A veteran with local ties died in a plane crash this past weekend. 

 

The National, a news organization in the United Arab Emirates, broke the news Sunday evening that a plane carrying a pilot and instructor crashed. 

 

That instructor was Daniel Swayne of Bellwood. 

 

Swayne’s job took him all over the world, but, at the end of the day, he was a Bellwood native with many people back home who remember him well. 

 

“I will remember him fondly,” said Bill Damiano.  Damiano grew up with Swayne.  He said they became good friends in fourth grade and stayed that way ever since. “Dan loved life and he lived it to the fullest. … He was top gun. That was Dan.”

Swayne is a veteran of the Gulf War and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is a former F-16 pilot and one of only a handful of pilots to have flown more than 4,000 hours.  Active duty F-16 pilots usually log up to 2,500 flight hours during their careers. 

 

Damiano knew of that flying well.  He said Swayne was known to bring his plane to high school reunions at Delgrosso’s Amusement Park.  He would fly over and shake the plates on tables, and that’s how everyone knew Swayne was in town.

 

Swayne spent most of his career as an operational instructor pilot.  He also spend a few years as an operational test pilot, as part of the defense industry’s development of weapon systems. 

 

After Swayne retired from the air force, he served as a military analyst for the US Air Force in the Middle East. 

 

He was most recently a consultant for Afterburner, a company of elite military professionals.  Swayne was also CEO of his own company, Airpower Consulting, Inc. 

 

Swayne leaves behind a wife and five children. An education trust has been set up by family friends to take care of their youngest daughter. His wife said the older children all have either completed their educations or have the resources in place for the education of their choosing.  She said Swayne was taken from their family before he could provide for their youngest. 

 

If you would like to donate, click the following link: https://www.youcaring.com/grace-swayne-571416