WWII P-51 Pilot Recalls Being Shot Down in Combat

I’ve known Mr. Paul Crawford for about nine years, ever since I read an article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution where he shared his wish to fly a P-51 Mustang one more time. In 2017, thanks to the efforts of CAF Airbase Georgia, we made that dream a reality by organizing a special flight in the iconic P-51 Red Nose. At the time, he was still a young man—only 93 years old! Since then, I’ve stayed in touch with him and visit regularly. One day, he jokingly asked if we could fly him in the Mustang again if he made it to 100. And we did just that! [CLICK HERE]. Yesterday, Mr Crawford turned 101 years old; he remains as spirited as ever. This time, we celebrated with just a cake—no flights, but plenty of good company and stories to share!

On Tuesday, March 19, 2024, his 100th birthday, Paul Crawford fulfilled that dream by once again flying in a P-51 Mustang—just like the one he commanded 79 years ago in China. During World War II, he flew 29 missions before being shot down in 1945.

A couple of weeks ago, my son and I visited him as we often do. During this visit, I recorded a short video of him recalling his flying days and the moment he was shot down. Though Mr. Crawford has never been keen on being on camera or giving interviews, this time, he noticed my phone filming and didn’t say anything. The following is an interview with Mr. Crawford, along with the video of our conversation.

The Story of Paul Crawford

We would like to honor Paul Crawford by sharing his personal story of training and service as a fighter pilot with the U.S. Army Air Corps 14th Air Force Flying Tigers during World War II. During a strafing mission over Japanese-occupied China, he was shot down by enemy ground fire but managed to evade capture. Reflecting on his time in the war, Paul never considered himself a hero—just someone who was there, doing his duty. He flew the P-51 Mustang, a powerful and agile fighter that he always regarded with deep admiration.

Six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Paul graduated from college. With Congress drafting 18-year-olds, he knew he would soon be called to serve. Wanting to avoid the infantry, he visited the Army Air Corps and the Navy in Atlanta to explore becoming a pilot. The Navy offered immediate flight training, but the Army Air Corps advised him to return to college and wait for their call. That call came soon after, and he received his draft notice, reporting to Fort McPherson in Atlanta on January 2, 1942.

His older brother Tim had already joined the Air Corps before Pearl Harbor, flying B-26 medium bombers and later B-17 heavy bombers in North Africa. Another brother, John, a football player at Georgia Tech, also became a pilot and flew B-24 bombers out of North Africa. Their experiences heavily influenced Paul’s decision to join the Air Corps as well.

Paul began training at Keesler Field before moving to Nashville for pilot classification. After being accepted, he suffered a bout of pneumonia that delayed his progress. Once recovered, he attended ground school in Montgomery, Alabama, followed by flight training in a PT-17 biplane in Madison, Mississippi. At Greenville, Mississippi, he transitioned to the BT-13, learning night flying, cross-country navigation, and formation flying. His instructor jokingly remarked that with his shorter stature, he was destined for fighters rather than bombers.

Advancing to Dothan, Alabama, Paul trained in the nimble AT-6 before earning his wings and a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. He briefly trained in the P-40 before moving on to gunnery school at Eglin Field and fighter school at Dale Mabry Field. It was in St. Petersburg, Florida, that he first encountered the P-51 Mustang, a sleek and powerful aircraft that left a lasting impression. Fast and highly maneuverable, the Mustang was a thrill to fly—almost too much responsibility for a young pilot, but one he was more than happy to take on.

After logging just 100 hours in the Mustang and accumulating around 275 total flight hours, Paul was deployed overseas, joining the 311th Fighter Group, 529th Fighter Squadron in China. His unit’s primary mission was to protect B-29 bomber bases. On his first combat mission, he flew over the Great Wall into Inner Mongolia, tasked with strafing a supply train. Misjudging his approach, he found himself directly over the train, fully exposed to enemy fire and vulnerable to even the smallest attack.

Another memorable mission involved a dive-bombing run on a bridge over the Yellow River. Enemy flak threw his aircraft off course, but a second blast inadvertently pushed him back on target. Whether he hit the bridge remained uncertain, but he figured he may have disturbed some fish in the river below. On one occasion, during a strafing attack on a supply ship in a canal near Tianjin, his wingman clipped the ship’s mast. A piece of the mast lodged in the aircraft’s wing, and his wingman later kept it as a keepsake. During another strafing mission, Paul spotted a woman carrying a baby, running for safety. He called out for his squadron to hold their fire, but the attack had already begun.

His 29th mission would be his last. While targeting a rail facility, enemy ground fire struck his plane. Forced to bail out, he was rescued by Chinese Communist guerrillas. Just days earlier, his housemate had been shot down, captured by the Japanese, and executed, with his head displayed as a warning. Knowing the risks, Paul and his rescuers traveled nearly 200 miles to evade capture before reaching a safe house owned by a Chinese man who had studied in the United States. Eventually, the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) arranged for his extraction. Looking back, Paul recognized how fortunate he was to have survived. His experiences in combat, from training through his final mission, were marked by skill, luck, and the determination to serve.

Life After the War

After the war, Paul Crawford earned a degree in Industrial Management from Georgia Tech, where he met his wife, Jean. They were married for 61 years and raised their daughter in Atlanta. Paul worked in the paper industry and with U.S. Envelope Company before retiring in 1988. At 101 years old, Paul Crawford continues to inspire with his remarkable story of courage, service, and resilience. We are honored to share his journey and celebrate his legacy.