Calvin Andrew Swaffer

Military
media-22159.jpeg UPL 22159 US official photo of Lieutenant Calvin Swaffer and crew on the morning after their rescue from the England Channel, 15 July 1943.
Left to right:
2Lt William H. Karraker (N),
S/Sgt Edward W. Griffin (BT),
T/Sgt James O. Matthews (R),
1Lt John R. Johnston (CP),
S/Sgt James E. Mills (RWG),
1Lt Calvin A. Swaffer (P),
2Lt William T. Sweet (B),
T/Sgt Rudolph S. Lopez (E),
Sgt Edward N. Cobb (LWG)

Identification of crew courtesy of http://www.303rdbg.com/358swaffer.html

Sent through to the museum by Ray Carroll, son of Squadron Leader Ray Harries, No. 91 Squadron.

See also: http://www.303rdbg.com/358swaffer.html

Object Number - UPL 22159 - US official photo of Lieutenant Calvin Swaffer and crew on the morning after their rescue from the England Channel, 15 July 1943. Left to...

Assigned to 358BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. 25 x combat missions, 22 as co-pilot to Carl Morales. Shot down 14-Jul-43 in B-17 42-29971 'Memphis Blues'. Ditched A/C in North Sea. Rescued by ASR and returned to base. RTD. ETD





Awards: AM (OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (2 x Battle Stars).

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.

303rd Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Edward N Cobb

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Edward W Griffin

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

John R Johnston

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

William H Karraker

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Rudolph S Lopez

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Aircraft

41-24562

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Sky Wolf
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron

42-29791

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Little Jimmie, Memphis Blues
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 306th Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 335th Bomb Squadron 336th Bomb Squadron 358th Bomb Squadron 423rd Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Shelby County, TN 16 December 1920 Son of John M and Alice Swaffer.

Enlisted

9 May 1942

Died

Duluth, GA 17 May 1998

Buried

Peachtree Memorial Park Norcross, Gwinnett County, GA 21 May 1998 Peachtree Memorial Park Norcross, Gwinnett County, Georgia

Based

Molesworth Assigned to 358BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/record/51342853/calvin-a-swaffer-social-security-…
https://www.fold3.com/record/83479130/calvin-a-swaffer-wwii-army-enlist…
https://www.fold3.com/record/627820294/calvin-swaffer-1920-veterans-aff…
http://www.303rdbg.com/358swaffer.html
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/161417832/calvin-andrew-swaffer

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roll of Honor, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. I by Bishop & Hey p. 180

Calvin Andrew Swaffer: Gallery (3 items)

Personnel of the 303rd Bomb Group play a game between missions. Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 9 Apr 1943.' [stamp] and '257512.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Checker game between raids. Four airmen shown in the picture are (left to right) 2nd Lt Donald L Grant, navigator. Aged 23, and he comes from Sullivan, Ill. and holds the Air Medal and 2 Clusters, his wife Mrs DL Grant lives at R F D I Okolona Miss. Formerly employed as a truc

Object number: FRE 975 - Personnel of the 303rd Bomb Group play a game...

Object number: UPL 22159 - US official photo of Lieutenant Calvin Swaffer and...

Object number: UPL 51812 - "Capt. Morales and crew of the 303rd Bomb Group...