James Francis Crawford was born on July 2, 1921, in Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina. He was the son of William Davis Crawford Sr. and Mildred Hook Crawford. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces on March 31, 1942, at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and was deployed overseas on February 10, 1944. He served in the 785th Bomber Squadron, 466th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Armorer Gunner of B-24H #42-52562 during World War II.

On March 27, 1944, B-24H Liberator #42-52562, piloted by Lieutenant Prosper F. Pinto, was lost shortly after departing RAF Attlebridge in Norfolk, England. The accident occurred during the 466th Bomb Group's fourth combat mission, just five days after the group began operations on March 22, 1944. That morning, the group had departed on an Eighth Air Force bombing mission against German-occupied airfields in southwestern France, including Biarritz. Shortly after takeoff, while assembling into formation under poor visibility and low cloud conditions, Pinto's aircraft reportedly collided with another B-24H Liberator, serial number 41-29364, nicknamed Stardust, piloted by Lieutenant Robert J. Mogford of the 784th Bomb Squadron. Some historical accounts suggest that Stardust had experienced engine trouble and was attempting to return to RAF Attlebridge when the collision occurred. Both aircraft were destroyed, with Pinto's Liberator crashing near North Hoe Green, Norfolk, and Stardust coming down near Gressenhall. All twenty crew members aboard the two bombers were killed in the accident.

Sgt Crawford is buried at the Elmwood Cemetery, Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina, USA.

Sources of information: www.findagrave.com, www.historyofwar.org, culturepics.org