thedawnpatrol Posted 12 December , 2021 Share Posted 12 December , 2021 Can anyone tell me anything about this Officer, I understand he flew with 11 Squadron at some point. also is there a situation for his MC or a Photo of him anywhere, perhaps RAC photo ? thank you julian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 12 December , 2021 Share Posted 12 December , 2021 4 minutes ago, thedawnpatrol said: situation circumstances or citation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 12 December , 2021 Share Posted 12 December , 2021 Gazette July 1916 For conspicuous gallantry. He attacked and drove down to 6,000 ft a hostile machine and finally, assisted by another aeroplane, brought it to the ground. He has previously done excellent work, often under heavy anti-aircraft fire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 12 December , 2021 Share Posted 12 December , 2021 You will find helpful info on the RAF Casualtyform here- there is a second page to click on and you can download both for free. He was indeed 11 Squadron when he earned MC having come from 12 Squdn 23/5/16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 12 December , 2021 Share Posted 12 December , 2021 You will find a wedding photo and a tree on Ancestry here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedawnpatrol Posted 12 December , 2021 Author Share Posted 12 December , 2021 Thank you Charlie962 thats great, best julian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedawnpatrol Posted 12 December , 2021 Author Share Posted 12 December , 2021 9 minutes ago, charlie962 said: You will find a wedding photo and a tree on Ancestry here Ah, I can't open that photo....... still hoping for an Aero club photo...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 12 December , 2021 Share Posted 12 December , 2021 Per his RAF Officer's Service File (available on Findmypast) he applied to join RAFVR in 1940. He is in the AirForce List 1941 (see below) Joseph Alan Crook Charlie 5 minutes ago, thedawnpatrol said: Ah, I can't open that photo...... Try your local library if you cannot afford a sub direct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 12 December , 2021 Share Posted 12 December , 2021 11 minutes ago, thedawnpatrol said: still hoping for an Aero club photo...... Doesn't appear to be one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clk Posted 13 December , 2021 Share Posted 13 December , 2021 Hi Julian, It looks like his MC action was on 17(?).6.1916 Image sourced from the National Archives Regards Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedawnpatrol Posted 13 December , 2021 Author Share Posted 13 December , 2021 Thank you all. best julian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topgun1918 Posted 13 December , 2021 Share Posted 13 December , 2021 (edited) The action took place on 18 June 1916 and was reported in RFC Communique No 39: Capt Crook on a Nieuport of 11 Sqn and 2nd-Lieut Morgan on a De Havilland of 24 Sqn, engaged a hostile reconnaissance of six machines in the neighbourhood of Arras, driving one down near Terre Mesnil east of Doullens, where it landed on its left wing, the pilot and observer being captured. One of them was slightly wounded. It has been suggested that the German crew was Ltn Otto Koch and Ltn Martin Mengel from KG 3/Ks 13, both being taken prisoner. He received RAeC certificate number 1202 and his photograph would have appeared in Volume 4 of the Royal Aero Club Certificate records (numbers 925 to 1479); unfortunately this volume has gone missing. Graeme Edited 13 December , 2021 by topgun1918 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedawnpatrol Posted 14 December , 2021 Author Share Posted 14 December , 2021 thank you Graeme, that's really interesting, i remember some talk through C & C about missing RAC photos...........what a shame. best Julian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topgun1918 Posted 14 December , 2021 Share Posted 14 December , 2021 Interestingly, with respect to his RAeC 'ticket', Graces Guide and some other records show "1202 Joseph Alan Howard Crook (L. and P. Biplane, London and Provincial School, Hendon). April 30th, 1915"; I'm not aware of the third Christian name 'Howard' appearing elsewhere, certainly not in the RFC Communiques nor his MC Citation. Graeme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helpjpl Posted 14 December , 2021 Share Posted 14 December , 2021 1 hour ago, topgun1918 said: Interestingly, with respect to his RAeC 'ticket', Graces Guide and some other records show "1202 Joseph Alan Howard Crook (L. and P. Biplane, London and Provincial School, Hendon). April 30th, 1915"; I'm not aware of the third Christian name 'Howard' appearing elsewhere, certainly not in the RFC Communiques nor his MC Citation. Birth registered Jul-Sep 1897, (Bolton, Lancs), as Joseph Alan Crook. Son of John Biggs Howard Crook. JP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conway Posted 27 September Share Posted 27 September No offence but sure you have the right man? There is a Captain J A Crook Royal Artillery who won an MC in 1916 The MC and 1914/15 trio to Major J A Crook (RFC / RAF on medals) is known Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nils d Posted 29 September Share Posted 29 September He shot down a balloon using Le Prieur rockets on 1 July 1916 or the 3rd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickdavis Posted 30 September Share Posted 30 September OC 45 Sqn 27 July 1918 - 27 October 1918 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 30 September Share Posted 30 September On 28/09/2024 at 00:03, Conway said: No offence but sure you have the right man? There is a Captain J A Crook Royal Artillery who won an MC in 1916 The MC and 1914/15 trio to Major J A Crook (RFC / RAF on medals) is known @thedawnpatrol what exactly is on the medal rims? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedawnpatrol Posted 30 September Author Share Posted 30 September I cant remember, ill have to take them put of the frame and check… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 30 September Share Posted 30 September (edited) On 28/09/2024 at 00:03, Conway said: No offence but sure you have the right man? There is a Captain J A Crook Royal Artillery who won an MC in 1916 The MC and 1914/15 trio to Major J A Crook (RFC / RAF on medals) is known They could be the same person? Otherwise a bit of a coincidence that they (both called Joseph Alan) are both noted as MC 27/7/16 ? Could RFA be a mistranscription for RFC ? Edit Indeed the RFA Capt is noted in the Findmypast transcription as LG:29684/27 Jul 1916(C) which is where the RFC man's citation appears! Edited 30 September by charlie962 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive ex RAF plumber Posted 30 September Share Posted 30 September In Hal Giblin and Norman Franks book 'The Military Cross to Flying Personnel of Great Britain and the Empire' there is one award to a Crook a Joseph Alan Howard Crook which was awarded on 27 July 1916 for an action on 18 June 1916 whilst serving on 11 Squadron. His last tour during the war was as the Squadron Commander of 45 Squadron (28 July 1918) for which he was Mentioned in Despatches. Therefore I believe his BWM and VM would be issued to him as a Major. The Military Cross in the photograph doesn't look quite right it could be just light reflection but why has he not had it engraved J A H Crook? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 30 September Share Posted 30 September 4 minutes ago, Clive ex RAF plumber said: why has he not had it engraved J A H Crook? His RAF officer service record as well as the LG just say Joseph Alan Crook Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive ex RAF plumber Posted 30 September Share Posted 30 September On 27/09/2024 at 23:03, Conway said: No offence but sure you have the right man? There is a Captain J A Crook Royal Artillery who won an MC in 1916 The MC and 1914/15 trio to Major J A Crook (RFC / RAF on medals) is known Just looked on the internet and it would appear Major J. A. Crook's medal group as you mention was sold by Wellington Auctions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedawnpatrol Posted 1 October Author Share Posted 1 October 22 hours ago, Clive ex RAF plumber said: Just looked on the internet and it would appear Major J. A. Crook's medal group as you mention was sold by Wellington Auctions. When was this Auction? I inherited this group from my old Pal the late Tony Mellor Ellis about 3 years ago……i dont know where he got them from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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