Birth
Robert MacArthur Crawford was born July 27, 1899. Some sources say he was born in Alaska; some say in Dawson, Yukon Territory, in Canada. Robert was the son of Mabel McArthur (age 29) and Ronald Marcus Crawford (age 40).
Alaska Upbringing
His family moved to Alaska, and Robert was raised in Fairbanks, Alaska where he began singing to entertain at a young age.
At the outbreak of World War I, Robert was anxious to serve and protect his country, but he was not quite old enough to join the US Army Air Force.
Writing the Air Force Song
In 1938, a contest was announced for the predecessor of the US Air Force (the US Army Air Corps). Of the 757 entrants, Robert Crawford's song was chosen.
Lyrics to "Off We Go into the Wild Blue Yonder"
Off We Go Into the Wild Blue Yonder
The Airforce Song
Words and Music by Captain Robert Crawford, ©1939 as the "Army Air Corps Song."; reportedly renewed 1977 by the USAF.
Off we go into the wild blue yonder,
Climbing high into the sun;
Here they come zooming to meet our thunder,
At 'em boys, Give 'er the gun! (Give 'er the gun now!)
Down we dive, spouting our flame from under,
Off with one heckuva roar!
We live in fame or go down in flame.
Hey! Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force!
Minds of men fashioned a crate of thunder
Sent it high into the blue
Hands of men blasted the world asunder,
How they lived God only knew!
Souls of men dreaming of skies to conquer
Gave us wings ever to soar,
With scouts before and bombers galore, Hey!
Nothing'll stop the US Air Force!
Here's a toast to the host of those
Who love the vastness of the sky,
To a friend we send a message
Of his brother men who fly.
We drink to those who gave their all of old,
Then down we roar
to score the rainbow's pot of gold.
A toast to the host of men we boast, the US Air Force.
Zoom!
Off we go into the wild sky yonder,
Keep the wings level and true!
If you'd live to be a grey-haired wonder,
Keep your nose out of the blue! (Out of the blue, boy!)
Flying men guarding the nation's border,
We'll be there, followed by more,
In echelon we carry on! Hey!
Nothing'll stop the US Air Force!
Here is the song with lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHOq6Sl9u38
Passing of Robert Crawford
Robert Crawford passed away in 1961 and is buried in New York.
Robert MacArthur Crawford was born July 27, 1899. Some sources say he was born in Alaska; some say in Dawson, Yukon Territory, in Canada. Robert was the son of Mabel McArthur (age 29) and Ronald Marcus Crawford (age 40).
Alaska Upbringing
His family moved to Alaska, and Robert was raised in Fairbanks, Alaska where he began singing to entertain at a young age.
At the outbreak of World War I, Robert was anxious to serve and protect his country, but he was not quite old enough to join the US Army Air Force.
Writing the Air Force Song
In 1938, a contest was announced for the predecessor of the US Air Force (the US Army Air Corps). Of the 757 entrants, Robert Crawford's song was chosen.
Lyrics to "Off We Go into the Wild Blue Yonder"
Off We Go Into the Wild Blue Yonder
The Airforce Song
Words and Music by Captain Robert Crawford, ©1939 as the "Army Air Corps Song."; reportedly renewed 1977 by the USAF.
Off we go into the wild blue yonder,
Climbing high into the sun;
Here they come zooming to meet our thunder,
At 'em boys, Give 'er the gun! (Give 'er the gun now!)
Down we dive, spouting our flame from under,
Off with one heckuva roar!
We live in fame or go down in flame.
Hey! Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force!
Minds of men fashioned a crate of thunder
Sent it high into the blue
Hands of men blasted the world asunder,
How they lived God only knew!
Souls of men dreaming of skies to conquer
Gave us wings ever to soar,
With scouts before and bombers galore, Hey!
Nothing'll stop the US Air Force!
Here's a toast to the host of those
Who love the vastness of the sky,
To a friend we send a message
Of his brother men who fly.
We drink to those who gave their all of old,
Then down we roar
to score the rainbow's pot of gold.
A toast to the host of men we boast, the US Air Force.
Zoom!
Off we go into the wild sky yonder,
Keep the wings level and true!
If you'd live to be a grey-haired wonder,
Keep your nose out of the blue! (Out of the blue, boy!)
Flying men guarding the nation's border,
We'll be there, followed by more,
In echelon we carry on! Hey!
Nothing'll stop the US Air Force!
Here is the song with lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHOq6Sl9u38
Passing of Robert Crawford
Robert Crawford passed away in 1961 and is buried in New York.
Birth
Robert MacArthur Crawford was born July 27, 1899. Some sources say he was born in Alaska; some say in Dawson, Yukon Territory, in Canada. Robert was the son of Mabel McArthur (age 29) and Ronald Marcus Crawford (age 40).
Alaska Upbringing
His family moved to Alaska, and Robert was raised in Fairbanks, Alaska where he began singing to entertain at a young age.
At the outbreak of World War I, Robert was anxious to serve and protect his country, but he was not quite old enough to join the US Army Air Force.
Writing the Air Force Song
In 1938, a contest was announced for the predecessor of the US Air Force (the US Army Air Corps). Of the 757 entrants, Robert Crawford's song was chosen.
Lyrics to "Off We Go into the Wild Blue Yonder"
Off We Go Into the Wild Blue Yonder
The Airforce Song
Words and Music by Captain Robert Crawford, ©1939 as the "Army Air Corps Song."; reportedly renewed 1977 by the USAF.
Off we go into the wild blue yonder,
Climbing high into the sun;
Here they come zooming to meet our thunder,
At 'em boys, Give 'er the gun! (Give 'er the gun now!)
Down we dive, spouting our flame from under,
Off with one heckuva roar!
We live in fame or go down in flame.
Hey! Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force!
Minds of men fashioned a crate of thunder
Sent it high into the blue
Hands of men blasted the world asunder,
How they lived God only knew!
Souls of men dreaming of skies to conquer
Gave us wings ever to soar,
With scouts before and bombers galore, Hey!
Nothing'll stop the US Air Force!
Here's a toast to the host of those
Who love the vastness of the sky,
To a friend we send a message
Of his brother men who fly.
We drink to those who gave their all of old,
Then down we roar
to score the rainbow's pot of gold.
A toast to the host of men we boast, the US Air Force.
Zoom!
Off we go into the wild sky yonder,
Keep the wings level and true!
If you'd live to be a grey-haired wonder,
Keep your nose out of the blue! (Out of the blue, boy!)
Flying men guarding the nation's border,
We'll be there, followed by more,
In echelon we carry on! Hey!
Nothing'll stop the US Air Force!
Here is the song with lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHOq6Sl9u38
Passing of Robert Crawford
Robert Crawford passed away in 1961 and is buried in New York.
Robert MacArthur Crawford was born July 27, 1899. Some sources say he was born in Alaska; some say in Dawson, Yukon Territory, in Canada. Robert was the son of Mabel McArthur (age 29) and Ronald Marcus Crawford (age 40).
Alaska Upbringing
His family moved to Alaska, and Robert was raised in Fairbanks, Alaska where he began singing to entertain at a young age.
At the outbreak of World War I, Robert was anxious to serve and protect his country, but he was not quite old enough to join the US Army Air Force.
Writing the Air Force Song
In 1938, a contest was announced for the predecessor of the US Air Force (the US Army Air Corps). Of the 757 entrants, Robert Crawford's song was chosen.
Lyrics to "Off We Go into the Wild Blue Yonder"
Off We Go Into the Wild Blue Yonder
The Airforce Song
Words and Music by Captain Robert Crawford, ©1939 as the "Army Air Corps Song."; reportedly renewed 1977 by the USAF.
Off we go into the wild blue yonder,
Climbing high into the sun;
Here they come zooming to meet our thunder,
At 'em boys, Give 'er the gun! (Give 'er the gun now!)
Down we dive, spouting our flame from under,
Off with one heckuva roar!
We live in fame or go down in flame.
Hey! Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force!
Minds of men fashioned a crate of thunder
Sent it high into the blue
Hands of men blasted the world asunder,
How they lived God only knew!
Souls of men dreaming of skies to conquer
Gave us wings ever to soar,
With scouts before and bombers galore, Hey!
Nothing'll stop the US Air Force!
Here's a toast to the host of those
Who love the vastness of the sky,
To a friend we send a message
Of his brother men who fly.
We drink to those who gave their all of old,
Then down we roar
to score the rainbow's pot of gold.
A toast to the host of men we boast, the US Air Force.
Zoom!
Off we go into the wild sky yonder,
Keep the wings level and true!
If you'd live to be a grey-haired wonder,
Keep your nose out of the blue! (Out of the blue, boy!)
Flying men guarding the nation's border,
We'll be there, followed by more,
In echelon we carry on! Hey!
Nothing'll stop the US Air Force!
Here is the song with lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHOq6Sl9u38
Passing of Robert Crawford
Robert Crawford passed away in 1961 and is buried in New York.
Family Members
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