CARSWELL, HORACE S., JR. (1916-1944). Horace S. Carswell, Jr., Medal of Honor recipient, was born on July 18, 1916, in Fort Worth, Texas, the son of Horace S. and Bertha Carswell. He attended Texas Christian University in August 1939. He was appointed flying cadet in March 1940 and completed flight training and was appointed second lieutenant in November 1940. By October 1944 Major Carswell was deputy commander of the 308th Bombardment Group in the Pacific Theater. He was flying a B-24 on the night of October 26, 1944, on a single-aircraft night mission against a Japanese convoy in the South China Sea. He elected to make a second low-level run over a thoroughly alerted convoy and scored two direct hits on a large tanker. His copilot was wounded, and his aircraft had two engines knocked out, a third damaged, the hydraulic system damaged, and a fuel tank punctured. He managed to gain enough altitude to reach land, where he ordered the crew to bail out. Finding the bombardier's parachute too badly damaged to use, Carswell stayed with the aircraft and attempted a crash landing. The badly damaged aircraft crashed against a mountain, and both Carswell and the copilot were killed.

Major Carswell was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1946. He was cited for having given "his life...to save all members of his crew" and for "sacrifice far beyond that required of him." He was also posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Air Medal, and the Purple Heart. The medals were presented to his wife, Virginia, on December 20, 1944, and July 21, 1945. On February 27, 1948, Fort Worth Army Airfield was renamed Carswell Air Force Base^qv in his honor. Carswell was buried at a Catholic mission in Tungchen, China. He was survived by his wife and one son.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Dallas Morning News, February 12, 1946, February 28, 1948. Committee on Veterans' Affairs, United States Senate, Medal of Honor Recipients, 1863-1973 (Washington: GPO, 1973). Vertical Files, Barker Texas History Center, University of Texas at Austin.

Art Leatherwood