James E. Swett

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James Elms Swett
born June 15, 1920
James E. Swett, Medal of Honor recipient
Place of birth	Seattle, Washington
Allegiance	USMC
Years of service	1941-1942 (USN) 1942-1950 (USMC)
Rank	Colonel
Unit	VMF-221
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of Iwo Jima Battle of Okinawa
Awards	Medal of Honor Distinguished Flying Cross (8) Purple Heart (2)

1stLt James E. Swett, with other members of his VMF-221 squadron, describing his Medal of Honor actions.

James Elms Swett (born 15 June 1920) was a United States Marine Corps ace pilot ^[1] during World War II. He was awarded the United States' highest military honor — the Medal of Honor — for his heroic actions while a division leader in VMF-221 over the Solomon Islands on 7 April 1943 when his four plane division of F4F Wildcats intercepted a formation of fifteen enemy bombers. He personally brought down seven of the enemy planes within 15 minutes. This feat made the 22-year old Marine aviator an ace on his first combat mission. He was shot down during the battle and rescued from the water.

Subsequently he downed a total of 15 ½ enemy aircraft during the war, earning two Distinguished Flying Crosses and four Air Medals.

[edit] Biography

Born on 15 June 1920 in Seattle, Washington, James E. Swett graduated from the San Mateo (California) High School and attended San Mateo Junior College before enlisting in the U.S. Naval Reserve as a seaman second class on 26 August 1941.

He was appointed an aviation cadet the following October and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve on 1 April 1942, after flight training in Corpus Christi, Texas.

He took part in action in the South Pacific from early 1943 until January 1944. After a year's duty in the United States, he returned overseas in January 1945, and participated in combat operations at Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

He was relieved of active duty in November 1945 with the rank of major, and rose to the rank of colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve.

[edit] Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to

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.

/S/ FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

[edit] Notes

1. ^ James E. Swett in USMC Aces of World War Two, AcePilots.com. (URL accessed on June 3, 2006)

[edit] References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps.

• Colonel James Elms Swett, USMC (Retired), Who's Who in Marine Corps History, History Division, United States Marine Corps.
• 1stLt James E. Swett, Medal of Honor, 1943, Marine Fighting Squadron 221, Solomon Islands, Medal of Honor citation.
• James E. Swett Bio, Gathering of Eagles, USAF Air University. (URL accessed on June 3, 2006)
• "Post-Guadalcanal Operations", Time of the Aces: Marine Pilots in the Solomons.

[edit] Further reading

United States Marine Corps Portal

• Mersky, Commander Peter B. Time of the Aces: Marine Pilots in the Solomons, 1942-1944, Marines in World War II Commemorative Series, History and Museums Division, United States Marine Corps, 1993.