Career
Schwann joined the Royal Navy in 1895, and was a lieutenant when in June 1902 he was posted to the HMS Vernon, torpedo school. In 1910 Schwann was selected to assist Captain Murray Sueter who was conducting pioneering naval aviation work with airships. Later, Schwann bought an Avro Type Doctorate landplane (at his own expense with support from friends) for £700 and fitted floats to lieutenant
Despite not having qualified as a pilot, Schwann managed to fly it off the water.
Although Schwann crashed the aircraft,this was the first aircraft take off by a British pilot from salt water. In November 1912, after Schwann had qualified as a pilot, he was appointed Assistant Director of the Air Department at the Admiralty, making him deputy to Murray Sueter.
Over the next two years Sueter and Schwann worked to establish the Royal Naval Air Service. In 1914, just prior to the outbreak of, Schwann was promoted to captain and assigned to port duties.
The following year he was appointed captain of the aircraft carrier HMS Campania, a former Cunard liner that had been converted to carry a dozen aircraft.
Later in the war, Schwann served as Officer Commanding the Orkneys Division. In 1917 Oliver Schwann anglicized the spelling of his name to Swann. With the establishment of the Royal Air Force in early 1918, Swann was transferred to the new service.
He served as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff during the last months of the war and into 1919.
In April 1919 Swann was appointed Air Officer Commanding the Mediterranean District and the following year his command was redesignated as the Mediterranean Group. On 1 June 1920, Swann was posted to become Air Officer Commanding Egyptian Group.
On his return to Great Britain in early 1923, Swann became Director of Personnel. Swann did not spend long at home.
On 27 November 1923 Swann was appointed Air Officer Commanding Royal Air Force Middle East.
He held this post until late 1926 and he retired from the Royal Air Force in 1929. I
During I, Swann was recalled to service as the Commandant of Number. 1 School of Technical Training at Royal Air Force Halton.
He retired from the Royal Air Force for the second time in July 1940 and afterwards worked as the Air Liaison Officer for the North Midland Region.
Swann died only three years after the end of I on 7 March 1948 at his home in Littleton, Guildford.