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Personal info

Full name
REEVES, Eugene Andrew
Date of birth
24 January 1922
Age
22
Place of birth
Sayre, Beckham County, Oklahoma
Hometown
Jim Wells County, Texas

Military service

Service number
18200715
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
856th Bombardment Squadron,
492nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
7 July 1944
Place of death
Neuwegerleben, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 39 19

Immediate family

Members
Andrew J. Reeves (father)
Blanche Reeves (mother)
Bliss Reeves (sister)
Andrew J. Reeves (brother)
Ina M. Reeves (sister)
Agnes Reeves (sister)
Ruby Reeves (sister)
J.B. Reeves (brother)
Elizabeth (Bonanno) Reeves (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
44-40086
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: Laura Jo
Destination: Bernburg, Germany
MACR: 7831

More information

S/Sgt Eugene A. Reeves enlisted on 4 November 1942 in San Antonio, Texas.
On 7 July 1944, the 492nd participated in a bombing run on a German aircraft manufacturing plant in Bernburg. S/Sgt Reeves's nine-man ship was the first to be hit by the defending Luftwaffe. His ship spun and then suddenly exploded killing everyone inside. The pieces of the plane were scattered over a large area. Only the tail section was found somewhat intact. All of the bodies were recovered but three of them couldn't be individually identified.

Source of information: Michel Beckers, Terry Hirsch, 492nd Bomb Group, WWII Draft Card, 1940 US Census

Photo source: Michel Beckers, 492nd Bomb Group