Russell Thyrl Swain
Military
Pilot - Crew #712
466th BG - 787th BS
Object Number - UPL 36399 - Captain Russell T. Swain Pilot - Crew #712 466th BG - 787th BS
Shot down 13 May 1944 in B-17 #41-29391 'Little Lulu', Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37239598
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer - Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-702392
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-685822
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35467761
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18198159
- Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Little LuLu
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 13 May 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Norfolk, Virginia, USA | 12 January 1918 | |
|
Other 466th BG Combat Tour |
24 March 1944 - 13 May 1944 | Shot down on his 14th combat mission. | |
|
Other Shot Down/Wounded |
SW of Hamburg, Germany | 13 May 1944 | "Left outboard engine was hit and on fire. One bullet him my right cheek bone and one hit my right shoulder. The co-pilot, Hardy, was hit in the right foot. The others bailed out and were killed. The Danes (Germans) brought me their dog tags. I could not find out how they were killed. Oup plane exploded and Hardy and I were able to open our chutes. I sustained many fractures." - Russ Swain |
|
Died |
Lakeland, FL, USA | 23 January 2014 | WINTER HAVEN - Russell T. Swain passed away peacefully of natural causes at Lakeland Regional Medical Center on January 23rd 2014. He was born in Norfolk VA on January 12th 1918. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Jeanette and his 4 children Russell Jr., Christine Shaw, Bruce and Brian and his 9 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. He was a retired major from the US Air Force and served as a Bomber Pilot in WW II. He was shot down in combat and was a POW for a year in Germany. He and his wife moved to Winter Haven in the 50s where he became a successful businessman involved in banking, real estate, and Citrus. He served on various community boards and was most proud of his service on the Board of the Winter Haven Hospital Foundation. - See more at: http://obits.newschief.com/obituaries/polkonline/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=169271876#sthash.Dahp1bcF.dpuf |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Germany | 13 May 1944 |
Revisions
Added a "-" to the S/N to aid clarity & consistency.
Added a "-" to the A/C tail # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/85286818/person/465202…
"Attlebridge Arsenal" - Brassfield & Wassom, page 237
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 4824 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
