Merlin Howard Reed

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-55747.jpeg UPL 55747 Merlin Howard Reed

Removed associations which are not depicted in the image. associations made in his person record.

Object Number - UPL 55747 - Merlin Howard Reed

Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #121 dated 18 October 1943.  Bombs from the 'High Group' knocked the tail section off B-17G #42-37781 'Silver Dollar' and crashed near Osdorf on a mission to Berlin on 9 Mar 1944. Killed in Action (KIA)/Missing in Action (MIA). MACR 3005

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 384th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Nose section of an airplane that has a plexiglass bubble on the front.  On the side is a painting of a coin with the words "Silver Dollar" painted around the coin.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31160822
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-669278
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39830126
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-671434
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 384th Bomb Group falls towards the ground after having its tails shot away during a mission.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39176552
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Aircraft

A 365th Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress (XK-R, serial number 41-24578) taxiis to take off from Chelveston airbase. Passed for publication 30 Jun 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '124578, XK:R.' Printed caption on reverse: 'At A Fortress Station In Britain. From an American base in Britain the Flying Fortresses carry out operational activities which result in terrible blows against the German industrial war machine. This series of pictures shows scenes at a Flying Fortresses stati
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Problem Child : Old Reliable
  • Unit: Base Air Depot 1 547th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group 305th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Vanishing Virgin | X-Virgin
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group Base Air Depot 1 364th Bomb Squadron 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Little America
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron 547th Bomb Squadron
Nose section of an airplane that has a plexiglass bubble on the front.  On the side is a painting of a coin with the words "Silver Dollar" painted around the coin.
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Silver Dollar
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
B-17 Flying Fortresses nicknamed "London Avenger", nicknamed "Bermondsley Battler", nicknamed "Rotherhithe's Revenge" and nicknamed "Bermondsley" of the 379th Bomb Group, 15 February 1944. Passed for publication 16 Feb 1944. Censor no: 305411. Handwritten caption on reverse: '16/2/44.' Printed caption on reverse: ' CHRISTENS U.S. FORTRESS BOMBER. Feb. 16th, 1944. As an appreciation of £800,000 raised during Bermondsey's Wings for Victory Week., the people of Bermondsey christened a U.S. Fortress bomber "
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Eleanor Maureen : Bermondsey
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 34th Bomb Group 487th Bomb Group 836th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Cameron, Clinton, Missouri, USA 3 March 1917

Died

Missing in Action (MIA)

Feldmarke Osdorf, Marienfelde, Berlin, Germany 9 March 1944 Lost after bombs away when bombs from high group (379BG) hit this aircraft, knocking tail completely off in front of stabilizer; aircraft dived straight down into a spin with all four engines going; no chutes observed. MACR 3005

Other

Memorialized

Margraten, Netherlands Tablets of the Missing at Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands

Revisions

Date
ContributorCoyFamilyHistory
Changes
Sources

American Battle Monuments Commission; Arlington, VA; Cemetery Records

Date
ContributorCoyFamilyHistory
Changes
Sources

Report # 3005
https://384thbombgroup.com/_content/MACRs/MACR3005.pdf

Cemetery Records Records of the American Battle Monuments Commission, Arlington, VA.

Headstone Inscription and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, 1942–1949. Series A1 43, NAI ID: 7408555. Records of the American Battle Monuments Commission, 1918–ca. 1995. Record Group 117. The National Archives at Washington, D.C.

Date
ContributorCoyFamilyHistory
Changes
Sources

National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for District of Columbia, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 189.

Date
Contributorbombercommand
Changes
Sources

384thbombgroup.com

Date
Contributorbombercommand
Changes
Date
Contributorbombercommand
Changes
Date
Contributorbombercommand
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Sources

MACR 3005

Date
Contributorbombercommand
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MACR 3005

Date
ContributorAAM
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Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3005, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces, http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/PersonnelSearch.php?LastName=…

Merlin Howard Reed: Gallery (5 items)