Beschreibung:

An extremely well documented Second War POW campaign group of four awarded to Halifax Wireless Operator, Warrant Officer I. R. B. Crawford, 640 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was shot down and parachuted to safety whilst returning from a raid on Bourg Leopold, 27 May 1944. A survivor of ‘The Long March’, he suffered from frostbite and dysentery during the extreme conditions of the force route march across Germany 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted for wear, with Caterpillar Club badge, in gilt metal with ´ruby´ eyes, reverse engraved ´Sgt. I. R. B. Crawford´, this with Irving box of issue, also with Bomber Command Commemorative Medal and International Prisoners of War Commemorative Medal, both of which in cases of issue, good very fine (4) £800-1200 Footnote Ian Robert Brown Crawford was born in Edinburgh in October 1923. He served during the Second War with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve from July 1942. Crawford carried out his initial training as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner at No. 2 Radio School, R.A.F. Yatesbury and No. 3 (O) A.F.U., R.A.F. Halfpenny Green, before qualifying as a Wireless Operator in November 1943. Crawford was posted to 19 O.T.U., Kinloss in December 1943, and converted to Halifaxes at 1652 H.C.U., Marston Moor, in March 1944. Having advanced to Sergeant, Crawford was posted for operational flying to 640 Squadron (Halifaxes), at Leconfield, in April 1944. He flew in five operational sorties with the squadron, including 27 May 1944, ‘Ops - Bourg Leopold. D.C.O. Shot Down By Night Fighter On Return Baled Out Over Belgium At 0230 Hours’ (Log Book refers) Of the crew of seven, three were killed (including the pilot Flying Officer F. Williams D.F.M.) and the remaining four were taken prisoner of war. Flight Sergeant R. Olsen, one of the crew, later wrote the following: ‘I always felt comfortable when flying in a Halifax III, with its powerful Hercules engines and under the control of a competent pilot. The position of Wireless Operator, Navigator and Bomb Aimer, in the lower front fuselage, with escape hatch conveniently placed, was I feel, an important factor in our later experiences. On May 27th, our target was a large military depot at Bourg-Leopold in Belgium. The outward trip was routine, the target markers well placed and Tom Riley was on the intercom, indicating to the skipper slight course changes. Then came the reassuring sound “Bombs Gone” and the course was set for the leg home. Suddenly the intercom went dead and fire was apparent behind the pilot. In such a situation, a very small space of time seems an eternity, but action must have been swift. Our rear gunner vacated his turret and the three of us in front [including Crawford] made our exits from the escape hatch. The sight of Q-Queenie was not at all a pleasant one and has long remained in my memory.’ Crawford’s Y.M.C.A. Wartime Log for British Prisoners gives his version of events: ‘Saturday May 27th 1944: Weather very good. Went to camp cinema and seen “Cry Havoc”. Very good. Left England just before midnight. Left unfinished letter for mother. Hope personal belongings were sent home OK. Sunday May 28th 1944: Trip going OK. Pranged target. Very good. Shot up by fighter. Baled out at 0230 hours. Rations left behind... Good landing. In Belgium and cannot speak the language. Received bread and cheese and large bottle of beer at farmhouse. Captured at 0900 hours just outside of Wortel. Taken to military camp and was handed 20 Belgian cigarettes by a woman. ... First time I had tasted German coffee. Did not know what it was and thought I had been poisoned.... At 1030 hours taken by car to town and met F/Sgt Olsen. Searched and everything taken off me... Questioned but only gave name, rank, number. Put in cell with F/Sgt Olsen. At 1700 hours shoved into lorry. In lorry were machine guns and salvage from kites shot down. Also the charred remains of a body. Taken to big prison at An