1 Reply Latest reply on Jun 29, 2020 12:47 PM by Jason Atkinson

    Seeking Military unit & record of Lt Raymond Swider

    Reid Baron Wayfarer
    Reid Baron Jun 19, 2020 10:19 PM

      Lt. Raymond Swider of Downers Grove, Illinois, was the recipient of the DFC Distinguished Flying Cross for flying the "Hump", the Himalayan Mountains, during WWII.  He was based in Agra, India, at the Central India Air Depot, of the ATC, Air Transport Command. Lt. Swider received his Distinguished Flying Cross in April of 1945, for flying over 300 hours over “the Hump”. The DFC Organization said there were many men who received the DFC, but records were destroyed so they do not have a full list of those who received this honor. Lt. Swider’s name is on the roster of the Hump Pilots Association on Facebook and elsewhere. We have his DFC Citation, however, can anyone tell us more about Lt. Swider’s military career, and the specific units he served in? Thank you.

        • Re: Seeking Military unit & record of Lt Raymond Swider
          Jason Atkinson Pioneer
          Jason Atkinson Expert Jun 29, 2020 12:47 PM (in response to Reid Baron)

          Dear Mr. Baron,

           

          Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!


          We suggest that you request a copy of his Official Military Personnel File (OMPF). OMPFs and individual medical reports for officers of the U.S. Army (to include the US Army Air Forces) who were separated from the service after June 1917 and prior to 1958 are in the custody of NARA's National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. In many cases where personnel records were destroyed in the 1973 fire, proof of service can be provided from other records such as morning reports, payrolls, and military orders, and a certificate of military service will be issued. Please complete a GSA Standard Form 180 and mail it to NARA's National Personnel Records Center, (Military Personnel Records), 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO  63138-1002.  Veterans and their next of kin also may use eVetRecs to request records. See eVetRecs Help for instructions. For more information see Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF), Archival Records Requests.

           

          Due to the coronavirus public health emergency, the National Personnel Records Center is servicing only urgent requests related to homeless veterans, medical emergencies, and funerals which may be faxed to 314-801-0764.  We thank you for your patience and look forward to resuming normal operations when the public health emergency has ended.

           

          We hope this is helpful. Best of luck with your research!