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name
REINER, William Harper - Date of
birth
11 May 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia -
Hometown
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-768229 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
711th Bombardment Squadron,
447th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
12 October 1944 - Place of
death
Katenkamp near Bassum, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 42 | 37 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Frank J. Reiner (father)
Thelma O. (Smith) Reiner (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-97497 -
Data
Nickname: Tuxedo Tomie
Type: B-17G
Destination: Bremen, Germany
Mission: Bombing
MACR: 9573
More information
Just after IP (5225N-0843E) A/C 497 was observed to have #3 and #4 engines feathered. The group had encountered no flak to this point, so the cause of the feathering is unknown. At approximately 1130 hours, A/C 497 called over VHF that the other two engines were cutting out and that the crew was leaving the aircraft. The aircraft was last seen under control, but going down rapidly.William bailed out over Bremen, but his parachute failed to open properly, and he was killed when he hit the ground. His body was on the same truck that took the other crewmembers to a Luftwaffe base when they were captured. William was initially buried on 13 October 1944 in the Ahlhorn cemetery, south of Oldenburg, Germany.
Source of information: Astrid van Erp, Carla Mans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, www.fold3.com
Photo source: www.ancestry.com, Peter Schouteten