William Swetman - Course 20

Photo: Bill Swetman, left and Roy Cope, pose with Susan Truppe MP after receiving the Bomber Command Bar at London, Ontario on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013 CTV London Published Tuesday, October 1, 2013 4:57PM EDT It may be long-overdue but two London Second World War veterans finally received the recognition they deserved on Tuesday. The years have passed, but their memories haven't faded. For Bill Swetman and Roy Cope what they saw in almost 90 missions for the Air Force during the Second World War is still vivid in their minds. Roy says “I've seen more guys go down in flames than I’d want to see if I lived to be 200…People forget that of Canadians over 10 to 15,000 were killed from Bomber Command.” Bill laughs as he adds “Our crew volunteered to go to Africa, which you should never do in the military, you should never volunteer, and on our way over we crashed…I'm more than proud to have received all this, it’s good.” For putting their lives on the line all those years ago, 94-years-old Bill 90-year-old Roy are receiving the Bomber Command Bar. Growing up, Roy and Bill’s children didn't hear a lot of war-time stories, but they say the older they get the more they talk about it. Sheila LeClair, Roy’s daughter, says “One of the most exciting times is when we went to Hamilton and he got to climb in an old Lancaster Bomber and I think a lot of memories came flooding back then.” Bill’s son Robert Swetman adds “These guys…they were just kids flying these big huge Lancasters - 19, 20, 21 years old – it’s amazing.” Bill and Roy are among the first to receive the recognition and other veterans in our community will soon be getting what they deserve for their sacrifice and bravery. “I felt I was pretty lucky getting through, I’m sure he felt the same way,” Roy says. (End of CTV Story) Excerpts from the June 1944 Fingal Observer.

When the C.O. at No. 6 SFTS at Dunnville pinned pilot’s wings on LAC W.H. “Bill” Swetman back in April 1941, he launched the young airman on a career which rivals any success story created by Horatio Alger. After graduating from high school in Kapukasing, Ontario, he attended Sir George Williams College at Montreal for a year and was studying for a degree in commerce when he joined the RCAF. In September 1940 he was a 20 year old boy sitting around the Ottawa recruiting centre waiting for his interview. After the usual period of waiting and Joe-jobs at Manning Pool, he went through No. 1 ITS, took his elementary at Crumlin EFTS and got his wings at Dunnville. He went overseas as a sergeant. Following his O.T.U., he was posted to the first Canadian bomber squadron (No. 405) in August, 1941. Operating in Wellingtons, he did 13 trips as a sergeant on was commissioned in January 1942. Halfway through his first tour of 33 trips they converted to Halifaxes. After 14 months he left the squadron in October 1942. By then he was S/L Swetman, DFC, with an operational trip to the palace to be gonged by the King. (Note: Bill Swetman passed away August 30, 2014.)