03/23/2021
On Thursday, 18 March 2021 LtCol Ken “Bing” Crosby (ret), a former MCAF Commanding Officer was killed in a tragic traffic collision on I-95 north of Dumfries, VA by a motorist fleeing police. Ken leaves behind his wife Shari of 35 years, their daughter Lauren and son-in-law Ryan, grandson Ethan, and many other family and friends.
Ken was the MCAF XO and CO in the early 2000’s, at a time when the Air Facility was experiencing significant change to its physical infrastructure, with the shift of its refueling operations from the west side of the runway to the current location on the east side, making way for the future construction of the current HMX-1 hangar complex, apron, and Visiting Aircraft Line ramp. Also at that time, in addition to daily flight operations MCAF was supporting aviation displays for a Congressional Marine Day, a Force Protection Equipment Demonstration, MWSS-471 annual training, Modern Day Marine Expo, and Marine Corps Warfighting Lab’s operation of the Dragon Eye UAV.
A graduate of the University of South Florida, Ken played baseball during his college years at USF under the coaching of Hall of Fame pitcher Robin Roberts. Ken was designated a Naval Aviator in 1983, and first flew the AH-1 “Cobra” with the Gunrunners of HMLA-269. He did multiple fleet tours, as well as served as a flight instructor, and a member of an Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO) in Iraq during Operation DESERT STORM, where he earned the Bronze Star medal for his actions on the ground. In the parking lot of the Pentagon on the morning of September 11th, 2001 and witnessing the terrorist attack on the building, Ken immediately offered help in providing rides to stranded servicemembers in the aftermath of the attack. Following his 24-year career in uniform, Ken retired and continued serving in a civilian position working for the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. He was sixty-one years old.
Our hearts and prayers go out to Shari, the Crosby family, and Bing’s many friends and loved ones – Semper Fidelis, Marine.
