Crawford Gordon Jr. (26 December 1914 – 26 January 1967) was a leader of wartime defence production in Canada under Minister of Munitions and Supply C.D.

He was perhaps one of the greatest industrialists and business minds in Canadian history; Gordon bought two companies and held one CEO position, but eventually lost it all.

Roe Canada was restructured into two separate divisions: Avro Aircraft Ltd. and Orenda Engines, both based at Malton Airport.

After a long battle with alcoholism, Crawford Gordon died in New York City on 26 January 1967 of liver failure.

His secretary, Audrey Underwood (given the name Claire in the CBC mini-series), left AVRO Canada for New York to escape from her relationship with Crawford, who had refused to divorce his wife.

Crawford pursued her to New York in an attempt to win back her love (as verified by Arrow Expert Greig Stewart and by the Underwood family).

That abuse did not help with the government's disdain for the Arrow program while it was under budget pressure to make just one choice for aeronautic defense of Canadian airspace.