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Texas native dies in heroic action
On this day in 1944, Horace S. Carswell, Jr., died in China. He was
flying a B-24 on a single-aircraft night mission against a Japanese
convoy in the South China Sea. After his plane was seriously
damaged--three of its engines were knocked out--instead of parachuting,
he managed to gain enough altitude to reach land, where he ordered his
crew to bail out. Carswell stayed with the B-24 and attempted a landing,
but crashed with his copilot into a mountain. He was awarded the Medal
of Honor in 1946, for giving "his life...to save all members of his
crew" and for "sacrifice far beyond that required of him." In addition
to the Medal of Honor, he received numerous other posthumous honors. In
1948 Fort Worth Army Airfield was renamed for Carswell, who was buried
at a Catholic mission in Tungchen, China.
- Links to Related Handbook of Texas Online Articles
- CARSWELL, HORACE S., JR.
- WORLD WAR II, TEXANS IN
- CARSWELL AIR FORCE BASE
- Other Texas Day by Day Articles for This Date
- Camp Gates established in Coryell County (1849)
- First football game played at Cotton Bowl (1930)
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