Medal of Honor winner James Elms Swett, USMC, has died

Aircraft of World War II -- Warbird Forums ^ | 21 January 2009 | GrauGeist

[zot]

Colonel James Swett, USMC Another legend has left us.

Colonel James Swett Sr., United States Marine Corps pilot of WWII passed away at the age of 88 here in Redding, California.

He was the recipient of the Medal of Honor, the DFC and held two Purple Hearts for his actions in the South Pacific while assigned to VMF-221.

[Enterprise]

"His first mission was as a division leader on a combat air patrol over the Russell Islands early on the morning of April 7 in expectation of a large Japanese air attack. Landing to refuel, the four plane division of F4F Wildcats he was leading was scrambled after other aircraft reported 150 planes approaching Ironbottom Sound, and intercepted a large formation of Japanese Aichi D3A dive bombers attacking Tulagi harbor. When the fight became a general melee, Swett pursued three Vals diving on the harbor. After shooting down two, and while taken under fire from the rear gunner of the third, the left wing of his F4F was holed by U.S. antiaircraft fire directed at the Japanese. Despite this he shot down the third Val and turned toward a second formation of six Vals leaving the area. Swett repeatly attacked the line of dive bombers, downing each in turn with short bursts. He brought down four and was attacking a fifth when his ammunition was depleted and he had his cockpit shot up by return fire. Wounded, he decided to ditch his damaged fighter off the coast of Florida Island, after it became clear that his oil cooler had been hit and he would not make it back to base. After a few seconds of further flight, his engine seized, and despite initially being trapped in his cockpit, Swett extricated himself and was subsequently rescued in Tulagi harbor after crash-landing his Wildcat. This feat made the 22-year old Marine aviator an ace on his first combat mission."

I saw this episode. R.I.P. to a good man.

Colonel James Swett, USMC

[IGOTMINE]

Another enters Valhalla. Godspeed, Colonel. Godspeed.

[ASOC]

(deleted)(deleted) painted our local Vets memorial here in Anchorage - with oil based paint no less. The Muni did a good job of cleaning it up. Several serious death threats warnings were made, and it has been paint free since.

[EnigmaticAnomaly]

Good for them! Forgive my ignorance, but could you be kind enough as to inform me as to how one inserts html coding to cross out words in posts. Thanks in advance...;-)

[ASOC]

check your FReepmail

[A.A. Cunningham]

Semper Fi and rest in peace, Colonel.

[cherry]

do we really want our precious veterans to see what is happening to this country?....

I am so happy that my WW2 vet parents missed this tragic turn of event in our beloved country....

their sacrifice...their living thru the depression....raising up children and giving us opportunities they never had....

I long for my deceased parents every day, but the anguish of them seeing what is going on.....just too much..

God bless our veterans, especially the older ones now who are leaving this earth so quickly.....I for one will always remember you....

[freema]

[rfreedom4u]

Semper Fi Buddy!

[Kimmers]

Another warrior in heaven....Semper Fi......

[GreyFriar]

thank you.

[sweetiepiezer]

RIP Sir, thank you for your service.

[Brad from Tennessee]

Our flag's unfurled to every breeze
From the dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in every clime and place
Where we could take a gun;
In the snow of far-off northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes;
You will find us always on the job
The United States Marines.

—MARINE CORPS HYMN

[Marine_Uncle]

May his soul now rest in peace.

[La Enchiladita]

Thank you, sir, Colonel Swett.
We owe an unpayable debt to the Greatest Generation and tough, brave heroes like you.
Lastly, thank you zot, for posting:o)

[La Enchiladita]

BTTT and Ping

[vpintheak]

Rest in Peace hero. Semper Fi!

[NoDRodee]

Semper Fi!, Thanks, Regards and thanks to his family. He is a great American!

[dcwusmc]

Then you’d be wrong. EVERY war has more untold stories of heroism than you could shake a BIG stick at. What about those who fought in Vietnam, for example... we knew how too many back home felt about the war... the grunts were there fighting their hearts out anyway... why? Because they couldn’t ever let their buddies down, that’s why. They were there, KNEW they weren’t supposed to win, yet won (militarily) every engagement they had. Because their friends needed them. You cast a nasty slur on scores of thousands of men, a number of whom I am proud to call my friends (and ALL of whom are my brothers).

[dcwusmc]

RIP, Col. Swett. Well done, indeed.