Charles Crombie

Charles Arbuthnot Crombie, (16 March 1914 – 26 August 1945) was an Australian aviator and flying ace of the Second World War.

Crombie was born in Brisbane, Queensland, on 16 March 1914 to David William Alexander Crombie, a grazing farmer, and his Indian-born British wife Phoebe Janet (née Arbuthnot), the daughter of Lieutenant General Sir Charles Arbuthnot.

During his youth, Crombie was educated at the Sydney Church of England Grammar School in North Sydney.

Completing his schooling, he was employed as a jackeroo on his family's property near Warwick, Queensland.

In 1934, Crombie enlisted in the Citizens Military Force and was allotted to the 11th Light Horse Regiment.

His service with the unit was to last until 1938, by which time he had obtained the rank of sergeant.

With the ambition of becoming a pilot in the Royal Australian Air Force, Crombie undertook instruction in civil flying.

Born in Brisbane, he was working as a jackeroo when he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in May 1940.

Completing flight training in Australia and Canada, he flew in the European, Mediterranean and Middle East Theatre and South-East Asian theatres, amassing a tally of 12 Axis aircraft shot down, with an additional four probables.

Completing his course, he enlisted in the Air Force on 24 May 1940.

He was initially posted to RAAF Station Richmond, before transferring to No. 2 Initial Training School at RAAF Bradfield Park in June, where he was advanced to leading aircraftman.

The following month, Crombie was attached to No. 5 Empire Flight Training School.

On finishing his stint with the unit, he was posted to No. 2 Embarkion Depot on 18 September.

In a ceremony two days later, Crombie married Betty Deane-Butcher; the couple would later have a son.

On 3 October 1940—two weeks after his wedding—Crombie embarked on a ship in Sydney, bound for Canada.

He arrived three weeks later, where he completed an additional two months of advanced flight training.

Crombie was commissioned as a pilot officer on 17 January 1941 and set sail for the United Kingdom nine days later.

In May, he was attached to the Royal Air Force's No. 25 Squadron, piloting Bristol Beaufighters.

While with the unit, he flew his first operational sortie on 13 June; he was promoted to flying officer the next month.

Crombie continued to serve with the squadron until October, by which time he had flown a total of twelve operational sorties over the European theatre, including two raids; one over Germany, and the other to Brest, France.

Crombie was transferred to the Mediterranean and Middle East Theatre and posted to No. 89 Squadron RAF in October 1941, operating over Egypt and Malta.

Also flying Beaufighters, Crombie piloted his first foray with the unit on 21 October, and by the end of the year had been accredited with the destruction of six Axis aircraft, with an additional two probables.

Throughout 1942, the squadron continued to operate over North Africa and the Middle East, with Crombie adding three more aircraft to his tally.

In a particular attack on 19 January 1943, Crombie intercepted a formation of four Japanese bombers over India.

Despite his aircraft being set alight early in the engagement, he shot down two of the bombers and severely damaged a third before he was forced to bail out.

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for this action.

Returning to Australia late in 1943, he was promoted to squadron leader and posted as a flight instructor with No. 5 Operational Training Unit.

In January 1943, Crombie was once again transferred, this time to No. 176 Squadron RAF stationed in India, operating in support of operations in the Burma Campaign; he arrived at his new post on 12 January and was promoted to flight lieutenant five days later.

By the time he left the Middle East, Crombie had been accorded an official tally of nine Axis aircraft shot down, with two probables.

In the evening of 19 January 1943, Crombie was airborne over India with his navigator Warrant Officer Raymond Moss.

At approximately 20:45, the pair intercepted a formation of four Japanese bombers flying over Budge Budge.

Crombie flew his aircraft towards the group but his initial attack drew fire from the bombers, setting the starboard engine ablaze.

Despite the damage, he pushed ahead with the assault and shot down one of the bombers.

Flames from the burning engine then began to sweep back, and Crombie ordered Moss to bail out.

Alone, Crombie continued the assault, shooting down a second bomber, before turning his attention to a third.

Due to his efforts, the penultimate aircraft was "so badly damaged ... that it could not have reached its base".

At this time, Crombie sought out the fourth and final machine.

However, his petrol tank exploded, and he was forced "to bale out with his clothing alight".

He landed in "the most God awful swamp", and walked for three or four hours before he reached an army unit in the area, which returned him to his squadron.

Crombie was killed in a flying accident in August 1945.