Arthur Fredrick Reents was born on November 28, 1912, in Benson, Woodford County, Illinois. He was the son of Andres Harms "Andrew" Reents and Lena Heedt Reents. He was married to Lillian Anna Quiram Reents. He worked in the Caterpillar Tractor Company before enlisting in the service. He served in the 782nd Bomber Squadron, 465th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Gunner of B-24J #44-41017 during World War II.

On August 3, 1944, the aircraft departed from Pantanella, Italy, on a bombing mission to Friedrichshafen, Germany. During its return flight at approximately 20,000 feet around 13:00, it encountered intense German Luftwaffe fighter interception and anti-aircraft fire over the Austrian Alps. This engagement was part of one of the fiercest air battles over Tyrol. The aircraft was severely damaged and forced out of formation, prompting the crew to bail out. Although all nine men exited the aircraft, the pilot’s parachute failed to open, and TSgt Hill was never seen again. The remaining crew members survived the descent but were captured and taken to prisoner-of-war camps. The aircraft ultimately crashed near the Hohe Munde–Ehrwald area of Tyrol, Austria. The rugged mountainous terrain contributed to its destruction. Its loss was part of a larger series of B-24 losses suffered by the 465th Bomb Group and other Fifteenth Air Force units in the region that same day.

SSgt Reents was held as a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft 4 Gross-Tychow, Pomerania, Prussia. He died on April 13, 1996, and is now buried in the Swan Lake Memory Gardens, Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, American Air Museum in Britain, 465th Bomb Group Association