Seargent Swenk served with the 457th Bomb Squadron, 330th Bomb Group from Alamogordo Army Air Base, New Mexico. He was an assistant radio operator aboard B-24E Liberator #42-7018 and one of nine airmen who were killed when the bomber exploded and crashed, fifteen miles west of the airfield, March 5, 1943.
For reasons not determined, the aircraft went into a dive while flying at high altitude. The Navigator was thrown and went unconscious. At a point around 7,800 feet (asl) an explosion between the fuselage and the No. 3 engine on the starboard wing occurred, and the Navigator was blown from the aircraft. He regained consciousness and was able to successfully parachute to ground. The remaining men aboard were killed. Investigators could not conclude a reason for the aircraft going into the dive which resulted in an explosion. But an altimeter was found that indicated the explosion occurred at 7,800 feet.
The airmen killed were:
2LT John G Striplin, O-665734, TX, Pilot
2LT Joseph L Shumsky, O-795653, NJ, Co-Pilot
2LT Royce G Matthews, O-727362, CA, Bombardier
TSGT Patrick G McKay, 13038546, PA, Flight Engineer
SSGT William F George, 16070179, IL, Radio Operator
SGT Lawson R. Armstrong Jr, 11097361, ME, Gunner
SGT James R. Early, 17077285, MO, Gunner
SSGT Marvin E T Litz, 33328483, PA, Assistant Engineer
SGT John S Swenk, 39252668, MI, Asst. Radio Operator
~
For reasons not determined, the aircraft went into a dive while flying at high altitude. The Navigator was thrown and went unconscious. At a point around 7,800 feet (asl) an explosion between the fuselage and the No. 3 engine on the starboard wing occurred, and the Navigator was blown from the aircraft. He regained consciousness and was able to successfully parachute to ground. The remaining men aboard were killed. Investigators could not conclude a reason for the aircraft going into the dive which resulted in an explosion. But an altimeter was found that indicated the explosion occurred at 7,800 feet.
The airmen killed were:
2LT John G Striplin, O-665734, TX, Pilot
2LT Joseph L Shumsky, O-795653, NJ, Co-Pilot
2LT Royce G Matthews, O-727362, CA, Bombardier
TSGT Patrick G McKay, 13038546, PA, Flight Engineer
SSGT William F George, 16070179, IL, Radio Operator
SGT Lawson R. Armstrong Jr, 11097361, ME, Gunner
SGT James R. Early, 17077285, MO, Gunner
SSGT Marvin E T Litz, 33328483, PA, Assistant Engineer
SGT John S Swenk, 39252668, MI, Asst. Radio Operator
~
Seargent Swenk served with the 457th Bomb Squadron, 330th Bomb Group from Alamogordo Army Air Base, New Mexico. He was an assistant radio operator aboard B-24E Liberator #42-7018 and one of nine airmen who were killed when the bomber exploded and crashed, fifteen miles west of the airfield, March 5, 1943.
For reasons not determined, the aircraft went into a dive while flying at high altitude. The Navigator was thrown and went unconscious. At a point around 7,800 feet (asl) an explosion between the fuselage and the No. 3 engine on the starboard wing occurred, and the Navigator was blown from the aircraft. He regained consciousness and was able to successfully parachute to ground. The remaining men aboard were killed. Investigators could not conclude a reason for the aircraft going into the dive which resulted in an explosion. But an altimeter was found that indicated the explosion occurred at 7,800 feet.
The airmen killed were:
2LT John G Striplin, O-665734, TX, Pilot
2LT Joseph L Shumsky, O-795653, NJ, Co-Pilot
2LT Royce G Matthews, O-727362, CA, Bombardier
TSGT Patrick G McKay, 13038546, PA, Flight Engineer
SSGT William F George, 16070179, IL, Radio Operator
SGT Lawson R. Armstrong Jr, 11097361, ME, Gunner
SGT James R. Early, 17077285, MO, Gunner
SSGT Marvin E T Litz, 33328483, PA, Assistant Engineer
SGT John S Swenk, 39252668, MI, Asst. Radio Operator
~
For reasons not determined, the aircraft went into a dive while flying at high altitude. The Navigator was thrown and went unconscious. At a point around 7,800 feet (asl) an explosion between the fuselage and the No. 3 engine on the starboard wing occurred, and the Navigator was blown from the aircraft. He regained consciousness and was able to successfully parachute to ground. The remaining men aboard were killed. Investigators could not conclude a reason for the aircraft going into the dive which resulted in an explosion. But an altimeter was found that indicated the explosion occurred at 7,800 feet.
The airmen killed were:
2LT John G Striplin, O-665734, TX, Pilot
2LT Joseph L Shumsky, O-795653, NJ, Co-Pilot
2LT Royce G Matthews, O-727362, CA, Bombardier
TSGT Patrick G McKay, 13038546, PA, Flight Engineer
SSGT William F George, 16070179, IL, Radio Operator
SGT Lawson R. Armstrong Jr, 11097361, ME, Gunner
SGT James R. Early, 17077285, MO, Gunner
SSGT Marvin E T Litz, 33328483, PA, Assistant Engineer
SGT John S Swenk, 39252668, MI, Asst. Radio Operator
~
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SGT, 457 AAF BOMB SQ WORLD WAR II
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