LEST WE FORGET
Flight Lieutenant John Fraser SWAIN DFC
Service No: 400607
Born: Melbourne VIC, 11 January 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 18 September 1940
Unit: No. 23 Squadron
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), 10 November 1942
Died: Injuries from a Ground Accident, Darwin NT, 7 October 1945, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Adelaide River War Cemetery NT
CWGC Additional Information: Son of John Walter and Annie Gertrude Swain, of Caulfield, Victoria
Roll of Honour: Caulfield VIC
Remembered: Panel 101, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
DFC Citation (for service with No. 200 Special Duties Squadron RAF): “In July 1942, this officer was the captain of a Hudson aircraft which attacked a submarine in the Atlantic. The submarine, which was observed on the surface of the water, was attacked with such speed and accuracy that hits were obtained before it had time to submerge. This is the second occasion on which Flying Officer Swain has attacked an enemy submarine with promising results. This officer, whose keenness has been exceptional, has trained his crew to a high standard of efficiency.” (London Gazette 10 November 1942, page 4868)
At 2220 hours on 6 October 1945, Flight Lieutenant Swain received a message from the Control Tower at Darwin that a Liberator aircraft was in difficulties, as the undercarriage would not lower, and that a senior Captain was required to render assistance by radio. Flight Lieutenant Swain as a senior Captain present and Flying Officer Maxwell James Tough (417015) (Discharged: 18 March 1946), a Pilot, went to render assistance. They were travelling along the western roadway of the Station in a jeep driven by Flight Lieutenant Swain, when the jeep overturned at approximately 2305 hours and both the occupants were injured. Flight Lieutenant Swain died of his injuries on 7 October 1945.
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/38/1332