Crooks, Leslie
Personal Information
Rank | W/C |
Forename(s) | Leslie |
Surname | Crooks |
Gender | M |
Age | 33 |
Decorations | DSO, DFC |
Date of Death | 18-08-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Arthur Pearson Crooks and Bertha Crooks. Husband of Flora Grace Crooks, of Peterborough Northamptonshire. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster II |
Serial Number | DS681 |
Markings | OW- |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 7. Z. 11-13. |
Epitaph | GONE FROM OUR HOME BUT NOT FROM OUR HEARTS. LOVED AND REMEMBERED ALWAYS |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 150 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 44054 |
Service | Royal Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 426 (Thunderbird) |
Squadron Motto | On wings of fire |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to Village Hall, Dishforth, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with Inscribed Metal Plaque & Maple Tree |
Memorial Text | In memory of the Canadian aircrew of 425 and 426 Sqns RCAF who served at RAF Dishforth, 1942-1945 |
Location | Outside Village Hall, Linton on Ouse, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with inscribed Slate Tablet |
Memorial Text | In memory of Canadian personnel who served at RAF Linton on Ouse during WW2, including 408 and 426 Sqns RCAF |
Miscellaneous Information
He was the highly-decorated CO of 426 who had survived after baling out of a Wellington earlier in 1943 |
DSO Citation, London Gazette, 28 May 1943: "This officer is an ideal leader, whose ability and untiring efforts have been reflected in the high standard of efficiency of his squadron. His courage and skill were admirably demonstrated during a recent attack on Duisburg. When approaching the target his aircraft was raked by cannon fire from an enemy fighter. Wing Commander Crooks skilfully evaded the attacker but his aircraft had sustained much damage. Although one aileron and half the port tail plane had been shot away, while the hydraulic and electrical systems were rendered inoperative, Wing Commander Crooks flew the bomber back to this country. Unfortunately, it was impossible to effect a safe landing but, when the crew were forced to abandon aircraft, all descended safely. In the face of heavy odds, Wing Commander Crooks set an example worthy of high praise". |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 17-08-1943 |
End Date | 18-08-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Linton-on-Ouse |
Day/Night Raid | Night (93% moon) |
Operation | Peenemünde (V2 rocket research facility). 596 aircraft, 40 losses (6.7%). This raid was deliberately carried out by moonlight to increase the chances of success, and this undoubtedly contributed to the high level of losses incurred. A Master Bomber was used for the very first time and this raid was also unusual in that almost the entire capability of Bomber Command was engaged on such a small target. There were three target areas- the living quarters, the rocket factory and the experimental station. PFF used a special plan to shift the marking from one target to the next as the bombing progressed to ensure maximum precision. Both the Master Bomber approach and the target marking strategy worked well and a Mosquito diversionary raid drew off most of the night-fighters in the first two phases. 560 aircraft dropped almost 1800 tonnes of bombs and the V2 program was said to have been set back two months as a result. Most of the aircraft losses were incurred in the last phase when the German night-fighters had reformed over the target. They used Schräge Musik for the first time aboard Me110s. Results were impressive given that 5 Group Lost 14.5% of its number and 6 Group some 19.7%, both of which made up the third phase. |
Reason for Loss | Believed to have crashed south of Griefswald, Germany |