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Personal info

Full name
SWICA, Frank
Date of birth
29 January 1916
Age
27
Place of birth
Sheffield, Warren County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Export, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
33114654
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Top Turret Gunner
Unit
511th Bombardment Squadron,
351st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
3 November 1943
Place of death
Off the coast of Mellum Island, north of Wilhelmshaven, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 37 14

Immediate family

Members
Simon Swica (father)
Mary Swica (mother)
Stanley Swica (brother)
Addie M. (Barrows) Swica (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-29852
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Fire Ball
Destination: Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the port
MACR: 1160

More information

T/Sgt Frank Swica enlisted in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania on 5 November 1941.

During the bomb run, enemy fighters attacked the formation. A lower squadron B-17 pilot was shot through the head, and his aircraft pitched up, colliding with this aircraft. The mid air collision severely damaged the aircraft, and as it dropped out of formation, it was attacked by three enemy fighters. The waist gunners shot down two of them, but the B-17 exploded. Spinning downward, it crashed in the sea. Six of the crew survived and were taken prisoner. Four men were killed.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, Memorial page Harlan Burton, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil / Morse Family Tree / 1930 Census

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, http://www.351st.org