Michael Crossley (Crossley Close)

 

Wing Commander Michael Nicholson Crossley

Wing Commander Michael Nicholson Crossley DSO, OBE, DFC was a Royal Air Force Flying ace who, during the Second World War, led No. 32 Squadron RAF in the Battle of Britain. Born in Halford, Warwickshire on 29 May 1912, Crossley was educated at Eton College and The College of Aeronautical Engineering in Chelsea before he joined the RAF in 1936. He was posted to No. 32 Squadron after training, and became a Flight Commander just before the outbreak of war. Crossley shot down 20 enemy aircraft and shared in the destruction of two others with one 'probable' and one 'damaged'. All of his victories were scored in the Hawker Hurricane (not the Typhoon as shown in the picture).