John Crampton
Encyclopedia
Squadron Leader John Crampton DFC
(21 August 1921 – 12 June 2010) was a British pilot who conducted spy flights
into the Soviet Union in the early 1950s.
, Surrey
in 1921 and was educated at Harrow
. He joined the Royal Air Force
in 1940 and trained as a pilot in Canada
. On his return to England he joined 76 Squadron
in RAF Bomber Command
flying Handley Page Halifax
bombers. The Halifax squadrons flew their last bombing operation on 25 April 1945, when they pounded the heavy gun emplacements on Wangerooge Island, which guarded the entrance to the key port of Bremen
. As the war finished Crampton was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
.
to jet fighters
. In July 1951 he was selected to lead a special duty flight
that would train on USAF RB-45C reconnaissance aircraft. Code-named “Operation Ju-jitsu", four RB-45C aircraft were stripped of their USAF markings and repainted in RAF colours. The aircraft were tasked with flying deep level reconnaissance missions over the Soviet Union
to gather electronic and photographic intelligence. The special duties flight conducted missions during the period 1952-1954. It was not until 1994 (under the "fifty year rule" of the Public Records Act 1958
) that the existence of the spy missions became public knowledge.
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
(21 August 1921 – 12 June 2010) was a British pilot who conducted spy flights
Surveillance aircraft
A surveillance aircraft is an aircraft used for surveillance — collecting information over time. They are operated by military forces and other government agencies in roles such as intelligence gathering, battlefield surveillance, airspace surveillance, observation , border patrol and fishery...
into the Soviet Union in the early 1950s.
Early life
John Crampton was born in WeybridgeWeybridge
Weybridge is a town in the Elmbridge district of Surrey in South East England. It is bounded to the north by the River Thames at the mouth of the River Wey, from which it gets its name...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
in 1921 and was educated at Harrow
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
. He joined the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
in 1940 and trained as a pilot in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. On his return to England he joined 76 Squadron
No. 76 Squadron RAF
No. 76 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was formed during World War I as a home defence fighter squadron and in its second incarnation during World War II flew as a bomber squadron, first as an operational training unit and later as an active bomber squadron...
in RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...
flying Handley Page Halifax
Handley Page Halifax
The Handley Page Halifax was one of the British front-line, four-engined heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. A contemporary of the famous Avro Lancaster, the Halifax remained in service until the end of the war, performing a variety of duties in addition to bombing...
bombers. The Halifax squadrons flew their last bombing operation on 25 April 1945, when they pounded the heavy gun emplacements on Wangerooge Island, which guarded the entrance to the key port of Bremen
Bremen
The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
. As the war finished Crampton was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
.
Spy pilot
In the early postwar years Crampton transitioned from piston-engined bombersRolls-Royce Merlin
The Rolls-Royce Merlin is a British liquid-cooled, V-12, piston aero engine, of 27-litre capacity. Rolls-Royce Limited designed and built the engine which was initially known as the PV-12: the PV-12 became known as the Merlin following the company convention of naming its piston aero engines after...
to jet fighters
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
. In July 1951 he was selected to lead a special duty flight
Flight (military unit)
A flight is a military unit in an air force, naval air service, or army air corps. It usually comprises three to six aircraft, with their aircrews and ground staff; or, in the case of a non-flying ground flight, no aircraft and a roughly equivalent number of support personnel. In most usages,...
that would train on USAF RB-45C reconnaissance aircraft. Code-named “Operation Ju-jitsu", four RB-45C aircraft were stripped of their USAF markings and repainted in RAF colours. The aircraft were tasked with flying deep level reconnaissance missions over the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
to gather electronic and photographic intelligence. The special duties flight conducted missions during the period 1952-1954. It was not until 1994 (under the "fifty year rule" of the Public Records Act 1958
Public Records Act 1958
The Public Records Act 1958 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom forming the main legislation governing public records in the United Kingdom....
) that the existence of the spy missions became public knowledge.