Swanson, Kenneth John

Individual Personnel Data
Name Swanson, Kenneth John
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-735346
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #121 dated 18 October 1943, effective 18 October 1943.
  • Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #132, effective 8 July 1944.
  • Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #171, effective 25 August 1944.
Duty Bombardier
MOS1035 - Bombardier
Last Duty Date 2 November 1944
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 3 April 1917
  • Graduated from Bombardier School at Roswell AAF, Roswell, New Mexico, Class #43-01, 2 January 1943.
  • Placed on seven days Temporary Duty on or about 12 February 1944 to Air Force Officers Rest Home, Stanbridge Earls, Hampshire (a Flak house) per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #27 dated 9 February 1944.
  • Granted a seven day sick leave effective on or about 1 March 1944 per AF Station 106 Special Orders #40 dated 28 February 1944.
  • Detailed as Assistant Group Bombardier of the 384th Bomb Group (Additional) per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #54 dated 21 March 1944.
  • Granted a seven day sick leave of absence effective 1 September 1944 per AAF station 106 Special Orders #173 dated 29 August 1944.
Related Documents Accident Report # 44-02-22-511⇓ (22.753 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Jeter, Sydney Ryland, Jr⇗PilotKIA
2nd Lt. Schutz, George Frederick, Jr⇗Co-pilotKIA
T/SGT. Shattuck, Jack Dale⇗NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Swanson, Kenneth JohnBombardierCT
T/SGT. Dupuis, George Edward⇗Radio Operator / GunnerKIA
T/SGT. MacDonald, Donald Van Buskirk⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Lisch, John Robert, "Bob"⇗Ball Turret GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Scheffer, Edgar A (IO)⇗Tail GunnerKIA
T/SGT. Madl, Ferdinand Jacob⇗Flexible GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Persoskie, Metro (NMI)⇗Flexible GunnerKIA
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 27 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
35⇗ 5 November 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Bombardier 41‑24575⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
38⇗ 29 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑29636⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
41⇗ 11 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑29723⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
42⇗ 13 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Bombardier 41‑24525⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
43⇗ 16 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑37776⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
46⇗ 24 December 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Croisette, France 		Bombardier 42‑31045⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Composite group.
Sortie Report⇗
48⇗ 31 December 1943 Target: Blockade Runner 'Orsone' (name of ship)
Type: Transportation
Location: [Mouth of River Garonne], France 		Bombardier 42‑31045⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Chelveston; bombs jettisoned.
Sortie Report⇗
50⇗ 5 January 1944 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Kiel, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑3087⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
54⇗ 21 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France 		Bombardier 42‑37776⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report⇗
56⇗ 30 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑29636⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
57⇗ 3 February 1944 Target: Submarines (under construction)
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑29636⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group.
Sortie Report⇗
58⇗ 4 February 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑29636⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group, 41st A Combat Wing. Landed away on return at RAF Woodbridge, Suffolk, due to low fuel.
Sortie Report⇗
60⇗ 6 February 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France 		Bombardier 42‑31211⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
64⇗ 21 February 1944 Target: Fighter Field & Aircraft Storage Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Werl, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31516⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High Squadron deputy, lead group. Aborted because #3 prop began throwing oil excessively, was feathered for examination, and could not be unfeathered.
Sortie Report⇗
65⇗ 22 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt & Aschersleben, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31516⇗ 41B Group. Collided with 42‑38041 from 303rd BG, Molesworth, while forming up at 0956; crashed near Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire; only survivors were bombardier and navigator who parachuted to safety.
Sortie Report⇗
83⇗ 27 March 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Tours & Chartres, France 		Bombardier 42‑37776⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41 Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
92⇗ 20 April 1944 Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France 		Bombardier 42‑97510⇗ Combat Mission Credit
A Wing, High Group, High Squadron Lead. Aborted shortly before target. Supporting documents show that the crew was granted credit for this sortie.
Sortie Report⇗
93⇗ 22 April 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Hamm, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31211⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, high group.
Sortie Report⇗
159⇗ 17 July 1944 Target: Beautor Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Beautor, France 		Bombardier 42‑107148⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group deputy. Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
160⇗ 18 July 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde & Zinnowitz, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑107148⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group, Group Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
165⇗ 25 July 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: Montreuil-sur-Lozon, Le Châtel,
& La Chapelle en Juger, France 		Bombardier 42‑107148⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing Deputy, Hot Camera Ship.
Sortie Report⇗
166⇗ 28 July 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97941⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
168⇗ 31 July 1944 Target: Aero Engine Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97941⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Group Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
173⇗ 5 August 1944 Target: Luftwaffe Controlling Station
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Langenhagen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97941⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
181⇗ 16 August 1944 Target: Delitzsch Air Field and Air Equipment Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Delitzsch, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97941⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
202⇗ 30 September 1944 Target: Handorf Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Münster, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97986⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
204⇗ 3 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Wesseling, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑102449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead. Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
213⇗ 18 October 1944 Target: Ford Motor Works
Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97592⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group deputy. PFF ship. Took over on bomb run after lead Gee-H equipment failed, but too late to bomb primary. Led Squadron to attack secondary by PFF.
Sortie Report⇗
218⇗ 2 November 1944 Target: Ruhr-Chemie A.G. Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Sterkrade (Holten), Germany 		Bombardier 42‑102449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy. Gee-H ship. Led Squadron on bomb run.
Sortie Report⇗

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