Edward Crundall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edward Duncan Crundall
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|---|---|
| Born | 9 December 1896 Whitfield, Kent, England |
| Died | 1980s |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
Royal Navy Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1914–1919 1935–1954 |
| Rank | Wing Commander |
| Unit | No. 8 Squadron RNAS No. 210 Squadron RAF |
| Commands held | No. 116 (Calibration) Squadron RAF |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross Air Force Cross |
Edward Duncan Crundall (born December 9, 1896 – died in the 1980s) was a brave officer in the British Royal Air Force. He flew in both World War I and World War II. He became a "flying ace" in World War I, which means he shot down seven enemy planes. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and the Air Force Cross (AFC) for his amazing service.
Contents
Biography
Edward Duncan Crundall was born in Whitfield, Kent, England, on December 9, 1896. His father was Edward Crundall, a successful coal dealer. Edward had a younger brother, Walter Frederick, who also became a pilot in World War I. Edward Duncan Crundall passed away in 1981.
World War I Service
Crundall joined the Royal Naval Air Service in 1914. This was a part of the British Navy that used airplanes. By 1916, he earned his pilot's license. He then joined No. 8 Naval Squadron.
He scored his first victories in April 1917, a time known as "Bloody April" because many pilots were lost. He flew a Sopwith Triplane, a plane with three wings. On May 10, 1917, he was injured and shot down by an enemy pilot named Alois Heldmann.
Later, in 1918, he switched to No. 210 Squadron RAF and flew a different plane, the Sopwith Camel. He scored his last four victories in this plane. After the war, on October 10, 1919, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross. This award was given for his brave and skilled actions during the war.
Aerial Victories
Here is a list of the enemy planes Edward Crundall shot down:
| No. | Date/time | Aircraft | Foe | Result | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 April 1917 @ 0905 hours |
Sopwith Triplane Serial Number N5464 |
Albatros reconnaissance plane | Driven down out of control | Henin-Liétard | |
| 2 | 14 April 1917 @ 0905 hours |
Albatros reconnaissance plane | Driven down out of control | |||
| 3 | 18 August 1917 @ 1830 hours |
Albatros D.V | Driven down out of control | Victory shared with Richard Burnard Munday & Charles Dawson Booker | ||
| 4 | 30 July 1918 @ 1000 hours |
Sopwith Camel Serial Number B7860 |
Pfalz D.III | Driven down out of control | East of Diksmuide | |
| 5 | 1 August 1918 @ 1925 hours |
Fokker D.VII | Driven down out of control | North of Lille | ||
| 6 | 9 August 1918 @ 0725 hours |
Fokker D.VII | Destroyed | Zonnebeke | ||
| 7 | 9 August 1918 @ 0730 hours |
Fokker D.VII | Destroyed | Southeast of Staden |
Between the Wars
After World War I, Crundall continued to work in aviation. In 1935, he joined the Reserve of Air Force Officers (RAFO). This meant he could be called back to active duty if needed. He flew planes for civilian companies and for air charter work until 1937.
World War II Service
When World War II began in 1939, Crundall returned to active service. He was promoted several times during the war. He became the commander of No. 116 (Calibration) Squadron. This squadron helped to test and adjust aircraft equipment. For his important work, he was awarded the Air Force Cross on January 1, 1945.
After World War II
After World War II ended, Crundall started charter airlines. These airlines flew people and goods to places like French Equatorial Africa and South Africa. He remained a member of the Reserve of Air Force Officers until 1954. By the end of his flying career, he had flown for over 8,500 hours! That's a lot of time in the air.
In 1975, he wrote a book about his experiences called Fighter Pilot on the Western Front.
