Evening star., 1943-04-15
u. 5. Airman Fights
with British. Infantry
On His Day Off
Donates IS to Conteen
To Show Appreciation;
Will TIT Tonks Next
BY NOLAND. NORGAARD,

Associated FfeSS war correspondent.
WITH THE RITISH 9Th
ARMY IN TUN1SIA, April IL (De-
layed. - Emulating the mailman
who took walk on his day of,
Flight Sergt. John L. Swift of Mis-
soula, Mont. who has been flying
night bomber missions >eainst Axis
territory the last eight mo- tbs. got
leave and went into hattie VIII. the
British infantry because val ted
to see what battle was like.
He found just what he was seek
ing when battalion of the famous
Scottish Black Watch attacked and
won Italian strongholds at the Wadi
Ell Akarit line north of Gabes, and
then STAYED of sharp German
counterattacks.
Sergt. Swift went with them
armed with a rife and bayonet, and
participated In the successful on
slaught. He lay seven hours in a
slit trench swept by artillery, ma
chine gun and rife fire.
Finally he seized an abandoned
Italian submachine gun and shot
up an Italian patrol with it on his
way back at dusk.
Was Cool In Battle.
Il never saw a cooler man in bat
tle." was the tribute paid the flyer
by Sergt Maj. John Moyes of Edin-
burg. with whom Sergt. Swift went
through the battle.
He never ducked and we could
not possibly have been in hotter
corner of the battlefield"
Sergt. Swift. however, apparently
was not yet fully satisfied. He bade
his battle companions farewell to-
day and hitch linked a ride north
ward. hoping to 60 through a fight
with the tank forces before his leave
expires and he returns to flying a
bomber
Sergt. Swift joined the Royal Ca
madam Air Force before the United
States entry into the war and had
flown wellington bomber in the
Middle East command eight months.
He obtained 4 leave and permis-
sion Of the squadron commander to
spend 1t with the 9th Army. Then
he hitchhiked to the front. laid his
case before the major general COM
manding the Highlander division,
and was authorized to join the
Black Watch temporarily.
The unit commander said he ex-
planned to Sergt. Swift. We are 60
ing into what probably will be a
sticky battle" That failed to de-
ter him. The commander said he
gave Sergt. Swift a rife and bayo-
net and "he spent the day practic-
ing hard with them as we'll as with
a Bren gun and other arms
Unit Lost Fourth of Strength.
The battle. which cost the unit
more than quarter of it's full
strength, was furious. The infan-
try charge routed the Italians, and
the unit captured TOO prisoners,
and approximately 10 guns of vari-
o,ls kinds.
Almost Immediately the Germans
began shelling their positions. Swift
and the sergeant major jumped into
an Italian trench and blazed away
with rifles. helping beat off the
German reconnaissance force ac-
companied by two tanks.
The Germans later attacked twice
ano recaptured one position, the
commander related
The jerry infantry" he said,
came as close as Is yards from
Tvs but Swift was always cool" The
commander conceded he was ready
to recommend Sergt. Swift as a
'first-class soldier"
Sergt. Swift had another new ex-
perience the day he joined the in
fantry as a temporary member.
German Messerschmitts attacked
his position and he said it was the
first time he ever saw one in the
air.
Before setting out to try to get
into battle alongside the tank
crews, Sergt. Swift donated 80
shillings, the equivalent of Sc, to the
canteen fund in appreciation of the
units permitting him to fight with
them.
Every time you lick 4 War savings
stamp you help lick the Axis.