WW II VETERAN

Killed In Action

B-24 Navigator with the U.S. Army

Air Corps; 8th Air Force; 491st Bomb

Group; 853rd Bomb Squadron.

26 November, 1944

8th AF; 491st Bomb Group;

853rd Bomb Squadron;

B-24J Liberator; Serial#: 42-51530;

Plane Nicknamed: Idiot's Delight;

MACR#: 10767

Depart North Pickenham, England

Target: SYNTHETIC FUEL PLANT at Misburg, Germany

EIGHT B-24's shot down

B-24J; Serial#: 42-51530;

Idiot's Delight was shot up and

severely damaged in an Enemy

Fighter Plane Attack;

Plane caught fire and exploded.

Five crew members were Killed

in Action; Five others were

able to bail out; parachute

to thee ground; but were

captured by the enemy, and

held as Prisoners of War.

The 5 Survivors were

eventually Liberated and

returned to the U.S.

The Crew of Idiot's Delight killed in the crash:

CAPT Wayne Edward Stewart, O-811152, UT, Pilot

1LT Woodrow G Johnson, O-702443, MI, Navigator

1LT William L Reese, O-703016, OH, Bombardier-Nose Gunner

TSGT Laverne G Anderson, 17154654, MN, Flight Engineer-Top Turret Gunner

SSGT George H Corona, 39182650, CA, Waist Gunner

Survivors of Idiot's Delight:

Co-Pilot: 1st Lt. Frank Alma Spady, Jr.~O-815007

~Chuckatuck, VA~MIA~POW~RTD

Bombardier: 1st Lt. George Anthony Valachovic~O-886529

~Johnstown, NY~MIA~POW~RTD

Radio Op: T/Sgt. Harry Hamilton Pollak~12093803

~Clifton, NJ~MIA~POW~RTD

LW Gunner: S/Sgt. Henry Keith Mosley, Jr.~15140725

~Arcade, NY~MIA~POW~RTD

Tail Gunner: S/Sgt. Walter William Reichenau~38366475

~Fredericksburg, TX~MIA~POW~RTD

++++++++++++++++++++++

Date: Saturday, March 31, 1945

Paper: Plain Dealer

Cleveland, OH Page: 2

First Lieut. William L. Reese, 24, son of

Mr. and Mrs. Albert Reese, 4523 E. 126th

Street, Garfield Heights, Killed over Germany

Nov. 26, the day he had been listed as missing.

Lieut. Reese, a Navigator on a B-24 Liberator

Bomber, was on his 30th Mission when he met

death. he was graduated from John Adams

High School and attended the Virginia

Polytechnic Institute, Lynchburg, VA.

In addition to his Parents, he is survived

by a sister, Mrs. Myrtle Butterfield.

++++++++++++++++++++++

Lieut. Reese was buried at the Eimbeckhausen

Cemetery, District of Springe, Germany,

on 28 November 1944. After the War ended,

his remains were returned to the U.S. in

Accordance with his Family's wishes.

++++++++++++++++++++++

Name: Reese, First Lieut. William L.

Date: Jun 17 1949

Source: Source unknown;

Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #067.

Notes: Reese, First Lieut. William L.,

Beloved son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert (Chip)

and Lulu (nee Mansfield);

Brother of Mrs. Myrtle Butterfield;

Uncle of Alan and Nancy;

over Embeckhuasen, Germany,

Nov. 26, 1944; late residence,

4523 E. 126th St.

Friends received at the James P.

Mullaney Funeral Home,

9811 Miles Ave., where services

will be held Friday,

June 17, at p. m.

Burial Crown Hill Cemetery.

Services private.