Bill Crawford-Compton

rdf:langString Bill Crawford-Compton

rdf:langString William Vernon Crawford-Compton

rdf:langString William Vernon Crawford-Compton

rdf:langString Invercargill, New Zealand

rdf:langString New Zealand, United Kingdom

rdf:langString Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar

rdf:langString Crawford-Compton in the cockpit of his Spitfire, 1942

rdf:langString Air Officer Commanding No. 22 Group

rdf:langString Air Vice Marshal William Vernon Crawford-Compton, CB, CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar (2 March 1915 – 2 January 1988) was a New Zealand flying ace of the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. He was officially credited with destroying at least 20 enemy aircraft. Born in Invercargill, Crawford-Compton joined the RAF in 1939. He qualified as a pilot the following year and was posted to No. 603 Squadron. In March 1941, he was transferred to a newly formed unit, No. 485 (NZ) Squadron. He flew numerous operations, including during the Channel Dash and was credited with a number of enemy aircraft destroyed. After recovering from injuries received in a crash landing, he served as a flight commander in No. 611 Squadron. He was given command of No. 64 Squadron at the end of 1942 and led it for the early part of the following year. After a period of staff duties, he became wing commander of the Hornchurch fighter wing in mid-1943, and led it until the end of the year. He spent three months in the United States giving lectures on RAF operations before returning to active duty as commander of No. 145 Wing. He led the wing in offensive operations in France in the run up to and after Operation Overlord. After the war, he held a series of senior appointments in the RAF, retiring in late 1968. He died in January 1988 at the age of 72.