Swen Arnold Zetterberg
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Object Number - UPL 60412 - S/Sgt Swen A Zetterberg
Shot down 16-Sep-43 in B-17 42-5903 'Ascend Charlie'. Plane crashed into North Sea. Killed in Action (KIA).
Staff Sergeant Swen A. Zetterburg was born 6-Jan-24. His next of kin were his parents, Swen, Sr., and Hilda Zetterburg. He was from Rockford, Illinois.
He was the Ball Turret Gunner aboard “Ascend Charlie,” B-17 42-5903, of the 390th Bomb Group, 571st Bomb Squadron. On return from a mission to France on 16-Sep-43, the bomber become lost in bad weather, and crashed into a mountain near Brecknoch, Wales. All aboard were killed.
He is buried in the US Military Cemetery at Cambridge, England.
Connections
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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: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-794593
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Ascend Charlie
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
Places
![A bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress ( serial number 42-31027) nicknamed "Honey Chile" and their dog and monkey mascots "Scrappy" and "Joe". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289774.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ‘AERIAL MASCOTS OF FORTRESS CREWS. PH/MoN. As frisky and friendly a pair of aerial mascots as you'll find in Britain are "Scrappy" and "Joe", pup and monkey team belonging to the](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380433.jpg.webp?itok=L7HbOA_i)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Parham
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Rockford, IL, USA | 6 January 1924 | Staff Sergeant Swen A. Zetterburg was born January 6, 1924. His next of kin were his parents, Swen, Sr., and Hilda Zetterburg. He was from Rockford, Illinois. |
|
Died Killed in Action (KIA) |
Wales | 16 September 1943 | He was the Ball Turret Gunner aboard “Ascend Charlie,” B-17 tail #42-5903, of the 390th Bomb Group, 571st Bomb Squadron. On return from a mission to France on September 16, 1943, the bomber become lost in bad weather, and crashed into a mountain near Brecknoch, Wales. All aboard were killed. Awards: AM, PH. |
|
Buried |
He is buried in the US Military Cemetery at Cambridge, England. |
Revisions
Added S/N from "WWII Army and Army Air Force Casualties" records for Illinios at the National Archives (NARA).
Added a "-" to the A/C serial # in the "Summary biography" for clarity.
IDPF and/or crash report researched by Bill Beigel. IDPF donated to American Air Museum by Bill Beigel. For more information about this flyer, you may contact http://ww2research.com.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3720 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
![Sergeant Milton C Schwermer and Staff Sergeant Willis St Paul of the 390th Bomb Group pass their new dog mascot "Eager" through the waist gun position of their B-17 Flying Fortress to their fellow airman Sergeant Swen A Zetterberg. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 25 Aug 1943.' [stamp] and '280607.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'REGENSBURG RAIDERS RETURN FROM NORTH AFRICA - BOMBING BORDEAUX EN ROUTE. United States Eighth Air Force Flying Fortresses](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380423.jpg.webp?itok=GvFkMTGP)
