Memorial

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Capt William Reitz graduated from Selma High School in 1932 and graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1937. As an UCLA Bruin athlete he won the National Amateur Athletic Union javelin throwing championship in 1937. Reitz also was a star forward on the UCLA basketball team.

He joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army at March Field, California on 18 March 1941.
The plane was hit by flak in the right engine just before reaching the target and pulled off. Seemingly under control it started losing altitude. it was last seen, heading about 330 degree, about 6000 feet in the clouds. Two parachutes were seen to leave the aircraft. According to T/Sgt Thomas C. Wilcox, Radio Operator, the plane was on fire and controls were damaged and th left engine was out. All crew members bailed out. Two men were taken prisoner, three men evaded capture and reached the allied lines. Capt Reitz was the only casualty. His parachute failed to open.

The pictures in his sporting outfit were taking at the university in 1937.