Swanson, John Willard Jr.
Air Force Lieutenant colonel

John Willard Jr. Swanson from Arlington, Illinois, Bureau county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: June 15, 1967
Death details: Captain John Willard Swanson Jr., who joined the U.S. Air Force from Illinois, was a member of the 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing. On June 15, 1967, he piloted a single-seat F-105D Thunderchief (tail number 61-0213) as part of a four-plane strike mission over North Vietnam. While making an attack on the target, enemy ground fire struck Capt Swanson?s Thunderchief. After being hit, Capt Swanson headed for the Gulf of Tonkin and ejected over the water in the vicinity of (GC) 48Q WG 684 064. The aircraft then crashed in the vicinity of (GC) 48Q WG 683 061 . Another pilot observed Capt Swanson successfully eject from his plane, but then lost visual contact with the parachute. When he re-acquired contact, he saw the parachute sinking in the water, but saw no sign of Capt Swanson. Search and rescue efforts in the area found no trace of Capt Swanson, and he remains unaccounted-for.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency