SWETT, JAMES ELMS - Medal of Honor Recipient
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve,
Marine Fighter Squadron 221, with Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine
Aircraft Wing. Place and date: Solomon Islands area, 7 April 1943.
Entered service at:
California. Birth: 15 June 1920, Seattle, Wash. Other Navy awards:
Distinguished Flying Cross with 1 Gold Star. Citation: For extraordinary
heroism and personal valor above and beyond the call of duty, as division
leader of Marine Fighting Squadron 221 with Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st
Marine Aircraft Wing, in action against enemy Japanese aerial forces in
the Solomons Islands area, 7 April 1943. In a daring flight to intercept
a wave of 150 Japanese planes, 1st Lt. Swett unhesitatingly hurled his
4-plane division into action against a formation of 15 enemy bombers and
personally exploded 3 hostile planes in midair with accurate and deadly
fire during his dive. Although separated from his division while clearing
the heavy concentration of antiaircraft fire, he boldly attacked 6 enemy
bombers, engaged the first 4 in turn and, unaided, shot down all 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 1st Lt. Swett to destroy 7 enemy bombers
in a single flight were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S.
Naval Service.
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