Russell F Reed
Military
Photos courtesy of Russell Reeds daughter Kelly
Object Number - UPL 45761 - Russell Reed
Prisoner of War (POW). Shot down by flack near Leuna, Germany 2, Nov 1944.
Reed's B-17 was hit over Merseburg, a frequent and costly target for the 398th BG. He bailed out of the burning plane and was shot at as he parachuted down fortunately without being hit. He was picked up by German civilians as he had injured his ankle whilst landing and handed over to the military, fortunate in that everybody sensed the war was coming to an end. He spent the remaining few weeks of hostilities in a POW camp in Poland and returned to his family in the USA after being freed.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 603rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 603rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36658006
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 602nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 602nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 602nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Esquire
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 602nd Bomb Squadron
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Prisoner of war |
2 November 1944 | MACR 10158 | |
|
Born |
Upper Montclair, New Jersey |
Revisions
Biography completed by historian Helen Millgate. Information sourced from newsletters of the 398th Bomb Group related to the service of Russell F. Reed.
398th History / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia
