Reed, Merlin Howard

Individual Personnel Data
Name Reed, Merlin Howard   ‡
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-670612   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #121 dated 18 October 1943, effective 18 October 1943.
Duty Pilot
MOS1091 - Pilot, B-17
Last Duty Date 9 March 1944
Results Missing In Action
Final Resting Place or Memorial: Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, The Netherlands: Tablets of the Missing
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 3 March 1917
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 3005⇓ (31.437 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Reed, Merlin HowardPilotMIA
2nd Lt. Rininsland, Bruce Martin⇗Co-pilotKIA
2nd Lt. Heiss, John Lawrence⇗BombardierKIA
T/SGT. Wellman, Robert Francis⇗Radio Operator / GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Johnson, Robert O (1943)⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerMIA
S/SGT. Osepchook, Arthur John⇗Ball Turret GunnerPOW
PVT. Hardy, Emmet Francis⇗Tail GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Plotz, John James⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Casey, Robert Joseph⇗Flexible GunnerCT
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 19 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
--⇗ 30 October 1943 Target: Marshaling Yard
Type: Transportation
Location: Geilenkirchen, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑29636⇗ Sortie Report⇗
34⇗ 3 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Wilhelmshafen, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑30033⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
35⇗ 5 November 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Pilot 42‑29636⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
39⇗ 1 December 1943 Target: Non-Ferrous Metals Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Solingen, Germany 		Pilot 42‑29723⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
46⇗ 24 December 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Croisette, France 		Pilot 42‑29723⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Composite group.
Sortie Report⇗
47⇗ 30 December 1943 Target: I. G. Farben Industrie, Chemical/Synthetic Rubber Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Pilot 42‑29723⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Flying Spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
50⇗ 5 January 1944 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Kiel, Germany 		Pilot 41‑24578⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
54⇗ 21 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France 		Pilot 42‑29723⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
41B Group. Turned back at 1350 hrs over Beachy Head because 'this aircraft took off late and could not find a position open in the formation.'
Sortie Report⇗
55⇗ 29 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Pilot 42‑29723⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report⇗
56⇗ 30 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany 		Pilot 42‑31222⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Lead group. Turned back at Sleaford at 1000 hrs because of runaway prop on #2 engine.
Sortie Report⇗
57⇗ 3 February 1944 Target: Submarines (under construction)
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany 		Pilot 42‑29723⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group.
Sortie Report⇗
58⇗ 4 February 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Pilot 42‑29723⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group, 41st A Combat Wing.
Sortie Report⇗
59⇗ 5 February 1944 Target: Bricy Aerodrome, Luftwaffe Training and Bomber Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Orleans, France 		Pilot 42‑29723⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
60⇗ 6 February 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France 		Pilot 42‑29723⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
63⇗ 20 February 1944 Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig & Bernburg, Germany 		Pilot 42‑29723⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report⇗
66⇗ 24 February 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Pilot 42‑37792⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron, low group.
Sortie Report⇗
67⇗ 25 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Ball Bearings Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Augsburg & Stuttgart, Germany 		Pilot 42‑37885⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group, Ground Spare aircraft. Replaced 42‑31211.
Sortie Report⇗
68⇗ 28 February 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France 		Pilot 42‑31211⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
69⇗ 2 March 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant and Machine Shop
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Pilot 42‑37801⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group, high Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
70⇗ 3 March 1944 Target: Roller-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Pilot 42‑31375⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
72⇗ 6 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Pilot 42‑37781⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High Squadron deputy, high group, 40th Composite Combat Bomb Wing. Returned to base after group leader abandoned attempt to join assigned combat wing.
Sortie Report⇗
73⇗ 8 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Pilot 42‑37781⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
74⇗ 9 March 1944 Target: Heinkel Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany 		Pilot 42‑37781⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
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
Sortie Report⇗

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