Three: Flight Lieutenant P. L. Crossley, Royal Air Force, who was killed in a flying accident whilst piloting a Canberra B(I)6 over West Germany on 10 May 1960

Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (Flt. Lt. P. L. Crossley. R.A.F.) mounted on card for display, generally very fine or better (3) £240-£280

Peter Leggo Crossley was born in Scarborough, Yorkshire, in April 1925. He enlisted as an airman in the Royal Air Force in June 1942, and waited to be phased into aircrew training. This commenced in May the following year, and after initial testing and selection, Crossley was posted for pilot training to Washington D.C., U.S.A, in September 1943. Having completed his training, he was commissioned Pilot Officer in April 1944.

After pilot training in the U.S.A., Crossley completed a series of operational refresher training courses before being posted overseas to Ceylon (H..Q. Air Command South East Asia) on 16 December 1944. He remained in this posting until 20 June 1946. Crossley subsequently served at H.Q. (U) Flying Training Command between December 1947 and March 1949. He then served with 80 Squadron (Spitfires and Hornets), Hong Kong, from 4 August 1949 to 26 May 1952. At some stage he was detached to Singapore - probably on the re-equipping of the squadron with Hornets - thus qualifying for the G.S.M.

Subsequent postings included to 100 Squadron (Canberra Mk 3’s) between September 1955 and January 1957, and with HQ 3 Group, Bomber Command, between May 1957 and July 1959. Crossley returned to flying duties when he was posted to 213 Squadron (Canberra Mk B(I)6’s) at Bruggen, Germany in August 1959. This was the only R.A.F. unit at the time whose aircraft carried nuclear weapons. Crossely was tragically killed in a flying accident on 10 May 1960.

Crossley was flying Canberra B(I)6 WT321 over Varrelbusch, West Germany when he was seen to pull up into cloud as if to loop. A minute later Crossley was seen in a steep descent ultimately leading to a fatal crash. It was deemed possible that the pilot who was inexperienced in the Low Altitude Bombing System role may have expected to recover in clear air above the clouds. However, on finding himself still in clouds and on reverting to instruments, he may have become disorientated and tried to pull through the bottom of the loop instead of rolling out. The three-man crew of Crossely, Flight Lieutenant J. F. W. Keaty and Flying Officer F. E. Briggs were all killed. Crossley was cremated at Krefeld Crematorium, Germany, and is commemorated on the Armed Forces Memorial, Stafford.

Sold with copied research, including a copy of his service record.