On 6 December 1941 Ivan was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on probation as per the London Gazette, dated 17 February 1942.
Ivan served with 131 Squadron during the Allied landings at Dieppe on 19 August 1942. The Squadron was scrambled to intercept an incoming raid at 1755hrs. They were vectored onto the enemy aircraft near Selsey Bill and identified two Dornier Do217s and one Junkers Ju88. Flight Lieutenant J C S Doll, Flying Officer Jackson, Pliot Officer E A J Williams and Ivan all attacked the same Do217 and claimed it as probably destroyed.
Ivan was later posted to 111 Squadron serving in North Africa.
On 21 May 1943 the London Gazette announced the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Flying Officer Ivan Kenneth Crawford. Part of the citation read:
This officer has completed much operational flying. He took part in many sorties over Northern France before operating in North Africa, where he has completed a large number of sorties. In attacks on transport and other targets on the ground he ahs achieved much success, while in air combat he has destroyed 1 enemy aircraft. Flying Officer Crawford is a most able section leader, whose skill and keeness has proved inspiring.
On the 4 July 1943 Ivan, now a Flight Lieutenant shared in the destruction of a Messerschmitt Bf109 from 2/JG53 with Wing Commander Hugh Dundas. The Spitfires from 111 Squadron were escorting American B26 bombers which were to attack the Gerbini complex of airfields on Sicily when the Bf109s intervened.
London Gazette
The Greatest Air Battle Dieppe 19 August 1942 by Norman Franks.
Spitfires Over Sicily by Brian Cull.
