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name
REED, Walter Scott - Date of
birth
9 March 1922 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Vian, Sequoyah County, Oklahoma -
Hometown
Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
38296435 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Right Waist Gunner -
Unit
561st Bombardment Squadron,
388th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
6 March 1944 - Place of
death
Klazienaveen, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| L | 14 | 11 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Walter S. Reed (father)
Sadie (Correll) Reed (mother)
Bate O. Reed (brother)
Spencer C. Reed (brother)
Ina V. Reed (sister)
Bessie M. Reed (sister)
Mollie J. Reed (sister)
Milburn C. Reed (brother)
Joseph R. Reed (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-40054 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Jinny
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Friedrichstrasse railroad station
MACR: 3092
More information
S/Sgt Walter S. Reed attended college for two years and was a clerk.He enlisted in Little Rock, Arkansas on 12 November 1942.
On the return route, in the vicinity of Quakenbruck, airplane 42-37886 was hit by enemy fighters. Flames were seen coming out from the cockpit and the #3 engine, and the vertical tail fin was partially shot off. The airplane pulled out of formation slightly and three parachutes came out. Then the airplane started to climb and went up into the lead squadron, striking airplane 42-40054.
Five crew members were taken prisoner, five were killed during the crash. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Schoonebeek on 10 March 1944. An eleventh crew member, John Blatz died of his injuries in a POW hospital on 18 March 1944. He is buried at Lorraine Cemetery.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1930-1940 Census, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com, WWII Draft Cards
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Kevin Kleijnen