Pilot Officer JT Crossey

Against Unfavourable Odds

Unveiled by the Queen Mother in 1993, the Capel Le Ferne “Battle of Britain Memorial” in Kent featuring a large statue of a seated airmen surrounded by squadron badges, preceded the London Embankment monument unveiled by HRH Prince Charles in 2005. Both are dedicated to the “Few” who’s 2 937 names are on the Foxley-Norris Memorial Wall and the monument panels 3. In the latter case, the twenty-five names listed under South Africa, exclude JT Crossey, PG Dexter, CCO Joubert, JW Sleigh and PVH Wells but are identified elsewhere on the panels. Most are British, the number of Poles and Czech’s marginally less than the Commonwealth countries in aggregate with New Zealand topping that list ahead of Canada, South Africa, and Australia.

Against Unfavourable Odds

Flying Officer Burton, Pilot Officer Crossey, Pilot Officer Lewis DFC, and Flying Officer Wells flew No 249 Squadron Hurricanes during the “Battle of Britain”. Percival Ross Frames Burton, educated at Western Province Preparatory, Bishops and Oxford joined No 249 on July 21st and had flown several sorties by September 27th when he “Rammed Me110 of V/LG1 over Hailsham Sussex”, demonstrating “the greatest form of individual heroism” taking “the conscious and deliberate decision of a man to give up his life so that others might be saved”. The sole Luftwaffe survivor apparently said, “Burton’s was the bravest act he had ever witnessed” 28. Burtons act, “…. I saw his contortions, then I saw him straighten and fly straight into the German aircraft; both aircraft crashed and Percy was killed….”

Against Unfavourable Odds

Johannesburg born James Terence Crossey commissioned in October 1939 with Thomas Young Wallace, and Arthur Basil Watkinson. He joined No 249 Squadron in June 1940 and served on the squadron until early 1942. Posted to South Africa as an instructor he returned to operational flying in 1944. Released from service in 1946, Crossey managed Malta Airlines and died in 1988.