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name
SWAIN, Allen Wardwell - Date of
birth
12 May 1922 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut -
Hometown
West Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-2064355 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
429th Bombardment Squadron,
2nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
21 February 1945 - Place of
death
Area of Vienna, Austria
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 32 | 43 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Robert B. Swain (father)
Mary H. (Wardwell) Swain (mother)
Robert B. Swain Jr. (brother)
Viriginia Swain (sister)
Martha Swain (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-6198 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Dollar 98
Destination: Vienna, Austria
Mission: Bombing of the central yard and shops
MACR: 12461
More information
Allen W. Swain graduated from Klingswood School where he was known as "Pig". A somewhat athletic first five years at Kingswood were supplemented by a brilliant and equally active last three years. On the first football squad, the baseball squad, he won his letter in basketball, and was a founder and charter member of a renowned and famous society, "The Putsey-Wootsies". He joined the editorial board of the Wyvern, the publicity board, became secretary of the class, and thereby a member of the student council, was associate editor of the 'News' and won honorable mention in the prize essay contest. He was a team member of all three major sports, football, basketball and baseball.He was in his senior year at Williams College, Massachusetts at the time of his enlistment. While attending Wiliams he was a member of St. Anthony Hall and Gargoyle.
2nd Lt Swain joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Williamstown, Massachusetts on 28 August 1942. He graduated as an aerial navigator after completing 18 weeks of training at San Marcos Army Air Field in Texas.
He was engaged Miss Nacy Dean in July 1944 and sent overseas in November 1944.
Statement of Capt Robert P. Canavan, Intelligence Officer:
'Aircraft was observed to have one engine feathered at the target area, after bombs-away. The aircraft was losing altitude and seen in a turn toward the Russian lines.'
2n Lt Swain was the only casualty. The other nine crew members were taken prisoner.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census / Kingswood-Oxford High School Yearbook, www.fold3.com - MACR / WWII Draft Card, www.newspapers.com - Hartford Courant
Photo source: Jac Engels, www.ancestry.com - Kingswood-Oxford High School Yearbook 1940