Robert W Crawford

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-22179.jpeg UPL 22179 Information (in Swedish) at crash site memorial B-17, 42-31192 (YB-R), Farabol, Sweden. Oct 7th 1944. Picture shows some of the crew members: "Top row, from left: Candelaria; 2nd Jensen; 3rd Crawford. Front row, 2nd from left: Wilson; 3rd Christiansen and Rooney". Ivar Kandell

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Object Number - UPL 22179 - Information (in Swedish) at crash site memorial B-17, 42-31192 (YB-R), Farabol, Sweden. Oct 7th 1944. Picture shows some of the crew members: "Top...

Robert Crawford served as waist gunner with 8th AF, 351st BG at Polebrook, England.



On his 2nd mission, Oct 7th 1944, the target was synthetic oil factories in Politz, Germany. This very mission, they had an experienced replacement pilot, Einer Petersen on his 25th mission. Their aircraft B-17G #42-31192 (YB-R), first lost a supercharger for engine number 2, before reaching target. Over Politz aircraft was hit by flak and lost engine 3 and 4, and a lot of fuel.



Crew decided to try to reach Sweden and headed out over the Baltic Sea with only one engine working. Due to clouds they couldn't see if they were over land or sea. When they ran out of fuel they tried for a emergency landing. Under the clouds they realized the area had a lot of woods and few fields.



When approaching a field the pilot spotted potato pickers in the intended landing area. He tried to gain altitude again, but the plane stalled and crashed in the woods nearby. The crew were in emergency positions in the radio room and were thrown out when the plane crashed and split in half against a big rock, catching fire.



Crawford together with the pilot Petersen, co-pilot Wilson, top turret gunner Candelaria, ball turret gunner Blake, were killed instantly or died in the ambulance.



Four survived the very crash: tail gunner Lloyd Best and radio operator Larry Jensen, together with navigator Benjamin Christensen and bombardier William Rooney. They were taken to hospital in Karlshamn, Sweden where Christensen and Rooney died a few days later.



Jensen and Best were interned in Sweden for three months. Then they were transferred back to England. Larry Jensen has described the events in a interview for the project "the Voices of World War II". The crash site in Farabol is marked with a memorial stone. MACR 9566.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 351st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17053821
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39720274
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39692501
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-719888
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19194991
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 508th Bomb Squadron 509th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Died

Farabolsvägen 699-26, 290 60 Kyrkhult, Sverige 7 October 1944 Crash in Farabol, Sweden during attempted emergency landing.

Born

Baldwin Park, California

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Brought in information from duplicate record. Source:
MACR 9366 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Date
ContributorIvar Kandell
Changes
Sources

Edited biography, added connections, death and details. Sources: radio operator Jensen, 351st BG Association, others

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 9566

Robert W Crawford: Gallery (2 items)