Nickname(s) Crow
Born (1919-03-22)22 March 1919
St. Asaph, Wales
Died 1 December 1996(1996-12-01) (aged 77)
Westminster, England
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  Royal Air Force
Years of service 1937–1975
Rank Air Marshal
Commands held No. 46 Group (1973)
No. 38 Group (1970–72)
RAF Hong Kong (1964–66)
RAF Leconfield (1962–64)
No. 6 Squadron (1947–50)
No. 121 Wing (1943)
No. 181 Squadron (1942–43)
Battles/wars Second World War
Awards Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar
Air Efficiency Award
Other work Gentleman Usher of the Scarlet Rod

Air Marshal Sir Denis Crowley-Milling KCB, CBE, DSO, DFC & Bar, AE (22 March 1919 – 1 December 1996) was a Second World War fighter pilot and later an air officer in the Royal Air Force.

Second World War

Originally a Rolls-Royce apprentice, he joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, was mobilised in 1937 as a trainee pilot and was posted to No. 615 Squadron as a sergeant pilot. Originally flying the Gloster Gladiator biplane, the squadron converted to the new Hawker Hurricane monoplane fighter. In April 1940 after operational training, he was commissioned in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as a pilot officer and posted back to No. 615 Squadron.

Using his experience at Rolls-Royce when a number of squadron aircraft became separated from their groundcrew in France, he showed the other pilots how to service the aircraft and they departed just before the advancing German tanks arrived.

In June 1940 he was posted to No. 242 Squadron and flew during the Battle of Britain, one of The Few. The squadron moved to RAF Coltishall and Crowley-Milling flew as No. 2 to the new commanding officer Douglas Bader.

On 13 June 1941 he became a flight commander on No. 610 Squadron. On 21 August 1941 he was shot down over France while escorting Stirling bombers on a raid to Lille, but with the help of the French Resistance he evaded capture. He became ill with paratyphoid in Spain and was repatriated back to Britain where he re-joined his squadron.[1]

He was promoted to acting squadron leader in September 1942 and given command of No. 181 Squadron, who were operating the Hawker Typhoon in the fighter-bomber role from RAF Duxford. With another promotion to acting wing commander he took command of No. 121 Wing from June 1943 for four months. In October 1943 he developed problems with his eyesight which saw him removed from operational flying and he filled a number of staff appointments until the end of the war.

During his operational flying Crowley-Milling had four confirmed kills and two shared as destroyed.

Post war

With his eye problem improving Crowley-Milling was appointed a permanent commission from 1 September 1945. With promotion to squadron leader in 1947 he was appointed officer commanding No. 6 Squadron in Palestine with the Hawker Tempest. He gained more promotions and a number of staff positions, including command of RAF Leconfield from 1962 to 1964, RAF Hong Kong from 1964 to 1966, No. 38 Group RAF from 1970 to 1972 and No. 46 Group RAF from 1973 to 1974.

Retirement

Crowley-Milling retired at his own request in 1975 and became Controller of the RAF Benevolent Fund for the next six years and Founder Chairman (later Vice Patron) of the International Air Tattoo.[2] From 1979[3] to 1985 he was a Gentleman Usher of the Scarlet Rod, then Registrar and Secretary of the Order of the Bath until 1990. In 1992, he was appointed Master of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators. He was actively involved with many charities, including the Not Forgotten Association and his old friend's Douglas Bader Foundation when Bader died. He died on 1 December 1996 in London.

Honours and awards

See also

References

  1. Conscrpt Heroes – 78274 Denis Crowley-Milling
  2. "The 'As The Crow Flies' Trophy". The Royal International Air Tattoo 2005. Flightline UK. Retrieved 11 September 2010.
  3. The London Gazette: no. 47919. p. 9877. 3 August 1979. Retrieved 2009-04-26.
  4. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35134. p. 2114. 11 April 1941. Retrieved 2009-04-26.
  5. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35721. p. 4215. 29 September 1942. Retrieved 2009-04-26.
  6. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36299. p. 5588. 24 December 1943. Retrieved 2009-04-26.
  7. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 42870. p. 9. 1 January 1963. Retrieved 2009-04-26.
  8. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 45984. p. 6474. 2 June 1973. Retrieved 2009-04-26.

External links

Military offices
Preceded by
Harold Martin
Air Officer Commanding No. 38 Group
1970–1972
Succeeded by
Frederick Hazlewood
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