LEST WE FORGET
Flight Lieutenant Edward DAMPIER-CROSSLEY DFC
Service No: 403012
Born: Christchurch, New Zealand, 19 January 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 13 November 1940 (at Sydney NSW)
Unit: No. 619 Squadron (RAF), RAF Station Woodhall Spa
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), 29 December 1942
Died: Air Operations: Hamburg and Raids on Italy (No. 619 Squadron Lancaster aircraft EE112), Germany, 11 August 1943, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Durnbach War Cemetery, Bad Tolz, Bayern Germany
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Harry Maurice Croslegh Dampier-Crossley and Mabel Leslie Dampier-Crossley, of Rotherham, Canterbury, New Zealand
Roll of Honour: Sydney NSW
Remembered: Panel 121, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: University of Sydney World War II Roll of Honour, Camperdown NSW
DFC Citation: This officer has always displayed outstanding qualities as captain of aircraft, pressing home his attacks with determination, resolution and courage. He has taken part in attacks on many of the enemy’s most heavily defended areas and has obtained some excellent photographs. His outstanding devotion to duty is worthy of the highest praise. (London Gazette 29 December 1942 Page 5638)
At 2146 hours on the night of 10 August 1943, Lancaster EE112 took off from Woodhall Spa detailed to bomb Nuremberg, Germany. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take-off, and it failed to return to base. A Missing Research and Enquiry team later reported: “the aircraft exploded in mid air and crashed at Moosbach on the 11 August 1943, Moosbach is nine miles south east of Nuremberg. All the crew members were killed.”
The crew members of EE112 were:
Flying Officer Alec Hayward Blazer (124718) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber)
Flight Lieutenant Edward Dampier-Crossley DFC (403012) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant Frank Dawson (1077766) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flying Officer John McArthur McLean DFC (404519) (Navigator)
Flying Officer Peter Clement Moxham (138471) (RAF) (Mid Upper Gunner)
Pilot Officer George Barnes Penny Patterson (155834) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Sergeant John Wardle (1312826) (RAFVR) (Rear Gunner)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/9/301
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line