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name
REED, Merlin Howard - Date of
birth
3 March 1917 -
Age
27 - Place of
birth
Cameron, Clinton County, Missouri -
Hometown
Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-670612 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
546th Bombardment Squadron,
384th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
9 March 1944 - Place of
death
Berlin-Marienfeld, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Claude S. Reed (father)
Maude M. Reed (mother)
Lois L. Reed (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-37781 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Silver Dollar
Destination: Oranienburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Heinkel aircraft plant
MACR: 3005
More information
1st Lt Merlin H. Reed joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri on 30 July 1941.The primary target, the Heinkel aircraft plant in Oranienburg, was hidden by dense clouds, so the secondary target, the city center of Berlin, was bombed.
The airplane was hit by bombs of the High Group (379th Bomber Squadron), which knocked off the tail completely. It went straight down into a spin with all four engines still running.
Two crew members were taken prisoner, and eight men were killed.
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced on 23 February 2026 that 1st Lt. Merlin H. Reed was accounted for on 5 December 2025. More information will follow (information added February 2025)
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.fold3.com - MACR / WWII Draft Card, www.8thafhs.com, www.newspapers.com - The Cameron Sun, DPAA
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Keith Ellefson - http://photos.384thbombgroup.com, Roel Raaijmakers - https://384thbombgroup.com/piwigo_384th_gallery/index.php?/category/Reed_M