Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USAV Col. Demas T. Craw (FS-207)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal

Aircraft Repair Ship

Laid down between October 1944 and January 1945 as Freight Supply Vessel (FS-207), at Higgins Industries, New Orleans LA.

Launched between October 1944 and January 1945

Delivered between October 1944 and January 1945 to the War Shipping Administration and allocated to the War Department

Converted to an Aircraft Repair Ship at Mobile Air Tactical Command Brookley Field, Mobile, AL.

Commissioned, Col. Demas T. Craw, date unknown

During World War II Col. Demas T. Craw was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater

Decommissioned, date and location unknown

Final Disposition, fate unknown

Specifications:
Displacement 575 t.
Length 180'
Beam 32'
Draft 14'
Speed 12 kts.
Complement unknown
Armament unknown

Propulsion two 500hp GM Cleveland Division 6-278A 6-cyl V6 diesel engines

twin screws

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Contributed By
	208k	*Namesake* Demas T. Craw was born in Long Lake Township Michigan, served briefly in World War 1, was discharged and then entered the U.S. Military Academy in 1920. He applied for pilot training with the Air Service in 1926 and joined the 1st Pursuit Group at Selfridge Field, Michigan. He transferred his commission to the Air Corps on March 21, 1928, and was promoted to first lieutenant on January 3, 1930. In October, 1942, Colonel Craw was named air officer for Maj. General Lucian K. Truscott, commanding one of the sub-task forces, Force Goalpost, of Operation Torch, an amphibious invasion of North Africa. He sailed with the invasion force from Virginia and while en route, volunteered to assist another Army Air Forces officer, Maj. Pierpont M. Hamilton, Truscott's intelligence officer, in delivering a message to the local French commander near Port Lyautey, French Morocco, to broker a cease fire, should French forces resist. Craw and Maj. Pierpont M. Hamilton were the first Army Air Forces recipients of the Medal in the European-Mediterranean theater of World War II and the only AAF members to be awarded that decoration for valor not involving air combat.		Tommy Trampp

There is no history record available for Col. Demas T. Craw at NavSource

Medal of Honor Citation for Col. Demas T. Craw USA

Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page

Back To The US Army Ship Index

Back To The US Army Freight and Supply Vessel Index

Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.

This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 28 June 2019