Penrose Wily Reagan
MilitaryJay Ossiander's Crew Photograph with names.
INT Damaged by flak and landed in Switzerland on 31-Jul-44 in B-17 42-107092 'Umbriago'. While interned in Switzerland, Penrose (Ray) Reagan was selected to star in the movie "The Last Chance" (1945) directed by Leopold Lindtberg. This movie won the Grand Prize (The Golden Palm) at the Cannes Film Festival. Credited as Ray Reagan, he played the part of Sgt Jim Braddock. The director wanted to use real POW servicemen for all 3 lead parts.
Awards: AM, WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-755401
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12088200
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Freckles, Umbriago
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Benefield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Camden, NJ | 25 November 1924 | Son of Penrose W Reagan and Anna F. [Hand] Dunkle. |
Enlisted |
9 March 1943 | ||
Other Interned (INT) |
Switzerland | 31 July 1944 | Damaged by flak and landed in Switzerland on 31-Jul-44 in B-17 42-107092 'Umbriago'. |
Other Discharged USAAF |
10 December 1945 | Honourable discharge. | |
Died |
Maywood, IL | 21 November 2003 | |
Buried |
Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Elwood, Will County, IL | 24 November 2003 | Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Elwood, Will County, Illinois |
Based |
Deenethorpe | 31 July 1944 | Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
https://www.fold3.com/image/29405349
https://www.fold3.com/image/29405347
https://www.fold3.com/image/675602073
https://www.fold3.com/record/14879880/penrose-w-reagan-social-security-…
https://www.fold3.com/record/626587588/penrose-reagan-1924-veterans-aff…
https://www.fold3.com/record/704875920/blank-us-wwii-hospital-admission…
https://www.fold3.com/record/711010058/reagan-penrose-w-us-veterans-gra…
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45319520/penrose-w-reagan
IMDb and information provided by his fellow crew mate and my father in law, Angelo Virgona.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 7825 / MACR 7825, http://www.401bg.org/Main/History/Members/Details.aspx?ID=3059 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database