Second Lieutenant Fred A. Crawford

The Tribune
Seymour, Indiana
Tuesday, July 18, 1944
Page 1

Fred Crawford Killed, Later Message Says

Army Pilot Reported Missing Since June 11 Died in Action, Parents are Informed

Second Lieutenant Fred A. Crawford, age twenty-two, formerly of Seymour, was killed in action over Burma in the Asiatic area on June 11, according to official word received from the War Department Monday by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. E.M. Crawford, 306 Leeds Avenue, Indianapolis, who in turn notified their daughter, Mrs. Lucille Baurley, 407 South Chestnut street.

On June 26, Mr. and Mrs. Crawford, who at that time were visiting their daughter here, received a message from the war department that Lt. Crawford was missing in the Asiatic area and they had hoped that further word would be received that would tell them he was safe.

May Have Been Searching.

Lt. Crawford, who was qualified to fly any thpe of army plane, had written his parents a few days before he was killed, expressing anxiety for a pal, "Gus", a fellow pilot who had been missing since May 25. Both Lt. Crawford and his chum had been selected among the six best pilots in that area and his parents feel that Lt. Crawford may have been searching for his friend during some of his flights over the Himalayan Mountains, known as the most dangerous terrain for aviators in the world, when he was killed.

Had Flown Supplies.

The former local youth had been flying eight and ten hours each day in India and China for the past year and was anticipating a leave soon that would have permitted him to return to the United States for a visit. He often flew supplies to fighting Chinese soldiers in the Burma area, dropping them in padded bags from low altitudes.