textswiftrichardclair1949.html

North High School Wall of Honor
Richard Clair Swift
Class of June, 1949

Swift

Research done by Rick Nehrling, class of 1963 and Claradell Shedd, Class of 1953.

Richard graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Industrial Engineering. He went on to receive his Masters degree at Mississippi State University. During this time, he was an Apollo Space Program instructor pilot and a U.S. Air Force navigator, pilot, and command pilot.

Richard enlisted in the US Air Force. He arrived in Vietnam on November 22, 1968. His Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) was 1115 or Pilot, and his rank was Major. He was assigned to the 23rd Tactical Air Support Squadron, 504th Tactical Air Support Group, 7th Air Force headquartered at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB (Royal Thailand Air Force Base), Thailand.

He was a forward air controller. On November 22, 1968, Major Swift and Captain Ivan J. Campbell were flying O-2A S/N 68-6859 when the aircraft struck a tree and crashed. The crash occurred in Thailand and killed both Major Swift and Captain Campbell. Both bodies were recovered.

He received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, Air Medal with Five Oak Leaf Clusters, and numerous other military honors. Major Swift made the ultimate sacrifice with his life in the line of duty in the Vietnam War on November 22, 1968. On the virtual wall at the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C.: Panel 38W, Line 039. His service number was 00047246. http://thewall-usa.com/. For Richard's specific record: http://thewall-usa.com/info.asp?recid=50818

http://www.virtualwall.org/ds/SwiftRC01a.htm

Major Richard C. Swift 23rd TAC Air Support Squadron, 504th Tac Air Support Group, 7th Air Force United States Air Force

References

(1) Information was obtained from the Records on Military Personnel Who Died, were Missing in Action, or Prisoners of War as a result of the Vietnam War. This document can be found online at the National Archives and Records Administration at http://www.archives.gov/.

(2) Information was obtained from the virtual wall that can be found online at http://www.virtualwall.org/.

(3) The comprehensive list of names from North High's 1893-2009 graduation classes are from Claradell Shedd's North Des Moines High School website. The names of North High School graduates can be found online at: http://ndmhs.com/. Richard Clair Swift's 1949 class page is: http://ndmhs.com/pages/yearclass1949(2009.60).html.

Born 07/14/31. Deceased: 11/22/68; Thailand; Died; Non-hostile; Died; Other

Music: "Wind Beneath My Wings"