NWA Capt. Bill Swain

*Full obituary below.........................

~ IN MEMORY ~

NWA Capt. William “Bill” Allen Swain

July 31, 1943 ~ July 23, 2026

 

Sharing news from our RNPA/Retired Northwest Pilot group….

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I regret having to inform you that Captain Bill Swain passed away on July 25th. This past year Bill has fought a long and hard fight against cancer.

 William A. Swain was born to an aviation family on July 31, 1943. It is ironic that he died six days prior to his 83rd birthday. Bill was hired by NWA on September 26, 1966.

Bill and his wife Pat resided in Anacortes, WA  

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/skagitvalleyherald/name/william-swain-obituary?id=62067462

   also  https://www.legacy.com/person/william-(bill)-allen-swain-61972444 

 William Swain Obituary

William Allen "Bill" Swain, 82, of Anacortes, died Saturday, July 25, 2026. Funeral Home: Evans Funeral Chapel

Published by Skagit Valley Herald from Jul. 29 to Jul. 30, 2026.

*Full obituary.................... 

Bill Swain was born to William and Lorene Swain on July 31, 1943. This was a small family; Bill was the only child. The family resided in Los Altos, CA. Bill’s father was the Chief Pilot for American Airlines at San Francisco. When Bill was 17 years old, his father died in a Boeing 707 flight training accident. 

 

Bill attended Los Altos High School where he played baseball and football.  After high school Bill studied at Foothills College before matriculating onto San Jose State University. This young man stayed a busy fellow. He often served as a lifeguard and did duty with the local Ski Patrol. During his time at San Jose State, Bill was enrolled in Navy ROTC.

 

Aviation also had a major role in Bill’s young years. He was a classic ‘airport bum’ hanging out at the local airport, receiving pilot flight instruction when he could afford it 

 

Early in the Vietnam War, perhaps out of patriotism, or school burnout, Bill withdrew from San Jose State to enlist in the U.S. Navy (USN) where he sought an aviation assignment. There is no doubt that Bill Swain experienced unique flight crew duty.  He served as an Electronic Warfare Operator (ECM), one of a four-man crew on a single engine AD-5Q, a spin-off of the Douglas A-1 Skyraider. During his sea deployment, Bill regularly flew missions over North Vietnam with a squadron known today as the ‘VA13 - The Zappers’, operating from the USS Oriskany and USS Midway. These aircraft carriers were deployed to Yankee and Dixie Stations in the Tonkin Gulf.

 

While aboard ship, Bill slipped on a ladder which resulted in a broken leg. He was grounded and replaced as a crewman for an upcoming mission. None of his regular crew survived that mission over North Vietnam.

 

Bill had one high honor military experience: Bill served as Honor Guard in the US Capitol rotunda where the assassinated President John Kennedy lay in state.

 

After separating from the active Navy, he intensified the aviation training he had started earlier. The goal was the accumulation of sufficient flight time for airline pilot employment. Some of that flying was done in twin engine prop corporate aircraft.

 

Bill Swain was hired by Northwest Airlines on September 26, 1966. His initial checkout was as Second Officer on the Boeing 727. His career progression was classic for the era; e.g., Flight Engineer and Copilot on the 707 and 727, then Captain on the 727, 757, and 747 Classic. His career began with three years in Minneapolis, the remainder of his career he was based in Seattle, Detroit and Anchorage.

 

Boating was also subject of prime interest for Bill Swain. During boating season Bill was befriended by a lodge owner in the North Georgia Straits. One day while Bill was at the dock, several boats arrived, all escorting President George Herbert Bush. Bill had a delightful encounter with President Bush.

 

 

It is little known, but Bill was a skilled photographer and producer of video graphics. He produced narrated video tapes about boating in Pacific Coast Canadian waters. 

 

On December 28, 2020, Bill married Patricia Webber and this time he got it right. He found the love of his life. Pat filled his life with love and devoted affection.

 

 

Bill’s career was cut short by an automobile accident from which he suffered a head concussion injury. He remained on medical leave until age 60 retirement on July 31, 2003.

 

In his later airline years and in retirement, Bill served as a volunteer EMT in Eagan, MN and as a commissioned policeman for eight years in Monroe, WA. Service was the mainstay of Bill Swain’s life.

 

At the time of his passing Bill and Pat resided in Anacortes, Washington. Bill is also survived by his daughter Nicole and grandson Michael. There will be a later celebration of life.

 

Bill Day 

Retired Northwest Airlines