Roy Harlan Swendsen - World War II

Roy Harlan Swendsen
Born March 20, 1920 to Chris and Albertine Swendsen


Submitted by Millie Swendsen, wife of Roy.

Roy enlisted on Feb 1942 in military service and was put into the Air Force. He went to airplane mechanic school in Texas from Feb to July, 1943. and from there was sent to the 90th Bomb Group in Greenville, S. Carolina. 90th Bomb Group was a 4-engined bomber group. In September they were sent to the South Pacific, where he served until the Japanese surrendered in 1945. He was a Staff Sergeant and a crew chief on the B-24’s.

He served in Australia, New Guinea, Hawaii, Mindanao, Mindinaco, Leyte, Biak, Waikiki, Luzon, Okinawa, Peleu, and Ie Shima.

He never had a furlough to come home as they needed mechanics over there!

Roy died 5-18-1998. As far as sorties he shared, I really can’t recall them. We went to several reunions of the Jolly Roger 90th Bomb Group and the guys had their own private memories – he and several others lived together in a tent for 3 years and became like brothers!!

Submitted by Karla Wester - Daughter: a collection of letters that Roy wrote home during the war. (I will post these as I get them, a wonderful collection)
-Rog