William Alvin Swanson was born on April 30, 1921 in Proctor, Rutland County, Vermont. He was the son of Charles Swanson and Marie Krantz Swanson. He served in the US Air Corps as a Captain and Pilot of the B-24J aircraft during World War II. B-24J #42-73308, and its crew were assigned to the 308th Bombardment Group, 425th Bombardment Squadron. It was nicknamed ‘Hot As Hell' with a seated woman on the right side of the nose. This B-24 flew more than 14 combat missions and claimed four fighters. The aircraft took off from Kunming Airfield in China 25 January 1944 on a routine flight to Chabua Airfield in India. The wreckage was located on December 7, 2006 by Clayton Kuhles of miarecoveries.org in Damrah, Arunchal Pradesh State, India.

His name is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines. He also has a cenotaph located in South Street Cemetery, Proctor, Rutland County, Vermont. 2Lt Swanson was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is also commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov