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FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: James Swett ~ 06 January 2020
Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | The Canteen Crew

Posted on 01/05/2020 5:03:21 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska


Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!
 
For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.
 
Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!
 
 
~ Hall of Heroes ~

James E. Swett

Info from this website.

ArmyPatch small   NavySeal small   Air Force Seal   Marines Seal small   Coast Guard Seal small (better)
James Elms Swett (June 15, 1920 – January 18, 2009) was a United States Marine Corps fighter pilot and ace[1] during World War II. He was awarded the United States' highest military decoration— the Medal of Honor — for actions while a division flight leader in VMF-221 over Guadalcanal on April 7, 1943.

Subsequently he downed a total of 15.5 enemy aircraft during the war.



Biography

Born on June 15, 1920 in Seattle, Washington, James E. Swett graduated from San Mateo High School, San Mateo, California, and enrolled at the College of San Mateo in 1939. He earned a private pilot’s license, which amounted to 450 more hours of flying than he received during his Navy flight training. He enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve as a seaman second class on August 26, 1941, and started flight training in September.


 Service in World War II

In early 1942, he completed flight training and finished in the top ten percent of his class. He was given the option to choose between a commission in the Marine Corps or the Navy, and he chose the Marine Corps. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, on April 1, 1942. He continued his advanced flight training, first at Quantico, Virginia, then Lake Michigan, became carrier qualified aboard the USS Wolverine, and finally received his wings at San Diego, California. In December, 1942, he shipped out to the Southwest Pacific, and when he arrived at Guadalcanal and was assigned to VMF-221, which was part of Marine Air Group 12.

Medal of Honor action

On April 7, 1943, on his first combat mission, Swett both became an ace and acted with such "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty" that he would be awarded the Medal of Honor.

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.




 Further combat service

After a short stay in a Naval hospital, Swett returned to Guadalcanal and learned that Admiral Marc Mitscher had nominated him for the Medal of Honor. After a short rest in Australia, Swett checked out in the Vought F4U Corsair to which VMF-221 was converting and moved to a new base in the Russells. Promoted to captain, Swett covered the Rendova landings on June 30, 1943, adding 2 Mitsubishi G4M Betty medium bombers to his score and sharing the downing of a Mitsubishi A6M Zero.

Eleven days later, near the island of New Georgia, Swett knocked down two more Bettys. Seeing his wingman's Corsair under attack, he also shot down a Zero. However, he failed to see a second Zero and was himself shot down. He was rescued by indigious tribal members in a canoe and traveled by 10-man canoe for several hours to an Australian coast watcher's location. A PBY flying boat returned Swett to the Russells. In October 1943, over the major Japanese airbase at Kahili, Bougainville, Swett added one confirmed Zero and one probable, but lost his wingman. In November, he added to his list of kills 2 more Vals and a possible Kawasaki Ki-61 Tony, a new Japanese fighter.

On December 11, Swett returned to the United States on a Dutch motor ship, arriving in San Francisco on New Year's Eve. After less than 24 hours, he shipped out to San Diego, where he was granted 30 days leave and married Lois Anderson, his long time sweetheart. Swett was then transferred to NAS Santa Barbara, California, where he worked up a newly manned VMF 221 in the Corsair.

Now carrier-qualified and assigned to the USS Bunker Hill, Swett flew 2 strikes over Japan and then supported the landings at Iwo Jima and the operations on Okinawa. On May 11, 1945, he shot down a Yokosuka D4Y Judy kamikaze he described as a "sitting duck". Swett watched from the air as the Bunker Hill was struck by two kamikazes, causing such damage that he was forced to land on another carrier.

Swett later returned to the States and was assigned to MCAS El Toro, California, where he began to train for Operation Olympic, the invasion of Japan. At war's end, VMF 221 was second in aerial victories among Marines Corps squadrons with 185 enemy planes downed. Swett's combat record includes had 103 combat missions, 15.5 confirmed victories and 4 probables. He earned 2 Purple Hearts, eight Distinguished Flying Crosses, and the Medal of Honor.
Post-war service

Swett commanded VMF-141 flying Corsairs at NAS Alameda, California, following the end of World War II. After the onset of the Korean War his squadron was deployed to Korea, but he was left behind because the Navy thought putting a Medal of Honor recipient in combat was too risky. Swett left active duty and continued service in the Marine Corps Reserve, retiring in 1970 in the rank of colonel.

He worked in his father's company in San Francisco, making marine pumps and turbines. In 1960, after his father's death, Swett took over the company and ran it for 23 years, before passing it on to his son. In retirement, he became a frequent speaker at schools, where he shared his strong feelings about the values of respect and responsibility. In 2006, Swett's Medal of Honor action was recreated using computer graphics for The History Channel series Dogfights and Swett himself provided commentary. The episode first aired on November 24, 2006.  Swett moved to Redding, California in 2007 where he died, January 18, 2009, in a Redding hospital from heart failure after a lengthy illness.
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to

FIRST LIEUTENANT JAMES E. SWETT
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

    For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, as a division leader in Marine Fighting Squadron TWO TWENTY-ONE in action against enemy Japanese aerial forces in the Solomon Islands Area, April 7, 1943. In a daring flight to intercept a wave of 150 Japanese planes, First Lieutenant Swett unhesitatingly hurled his four-plane division into action against a formation of fifteen enemy bombers and during his dive personally exploded three hostile planes in mid-air with accurate and deadly fire. Although separated from his division while clearing the heavy concentration of anti-aircraft fire, he boldly attacked six enemy bombers, engaged the first four in turn, and unaided, shot them down in flames. Exhausting his ammunition as he closed the fifth Japanese bomber, he relentlessly drove his attack against terrific opposition which partially disabled his engine, shattered the windscreen and slashed his face. In spite of this, he brought his battered plane down with skillful precision in the water off Tulagi without further injury. The superb airmanship and tenacious fighting spirit which enabled First Lieutenant Swett to destroy seven enemy bombers in a single flight were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission!


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; heroes; military; troopsupport
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To: radu; MS.BEHAVIN
My house at 10 this morning...


61 posted on 01/05/2020 10:49:44 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: LUV W

I was going to say that but was trying to be nice. LOL


62 posted on 01/05/2020 10:50:13 PM PST by radu (God bless our military men and women, past and present)
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To: mountainlion

Oh my goodness, mountainlion....snowed in since Thanksgiving!

Still good on firewood? Keeping warm?


63 posted on 01/05/2020 10:52:11 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: Kathy in Alaska

yer confuser is stuck! Trumps fault!


64 posted on 01/05/2020 10:53:10 PM PST by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

yer confuser is stuck! Trumps fault!


65 posted on 01/05/2020 10:53:10 PM PST by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: LUV W

Thanks, Luv, for helping honor one of our heroes.


66 posted on 01/05/2020 10:55:31 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: All

one more... gnight gang

https://www.bing.com/search?FORM=SLBRDF&pc=SL11&q=cory%20stevens%20charles%20bronson


67 posted on 01/05/2020 10:56:48 PM PST by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: LUV W; MS.BEHAVIN

My ex-hubby was stationed in Germany when he was in the Army and loved it ..... except during winter. Said it was too cold for his taste but he never mentioned his nose getting ice crystals. Maybe he lucked up and it didn’t get as cold when he was there as when you were there, LUV.
He did say if it wasn’t for the cold winters he’d have moved there after he got out of the Army. He loved it there.


68 posted on 01/05/2020 10:59:57 PM PST by radu (God bless our military men and women, past and present)
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To: Kathy in Alaska; LUV W; radu; MEG33; beachn4fun
A very pleasant good Monday morning and ((HUGS)) to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

How's everyone doing this morning?

69 posted on 01/05/2020 11:00:41 PM PST by E.G.C.
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God Bless Trump for whacking that Persian ahole

Boom!


70 posted on 01/05/2020 11:01:56 PM PST by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: MS.BEHAVIN

I’m getting too old for it too.
Getting old is what made me finally understand snowbirds. LOL


71 posted on 01/05/2020 11:03:07 PM PST by radu (God bless our military men and women, past and present)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

TOO COLD!!!!!!!!!
Right now it’s spitting little snowflakes at the airport. I’m getting cold looking at it and might need to change over to an eagle cam in FL to thaw out. LOL


72 posted on 01/05/2020 11:07:02 PM PST by radu (God bless our military men and women, past and present)
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To: E.G.C.

Howdy, E.G.C. ((HUGZ))

Did you get through your outing with Gizmo without any mishaps? :-)


73 posted on 01/05/2020 11:10:48 PM PST by radu (God bless our military men and women, past and present)
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To: thesearethetimes...

Good evening, thesearethetimes…weird winter this year. As I drove home from work Christmas Eve we had no snow because of 2 days of rain. Then about a foot of snow in 2 days. And now IT IS COLD!!

Hope you had a wonderful holiday season.


74 posted on 01/05/2020 11:18:28 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: mylife

Good evening, my...are you staying warm? Do you have snow?

He was a VERY good Marine.


75 posted on 01/05/2020 11:22:05 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: radu; LUV W; MS.BEHAVIN

This cold really does do funny things to your nose. LOL!


76 posted on 01/05/2020 11:29:49 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: radu

Luckily for me I go downstairs, turn right, pass the laundry room, and walk directly into the garage. No cold til I get to work. I HAVE been known to forget a coat because of it. Walking from my car to get into the building will be fun.


77 posted on 01/05/2020 11:39:05 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: Kathy in Alaska; LUV W; MS.BEHAVIN

I’ve seen shows on TV with people in that kind of cold. They had icicles hanging out of their nostrils. egads!
Why anyone would get out in that kind of weather is beyond my comprehension. There’s too much tropical lizard in the ol’ DNA. LOL


78 posted on 01/05/2020 11:40:00 PM PST by radu (God bless our military men and women, past and present)
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To: radu

We loved it there, too. We were there for 3 years and our son was born in the army hospital in Würzburg though we were air force. It was so beautiful then and the winters really didn’t bother me that much at that age. Now...I wouldn’t do it. It’s the same kind of zone as Oregon. Lots of rain and lots of snow.

I don’t know if I’d have lived there as a civilian. We had way better groceries and gas prices than the Germans had. But we didn’t live on base. We lived in a village. We didn’t like to be THAT chummy with all the military. LOL!


79 posted on 01/05/2020 11:44:34 PM PST by luvie (The bravery and dedication of our troops in keeping us safe & free make me proud to be an American!)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

You won’t want to forget your coat in the morning!!
Walking from the car to the building will be an adventure. Not only frigid but the parking lot is bound to be slick. We don’t want you falling and hurting yourself.


80 posted on 01/05/2020 11:46:05 PM PST by radu (God bless our military men and women, past and present)
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