Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

'... a calm and reserved manner but is popular with fellow officers ... A capable navigator and an outstanding 'all round' athlete' (National Archives 1944) is how No 9 Squadron Commanding Officer described Ian Douglas Crawford (Service No:427896). Ian, the youngest of five children, was born in 1923 in Fremantle WA and grew up on the the family's cattle station at Carbine, WA. Ian's parents, James (Jim) Miller Crawford (b1881 at Durham Lead, Victoria) and Mary (May) Ann Beaton (b1881 in Ballarat, Victoria) married in 1912 in Coolgardie WA. Jim had arrived by boat in Albany WA with his father in 1895. Catching a train to Southern Cross (the end of the line) they walked to Coolgardie pushing a barrow of belongings. Jim worked as a Mail Contractor, Hotel Proprietor, Shopkeeper, Farmer and Grazier and was owner of the Carbine Gold Mine.

Ian was educated at Scotch College in Fremantle WA, and in October 1942 was an Assistant Mine Surveyor in Coolgardie WA when he enlisted in the RAAF (Service No:427896) as an Aircraftman. He rose to Flight Lieutenant and was awarded his Air Gunner Badge in May 1943. Jim was posted in Clontarf, Mt Gambier, Port Pirie, Bairnsdale, Bowen, Rathmines and Ascot Vale, and in 1944 flew operational flights with No 9 Squadron to Merauke. Jim was attached to 5 Personnel Depot when he Discharged in February 1946.

Jim returned to Perth WA and enrolled at The University of WA, graduating in Dental Science in 1951. In 1949 he married Joan Margaret Kelsall (b1928 in Perth WA) - Joan was a Dental Nurse - and in 1954 the couple lived in Bridgetown WA where Ian was a Dentist. By the late 1950s they returned to Perth WA, where they settled and raised their family and Ian worked as a Dentist. Ian died in 1983 and Joan in 2020.