Ken Crawley, Bomber Command veteran, has died aged 104

By joburgess 0 Comments

Header Image: Lancasters of 57 Sqn at RAF Scampton, Ken Crawley (inset) served as a wireless operator with 57 and 630 Sqns at Scampton and East Kirkby.

Some Club members may remember that we published the story of Ken Crawley in the April 2023 newsletter as one in the series of ‘Members Remember’.

Club member Bob Crawley sent us the story of his father and mother. Flying Officer Ken was a Lancaster wireless operator with 57 and 630 Squadrons, latterly based at East Kirkby, and completed a total of 27 bomber ‘ops’ from June 1943 to January 1944. He married WAAF Sergeant Lilly Crawley who also served during the Second World War as a driver and with barrage balloons. Their story can be found on the Club website here.

*Left: Fg Off Ken Crawley (with signaller flying badge). Centre: Ken and his wife Lilly in old age (they were married and together for over 80 years). Right: Lilly Crawley when she was a WAAF corporal.*

Bob Crawley has informed the Club of the sad news that his mother Lilly passed away on 3rd January this year aged 101, and his father Ken died on 8th September aged 104. Bob also said, “As we lose the last members of this special generation the world is a poorer place”. That is a sentiment we whole heartedly agree with as we send our condolences to the family.

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