Harry Herbert Crosby
Military
Courtesy of the 100th Bomb Group Museum
Object Number - UPL 69774 - Major Harry Crosby, 100th Bomb Group
Lieutenant Colonel Harry Herbert Crosby (April 18, 1919 – July 28, 2010) was a navigator with the 100th Bomb Group. He flew 32 combat missions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (with 2 oak leaf clusters), the Air Medal (with 3 oak leaf clusters), the Bronze Star, and the Croix De Guerre. Crosby wrote "On a Wing and a Prayer" about his experiences, the plot of which informed the Apple TV+ mini-series Masters of the Air (2024). He is portrayed by actor Anthony Boyle.
Biography
Harry Herbert Crosby was born on 18 April 1919 in North Dakota. He was a graduate student at the University of Iowa at the time of Pearl Harbor, and suspended his studies to enlist in the United States Army Air Force, training as a B-17 navigator. He was transferred to the 418th Bomb Squadron of the 100th Bomb Group at Boise, Idaho, and was one of the 35 crews to fly to England in May 1943.
He flew his first mission on 28th June and was soon assigned as the 100th's lead navigator. He flew as navigator aboard Major John Kidd's "Just-A-Snappin'" on the Regensburg shuttle mission. On 8th October, 1943, the crew came under heavy attack from flak and Luftwaffe fighters on a mission to Bremen. Crosby reported that "Just-A-Snappin" shot down ten enemy aircraft. The aircraft crash-landed in a field at Ludham, hitting a tree in the process.
By the end of the war, Crosby had flown 32 combat missions.
On returning to the US, Crosby resumed his studies, completing his M.A. in 1947 and his PhD in 1953. He taught English composition, writing several books on the subject. He also carried out work for the US Air Force Academy and the Pakistan Air Force Academy. In 1993, Harper Collins published his memoir of his wartime experiences, titled A Wing and a Prayer.
Harry Crosby died on July 28, 2010, at age 91.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
![Three airmen of the 100th Bomb Group, Lieutenant Kenneth Menzie, Lieutenant Donald Strout and Lieutenant Norman Scott, plan the route they will take during the next mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30380). Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and passed U.S. Army 23 Aug 1943 Press Censor E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]'. Passed for publication 23 August 1943 INTLD 16 General Section Press Censorship Bureau '[stamp], 'Associated Press' [stamp] and '280035.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reve](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-378743.jpg.webp?itok=HBB0lqjl)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Just-A-Snappin'
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 418th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 21 June 1944
- Official Description:
- Date: 13 December 1943
- Date: 8 October 1943
- Date: 23 September 1943
- Date: 9 September 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
18 April 1919 | New England, North Dakota | |
|
Died |
Essex, Massachusetts. | 28 July 2010 | Died (aged 91) |
|
Buried/ Commemorated |
Newton, Massachusetts | East Parish Burying Ground |
Revisions
Updated Born, Died and Buried events per info in the the event descriptions.
Added some Highlighting in the "Summary biography" to aid readability.
Added a connection to the mission “VIII Bomber Command 154” per info the book “A Wing and A Prayer” by Harry H. Crosby.
NARA files verified DFC w/2 oak leaf clusters and AM w/4 oak leaf clusters.
Added a connection to the mission “69”per info in the book (Chapter 4) “A Wing and A Prayer” by Harry H. Crosby.
Added S/N per info in the book “A Wing and A Prayer” by Harry H. Crosby.
Added a connection to the mission “428”per info in the book “A Wing and A Prayer” by Harry H. Crosby.
Added Awards per info in the book “A Wing and A Prayer” by Harry H. Crosby.
Added a connection to the mission “VIII Bomber Command 75” per info in the book “A Wing and A Prayer” by Harry H. Crosby.
Added a connections- to the mission “VIII Bomber Command 100” per info in the book “A Wing and A Prayer” by Harry H. Crosby.
Added connection to the mission on 8 Oct 1943 as listed in the "Summary biography".
Added connections to the missions “VIII Bomber Command 91” and "VIII Bomber Command 94" per info the book “A Wing and A Prayer” by Harry H. Crosby.
Updated the Born event and Added Awards and Added Died and Buried events per Find-a-grave Memorial ID 104766316.
Updated his rand and Added his middle name per Find-a-grave Memorial ID 104766316.
Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
Added a connection to A/C # 42-3393 mentioned in the "Summary biography".
100th Bomb Group Foundation Directory, 2000 - 2001, Combat Chronology, Unit History, Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs by Bishop and Hey p. 314 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia
