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name
RIETZEL, William Angell - Date of
birth
18 December 1918 -
Age
27 - Place of
birth
Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island -
Hometown
Providence County, Rhode Island
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-683501 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
508th Fighter Squadron,
404th Fighter Group
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
2 January 1946 - Place of
death
Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes - Tablets of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
William C. Rietzel (father)
Nettie G. Rietzel (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-25700 -
Data
Type: P-47D
Destination: St. Vith
Mission: Armed Reconnaissance
MACR: 11513
More information
2nd Lt William A. Rietzel graduated from Cranston High School in 1938.He enlisted on 29 April 1942 at Providence, Rhode Island.
"Just after Blue flight pulled off the bombing target, Lt Reitzel, flying Blue #2, called that his engine was rough, apparently detonating. I was Red #3 and started home with him as his engine began throwing heavy black smoke. After about two minutes, the smoke stopped, and the plane started a forty-five degree dive straight ahead, the engine apparently dead. Lt Reitzel bailed out at about 8,000 feet, and I observed his safe descent into a heavily wooded area. Rosalee gave me a fix that place him fifteen miles northeast of Malmedy."
Source of information: FOHF, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com MACR, www.ancestry.com 1930 Census
Photo source: Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 43-G, Eagle Pass Field, Texas, Cranston High School 1938