Crawford J. Ferguson, III

Staff Sergeant Crawford J. Ferguson III

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Staff Sergeant Crawford J. Ferguson, III is a native Charlottean who graduated from Central High School, where he was President of the Student Council and lettered in three sports. When he joined the Army Air Corps. in 1943, he was a student at the Citadel. He served in the 8th Air Force in the 92nd Heavy Bombardment Group, known as Fate’s Favored Few, the Old Slam Bang 92!

He received training at Keesler Field, MS, Lowry Field, CO, Las Vegas, NV, Alexandria, LA and Grand Island, NE.

He served as a waist and tail gunner in Europe on the B-17 bomber and received the Purple Heart, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the European Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with four Battle Stars and a Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon. When his plane, The Old Shillelagh, was hit by a shell, he received chest wounds from flak. He and his crew limped back to England and landed safely.

After the war, he completed his degree at the University of Kentucky on the G.I. Bill. Later, he attended the University of Geneva in Switzerland on the G.I. Bill. He served as an officer in the Korean War, returned to Charlotte, entered business and started a family.