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Personal info

Full name
SWANK, Robert Dale
Date of birth
21 December 1921
Age
21
Place of birth
Bellville, Richland County, Ohio
Hometown
Jefferson, Richland County, Ohio

Military service

Service number
O-740975
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Pilot
Unit
545th Bombardment Squadron,
384th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
12 August 1943
Place of death
Heidgen, southwest of Bonn, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
H 12 7

Immediate family

Members
Jesse B. Swank (father)
Bernice V. (Kirkpatrick) Swank (mother)
Leora M. Swank (sister)
Gerald J. Swank (brother)
Paul R. Swank (brother)
Leo H. Swank (brother)
Leland L. Swank (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-5806
Data
Type: B-17F
Destination: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the synthetic oil industries
MACR: 288

More information

Robert D. Swank was a carpenter before he volunteered for the Army of the United States in Cleveland, Ohio, on 25 March 1942. He was sent overseas in June 1943.

On the way to the target, his B-17 was hit by flak and fell out of formation. It was then attacked by enemy fighters and exploded.

Six crew members were taken prisoner, and four men were killed.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census / Family Trees, www.newspapers.com - The Mansfield News-Journal, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.newspapers.com - The Mansfield News-Journal, www.384thbombgroup.com, www.findagrave.com