CROMBIE, Charles Arbuthnot
| Service Number: | 404099 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 May 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Squadron Leader |
| Last Unit: | No. 5 Operational Training Unit Forest Hill |
| Born: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 16 March 1914 |
| Home Town: | Warwick, Southern Downs, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Sydney Church of England Grammar School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Jackeroo |
| Died: | Accidental (Flying Accident), Williamtown, New South Wales, Australia, 26 August 1945, aged 31 years |
| Cemetery: |
Newcastle (Sandgate) War Cemetery Plot K, Row C, Grave 3 , Sandgate War Cemetery, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Narromine Aviation Museum Memorial Wall, Warwick Roll of Honour WWII, Warwick St. Andrew's WW2 Honour Roll, Warwick War Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 24 May 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Squadron Leader, 404099 | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 May 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 404099, Brisbane, Queensland | |
| 3 Oct 1940: | Embarked Royal Australian Air Force, 404099, Embarked at Sydney (for Canada 25 Oct 1940) | |
| 19 Feb 1943: | Honoured Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, London Gazette 883 | |
| 1 May 1943: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 404099, No. 89 Squadron (RAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45 | |
| 25 May 1943: | Honoured Distinguished Flying Cross, London Gazette 2322 | |
| 26 Aug 1945: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Squadron Leader, 404099, No. 5 Operational Training Unit Forest Hill |
Help us honour Charles Arbuthnot Crombie's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Carol Foster
Son of David William Alexander Crombie and Phoebe Janet Arbuthnot; husband of Betty Deane Crombie of Warwick, QLD.
Citation for DSO reads:-
As pilot and navigator respectively Flying Officer Crombie and Warrant Officer Moss (RAF) have flown together for many night operations the UK, Middle East and India. They have destroyed 8 emeny aircraft and damaged another. One night in January 1943 they Destroyed two of a foramtion of four Japanese aircraft before being compelled to abandon their own aircraft which was set on fire during the engagement.
Flying Officer Crombie and Warrant Officer Moss have displayed great courage, determination and devotion to duty.
Citation for DFC reads:-
Flying Officer Crombie has shown a great standard of courage.
He has participated in Intruder patrols and made low level attacks on enemy bases
At all times this officer's fighting spirit and leadership have been of a high order. He has personally destroyed four aircraft in air combat
Charles was known to have destroyed 12 enemy aircraft and the possibility of destroying another 4 aricraft
On the 30 June 1945 he had flown 1481 hours in various planes.
He died from injuries when Beaufighter A19-198 crashed at Williamstown
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