Flight Sergeant Cyril Crozier Johnson lived in Derry~Londonderry, Coleraine, and Bangor before the outbreak of the Second World War when he served in the R.A.F.
Flight Sergeant
1061583
Flight Sergeant Cyril Johnson Crozier (1061583) served in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve during the Second World War. Born on 11th February 1913, he was the son of William John Crozier and Ada Crozier (née Johnson) of 1a Strand Derry~Londonderry.
The Crozier family later lived in Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, where Cyril attended Coleraine Academical Institution between 1923 and 1926. He then studied languages at Queen’s University, Belfast. There, he obtained a BA Degree in 1935, and a MA Degree in 1937. He also obtained a Higher Diploma in Education. After graduating, he taught French and English at Lisburn Technical High School For Boys until the outbreak of the Second World War.
Cyril moved from Coleraine, Co. Londonderry to 13 Fourth Avenue, Bangor, Co. Down. On 12th November 1941, he married Meta Wilson of 18 Farnham Road in the town at Queen’s Parade Methodist Church. The couple was well-known in local music circles and enjoyed a honeymoon in Éire.
Flight Sergeant Crozier died on 17th May 1942 aged 29 years old while in R.A.F. 86 Squadron. He was an observer on the Mark II Bristol Beaufort AW251 that took off from R.A.F. Sumburgh, Shetland, Scotland. The sortie was an attack on the Kriegsmarine cruiser Prinz Eugen. Crews from R.A.F. 42 Squadron accompanied them on the mission under the command of Wing Commander Mervyn Williams. A total of 19 Bristol Blenheim bombers and 27 Bristol Beaufort torpedo bombers took part in the strike.
Prinz Eugen was off the coast of Egersund, Norway, returning to Germany after undergoing repairs. The Royal Air Force lost four Bristol Beaufighters in the attack, downed by German shipping and Messerschmitt Bf109 fighters. The German cruiser made it back to Germany unscathed.
| Last Name | First Name(s) | Rank | Role | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boyle | William Columba | Flight Sergeant | Wireless Operator / Air Gunner | R.A.F. 651585. |
| Crozier | Cyril Johnson | Sergeant | Observer | R.A.F.V.R. 1061583. |
| Ford | John Francis Vincent | Sergeant | Pilot | R.A.F.V.R. 1168841. |
| Mercer | Alfred Henry | Flight Sergeant | Wireless Operator / Air Gunner | R.A.F.V.R. 901656. |
Cyril Johnson Crozier’s grave is in the British Plot, Row E, Grave 9 of Sola Churchyard, Norway. His name is on the Bangor War Memorial, Bangor, Co. Down, the Coleraine Academical Institution War Memorial, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, and the Queen’s University War Memorial, Belfast.
