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name
SWANSON, Sidney David "Tino" - Date of
birth
20 October 1922 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Minnesota -
Hometown
Hennepin County, Minnesota
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-737493 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
701st Bombardment Squadron,
445th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
24 February 1944 - Place of
death
Uffeln, south of Holtrup, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| L | 18 | 5 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Albin Swanson (father)
Maud (Fetter) Swanson (mother)
Wallace Swanson (brother)
Murray Swanson (brother)
Edwin Swanson (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
41-29130 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Destination: Gotha, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the aviation industry
MACR: 2556
More information
Sidney Swanson was the youngest of four boys. Early in Sidney´s life, he took on the nickname Tino.The attack on Pearl Harbor prompted him to offer his services to his country, and he volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, on 26 December 1941 at the age of 19.
Statement of 1st Lt Glenn E. Jorgensen:
"I saw Lt. Swanson's plane 41-29130 get hit by fighters. Flames could be seen in the bomb bay. He turned and left formation. I turned and left a few minutes later and saw a plane that had crashed, burning on the ground."
Five crew members survived and were taken prisoner. Five were killed and initially buried at the church cemetery of Holtrup.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov,
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Debbie Dahl Swanson, http://www.dj1953.com/1944/in_memory_of.htm, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 43-B, Douglas Army Air Field, Arizona