Second Lieutenant Louis Swiridow, Army serial number O-697935, was born at Coraopolis, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania on June 26, 1920. His father was John Swiridow (abt 1890 – Jan 1969), who was born at Smolensk, Russia, and immigrated to the United States about 1915. (His father's WWII draft registration says born Dec 1888; and Social Security Death Index says born 10 Dec 1888.) His mother was Anna M. (Wislocky) Swiridow (1900 – 1950), who was born in Hungary, and immigrated to the United States about 1906. His parents married about 1918. He had two younger brothers: John Swiridow Jr (2 Jun 1922 – Mar 1967) and Theodore Swiridow (29 Aug 1931 – 29 Mar 1998). The family lived at Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, where his father was a molder at a steel foundry, and later a farmer.
He completed four years of high school and worked as an unskilled steel molder. He was single, without dependents, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 5, 1942. His home of record was Rural Delivery #2, Coraopolis, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
He completed Army Air Forces Navigation training, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on November 13, 1943. He was then assigned as navigator on the heavy bomber crew of Lt Fulvio R. 'Ray' Tintary in the 839th Bomb Squadron of the 487th Bomb Group. The Tintary crew completed B-24 crew training with the 487th Bomb Group at Alamogordo Army Air Base, New Mexico, and deployed with the Group to England in March 1944. There is a photo of Lt Swiridow and the Tintary crew, probably taken at Herington, Kansas during the overseas deployment, that is posted on the 487th Bomb Group website.
The 487th Bomb Group was based at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England, and was part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. After arrival in England, Lt Swiridow was transferred to the crew of Lt Floyd Schwab in the 839th Bomb Squadron. Here is Lt Schwab's crew roster on June 7, 1944:
B-24H 42-52624 – 839th Bomb Squadron
• Schwab, Floyd – 2/Lt – Pilot – POW
• Van Kirk, Norman C – 2/Lt – Copilot – KIA
• Swiridow, Louis – 2/Lt – Navigator – KIA
• Smith, Cecil J – 2/Lt – Bombardier – KIA
• Olsen, August M Jr – T/Sgt – Radio Operator – KIA
• Gross, Billy D – T/Sgt – Engineer – POW
• Marxmiller, Robert K – S/Sgt – Ball Turret – KIA
• Siegel, Melvin – S/Sgt – Tail Turret – POW
• Coe, Seymour – Sgt – Nose Turret – KIA
• Walker, Clarence E – S/Sgt – Upper Turret – KIA
On June 7, 1944, Lt Schwab's crew flew B-24H 42-52624 'BoxCar' on the 487th Bomb Group mission to bomb a tactical target at Angers, France, in support of the Normandy Invasion. Clouds obscured the target and the Lead Squadron bombed an alternate target, the Loire River bridge at Montjean, France, about 20 miles west of Angers. The Schwab crew flew in the High Squadron and bombed a railroad marshalling yard at Chateaubriant, France, about 50 miles northwest of Angers. Lt Swiridow and six of his crewmates were killed in action when their aircraft was shot down by flak near Rennes, France on the return from the mission. The aircraft broke up and crashed at La Rabine, just west of Bruz, France. Three men survived and became prisoners of war.
The dead were buried at the civilian cemetery in Bruz, France. Lt Swiridow's remains were returned to the United States and reinterred at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia in 1950. He is buried in Section 8, Site 6375.
The Breton Air Memorial Association and the Lacy-Davis Foundation dedicated a monument to the Floyd Schwab crew on June 9, 2012. The monument is located on Rue Germaine Marquer in Bruz, France, at 48.02339°N, 1.75905°W.
Sources:
1. 487th Bomb Group Association
2. 1930 US Census; Pennsylvania; Allegheny County; Coraopolis. Swisidow, John [sic]. 3 Apr 1930 (John Swiridow, his father)
3. 1940 US Census; Pennsylvania; Allegheny County; Findlay Township. Swiridow, John. 20 May 1940 (his father)
4. Breton Air Memorial Association. Crash Site of B-24H 42-52624
5. de Jong, Ivo. 'The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H)'. Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004
6. Enlistment Record of Louis Swiridow
7. HQ, 359th Combat Crew Training School, Alamogordo Army Air Base, New Mexico. 'Special Orders Number 71'. 11 March 1944 (487th Bomb Group flight echelon order to proceed from Alamogordo, New Mexico to Herington, Kansas during the deployment to England)
8. Lacy-Davis Foundation. Monument dedicated to the Floyd Schwab crew at Bruz, France, on 9 June 2012
9. Social Security Death Index
10. U.S. Army. Arlington National Cemetery
11. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 5483
12. U.S. Department of the Army, Adjutant General Office, Technical Records Section. 'Individual Deceased Personnel File of Seymour Coe Jr, 12053958' (aka '293 File') (his crewmate)
13. U.S. War Department. 'World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel'. Washington, D.C., June 1946
14. World War I Draft Registration of John Swiridow. 5 Jun 1917 (his father)
15. World War II Draft Registration of John Swiridow. 27 Apr 1942 (his father)
Research by:
Paul Webber
Secretary, 487th Bomb Group Association
Find A Grave member ID 47577572
He completed four years of high school and worked as an unskilled steel molder. He was single, without dependents, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 5, 1942. His home of record was Rural Delivery #2, Coraopolis, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
He completed Army Air Forces Navigation training, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on November 13, 1943. He was then assigned as navigator on the heavy bomber crew of Lt Fulvio R. 'Ray' Tintary in the 839th Bomb Squadron of the 487th Bomb Group. The Tintary crew completed B-24 crew training with the 487th Bomb Group at Alamogordo Army Air Base, New Mexico, and deployed with the Group to England in March 1944. There is a photo of Lt Swiridow and the Tintary crew, probably taken at Herington, Kansas during the overseas deployment, that is posted on the 487th Bomb Group website.
The 487th Bomb Group was based at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England, and was part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. After arrival in England, Lt Swiridow was transferred to the crew of Lt Floyd Schwab in the 839th Bomb Squadron. Here is Lt Schwab's crew roster on June 7, 1944:
B-24H 42-52624 – 839th Bomb Squadron
• Schwab, Floyd – 2/Lt – Pilot – POW
• Van Kirk, Norman C – 2/Lt – Copilot – KIA
• Swiridow, Louis – 2/Lt – Navigator – KIA
• Smith, Cecil J – 2/Lt – Bombardier – KIA
• Olsen, August M Jr – T/Sgt – Radio Operator – KIA
• Gross, Billy D – T/Sgt – Engineer – POW
• Marxmiller, Robert K – S/Sgt – Ball Turret – KIA
• Siegel, Melvin – S/Sgt – Tail Turret – POW
• Coe, Seymour – Sgt – Nose Turret – KIA
• Walker, Clarence E – S/Sgt – Upper Turret – KIA
On June 7, 1944, Lt Schwab's crew flew B-24H 42-52624 'BoxCar' on the 487th Bomb Group mission to bomb a tactical target at Angers, France, in support of the Normandy Invasion. Clouds obscured the target and the Lead Squadron bombed an alternate target, the Loire River bridge at Montjean, France, about 20 miles west of Angers. The Schwab crew flew in the High Squadron and bombed a railroad marshalling yard at Chateaubriant, France, about 50 miles northwest of Angers. Lt Swiridow and six of his crewmates were killed in action when their aircraft was shot down by flak near Rennes, France on the return from the mission. The aircraft broke up and crashed at La Rabine, just west of Bruz, France. Three men survived and became prisoners of war.
The dead were buried at the civilian cemetery in Bruz, France. Lt Swiridow's remains were returned to the United States and reinterred at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia in 1950. He is buried in Section 8, Site 6375.
The Breton Air Memorial Association and the Lacy-Davis Foundation dedicated a monument to the Floyd Schwab crew on June 9, 2012. The monument is located on Rue Germaine Marquer in Bruz, France, at 48.02339°N, 1.75905°W.
Sources:
1. 487th Bomb Group Association
2. 1930 US Census; Pennsylvania; Allegheny County; Coraopolis. Swisidow, John [sic]. 3 Apr 1930 (John Swiridow, his father)
3. 1940 US Census; Pennsylvania; Allegheny County; Findlay Township. Swiridow, John. 20 May 1940 (his father)
4. Breton Air Memorial Association. Crash Site of B-24H 42-52624
5. de Jong, Ivo. 'The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H)'. Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004
6. Enlistment Record of Louis Swiridow
7. HQ, 359th Combat Crew Training School, Alamogordo Army Air Base, New Mexico. 'Special Orders Number 71'. 11 March 1944 (487th Bomb Group flight echelon order to proceed from Alamogordo, New Mexico to Herington, Kansas during the deployment to England)
8. Lacy-Davis Foundation. Monument dedicated to the Floyd Schwab crew at Bruz, France, on 9 June 2012
9. Social Security Death Index
10. U.S. Army. Arlington National Cemetery
11. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 5483
12. U.S. Department of the Army, Adjutant General Office, Technical Records Section. 'Individual Deceased Personnel File of Seymour Coe Jr, 12053958' (aka '293 File') (his crewmate)
13. U.S. War Department. 'World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel'. Washington, D.C., June 1946
14. World War I Draft Registration of John Swiridow. 5 Jun 1917 (his father)
15. World War II Draft Registration of John Swiridow. 27 Apr 1942 (his father)
Research by:
Paul Webber
Secretary, 487th Bomb Group Association
Find A Grave member ID 47577572
Second Lieutenant Louis Swiridow, Army serial number O-697935, was born at Coraopolis, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania on June 26, 1920. His father was John Swiridow (abt 1890 – Jan 1969), who was born at Smolensk, Russia, and immigrated to the United States about 1915. (His father's WWII draft registration says born Dec 1888; and Social Security Death Index says born 10 Dec 1888.) His mother was Anna M. (Wislocky) Swiridow (1900 – 1950), who was born in Hungary, and immigrated to the United States about 1906. His parents married about 1918. He had two younger brothers: John Swiridow Jr (2 Jun 1922 – Mar 1967) and Theodore Swiridow (29 Aug 1931 – 29 Mar 1998). The family lived at Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, where his father was a molder at a steel foundry, and later a farmer.
He completed four years of high school and worked as an unskilled steel molder. He was single, without dependents, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 5, 1942. His home of record was Rural Delivery #2, Coraopolis, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
He completed Army Air Forces Navigation training, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on November 13, 1943. He was then assigned as navigator on the heavy bomber crew of Lt Fulvio R. 'Ray' Tintary in the 839th Bomb Squadron of the 487th Bomb Group. The Tintary crew completed B-24 crew training with the 487th Bomb Group at Alamogordo Army Air Base, New Mexico, and deployed with the Group to England in March 1944. There is a photo of Lt Swiridow and the Tintary crew, probably taken at Herington, Kansas during the overseas deployment, that is posted on the 487th Bomb Group website.
The 487th Bomb Group was based at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England, and was part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. After arrival in England, Lt Swiridow was transferred to the crew of Lt Floyd Schwab in the 839th Bomb Squadron. Here is Lt Schwab's crew roster on June 7, 1944:
B-24H 42-52624 – 839th Bomb Squadron
• Schwab, Floyd – 2/Lt – Pilot – POW
• Van Kirk, Norman C – 2/Lt – Copilot – KIA
• Swiridow, Louis – 2/Lt – Navigator – KIA
• Smith, Cecil J – 2/Lt – Bombardier – KIA
• Olsen, August M Jr – T/Sgt – Radio Operator – KIA
• Gross, Billy D – T/Sgt – Engineer – POW
• Marxmiller, Robert K – S/Sgt – Ball Turret – KIA
• Siegel, Melvin – S/Sgt – Tail Turret – POW
• Coe, Seymour – Sgt – Nose Turret – KIA
• Walker, Clarence E – S/Sgt – Upper Turret – KIA
On June 7, 1944, Lt Schwab's crew flew B-24H 42-52624 'BoxCar' on the 487th Bomb Group mission to bomb a tactical target at Angers, France, in support of the Normandy Invasion. Clouds obscured the target and the Lead Squadron bombed an alternate target, the Loire River bridge at Montjean, France, about 20 miles west of Angers. The Schwab crew flew in the High Squadron and bombed a railroad marshalling yard at Chateaubriant, France, about 50 miles northwest of Angers. Lt Swiridow and six of his crewmates were killed in action when their aircraft was shot down by flak near Rennes, France on the return from the mission. The aircraft broke up and crashed at La Rabine, just west of Bruz, France. Three men survived and became prisoners of war.
The dead were buried at the civilian cemetery in Bruz, France. Lt Swiridow's remains were returned to the United States and reinterred at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia in 1950. He is buried in Section 8, Site 6375.
The Breton Air Memorial Association and the Lacy-Davis Foundation dedicated a monument to the Floyd Schwab crew on June 9, 2012. The monument is located on Rue Germaine Marquer in Bruz, France, at 48.02339°N, 1.75905°W.
Sources:
1. 487th Bomb Group Association
2. 1930 US Census; Pennsylvania; Allegheny County; Coraopolis. Swisidow, John [sic]. 3 Apr 1930 (John Swiridow, his father)
3. 1940 US Census; Pennsylvania; Allegheny County; Findlay Township. Swiridow, John. 20 May 1940 (his father)
4. Breton Air Memorial Association. Crash Site of B-24H 42-52624
5. de Jong, Ivo. 'The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H)'. Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004
6. Enlistment Record of Louis Swiridow
7. HQ, 359th Combat Crew Training School, Alamogordo Army Air Base, New Mexico. 'Special Orders Number 71'. 11 March 1944 (487th Bomb Group flight echelon order to proceed from Alamogordo, New Mexico to Herington, Kansas during the deployment to England)
8. Lacy-Davis Foundation. Monument dedicated to the Floyd Schwab crew at Bruz, France, on 9 June 2012
9. Social Security Death Index
10. U.S. Army. Arlington National Cemetery
11. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 5483
12. U.S. Department of the Army, Adjutant General Office, Technical Records Section. 'Individual Deceased Personnel File of Seymour Coe Jr, 12053958' (aka '293 File') (his crewmate)
13. U.S. War Department. 'World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel'. Washington, D.C., June 1946
14. World War I Draft Registration of John Swiridow. 5 Jun 1917 (his father)
15. World War II Draft Registration of John Swiridow. 27 Apr 1942 (his father)
Research by:
Paul Webber
Secretary, 487th Bomb Group Association
Find A Grave member ID 47577572
He completed four years of high school and worked as an unskilled steel molder. He was single, without dependents, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 5, 1942. His home of record was Rural Delivery #2, Coraopolis, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
He completed Army Air Forces Navigation training, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on November 13, 1943. He was then assigned as navigator on the heavy bomber crew of Lt Fulvio R. 'Ray' Tintary in the 839th Bomb Squadron of the 487th Bomb Group. The Tintary crew completed B-24 crew training with the 487th Bomb Group at Alamogordo Army Air Base, New Mexico, and deployed with the Group to England in March 1944. There is a photo of Lt Swiridow and the Tintary crew, probably taken at Herington, Kansas during the overseas deployment, that is posted on the 487th Bomb Group website.
The 487th Bomb Group was based at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England, and was part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. After arrival in England, Lt Swiridow was transferred to the crew of Lt Floyd Schwab in the 839th Bomb Squadron. Here is Lt Schwab's crew roster on June 7, 1944:
B-24H 42-52624 – 839th Bomb Squadron
• Schwab, Floyd – 2/Lt – Pilot – POW
• Van Kirk, Norman C – 2/Lt – Copilot – KIA
• Swiridow, Louis – 2/Lt – Navigator – KIA
• Smith, Cecil J – 2/Lt – Bombardier – KIA
• Olsen, August M Jr – T/Sgt – Radio Operator – KIA
• Gross, Billy D – T/Sgt – Engineer – POW
• Marxmiller, Robert K – S/Sgt – Ball Turret – KIA
• Siegel, Melvin – S/Sgt – Tail Turret – POW
• Coe, Seymour – Sgt – Nose Turret – KIA
• Walker, Clarence E – S/Sgt – Upper Turret – KIA
On June 7, 1944, Lt Schwab's crew flew B-24H 42-52624 'BoxCar' on the 487th Bomb Group mission to bomb a tactical target at Angers, France, in support of the Normandy Invasion. Clouds obscured the target and the Lead Squadron bombed an alternate target, the Loire River bridge at Montjean, France, about 20 miles west of Angers. The Schwab crew flew in the High Squadron and bombed a railroad marshalling yard at Chateaubriant, France, about 50 miles northwest of Angers. Lt Swiridow and six of his crewmates were killed in action when their aircraft was shot down by flak near Rennes, France on the return from the mission. The aircraft broke up and crashed at La Rabine, just west of Bruz, France. Three men survived and became prisoners of war.
The dead were buried at the civilian cemetery in Bruz, France. Lt Swiridow's remains were returned to the United States and reinterred at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia in 1950. He is buried in Section 8, Site 6375.
The Breton Air Memorial Association and the Lacy-Davis Foundation dedicated a monument to the Floyd Schwab crew on June 9, 2012. The monument is located on Rue Germaine Marquer in Bruz, France, at 48.02339°N, 1.75905°W.
Sources:
1. 487th Bomb Group Association
2. 1930 US Census; Pennsylvania; Allegheny County; Coraopolis. Swisidow, John [sic]. 3 Apr 1930 (John Swiridow, his father)
3. 1940 US Census; Pennsylvania; Allegheny County; Findlay Township. Swiridow, John. 20 May 1940 (his father)
4. Breton Air Memorial Association. Crash Site of B-24H 42-52624
5. de Jong, Ivo. 'The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H)'. Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004
6. Enlistment Record of Louis Swiridow
7. HQ, 359th Combat Crew Training School, Alamogordo Army Air Base, New Mexico. 'Special Orders Number 71'. 11 March 1944 (487th Bomb Group flight echelon order to proceed from Alamogordo, New Mexico to Herington, Kansas during the deployment to England)
8. Lacy-Davis Foundation. Monument dedicated to the Floyd Schwab crew at Bruz, France, on 9 June 2012
9. Social Security Death Index
10. U.S. Army. Arlington National Cemetery
11. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 5483
12. U.S. Department of the Army, Adjutant General Office, Technical Records Section. 'Individual Deceased Personnel File of Seymour Coe Jr, 12053958' (aka '293 File') (his crewmate)
13. U.S. War Department. 'World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel'. Washington, D.C., June 1946
14. World War I Draft Registration of John Swiridow. 5 Jun 1917 (his father)
15. World War II Draft Registration of John Swiridow. 27 Apr 1942 (his father)
Research by:
Paul Webber
Secretary, 487th Bomb Group Association
Find A Grave member ID 47577572
Inscription
LOUIS
SWIRIDOW
PENNSYLVANIA
2D LIEUTENANT
487 AAF BOMB GP
WORLD WAR II
JUNE 26 1920
JUNE 7 1944
Gravesite Details
2ND LT 8TH A F 92ND WING 487 BOMB 839 SQDN A F USA
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