Unfortunately, a few weeks ago, just two days before the Memorial Day weekend, our community lost one of its few remaining unsung World War II veterans.

Ninety-six-year-old Errol B. Crossman, a lifelong resident of Noank, passed away quietly in his sleep on May 23. Only known to a few was the fact that Crossman was a highly decorated Army Air Force veteran. Since joining the American Legion Post 115 in Noank 75 years ago, he had never missed that community’s annual Memorial Day parade.

Crossman symbolized what could best be described as a quiet, average, middle class, hard-working family man. Although not always at the forefront in community activities, his forbearing and enduring presence in the community contributed to Noank’s being considered one of the quaintest and most family- and neighborhood-oriented villages in New England. Although quiet and reserved, he did, at times, reveal a casual, and often times unexpected sense of humor. Some examples of his witty remarks will be included within this article.

Crossman attended local schools and was one of 115 in his graduating class from the Robert E. Fitch High School in 1942. After graduating from high school, he like many mainstay, native Noankers, worked at the Noank Shipyard. He also helped pull lobster pots on his father’s first lobster boat.

In early February 1943, a little more than a week before his 19th birthday, Crossman joined the Army Air Force, commonly referred to as the Army Air Corps. By September, he had earned his Air Crew member badge (wings) as an Aerial Gunner and Air Crew member and in July of 1944 he was assigned to the 330th Squadron of the 93rd Bomb Group in England as a radio operator on B-24 Liberator bombers.

Shortly after arriving in England, he flew his first mission over northern Germany to bomb an oil refinery in Bremen. Little would Crossman know that this would be the first of 30 combat missions in which he would participate.

As the story goes, on this mission Crossman’s duty station as radioman, located in an area behind the pilot’s flight deck, was midship on the plane. Unfortunately, due to the lack of windows in this particular area on the plane, in combination with motions created by moderate air turbulence and jolting movements caused by the concussions of enemy fire around the plane, Crossman suffered air sickness.

From his experience of working on round-bottom fishing and lobster boats, which historically were known to rock in the water, Crossman had learned early on to avoid motion sickness by keeping his eyes “fixed on the horizon” — a stationary object outside the boat. He subsequently explained his air sickness problem to the pilot and asked if there would be another assignment on the plane where he “could keep an eye on the horizon.” He was offered and, without hesitation, accepted assignment as the gunner in the front turret of the bomber. This would provide him the ability to control his air sickness.

Although Crossman often jokingly remarked that the front turret gunner position permitted him to be “the first one in and first one out” during a mission, it was probably the most dangerous and important position on the plane. Not only could he physically see enemy shells exploding around the plane, he was also the first line of defense to encounter enemy aircraft attempting to disable and destroy the bomber.

Recently Crossman’s family came across copies of “pilot mission journals” which provided a synopsis of each of the combat missions Crossman completed. The journals documented each mission and provided details about specific targets and enemy fire encountered.

Reading these journals provided a real life look at not only the dangers these crew members experienced but also their courageous actions.

One of the journals, dated Sept. 18, 1944, documents a bombing mission in German occupied Holland wherein supplies, including ammunition, guns and food, were parachuted to allied troops. The journal reads, “Went in at tree top level for an hour – hit by small arms fire four times.” One of the shells hit and took out the plane’s hydraulic line, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing in Suffolk, England.

The damage resulted in the nose turret, brakes and flaps being temporarily taken out of commission. Reportedly, the gunfire causing the damage to the hydraulic system came from a soldier positioned on top of a flat-roof church on the ground.

Crossman often facetiously remarked how ironic it was that small arms fire from the soldier shooting from the top of the church had caused so much damage to a B-24 bomber.

Another mission relayed by Crossman to close friends and verified in the mission journals, took place in Belgium, when enemy ground fire struck his turret several times. Ground fire also caused damage to the plane’s right wing and knocked out two of its four engines.

This, according to Crossman, was his most frightening experience during the war.

Crossman was honorably discharged on Oct. 23, 1945. For his war time actions, he was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign medal with three stars (for three operations in the European Theater) and the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters (for single acts of heroism or meritorious achievement while participating in a flight).

After the war, Crossman returned to Noank and became a partner in his father’s lobster business in the summer. He also worked as a tradesman at Electric Boat. He subsequently worked for the Groton Public Schools and was a popular custodian at the Noank Elementary and Carl Cutler Middle schools.

Crossman was married to the former Alice Burdick of Noank for more than 73 years. She predeceased him in March 2019. They were blessed with having three children, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Although not in the forefront of community activities, Crossman was well liked by the mainstay residents of Noank. He was a 75-year member and historian of the Noank American Legion Post 115, a trustee and usher for the Noank Baptist Church and a member of the Noank Historical Society.

Errol B. Crossman’s achievements and courageous actions during World War II are commendable and should not be forgotten. He, like all of those who have served and continue to serve our country in the military, deserves a heartfelt “thank you for your services” from the Groton community.

The following individuals were instrumental in provided information for this article: Edward Johnson, Steve Jones, Russ Fowler and Arnold Crossman.

Jim Streeter is the Groton town historian.