SWAAB'S Medals and decorations

[Aerowallah]

Swaab's statement, as found in the Brooks' File without any cover...

Note that it deftly leapfrog's over his test pilot experience at Issoudun!

[Aerowallah]

It would make this group more colorful if a case of anti-semitism could be proven. But there is no evidence of that extant in the Brooks' File. I suppose a lot of MOH applications were downgraded after the war to DSCs, and that's what happened here. Looking on the bright side, An MOH might have frozen this group in lace with the family who evidently wanted to sell it, and it might have been lost to history.

Other documents in the file include

--personnel rosters
--Daily Airplane Reports
--Colombey-les Belles plane assignments
--reports on planes missing over the lines

and this nifty Honor Roll

[Aerowallah]

Swaab's DSC came through in 1920. The citation reads...



The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Service) Jacques M. Swaab, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 22d Aero Squadron, 2d Pursuit Group, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., near Montfaucon, France, 28 September 1918, and in the region of Champignuelle, 27 October 1918. On September 28 Lieutenant Swaab, although himself pursued by two enemy planes, perceiving one of his comrades in distress and in danger of being shot down, dived upon the enemy plane which was directly behind that of his comrade and shot the enemy plane out of control, forcing it to withdraw. His prompt act in going to the assistance of his comrade enabled the latter to escape. On October 27 Lieutenant Swaab and another member of his group engaged in combat with seven enemy planes. In this encounter, although outnumbered, Lieutenant Swaab continued in his attack and succeeded in shooting down an enemy D. F. W. observation plane.

War Department, General Orders No. 53 (1920)


Notice there is no reference to Swaab's exploit's on September 8, 1918!!! But the citation cherrypicks two of the list of dates offered by Brooks in his MOH application.

[Aerowallah]

Also in 1920 Swaab received his Victory medal, which he decorates to good effect--two battle clasps, the "Defensive Sector" service clasp, and one star for every personal confirmed victory!

[Aerowallah]

In the 19020s there seemed to be innumerable veterans' organizations, including a few for flying officers on opposite sides to come together as comrades of the air--most of these, it seems, did not survive the Depression.

Swaab evidently like this organization enough that he glued its membership card in among his medals...

[ONEALM]

John -

Again, thanks for posting - great stuff....

Looks like the World War Bird Internationale membership card has been signed by William G. Schauffler - NJ boy and recent subject of an excellent article in OtF.

-Mike

[Aerowallah]

Then in 1932 comes his Purple Heart, for having his hair parted three times by bullets on September 8, 1918...

[Aerowallah]

Later in 1932 comes Swaab's Silver Star.

Swaab was awarded three Citation Certificates and Stars which he didn't mount on his full-sized Victory medal so as not to mess up the symmetry! Here they are on his ribbon bars.





He needs two Victory medal ribbons for all the appurtenaces!--three silver star citations on the left ribbon, and three bronze stars on the rightmost for his battle and service clasps.

So, with the authorization of the Silver Star in July, 1932 he presnted copies of the orders making him eligible for the Citation Stars and gets the new medal with a bronze oak leaf cluster...?

Would someone help me with my math? Isn't he one bronze star short? Is he worried about symmetry again?

[Aerowallah]

That leaves his state medals...









and then the long shot (the wing is for my sense of symmetry--not Swaab's)...

[Aerowallah]

After the war Swaab settled in Manhattan and job hopped, variously working as an executive for Fleer, then a cigar manufacturer, a women’s garments firm, and as a business consultant. He was technical advisor on Howard Hawks’ 1930 film, the original Dawn Patrol with Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., although a lot of sites state Swaab worked on the 1938 version.











He was an early member of Cross and Cockade and the main speaker at the August 17, 1962 meeting. He died a year later of heart trouble and was buried at Arlington, his squadron mate Ray Brooks present along with other notables including General Carl Spaatz.


I find it interesting that in various Who’s Whos over the years Swaab's recommendation by Brooks for the “Congressional Medal of Honor” on April 1, 1919 is listed as an accomplishment... THE END!