Name:
Leroy A. Swetnam
Rank:
Second Lieutenant
Serial Number:
O-702860
Unit:
510th Bomber Squadron, 351st Bomb Group, Heavy
Date of Death:
0000-00-00
State:
California
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2nd Lt Leroy A. Swetnam, co-pilot of the B-17 42-31560 “Hot Rocks”, took off from station 110 in Polebrook, Northamptonshire, UK on a bombing mission over Ludwigschafen, Germany. Three of their engines failed, causing them to lose altitude. A flak hit on the fuselage prompted the crew to bail out, but it was aborted by the plane’s mid-air explosion, killing three crewmen. Leroy landed safely but was later captured and sent to Stalag Luft 1 in Barth-Vogelsang.