Reichwein, John Joseph

Individual Personnel Data
Name	Reichwein, John Joseph ‡ ⇗
Rank	Staff Sergeant / Technical Sergeant
Serial Number	35356402 ‡
Unit Assignments	Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per 547th Bomb Squadron Unit History, effective 27 January 1943.
Duty	Radio Operator / Gunner
MOS	757 - Radio Operator / Mechanic / Gunner, AAF
Last Duty Date	25 June 1943
Results	Prisoner Of War POW Camp: Not identified in National Archives POW database.
Additional Information	Appointed Technical Sergeant from Staff Sergeant per Special Orders #79, paragraph 6, Headquarters 384th Bombardment Group, Wendover Field, Utah dated 1 April 1943.
Related Documents	Missing Air Crew Report # 16357⇓ (1.629 MB)
Photo Album:	Crew Photo Album⇗

Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
547^th BOMB SQUADRON MODEL CREW
The first combat crew assigned to the squadron.
CREWMEMBER	POSITION	RESULTS
1st Lt. Smith, James William⇗	Pilot	POW
2nd Lt. Keck, George B⇗	Co-pilot	KIA
2nd Lt. Taber, Robin Everett⇗	Navigator	POW
2nd Lt. Meyers, Francis Joseph, Jr⇗	Bombardier	POW
S/SGT. Reichwein, John Joseph	Radio Operator / Gunner	POW
S/SGT. Buckley, Robert H⇗	Engineer / Top Turret Gunner	KIA
SGT. Jones, Lynn Tilton⇗	Ball Turret Gunner	POW
SGT. Igou, William Fredrick, "Bill"⇗	Tail Gunner	POW
SGT. MacArthur, Stanley William⇗	Flexible Gunner	POW
PFC. Pratt, David Allan⇗	Flexible Gunner	POW

Crew History

The James W Smith Crew was the first one to be assigned to the 547th BS of the 384th BG at Wendover - becoming its "Model Crew" and "Crew 71" (crew #1 of the 547th) - on 27 January 1943, joining Pratt who had arrived the day prior.

Co-pilot Keck was later given his own crew, #77, and was replaced by Robert B Kilmer, Jr., a pilot who had arrived with a new crew on 11 March 1943.

The Smith Crew, less Kilmer, Taber, and Igou, were shot down on its second mission, and Buckley was KIA. All the remainder were POW - which later was the fate of the remaining member of the crew who did not fly that mission.

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 2 Combat Missions.
Number	Date	Target	Position	Aircraft	Mission/Sortie Information
1⇗	22 June 1943	Target: General Motors Truck Factory Type: Industry Location: Antwerp, Belgium	Radio Operator	42‑5850⇗	Combat Mission Credit High Squadron Lead. Sortie Report⇗
2⇗	25 June 1943	Target: Industrial Area & Submarine Pens Type: Military Location: Hamburg, Germany	Radio Operator	42‑5850⇗	Combat Mission Credit Failed To Return Group lead. Bombed primary on wing lead. Lost altitude near coast of England, one engine out and another smoking; cr Smallbroek, The Netherlands. MACR 16357 Maj. Selden Longley McMillin was awarded the Silver Star for this action (Owens p. 197). Sortie Report⇗

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