Harry Swinger

DEXTER, Mo. -- Harry H. Swinger, 93, of Dexter passed away Sunday, July 27, 2014, at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

He was born July 30, 1921. He married the former Mary Helen Baldwin.

Harry will be greatly missed by his many friends and family.

He was preceded in death by his father, Hershel Swinger in 1933, and mother, Gladys Snider Swinger in 1983. He was also preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Mary Helen Baldwin, in 2003; a sister, Fern Gaines; and four brothers, Charles, Otis, Lester and Hershel Jr. Swinger.

Survivors include two brothers, Marlin Swinger of Morehouse, Missouri, and Chester Swinger of Wabash, Indiana; two sons, Gary Swinger of Bartlett, Tennessee, and David Swinger of Dexter; two daughters, Diane Pruett of Corpus Christie, Texas, and Cynthia Brown of Sikeston, Missouri; eight grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and a special friend, Diane Lemmons of Dexter.

Harry was a member of Operating Engineers Union during his working career. He retired from that occupation in 1972, having operated heavy equipment and cranes on construction projects in many areas around the central part of the United States.

The family resided in Benton, Missouri, from shortly after World War II until 1972 when they retired and moved to Dexter.

Harry joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942, determined to be a pilot. He went through training throughout the U.S. and became a gunner on a B-17. He said he was the smallest guy of the crew, so he wound up as a "ball turret" gunner. He was shipped to England about June 1941 and was stationed there leading up to D-Day.

On June 6, 1944, he flew his first three missions in support of D-Day operations. He flew with the crew on 33 missions prior to their aircraft, named "Fearless Fosdick," being shot down Aug. 13, 1944. He parachuted right into the enemy German hands and was held as a POW in Stalag Luft IV and later Luft I until liberated at the end of the war. He weighed just 77 pounds when turned over to the American forces.

He met several times with survivors of that 10-man crew in later years. His story was highlighted in an article in The Dexter Daily Statesman on Nov. 11, 2012. He was an American hero to our country and to his family.

Harry and wife Mary were very active in the Order of Eastern Star in Missouri and across the world, and Harry was a member of the Masonic Lodge. He worked tirelessly in the Disabled American Veterans organization for so many years of his life and leaves many friends in that organization.

They were members of the United Methodist Church all of their adult lives in Benton and Dexter. They worked hard with many others to get the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield, Missouri, established.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. A Masonic service will be conducted at 7 p.m.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, with Dr. Barry Winders officiating. Interment will be in the veterans cemetery at Bloomfield with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Disabled American Veterans Organization, 804 Moore Street, Dexter, MO 63841.