This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: Carswell
Classification: military
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.carswell/186/mb.ashx
Message Board Post:
CARSWELL, HORACE S., JR. (Air Mission)
Rank and organization: Major, 308th Bombardment Group, U.S. Army Air Corps. Place and
date: Over South China Sea, 26 October 1944. Entered service at: San Angelo, Tex. Birth:
Fort Worth, Tex. G.O. No.: 14, 4 February 1946. Citation: He piloted a B-24 bomber in a
one-plane strike against a Japanese convoy in the South China Sea on the night of 26
October 1944. Taking the enemy force of 12 ships escorted by at least 2 destroyers by
surprise, he made 1 bombing run at 600 feet, scoring a near miss on 1 warship and escaping
without drawing fire. He circled. and fully realizing that the convoy was thoroughly
alerted and would meet his next attack with a barrage of antiaircraft fire, began a second
low-level run which culminated in 2 direct hits on a large tanker. A hail of steel from
Japanese guns, riddled the bomber, knocking out 2 engines, damaging a third, crippling the
hydraulic system, puncturing 1 gasoline tank, ripping uncounted holes in the aircraft, and
wounding the copil!
ot; but by magnificent display of flying skill, Maj. Carswell controlled the plane's
plunge toward the sea and carefully forced it into a halting climb in the direction of the
China shore. On reaching land, where it would have been possible to abandon the staggering
bomber, one of the crew discovered that his parachute had been ripped by flak and rendered
useless; the pilot, hoping to cross mountainous terrain and reach a base. continued onward
until the third engine failed. He ordered the crew to bail out while he struggled to
maintain altitude. and, refusing to save himself, chose to remain with his comrade and
attempt a crash landing. He died when the airplane struck a mountainside and burned. With
consummate gallantry and intrepidity, Maj. Carswell gave his life in a supreme effort to
save all members of his crew. His sacrifice. far beyond that required of him, was in
keeping with the traditional bravery of America's war heroes.
Source:
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/moh1.htm
BURIAL INFORMATION
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Cemetery: Oakwook Cemetery
Born: 1916 Fort Worth, TX
Died: 1944 Killed in Action -- Awarded Posthumously.
Source, additional information and cemetery monument photo:
http://www.homeofheroes.com/gravesites/states/pages_af/carswell_horace.html
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horace_S._Carswell,_Jr.
Note: This is not my ancestry. I have NO additional information. I am just passing along
information that may be useful.
* Feel free to pass this on to other appropriate resources.