Swofford receives Silver Sar
Hometown: North Carolina (later Lakeland, Florida)
Lt. Paul Swofford piloted B-24 #42-51105 'The Sweetest Rose of Texas' and was one of only four 445th Bomb Group crews to return to Tibenham after the Kassel Mission. He later completed his missions, remained in the Air Force, piloted B-47s, and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Source: American Air Museum in Britain.
"The Kassel Mission on September 27, 1944, resulted in the largest loss of bomber aircraft by any single Bomber Group in the history of the 8th Air Force. The 88% loss of B-24 bombers by the 445th Bomb Group on that day, most likely represents the greatest single-mission loss by any bomb group in the history of American Military Aviation."
Read Here
