Pvt Donald Merritt Swank 

Private Donald M. Swank, 22, has been missing in flight over India since June 15. The war department has notified his parents, Mr. and Mrs.  M. N. Swank, 1252 Mc Cartney street, through a telegram. His wife, Norm a, lives with their son, Jackie, at the same address. Private Swank entered the army in December, 1942, and received his training at Colorado State college, Fort Collins, Colo., Miami Beach, Fla., Macon, Ga., and Dyersburg and Lebanon, Tenn. He was sent to India last July. A former Tribune carrier and a graduate of Central Senior High school, who has a brother, Seaman Richard. in the navy armed guard. 

Donald served as a Private, Headquarter's Squadron, 52nd Air Service Group, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

He enlisted in the Army on November 18, 1942 in Toledo, Ohio. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Loom fixer and also as Married.

Donald was a passenger on C-47 #41-7793 that was assigned to the India-China Wing, Air Transport Command, U.S. Army Air Force. C-47 #41-7793 took off, with a crew of 4 & 11 passengers, from Chabua, India on a Ferrying & Cargo mission to Calcutta, India. After takeoff they were not seen nor heard from again. The entire crew and all passengers were lost.

Donald was declared "Missing In Action" on this flight during the war

Sources: Ancestry.com and FindAGrave.com

10/24/2023 EJS

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56763760/donald-merritt-swank