Woodrow Swancutt
Encyclopedia
Woodrow Paul Swancutt was a Major General
in the United States Air Force
.
. He would graduate from La Crosse Central High School
in La Crosse, Wisconsin
in 1933 and attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he was a member of the Wisconsin Badgers
boxing team and was a national champion in 1939 and 1940. Swancutt would marry Kathleen Haza. They would have three children and eventually divorce. As a civilian he would served as Vice President of Executive Jet Aviation
. He died from heart failure on March 21, 1993 in San Antonio, Texas
and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery
.
in 1940. During World War II
Swancutt was a Boeing B-29 Superfortress pilot in the 40th Bombardment Group
, which was the first B-29 unit to fly in battle. Following the war Swancutt was selected as a pilot to drop the nuclear weapon
during Operation Crossroads
. Later he was assigned as a squadron commander of the 509th Bombardment Group
. In 1949 Swancutt was assigned to serve as Chief of the Operations Division and Deputy Director of Operations at the Headquarters of the Eighth Air Force
. From 1952 to 1954 Swancutt served as the Director of Operations of the 7th Air Division. Later he would serve as deputy wing commander and eventually wing commander of the 42nd Bombardment Group. In 1957 Swancutt was named commander of the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. The wing would eventually be converted to the 376th Bombardment Wing
. In 1959 Swancutt was transferred to serve as Director of Safety at the Headquarters of Strategic Air Command
. From 1962 to 1965 Swancutt served as commander of the 822d Air Division
. It was then that he would become Deputy Director of Operations for Forces at the Air Force Headquarters. The following year he would be named Director. Swancutt was also the steering and coordinating member of the Permanent Joint Board on Defense
. In 1967 he would be named Vice Commander of the Second Air Force
. His retirement was effective as of August 1, 1968.
Awards he received include the Legion of Merit
with two oak leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross
with oak leaf cluster, the Air Medal
with oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Commendation Medal
, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the Outstanding Unit Award
.
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
.
Biography
Swancutt was born on July 4, 1915 in Edgar, WisconsinEdgar, Wisconsin
Edgar is a village in Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the Wausau, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,386 at the 2000 census...
. He would graduate from La Crosse Central High School
La Crosse Central High School
La Crosse Central High School is one of two public high schools in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It is located on the south side of the city, and is in the School District of La Crosse. The school was established in 1907.-History:...
in La Crosse, Wisconsin
La Crosse, Wisconsin
La Crosse is a city in and the county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The city lies alongside the Mississippi River.The 2011 Census Bureau estimates the city had a population of 52,485...
in 1933 and attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he was a member of the Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin Badgers
The Wisconsin Badgers are the collegiate athletic teams from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. This NCAA Division I athletic program has teams in football, basketball, ice hockey, volleyball, soccer, cross country, tennis, swimming, wrestling, track and field, rowing, golf, and softball...
boxing team and was a national champion in 1939 and 1940. Swancutt would marry Kathleen Haza. They would have three children and eventually divorce. As a civilian he would served as Vice President of Executive Jet Aviation
NetJets
NetJets, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, offers fractional ownership and rental of private business jets.-History:NetJets Inc., formerly Executive Jet Aviation, was founded in 1964 as one of the first private business jet charter and aircraft management companies...
. He died from heart failure on March 21, 1993 in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.
Career
Swancutt originally joined the United States Army Air CorpsUnited States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
in 1940. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Swancutt was a Boeing B-29 Superfortress pilot in the 40th Bombardment Group
40th Air Expeditionary Wing
The United States Air Force's 40th Air Expeditionary Wing was an Air expeditionary unit located at Diego Garcia, in the Indian Ocean, from 2001 to c. 2006....
, which was the first B-29 unit to fly in battle. Following the war Swancutt was selected as a pilot to drop the nuclear weapon
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
during Operation Crossroads
Operation Crossroads
Operation Crossroads was a series of nuclear weapon tests conducted by the United States at Bikini Atoll in mid-1946. It was the first test of a nuclear weapon after the Trinity nuclear test in July 1945...
. Later he was assigned as a squadron commander of the 509th Bombardment Group
509th Operations Group
The 509th Operations Group is the flying component of the United States Air Force 509th Bomb Wing , assigned to Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. It is equipped with all 20 of the USAF's B-2 Spirit stealth bombers...
. In 1949 Swancutt was assigned to serve as Chief of the Operations Division and Deputy Director of Operations at the Headquarters of the Eighth Air Force
Eighth Air Force
The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
. From 1952 to 1954 Swancutt served as the Director of Operations of the 7th Air Division. Later he would serve as deputy wing commander and eventually wing commander of the 42nd Bombardment Group. In 1957 Swancutt was named commander of the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. The wing would eventually be converted to the 376th Bombardment Wing
376th Air Expeditionary Wing
The 376th Air Expeditionary Wing is a provisional United States Air Force Air Combat Command unit. It is currently stationed at the Transit Center at Manas International Airport, Kyrgyz Republic...
. In 1959 Swancutt was transferred to serve as Director of Safety at the Headquarters of Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
. From 1962 to 1965 Swancutt served as commander of the 822d Air Division
822d Air Division
The 822d Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Strategic Air Command, assigned to Eighth Air Force, being stationed at Turner Air Force Base, Georgia...
. It was then that he would become Deputy Director of Operations for Forces at the Air Force Headquarters. The following year he would be named Director. Swancutt was also the steering and coordinating member of the Permanent Joint Board on Defense
Permanent Joint Board on Defense
The Permanent Joint Board on Defence was established by Canada and the United States on August 17, 1940 by joint announcement of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King at Ogdensburg, New York as the senior advisory body on continental military defence of...
. In 1967 he would be named Vice Commander of the Second Air Force
Second Air Force
The Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
. His retirement was effective as of August 1, 1968.
Awards he received include the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with two oak leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
with oak leaf cluster, the Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
with oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Commendation Medal
Commendation Medal
The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. For valorous actions in direct contact with an enemy force, but of a lesser degree than required for the award of the Bronze Star, the Valor device may...
, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the Outstanding Unit Award
Outstanding Unit Award
The Air Force Outstanding Unit Award is an award of the United States Air Force which was first created in 1954. The award is presented as a ribbon to any command of the U.S...
.