ANDOVER – An East Andover veteran of World War II, Robert B. Swain, attended his 14th troop carrier group reunion in Washington, D.C., recently.

He and three other pilots in his squadron were presented a French “Jubilee of Liberty” certificate by French Consul General Jean Pierre Allex-Lyoudis, and a Normandy Commemorative Medal by Mike Ingresano, president of the 9th Air Force Association. The other three pilots were from Texas, Virginia and Massachusetts.

Reunions have been held since in 1991 in Louisiana, Colorado, Kentucky, New Mexico, Tennessee, Florida, Massachusetts, Arizona, Virginia, Texas, California and Washington, D.C.

Swain is the only one to have attended all reunions. The final reunion in 2006 will be held in San Antonio for those veterans over age 80. The French Republic recognized American pilots who towed gliders into Normandy as part of its liberation 60 years ago.


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