Flight Sergeant Frederick George Cross RAF

Frederick Cross

Frederick George Cross was a Flight Sergeant (No. 568279) Flight Engineer in 209 Squadron of the RAF and he died on Sunday 22nd February 1942 aged 24.

He was the son of Frank and Bertha Cross of Coalville and his parents suffered a double tragedy as his brother Charles William Cross was also killed on active service in December 1944. He had 3 other brothers Jim, Stan and David.

Fred lived with his parents in Great Glen in a cottage opposite the vicarage as his father was a chauffeur at the big house there. They later moved to Coalville. He attended Kibworth Grammar School and joined the RAF straight from school at the age of 17 and served as an apprentice.

209 Squadron Crest

209 Squadron received Catalinas in April 1941 which they used to fly anti-u-boat patrols over the Atlantic from their base in Loch Erne. In August 1941 they went to Iceland for a couple of months but then returned to the UK. In February 1942 they were stationed at RAF Pembroke Dock.

Catalina Flying Boat

Sunday 22nd February 1942 and Catalina I, No.AH558 - WQ-R was on operations at Pembroke Dock and took off at 04.47 hrs
The crew consisted of nine men. F/L C J Norton (pilot), F/O J E Ramshaw, P/O K L Blackham RAAF, AC1 J E Gardner, Sgt E Talbot, F/Sgt C H Atkinson, Sgt E J Hartley, Cpl C Hacker and F/Sgt Frederick George Cross - the Flight Engineer. She crashed on take off into Milford Haven. There were no survivors. All of the crew are commemorated on the RAF Runnymede Memorial.

Runnymede Memorial

For details of how to find the Runnymede Memorial please click on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission link.

RAF Badge

Flight Engineer