William Reed became an Army aviator in 1940, but resigned his commission to join the AVG “Flying Tigers” in China in 1941. With the AVG he was credited with 3 victories in aerial combat, before transferring back to the Army Air Forces when the AVG was disbanded. With the USAAF he scored an additional SIX victories to become an ACE, with a wartime total of 9 enemy aircraft destroyed in aerial combat. Returning from a mission on December 19, 1944, his P-40 fighter ran out of fuel, and he was killed bailing out of his airplane.
Sponsored by:
William
Norman
Reed
KIA (WWII)
January 8, 1917
–
December 19, 1944
Born:
Marion
,
Iowa
Home:
Marion
,
Iowa
Buried:
Anamosa
,
Iowa
Cemetery:
Riverside Cemetery
Awards Received
-
Silver Star
-
Legion of Merit
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
-
Silver Star
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps)Batallion:
7th Fighter SquadronRegiment:
3d Fighter GroupDivision:
14th Air ForceAction Date:
World War II
Headquarters, 14th Air Force, General Orders No. 81 (October 27, 1944)(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) William Norman Reed (ASN: 0-398589), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-40 Warhawk Fighter Airplane of the 7th Fighter Squadron, 3d Fighter Group, FOURTEENTH Air Force, in aerial operations in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations, in 1944. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Lieutenant Colonel Reed, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.
-
Legion of Merit
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps)Regiment:
3d Fighter GroupDivision:
Chinese-American Composite WingAction Date:
World War II
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) William Norman Reed (ASN: 0-398589), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer of the 3d Fighter Group, Chinese-American Composite Wing, during World War II. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Colonel Reed and his dedicated contributions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Army.
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps)Batallion:
7th Fighter SquadronRegiment:
3d Fighter GroupDivision:
Chinese-American Composite WingAction Date:
World War II
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) William Norman Reed (ASN: 0-398589), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a P-40 Fighter Pilot of the 7th Fighter Squadron, 3d Fighter Group, Chinese-American Composite Wing, in action against the enemy in aerial combat in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps)Batallion:
7th Fighter SquadronRegiment:
3d Fighter GroupDivision:
Chinese-American Composite WingAction Date:
World War II
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) William Norman Reed (ASN: 0-398589), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a P-40 Fighter Pilot of the 7th Fighter Squadron, 3d Fighter Group, Chinese-American Composite Wing, in action against the enemy in aerial combat in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps)Batallion:
7th Fighter SquadronRegiment:
3d Fighter GroupDivision:
Chinese-American Composite WingAction Date:
World War II
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) William Norman Reed (ASN: 0-398589), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a P-40 Fighter Pilot of the 7th Fighter Squadron, 3d Fighter Group, Chinese-American Composite Wing, in action against the enemy in aerial combat in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps)Batallion:
7th Fighter SquadronRegiment:
3d Fighter GroupDivision:
Chinese-American Composite WingAction Date:
World War II
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) William Norman Reed (ASN: 0-398589), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Third Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a P-40 Fighter Pilot of the 7th Fighter Squadron, 3d Fighter Group, Chinese-American Composite Wing, in action against the enemy in aerial combat in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.