Edward Crundall


Wing Commander Edward Duncan Crundall was an officer of the British Royal Air Force, who served in World War I, becoming flying ace credited with seven aerial victories, and also in World War II.

Biography

Edward Duncan Crundall was born in Whitfield, Kent, England on 9 December 1896. He was the son of Edward Crundall, a wealthy coal dealer of Kent, and Sarah Crundall, née Morley. Edward's grandfather, Henry Crundall, was an uncle of Sir William Henry Crundall, a mayor of Dover, Kent, and Chairman of the Dover Harbour Board. Edward Duncan's younger brother, Walter Frederick, also flew during World War 1. Edward Duncan Crundall died in 1981 in Brighton, E. Sussex.

World War I

Crundall joined the Royal Naval Air Service in 1914. He was appointed a temporary flight sub-lieutenant on 20 July 1916. On 5 September 1916 he was granted the Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No. 3543 at Royal Naval Air Station Eastbourne, and was posted to No. 8 Naval Squadron as a pilot. He would score his first aerial victories during Bloody April 1917 while flying a Sopwith Triplane. On 10 May 1917, he was wounded and shot down by Alois Heldmann.
Crundall was promoted to flight lieutenant on 31 December 1917, and on 10 May 1918 he was appointed acting-captain. He then switched squadrons and mounts for his last four wins in July and August 1918, flying a Sopwith Camel for 210 Squadron RAF. He was confirmed in his rank in December 1918.
Crundall relinquished his commission on 28 August 1919, and on 10 October "in recognition of distinguished services rendered during the war", was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
No.Date/timeAircraftFoeResultLocationNotes
114 April 1917
@ 0905 hours		Sopwith Triplane
Serial Number N5464		Albatros reconnaissance planeDriven down out of controlHenin-Liétard
214 April 1917
@ 0905 hours		Sopwith Triplane
Serial Number N5464		Albatros reconnaissance planeDriven down out of controlHenin-Liétard-
318 August 1917
@ 1830 hours		Sopwith Triplane
Serial Number N5464		Albatros D.VDriven down out of controlHenin-LiétardVictory shared with Richard Burnard Munday & Charles Dawson Booker
430 July 1918
@ 1000 hours		Sopwith Camel
Serial Number B7860		Pfalz D.IIIDriven down out of controlEast of Dixmude
51 August 1918
@ 1925 hours		Sopwith Camel
Serial Number B7860		Fokker D.VIIDriven down out of controlNorth of Lille
69 August 1918
@ 0725 hours		Sopwith Camel
Serial Number B7860		Fokker D.VIIDestroyedZonnebeke
79 August 1918
@ 0730 hours		Sopwith Camel
Serial Number B7860		Fokker D.VIIDestroyedSoutheast of Staden

Post World War I

Crundall continued working in aviation, and on 16 July 1935 was commissioned as a flying officer in the Reserve of Air Force Officers. He flew civil flights and air charter work until 1937.

World War II

In 1939 Crundall returned to active service, while remaining a Reserve Officer. He was promoted to flight lieutenant on 3 September 1940, to temporary squadron leader on 1 March 1942, and to war substantive squadron leader on 15 August 1942. He commanded No. 116 Squadron until 1945, and on 1 January 1945 was awarded the Air Force Cross for his efforts, by which time he was an acting-wing commander.

Post World War II

After World War II, Crundall began charter airlines to French Equatorial Africa and South Africa. He remained a member of the Reserve of Air Force Officers, until finally relinquishing his commission on 10 February 1954, retaining the rank of wing commander. By the end of his flying career, he had accumulated over 8,500 flying hours in his pilot's log. His autobiography, entitled Fighter Pilot on the Western Front, was published in 1975.