David Victor SWIFT

David Victor SWIFT Update Details

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SWIFT, David Victor

Service Number:	SX18977
Enlisted:	23 November 1942, Wayville, SA
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	2nd/33rd Infantry Battalion
Born:	Edwardstown, South Australia, Australia , 26 July 1923
Home Town:	Woodville, Charles Sturt, South Australia
Schooling:	Certificate of Entry, Secondary School
Occupation:	Labourer
Died:	Injuries, New Guinea, 7 September 1943, aged 20 years
Cemetery:	Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea CWGC Grave No: Section C. Plot 1. Row F. Grave 11. Inscription: "LOVED SON OF VIC AND EILEEN, BROTHER OF FRANK AND JENNIFER"
Memorials:	Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

World War 2 Service

23 Nov 1942:	Involvement Private, SX18977, 2nd/33rd Infantry Battalion
23 Nov 1942:	Enlisted Wayville, SA
23 Nov 1942:	Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, SX18977, 2nd/33rd Infantry Battalion
Date unknown:	Involvement

Help us honour David Victor Swift's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Stephen Bonald

On Tuesday, September 7th, 1943, at Jackson Field in Port Moresby, New Guinea, a B-24D Liberator bomber (The Pride of the Cornhuskers) from the 403rd Bomber Squadron, 43rd Bombing Group USAAF, crashed during take-off, likely due to pilot disorientation in the dark. The aircraft hit trees and slammed into a convoy of trucks carrying over 130 soldiers from D Company, 2/33 Infantry Battalion of the Australian Army, who were waiting to board C-47 transport planes to move to the front lines. The bomber’s 500-pound bombs and 2,800 gallons of fuel exploded, killing 15 Australian soldiers instantly and severely injuring 47 more, who later died. Another 90 soldiers were wounded but survived, all 11 crew members aboard the bomber (The Pride of the Cornhuskers) were killed. Private David Victor Swift – SX18977, was one of the 15 Australian Military personnel instantly killed on impact.

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