Wade E Swink

Military
media-24244.png UPL 24244

Uploaded

Object Number - UPL 24244

Shot down 25 June 1943 in B-17 #42-29499 'Ma Ma Chang'. Survived parachute drop but got hung up in a tree and broke his back. Rescued and taken care of by members of the underground, but because of his severe injuries had to be turned over to the Germans.



Recovered from those injuries in a German hospital then transferred to POW camps Stalag Luft 4 Gross-Tychow (formerly Heydekrug) Prussia, then moved to Wabbelin Bei Lugwigslust.



Spent approximately 2 years as a POW before being rescued. Returned to the States with a stay at Army Air Forces Convalescent Hospital in New York before returning home to his family in Pennsylvania.

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem, 305th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Mama Chung's Bastard
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron

Places

  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag Luft 4, Gross Tychow, Pomerania

Events

Event Location Date Description

Enlisted

New Cumberland, PA 17070, USA 21 March 1942 Recorded as married at the time of his enlistment

Other

Shot down

Zuiderveen, 9665 Oude Pekela, Netherlands 25 June 1943

Born

Pennsylvania, USA
Fayette County, PA, USA

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "-" to the A/C tail # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Connected media to airman's record and details from enlistment record:
https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=1&cat=all&tf…

Date
Contributorleeann
Changes
Sources

my grandfather. New papers

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roll of Honor

Wade E Swink: Gallery (6 items)