Swain, Donald Arthur Alfred
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Donald Arthur Alfred |
Surname | Swain |
Gender | M |
Age | 24 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 26-11-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Frederick Charles and Rose Kate Swain, of Tonbridge, Kent. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | LW326 |
Markings | TL-H |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Belgium |
Burial/Memorial Place | Hotton War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | IV. C. 3. |
Epitaph | HE CLIMBED THROUGH EARTHLY STRIFE TO THE EVERLASTING STARS |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 250 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 647531 |
Service | Royal Air Force |
Group | 8 |
Squadron | 35 (Madras Presidency) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Roadside Location, Graveley, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Memorial Stone |
Memorial Text | Graveley Airfield 1942-1945 8 Group Bomber Command 35 Squadron Pathfinder Force 692 Squadron Light Night Striking Force R.A.F. To commemorate this airfield in honour of those who served the nation aircrew, groundstaff & WAFF of United Kingdom Dominions, C |
Location | All Saints Church, Offord Cluny, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window, Sqn Badge & Roll of Honour |
Memorial Text | Remember before God all those airmen and airwomen 3who served with 35 Squadron R.A.F. Graveley 1939-1945 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/380/22 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/380/21 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 25-11-1943 |
End Date | 26-11-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Graveley |
Day/Night Raid | Night (3% moon) |
Operation | Frankfurt. 262 aircraft, mainly Halifaxes. 12 losses (4.6%) with no diversionary raids. The German controller correctly surmised that Frankfurt was the target. Cloud cover led to scattered bombing and it is thought that fewer than 100 bombs landed on the city. 80 deaths on the ground and 1500 people were bombed out |
Reason for Loss | Thought to have crashed NW of St Vith, Belgium |