Swangren, Capt. Roy T.

Swangren

Capt. Roy T. Swangren 
Born: 16 August 1920 – Oak Park, Illinois
Parents: Thure J. Swangren & Marie Ziehnert-Swangren 
Siblings: 1 sister, 1 brother 
Home: 
– 614 South Sixth Avenue – Maywood, Illinois 
Education: 
– Emerson School 
– Proviso Township High School 
– Class of 1938 
Occupation: mechanic – S. & S. Machine Works – Chicago, Illinois
Selective Service Registration: 16 February 1942
Contact Person: T. J. Swangren – father
Enlisted: 
– 25 March 1942 
– U.S. Army Air Corps 
– entered service as an enlisted man 
– attended Officer Candidate School 
Serial Number: O&676167 
Training: 
– Kelly Army Airfield, San Antonio, Texas 
– Hondo Airfield, Hondo, Texas 
– the base was Army Air Corps’ largest base for navigator training 
– commissioned 2nd LieutenantUnit: 579th Bomb Squadron, 392nd Bombardment Group (Heavy), 8th Air Force 
Plane: B-24 
Stationed: Wendling Station #118 – Norfolk, England – arrived August 1943 
Missions: 
– 9 September 1943 – the first mission 
– flew 34 missions over these countries: 
– France 
– Belgium 
– Holland 
– Germany 
– Last Mission: Schwabisch Hall – jet airfield 
– 24 February 1944 – mission over Gotha, Germany 
– 392nd Bombardment Group was awarded Presidential Unit Citation 
Promoted: Captain – squadron navigator – June 1944 
Killed in Action: 
– 22 March 1945 
– on return from a successful mission 
– flare gun came loose, fell to the floor, discharged and set off a box of pyrotechnic flares located behind pilot’s seat 
– fire and smoke blinded the pilots causing the plane to go into a steep dive 
– all the crew except Major Barnes, Capt. Grettum, and Capt. Swangren bailed out 
– their bodies were found in the wreckage 
Buried: 
– Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England 
– Plot: F Row: 1 Grave: 25 
Medals: 
– Purple Heart 
– Good Conduct 
– Air Campaign 
– European-African Middle East Campaign 
– Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters 
– Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters 
– Presidential Unit Citation 
– Bronze Star 
– Silver Star 

 

 

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