The Airmen's Stories - P/O J T Crossey

James Terence Crossey was born in Johannesburg, South Africa on 24th January 1918. He joined the RAF on a short service commission and began his elementary flying training at 5 E&RFTS Hanworth on 14th August 1939.

Crossey was posted to 3 ITW Hastings on 24th October and went on to 9 FTS Hullavington on 6th November. After completing his training he went to 7 B&GS Porthcawl on 29th April 1940 and on to 5 OTU Aston Down on 13th May.

After converting to Hurricanes he joined 249 Squadron at Leconfield on 10th June and served with it in the Battle of Britain. On 15th September 1940 he probably destroyed a Do17.

The squadron sailed in the carrier HMS Furious on 10th May 1941. At Gibraltar they transferred on to HMS Ark Royal on the 18th and three days later flew off to Ta Kali, Malta. On 22nd November 1941 Crossey claimed a Mc202 destroyed and on 24th December he shared a Ju88.

Above: 249 Squadron - P/O Crossey, P/O WL Davis and P/O HJJ Beazley

In February 1942 Crossey left 249 and went to Cairo, from where he was posted to South Africa as an instructor. He served at various Air Schools until 21st August 1944 when he was posted back to the UK.

He joined the Aircraft Delivery Flight at Redhill on 15th October but three weeks later went to 105 OTU Bramcote to convert to Dakotas.

Crossey was posted to 216 Squadron at Cairo West on 17th February 1945 and served with 26 Squadron at Akyab from 28th March until 1st August 1945 when he returned to 216, then at Almaza, Egypt.

Crossey was released in 1946 and later went to live in Malta where he was Manager of Malta Airlines.

He died there on 23rd July 1988.