Forum Topic
General Shep Related Chatter
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New Schwartz KIA Information?
Date: 02-03-2006
By: ErikRP
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I was reading Wanda Hickey today and came across the Wimpy Doll story. Shep talks about the newspaper that his mom used to pack the "effluvia" and notes a headline, "B-24 Squadron Hits Sicily in Daylight Raid; Report Success; Three Planes Lost". I wondered if maybe this was some sort of way of honoring Schwartz who Shep says was shot down over Italy. A check of the 'People' database shows a link to a tribute page stating that Schwartz was KIA March 19/44. It also states that he was part of the 463rd Bomb Group. Well, thanks to the internet I was able to actually track down the missions of that squadron (http://www.463rd.org/1944missions.htm). For that date the mission was actually Klagenfurt, Germany. I don't know where the squad was based, but it seems unlikely that if they were heading for Germany that Schwartz would have died "over Italy".
This is just what I've found in the last 20 minutes or so, so if anyone has anything to contradict my findings, please feel free to post! |
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03-14-2006
( Reply#: 400 ) |
m10bob |
Of course your information is correct. The American Military battlefields Commission has the page which shows Paul L Schwartz of the 463rd Bomb Group was killed on March 19th, 1944..His memorial was done by his brother Douglas M Schwartz......
When killed, his unit had not actually started combat missions yet, and had just recently made Celone airfield in Foggia Italy their home.
His plane may have been a combat loss, or an accident in the Alps.
Either would explain his "missing" status.
http://www.wwiimemorial.com/registry/search/pframe.asp?HonoreeID=288132&popcount=1&tcount=1
BTW, EricRP..With the info you provided us, I was able to e-mail a picture of Schwartz with his entire crew and plane, and a picture of his unit patch to Mr Clavin..Thank you for solving this mystery.....
In Hoc Agricula Conc
In Est Spittle Louk |
03-15-2006
( Reply#: 401 ) |
Skoonj |
His actual remains would never have come back to the US, of course. But the graphic depiction on the memorial page you URL's shows what looks like the columbarium at Arlington National Cemetery. Both my parents are interred in the walls there. I wonder of there's a space for Schwartz. |
03-15-2006
( Reply#: 404 ) |
m10bob |
I "found" my own missing Uncle George on the wall at the American Military Cemetery at Carthage, Tunisia, after he had been missing from the family since 1943.....
I'm not sure if Jim got the pic of Schwartz and crew that I sent him...
In Hoc Agricula Conc
In Est Spittle Louk |
03-15-2006
( Reply#: 405 ) |
jclavin |
I.ve updated the page to include this info along with another closeup photo of Schwartz that was also on the website:
http://www.flicklives.com/people/schwartz/schwartz.htm
Jim |
03-15-2006
( Reply#: 406 ) |
m10bob |
You have been BUSY!!!!!!!!!
In Hoc Agricula Conc
In Est Spittle Louk |
03-03-2013
( Reply#: 8876 ) |
Colonel |
On January 29, 1942, Schwartz enlisted at Fort Benjamin Harrison, outside Indianapolis, as an aviation cadet in the Army Air Corps. Successfully completing his training, he was commissioned as a navigator, and assigned to the 463rd Bombardment Group (H) in Southern Europe. In early 1944, First Lieutenant Schwartz was assigned to strategic bombing missions in a B-17G Flying Fortress attached to the 341st Bomb Squadron of the 97th Bomdardment Group (H) out of Amendola Airfield, Italy, as part of the 5th Wing of the 15th Air Force.
On the morning of March 19, 1944, Schwartz and nine other crew members had taken off in their B-17 from Amendola as part of a 230-strong bomber armada headed towards the Alps for Klagenfurt air depot in Austria, where the Germans produced Messerschmitt fighter aircraft and other war materiel. At 10:35 in the morning -- while flying in clear skies at an altitude of 3500 feet, about three miles off the coast of Manfredonia in eastern Italy -- Schwartz's aircraft was struck by another B-17 to his right in formation. That plane immediately broke into two pieces, caught fire, and crashed into the Adriatic Sea. Schwartz's B-17 veered sharply to the left, spun out of control, and crashed into the sea and burned. One parachute was seen to open at about 500 feet, but there were no survivors. Only four bodies were ever recovered. Although the aircraft-casualty reports were classified at the time, Schwartz's mother, then living in St. Louis, Missouri, was subsequently notified of her son's death, with few details provided. A copy of a page from the actual WWII accident report, now declassified, is posted with Schwartz's biography on his page in the People section of Flick Lives. |
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