The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. R G Crossman

Richard George Crossman of Watford, Hertfordshire was born in July 1911 in Portsmouth where his father was serving in the Royal Navy.

His father was Richard Berkeley Crossman (1875-1963) and his mother Clara Priscilla Crossman (nee Stevens 1897-1975).

His father had an interesting career:

'Chief Petty Officer Richard Berkeley Crossman was born in Portsea in April 1876 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class aboard the Training Ship HMS St. Vincent in December 1894. Following several other ship appointments over the next three years, he joined HM Yacht Osborne as an Able Seaman in early 1898, thereafter, until August 1914, enjoying further HM Yacht appointments in the Victoria and Albert and Alexandra, a span of service that witnessed his advancement to Petty Officer 1st Class and the award of his LS & GC Medal in April 1909. Crossman returned to regular duties in the Battleship HMS Agincourt (below) for the duration of hostilities, in which ship he would have been present at the Battle of Jutland, and between May 1919 and June 1922, he returned to HM Yachts in the Alexandra, on this occasion as a Chief Petty Officer'.

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RG Crossman joined the RAFVR about March 1939 as an Airman u/t WOp/AG. He was called up on 1st September, completed his training and joined 25 Squadron at Debden in early October 1940.

He had married Mary Benson in July 1940.

Above: Air Gunners of 25 Squadron

L to R: Sgt. RG Crossman, Sgt. FW Curtis, Sgt. JCO Medworth, Sgt. H Early, Sgt. J Harris

He was killed on 8th July 1941 as a Flight Sergeant and still serving with 25 Squadron when Beaufighter If T4629 dived into the ground near Wittering. The pilot P/O DW Thompson was also killed.

Crossman is buried in Watford Cemetery.