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Reed William Norman

Name:
William Norman Reed
Rank:
Lieutenant Colonel
Serial Number:
Unit:
Date of Death:
1944-12-19
State:
Iowa
Cemetery:
Riverside Cemetery, Anamosa, Iowa
Plot:
Block 1, 2nd Add, Lot 14
Row:
Grave:
Decoration:
Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with 9 Oak Le
Comments:

William Norman Reed was born on January 8, 1917 in Stone City, Jones County, Iowa. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in October 1940. Granted leave of absence from the service, he left for Burma with the AVG to assist China in protecting the Burma Road. He served in the 3rd Squadron, "Hell's Angels" and flew 75 missions with 3 confirmed aerial victories, eight on the ground and other probables. Disbanded in July 4, 1942, he returned home to Iowa.

Commissioned a Major in 1943, he returned to the Chinese theater to fight again under General Chennault with the Chinese American Composite Wing, 14th Army Air Force. He flew 66 mission, with 6 confirmed aerial victories, 9 on the ground and many other probables. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and Commander of the Third Fighter Group.

LTC Reed was killed while returning from a mission over Pengpu when he was forced to bail out and the chute did not open. He was returned to Iowa after the war and is buried beside his parents, Mary Ellen Dearborn Reed and Edward Reed. He is Iowa's most decorated pilot of World War II.

LTC Reed was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China but death date is inscribed as 1945-02-19

Source of information: www.findagrave.com