Swamp Fire

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Dedicated to the Ground and Air Combat Crews who flew aircraft Contract Number: 20292 - Serial Number: 42-32024 - Fuselage Code: WA-L - Nose Art: Swamp Fire and to the Airmen of the of the 379th Bombardment Group. Swamp Fire was the first heavy bomber to reach 100 missions without an abort and chosen for the "Grapefruit Mission" 28 May 1944. Each aircraft and airman who fought in that conflict has a story of equal heroics and accomplishments. It is our desire be representative of all the Aircraft and Airmen of the Allied Air Forces in WWII.

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  • Original author: cody1947181
  • Created Date: 12 Mar 2010
  • Modified Date:
  • Page views: 1,614 total (5 this week)

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Tales Of The Swamp Fire

January 1944 to December 1944 | Kimbolton, England

By October of 1944 there was humorous rumors and speculations going around Kimbolton about the Swamp Fire. It was said that: "Due to all the combat damages such as: a new nose section, a new tail section, a new ball turret, a new stabilizer, three wing replacements, 16 engine changes and over 1000 bullet and flak hole patches, there wasn't much of the original Aircraft left !"

" No, there isn't much left of the original Swamp Fire, just the fighting spirit and tradition built into her and maintained by her ground and combat crewmen. She is an excellent criterion of the greatest bomber in the European Theater of Operations"                     Commander 379th USAAF at the 100th Mission without an abort Celebration


For the stories and facts about this great Aircraft and the men who flew her go to:

              http://sites.google.com/site/swampfiresite/home

Also visit this site about the Nose Art, Aircraft & Airmen of the 379th BG

              https://sites.google.com/site/379thbgnoseart/

Created by cody1947181 24 Mar 2010

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cody1947181

Close to 400 Airmen flew on the Swamp Fire. If you had a relative assigned to the 379th Bomb Group contact us and see if he or any of his crew ever flew on the Swamp fire. E-mail: swampfire1944@gmail.com or Visit http://sites.google.com/site/swampfiresite/home

31 Aug 2011

cody1947181

40 different crews flew "Swamp Fire". Close to 400 Airmen knew this ship and helped create her legacy. One of the fill-in crews was Lt. Donald Day's Crew. On 06 June 1944- Lt. Donald Day & his crew flew "Swamp Fire" for the morning run to Arromanches / Caen , France. Yes that's right, Lt. D. Day flew "Swamp Fire" on D-Day. For this story & more go to:http://sites.google.com/site/swampfiresite/home

23 Aug 2011

cody1947181

Swamp Fire was the first Heavy Bomber to reach 100 missions without an abort. For more info go to :http://sites.google.com/site/swampfiresite/home

17 Jul 2011

cody1947181

This aircraft and her first assigned crew were selected to drop America's first guided bomb on 28 May 1944, known by the code name "Grapefruit Bomb". Sixty aircraft took off that morning hidden behind a 1300 aircraft bomb run on the Ruhr Valley. They left formation and started their run on Cologne from 25 miles out. for more info: http://sites.google.com/site/swampfiresite/home

17 Jul 2011

cody1947181

The fact that Swamp Fire reached over 100 missions without an abort is not just a tribute to all the combat crews but it is especially a statement on the skills, adaptability and ingenuity of the ground crew personnel. Despite all the combat damage they were able to keep her combat ready. More Info, stories and photos can be viewed on Swamp Fire website: http://sites.google.com/site/swampfiresite/home Also visit this site about Nose Art, Aircraft & Airmen of the 379th BG https://sites.google.com/site/379thbgnoseart/

15 Feb 2011