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Personal info

Full name
SWAN, Jack Junior
Date of birth
26 December 1922
Age
21
Place of birth
Delta Township, Eaton County, Michigan
Hometown
Ingham County, Michigan

Military service

Service number
36454360
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Ball Turret Gunner
Unit
856th Bombardment Squadron,
492nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
23 June 1944
Place of death
Boitsford-Brussels, Belgium

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
A 29 5

Immediate family

Members
Jack H. Swan (father)
Rebecca A. (Proctor) Swan (mother)
Nora Swan (sister)
Alice Swan (sister)
Herbert Swan (brother)
Irma G. (Walker) Swan (wife)
James H. Swan (son)

Plane data

Serial number
41-29470
Data
Type: B-24J
Destination: Laon Airfield, France
Mission: Bombing
MACR: 6242

More information

Sgt Jack J. Swan enlisted the service on 24 February 1943 in Kalamazoo, Michigan and received his training at St. Petersburg, Fla.; Boston, Mass.; and Peterson field in Spring, Colo.
This was a mission to level an enemy airfield at St. Cyr, France. It was sort of a revenge mission for the 492nd. The plane took a direct hit by flak over Brussels. Their right wing caught fire and blew off. The ship spun down and broke into two pieces. Only the radio operator and engineer, who were blown out of the plane, survived. Sgt Swan was buried at Eagle Cemetery Brussels, Grave 6, Section 10, Row 21.

Source of information: Michel Beckers, Astrid van Erp, www.492ndbombgroup.com, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.newspapers.com - Lansing State Journal, www.ancestry.com - Marriage Record, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: Michel Beckers, 492nd Bomb Group, Peter Schouteten