Memorial

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1st Lt Reese graduated from Kingston Township High School and was employed at the Vulcan Iron Works before he enlisted in Miami Beach, Florida, on 7 February 1943. He was sent overseas on 8 September 1944.

Statement from James H. Jackson:
I was flying in position number one, in ship number 729, as aerial engineer, on 26 December 1944. Just after we closed our bomb doors, I noticed ship number 663 had number two engine on fire. At that time, I saw one parachute leave the airplane, which I believe was the tail gunner. Ship 663 pulled out away from the formation and the pilot seemed to be pulling the nose up and down to stop the fire. The fire stopped once or twice for a few seconds. After the number two engine of 663 had been on fire for three or four minutes, I saw ship 663 nose down and the tail twisted off about even with the waist windows and two more of the crew members jumped and the parachutes opened. I watched 663 until it hit the ground and exploded.