On the 3 September 1941 George was promoted from Flying Officer to Flight Lieutenant.
At some point between 1942 and 1943 George was awarded the Air Force Cross.
On 7 January 1944 George, now Acting Squadron Leader with 53 Squadron Coastal Command, received the Distinguished Flying Cross. His citation read;
This officer was the Captain of an aircraft detailed for an anti-submarine patrol recently. In spite of difficulties, Squadron Leader Crawford persisted in his mission and eventually a U-boat was sighted. Coolly and skilfully, Squadron Leader Crawford pressed home his attack with great determination. Undeterred by accurate and concentrated anti-aircraft fire he made 2 runs over the vessel, straddling it with his depth charges on the second run. In this action, Squadron Leader Crawford displayed skill, courage and resolution of a high order.
7 June 1944
George took off from base in Liberator 'M' for an anti-submarine patrol. A surfaced U-boat was soon sighted and with no hesitation George went into attack. Unfortunatley for George and his crew accurate flak from the submarine struck the Liberator and it crashed with the loss of all on board. During the same day two other Liberators, both from 224 Squadron Coastal Command, were shot down by U-boats. The U-boats were U441, U-629 and U-740. It is unknown which U-boats shot down which Liberators.
Liberator BZ778/M
Squadron Leader George Crawford DFC, AFC
Flying Officer D G Biggs RCAF
Pilot Officer R J Martin
Flying Officer J G Smith
Flying Officer H Richardson DFM
Sergeant R Stolen
Warrant Officer B G Barton RNZAF
Sergeant K V Jones
Warrant Officer H A Corns
Warrant Officer R H O'Kane RNZAF
Squadron Leader George Crawford DFC, AFC is commemorated at the Runnymede Memorial, panel 200.
London Gazette
Commonwealth War Graves Commision (www.cwgc.org)
Ross McNeill
