William Thomas Crossley was the son of William Thomas and Mary Ann Crossley and husband of Lillian Elizabeth Crossley of Yardley Wood, Birmingham. He enlisted in the Royal Army Service Corps and volunteered for Airborne forces.
Driver Crossley was posted to 253 (Airborne) Divisional Composite Company, Royal Army Service Corps, and took part in Operation Market Garden (Arnhem).
The aircraft that Dvr Crossley was on board (RAF 48 Squadron Dakota KG-370, base Down Ampney) was hit by light flak whilst on a re-supply mission, and crashed in the Rosandepolder at Oosterbeek. Three of the flight crew and two Despatchers were killed, whilst the Navigator and two other Despatchers were wounded and taken to St Elisabeth Hospital as PoWs.
Dvr Crossley was killed in action on 23 September 1944, aged 41, and commemorated on the Groesbeek Memorial to the missing.
If you are part of Dvr Crossley’s family and would like to complete this biography, you can apply to the Curator to do so. To do this you will need to become a member of ParaData and select the 'friend or family member' option on the registration form.
If you would like to find out more about becoming a member please visit our registration page.
Members of ParaData can submit their material by clicking on the 'add your info' button below.
By Rod Gibson
Read More
Latest Comments
There are currently no comments for this content.
Add Comment
In order to add comments you must be registered with ParaData.
If you are currently a ParaData member please login.
If you are not currently a ParaData member but wish to get involved please register.