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name
REICHOLD, Walter Hans - Date of
birth
3 December 1918 -
Age
25 - Place of
birth
Pittsfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts -
Hometown
Winsted, Litchfield County, Connecticut
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-799071 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
527th Bombardment Squadron,
379th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
20 December 1943 - Place of
death
Westerbeck, near Osterholz-Scharmbeck, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 20 | 4 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Ludwig Reichold (father)
Maria Reichold (mother)
Robert L. Reichold (brother)
Richard P. Reichold (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-37851 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Bremerhaven, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the port
MACR: 1719
More information
2nd Lt Walter H. Reichold attended college for 3 years and was an actor. He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Albany, New York on 8 Mai 1942.The airplane was shot down by Hauptman Alfred Grislawski flying a FW-190 (J.G. 1) at 1146 hours at 27000 feet shortly after dropping their bombs on the target. With one engine on fire, the crippled B-17G began to lose altitude. The German fighters continued their attack and shot out the second engine on the left wing.
The left waist gunner, Benjamin Poweske, passed out due to lack of oxygen and was pushed out of the aircraft by the right waist gunner, Ralph Mantor, moments before the left wing separated from the aircraft causing a spin. Shortly afterward, the Radio Operator, Joseph Hennessey and Ralph were ejected when the aircraft exploded.
The remaining seven crew members were killed.
2nd Lt Reichold was initially buried at the cemetery of Army Post Wesermünde on 30 December 1943.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Michel Beckers, Astrid van Erp, Terry Hirsch, www.fold3.com - MACR, WWII Draft Card, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census
Photo source: Michel Beckers, www.findagrave.com - 455th AAA Historian