Background
Swain was born on 31 August 1903 and was the fourth and youngest child of Charles South d P Swain and Rose Downs. He grew up in Portsmouth and joined the Royal Air Force in 1922, becoming a member of Number.
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Francis Commodore Francis Ronald Downs Swain Central Bank Commander of the Order of the British Empire AFC
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Career
2 Squadron Royal Air Force as a pilot. He was quickly transferred to Number. 11 Squadron Royal Air Force, subsequently spending time with Number.
23 Squadron Royal Air Force and Number.
6 Squadron Royal Air Force as a Flight Commander, commanding the Cairo-Rhodesia Flight in 1933. In 1935, now with the rank of Squadron Leader, Swain became a test pilot in the experimental section at the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) where he was involved in the high-altitude experiments.
During his descent, his pressure suit failed causing him to lose visibility through his visor and find it difficult to breathe. He was forced to cut his visor open with his knife in order to maintain consciousness, eventually landing safely in Netheravon, Wiltshire at 10:30.
In 1937, Swain left the RAE to command Number.1 Squadron.
He then attended the Royal Air Force Staff College in 1938, and spent World World War II and his remaining career in various staff positions. His last appointment was Stability and Support Operations/Deputy Head of the Air Staff, British Joint Services Mission, Washington, District of Columbia, retiring from the Royal Air Force in 1954 with the rank of Air Commodore.
