LtCdr James Crossman POW

[keith A]

According to his son he was shot down off Sendai and was a Japanese POW. Was he?

I know Crossman (b.c1920) was a veteran of Operation Torch flying Sea Hurricane IIs with 804 Squadron (which he joined in 1941). He took command of 894 Squadron in November 1944 flying Seafire IIIs in the BPF and claimed two Japanese bombers destroyed in January 1945.

He won the AFC and DSC.

best regards

Keith

[twocee]

According to Ray Sturtivant's FAA Aircraft book, Crossman was shot down by AA while attacking Matsushima A/F, near Sendai, on 9 August 1945.

He came down just offshore and was picked up by an IJN patrol craft. When Indefatigable was at Yokosuka in early September, after the surrender, Crossman returned aboard from his prison camp.

[keith A]

Cheers George