From Medal of Honor Citations from World War II:
*CARSWELL, HORACE S., JR. (Air Mission)
Rank and organization: Major, 308th Bombardment
Group, U.S. Army Air Corps. Place and date: Over South China Sea, 26 October
1944. Entered service at: San Angelo, Tex. Birth: Fort Worth, Tex. G.O. No.: 14,
4 February 1946. Citation: He piloted a B-24 bomber in a one-plane strike
against a Japanese convoy in the South China Sea on the night of 26 October
1944. Taking the enemy force of 12 ships escorted by at least 2 destroyers by
surprise, he made 1 bombing run at 600 feet, scoring a near miss on 1 warship
and escaping without drawing fire. He circled. and fully realizing that the
convoy was thoroughly alerted and would meet his next attack with a barrage of
antiaircraft fire, began a second low-level run which culminated in 2 direct
hits on a large tanker. A hail of steel from Japanese guns, riddled the bomber,
knocking out 2 engines, damaging a third, crippling the hydraulic system,
puncturing 1 gasoline tank, ripping uncounted holes in the aircraft, and
wounding the copilot; but by magnificent display of flying skill, Maj. Carswell
controlled the plane's plunge toward the sea and carefully forced it into a
halting climb in the direction of the China shore. On reaching land, where it
would have been possible to abandon the staggering bomber, one of the crew
discovered that his parachute had been ripped by flak and rendered useless; the
pilot, hoping to cross mountainous terrain and reach a base. continued onward
until the third engine failed. He ordered the crew to bail out while he
struggled to maintain altitude. and, refusing to save himself, chose to remain
with his comrade and attempt a crash landing. He died when the airplane struck a
mountainside and burned. With consummate gallantry and intrepidity, Maj.
Carswell gave his life in a supreme effort to save all members of his crew. His
sacrifice. far beyond that required of him, was in keeping with the traditional
bravery of America's war heroes.
Major Carswell also earned the Distinguished Service Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his World War II service. The former Carswell Air Force Base, now part of Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, was named in his honor in 1948.
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