David Moore Crook

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David Moore Crook (November 24, 1914 — December 18, 1944) was a British fighter pilot born in Huddersfield, England.

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[edit] Airforce career

During the Second World War he was a Spitfire pilot and participated in the Battle of Britain, flying with No. 609 Squadron RAF (at the time this was a squadron of the Auxiliary Air Force). He initially joined the squadron on 22 September 1938 as an Acting Pilot Officer,[1] this rank was confirmed on 4 May 1940,[2] and later further back-dated to 9 December 1939.[3] Crook was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions during the battle. The official notice of this award in the London Gazette of 1 November 1940 said he had, "led his section with coolness and judgment against the enemy on many occasions. He has destroyed six of their aircraft besides damaging several more."[4]

He was promoted to Flying Officer with effect 9 December 1940.[5] He was killed in action on December 18, 1944 and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.[6] His name is displayed on the Battle of Britain Monument in London, and a plane flown by Crook is on display at the Imperial War Museum in London.

[edit] Writings

He wrote an autobiographical work about his experiences during the battle entitled Spitfire Pilot, published by Faber and Faber in 1942. Crook also wrote Pursuit of Passy, a work of fiction about an RAF pilot who crashes in France and joins the Resistance, published in 1946 by Herbert Joseph.

[edit] References

  1. ^ London Gazette: no. 34570, page 7198, 15 November 1938.
  2. ^ London Gazette: no. 34864, page 3359, 4 June 1940.
  3. ^ London Gazette: no. 35076, pages 912–913, 14 February 1941.
  4. ^ London Gazette: no. 34984, pages 6348–6349, 1 November 1940.
  5. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35083, pages 1087–1088, 21 February 1941.
  6. ^ Commonwealth War Graves Commission - Casualty Details. Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved on 2007-11-21.

[edit] Further reading

  • Kenneth G. Wynn, Men of the Battle of Britain

[edit] External links


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