1LT. Adam Charles Schwindle was a Pilot with the 310th Bombardment Group; 381st Bombardment Squadron; Stationed in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, (MTO)

His Hometown was Owego, Tioga County, New York.

381st BS War Diary

Tuesday, 14 March 1944

From Today's Mission to Piambino Harbor, Italy, two of our crews failed to return. Ships Piloted by 1st Lt. Adam C. Schwindle and by 2nd Lt. William H. Branum are Missing In Action as the result of having been hit by flak while approaching the target. Lt. Schwindle's aircraft went down in enemy territory. A Dinghy was found, and in it the lifeless body of Sgt. Kermit E. Phipps, gunner on Lt. Branum's crew. Complete details may be found in the Casualty Section.

PIAMBINO HARBOR

14 March 1944

Squadron Mission: 196

Group Mission: 354

Squadron Flight: 12 B-25's (4-C's; 8-G's)

Group Flight: 18 B-25's (6 C's; 12 G's)

Escort: 19 Spitfires

Take Off: 10:00

75 mm shells fired

Target: 10:55

Range:

Down: 11:55

Altitude:

Total Time: 1 Hr. 55 Min

Bombs Dropped: 90 x 500; 45,000

Estimated Mileage: 380

Altitude: 8,000 to 10,000 Ft.

Sorties to Date: 1,381

Special Observations: 1st Lt. Adam C. Schwindle's aircraft was hit by flak and went into a vertical dive while on the bomb run, crashing into the water at 42 deg. 52'N - 10 Deg. 35' E. No chutes were seen to open. 2nd Lt. William H. Branum's aircraft was hit by flak which left the right engine burning. He ditched it at 42 Deg. 38' N - 9 Deg 45' E, where it is reported to have sunk. No one was seen to bail out. An inflated, unoccupied dinghy and two Mae Wests were observed near an oil slick.

B-25G; Serial Number: 42-64580

P: William Henry Branum, 1Lt.; O-672022; KIA; Charleston, WV

CP: Floyd L. Riederer, Jr., 2Lt.; O-740275; KIA; Des Moines, IO

R: Hobert O. Wright, Sgt.; 15114878; KIA; Middlesboro, Bell Co., KY

G: Kermit E. Phipps, Sgt.; 37009880; KIA; Stockton, Cedar Co., MO

TG: Percy W. Ochs, S/Sgt.; 38150437; KIA; Shawnee, Pottawatomie Co., OK

On 14 March 1944, twelve aircraft of the 381st Bombardment Squadron (M), took off on a bombing mission with Piombino Harbor, Italy, as target. Aircraft No. 42-64580, a B-25G, was hit by flak over the target. The aircraft was skidding and apparently would not hold a course. The aircraft was seen to have made a fairly good landing in the water.

The aircraft sank within thirty seconds and floating debris and an oil slick were observed. A search of the scene was made and the body of Sgt. Kermit E. Phipps was found lifeless on a raft. The other crew members are presumed to have gone down with the aircraft or picked up by the enemy.

Walter E. Coddington, Major, Air Corps, Operations Officer

17 March 1944

Eyewitness Description of Missing Aircraft (A.C. #42-64580)

After passing over the target, I noticed the first flight had been broken up by direct flak hits. As we turned and dived off the target, they (the first flight) began to reform, but A.C. #42-64580 (flying number 2, first box) stayed off to the right nearer our flight, seemingly unable to join. His bomb doors were still open and his left engine was trailing white and gray smoke. I called the mission leader and told him we would follow him as we were closest. He started losing altitude and air speed and the left engine was pouring more smoke. He was skidding to the right, as I was turning our flight right and couldn't keep to the right of him. Apparently the airplane wouldn't hold course. As we turned to circle to prevent overshooting, my tail gunner (Sgt. J.P. Williams) saw him land in the water. The bomb doors were still open and the wheels had partially crept down. The left engine had been feathered and just before he hit, the right engine caught fire. He landed cross wind between crests, and made what looked to be a fairly good landing, again according to my tail gunner. In about another 30 seconds we were turned so we could see where he had landed and the plane had already gone down. There was a calm spot in the water and floating debris and oil slick to show where it was. I came down a little lower and flew over the wreckage. The other raft, from aircraft #42-64580 was out, inflated, right side up and apparently empty. We all saw several yellow articles in the water, some of them were cushions or ration boxes, and some might have been Mae Wests. We continued orbiting and called Blacktop, for air-sea rescue, giving then a "May Day" message. They got a fix quickly and we rejoined and returned to the base. We flew over the wreckage several times, but none of the crew could be certain they saw any bodies or men in the water.

Irving B. Akst, 1Lt.; Air Corps; Pilot

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B-25C; Serial Number: 42-64662; MACR: 3505;

P: Adam Charles Schwindle, 1Lt.; O-794585; FOD; KIA; Douglas, GA-Owego, Tioga Co., NY

CP: Robert L. Kefer, 2Lt.; O-675351; KIA; Portland, OR

N: Joseph (NMI) Moore, 2Lt.; O-669090; KIA; Schenectady, NY

B: Arthur (NMI) Vlahon, 2Lt.; O-671195; KIA; Gillespie, ILL

R: Richard S. Keller, T/Sgt.; 13081089; FOD; KIA; Reading, PA

G: Walter J. Parmelee, Sgt.; 12073171; KIA; Binghamton, Broome Co., NY

TG: Sam (NMI) Clement, S/Sgt.; 12036076; Nassau Co., NY

17 March 1944

Eyewitness Description of Missing Aircraft (A.C. #42-64662)

About 1 minute before bomb release we ran into flak. I had just finished preparing my camera for the target and looking through the camera hatch I noticed a B-25 directly below, approximately thirty seconds before bomb release point. The aircraft which passed below appeared to be under control and then developed into a steep glide and slight left bank. It was then decided the aircraft was in trouble. At this time bombs were released. One cluster of bombs were seen to be falling in the approximate direction of the descending plane, and both hit the water at about the same time. A large explosion which seemed to be other than bomb bursts because of the heavy black smoke was seen just short of the first cluster of bombs. I feel certain that the explosion was A.C. #42-64662.

Warwick C. S. Burt; T/Sgt., Air Corps; Aerial Photographer

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http://wwiiflighttraining.org/?page_id=312

Adam Charles Schwindle

European Theater

Highest rank achieved: Lt.

Born: Sept. 23, 1918 in Akron, Michigan

The below is a biography developed by his son, James M. Schwindle.

Sep. 23, 1937 Enlisted in U.S. Navy in Binghamton, N.Y. and during next 4 years was assigned to U.S.S. Henderson (trainer ship), U.S.S. New Mexico (battleship), and U.S.S. Canopus (submarine tender).

Aug. 25, 191 Discharged from Navy with plans to fly in Army Air Corps.

Sep. 1941 Tried to enlist in U.S. Army Air Corps as aviation cadet, but was turned down because he didn’t have 2 years of college.

Oct. 1941 Enlisted in Royal Canadian Air Force in Ottawa, Canada.

May 1942 Transferred from RCAF to U.S. Army Air Corps after rules on college education had been relaxed.

Aug. 16, 1942 Married Robinelle (Bobbie) Cornelius who lived in Douglas, Ga.

Dec. 12, 1942 Graduated from pilot training (Class 42-K), Turner Field Georgia, and commissioned second lieutenant.

Jun. 13, 1943 Ferried B-25G aircraft (tail #503) to North Africa as part of 14 aircraft intact squadron.

Jun. 1943 Stationed at Souk-El-Arba, Tunisia. Flew “sea sweeps” to bomb and strafe shipping targets.

Jul. 8, 1943 Officially assigned to 321st Bomb Group.

Summer 1943 Stationed at Cape Bon near Soliman, Tunisia. Flew sea sweeps, bombed Italian bridges, factories, rail junctions and harbors.

Oct. 1943 Stationed at Grottaglie near Taranto, Italy. Bombed the Balkans, flew sea sweeps.

Oct. 1943 Stationed at “Gambut 3” (British field in Libya) on temporary duty. Intercepted convoys, bombed airfields, flew sea sweeps to Dodecanese Greek Islands.

Nov. 3, 1943 Officially transferred to 310th Bomb Group.

Winter 1943 Stationed at Phillipville, North Africa. Trained new crews.

Feb. 1944 Stationed at Ghisonnachia, Corsica, joining the full 310th Bomb Group there. Bombed targets in Italy.

Mar. 14, 1944 Shot down and killed, along with 6 other crewmen, on bombing mission to Piombino Beach Hargor, Italy flying B-25C (S/N: 42-64662 “Worry Bird”). The mission included 12 aircraft from the 381st Squadron, 6 from 428th Squadron and 19 Spitfires as fighter escort. His aircraft led the second box of 3 aircraft from the 381st. His aircraft began a gradual descent coming off the target. All other aircraft followed it for awhile. The aircraft went straight in to the sea, as reported by wingmen. Some observed a flash in the cockpit, probably from flak hitting it, just before beginning the descent. No one observed any visible evidence of damage from flak, and no one noticed any apparent attempt to recover the aircraft before crashing into the sea.

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++https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56366491++

Adam C Schwindle