SWANSON, William C
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SWANSON, William C
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| Servicenumber: |
32422413 |
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| Age: |
Not available |
| Born: |
1917, New York |
| Hometown: |
Kings County, New York |
| Family: |
Jennie Swanson (Mother) |
| Rank: |
Technical Sergeant |
| Function: |
Gunner |
| Regiment: |
- |
| Battalion: |
- |
| Division – Transport: |
- |
| Company – Squadron: |
574th Bomber Squadron |
| Unit – Group: |
391st Bomber Group, Medium |
Plane data:
(Serialnumber, MACR, etc.) |
Serialnumber: 43-34361
Type: B-26G5
Destination: Ahrweiler, Germany
Mission: Bombing
MACR: 11672 |
| Date of death: |
23 December 1944 |
| Status: |
KIA |
| Place of death: |
Near Oberschoehbach, Germany |
| Spot: |
Not available |
| Awards: |
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters |
| Gravenumber: |
Plot G, Row 3, Grave 40 |
| Cemetery: |
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle |
| Biography: |
- |
| Other information: |
The airplane with 6 crewmembers, was piloted by 1st Lt Paul M. Matus. They flew no. 6 in the formation, the last ship in the low flight. Approximately 12 o´clock noon they were attacked by German Fighters. On the first pass the radios were shot out, including the left engine and part of the controls. The pilot recovered and tried to get back in formation, which was impossible on one engine. He tried to call the crew for a check. The radios were out and they were in no immediate danger so they headed for home, losing altitude steadily. The bombardier shooting out all his ammunition on the frontal attack came out of the nose. He was sent to the back of the tail to see if help was needed, they were under constant attack. The bombardier came back a few seconds later telling the rear bombay was on fire and that the ammunition cases were going off. The pilot dropped the bombs and told him to bail out, since all the instruments were shot out and the plane was on fire. He gave the signal for bailing out and left the bell ringing, the altitude was 6,000 feet. The co-pilot was told to bail out since the cockpit was filling with smoke. As the co-pilot prepared to leave he said the right engine was on fire. The bombay (forward) was aflame, so they dropped the wheel and the co-pilot went out the nose wheel door. The pilot did not know for certain whether the men in the tail section were still in the plane or not. He decided to wait but had to bail out when they lost altitude rapidly. He saw the plane hit the ground and blow up.
William´s dog tag was found and he was probably burned to death with the aircraft, aswell as Paul Raimonde. The other 4 crewmembers bailed out and were taken POW. |
Source of information: Astrid van Erp, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten
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