World War II Veteran & New York Delta President Second Lieutenant Walter Reichold, U.S. Army Air Forces gave his life during a bombing mission to Bremen, Germany while serving as a B-17 (Flying Fortress) pilot & aircraft commander aboard aircraft 42-37851. The Connecticut native was found listed in a SigEp Journal as the president of the NY Delta chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1942.
In MAY that year, Walter enlisted in the Army, and was assigned to flight training. He was subsequently assigned to the 527th Bombardment Squadron, 379th Bombardment Group (Heavy) which began overseas movement in Spring 1943 where they were assigned to 1st Bombardment Division, 8th Air Force (out of RAF Kimbolton aka Allied Air Field Station 117 in England).
Between late MAY and mid-DEC 1943, Brother Reichold co-piloted 15 missions. His first mission as aircraft leader was the successful execution of the squadron’s 49th mission, and mission 50 took them to Bremen for the third consecutive time – this time against the FW-190 (Shrike) plant there.
Just after the bombs were dropped, his aircraft was attacked by German fighters. The last reporting of Walter's B-17 was that engines 1 & 2 of his aircraft were on fire as it descended, and the plane crashed in Westerbek, near Osterholz-Scharmbeck, 12 miles north of Bremen.
Brother Reichold is one of five SigEp Patriots laid to rest at Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten, Netherlands.
Source: Imperial War Museums
Source: americanairmuseum.com
Source: U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
Source: Sigma Phi Epsilon
In MAY that year, Walter enlisted in the Army, and was assigned to flight training. He was subsequently assigned to the 527th Bombardment Squadron, 379th Bombardment Group (Heavy) which began overseas movement in Spring 1943 where they were assigned to 1st Bombardment Division, 8th Air Force (out of RAF Kimbolton aka Allied Air Field Station 117 in England).
Between late MAY and mid-DEC 1943, Brother Reichold co-piloted 15 missions. His first mission as aircraft leader was the successful execution of the squadron’s 49th mission, and mission 50 took them to Bremen for the third consecutive time – this time against the FW-190 (Shrike) plant there.
Just after the bombs were dropped, his aircraft was attacked by German fighters. The last reporting of Walter's B-17 was that engines 1 & 2 of his aircraft were on fire as it descended, and the plane crashed in Westerbek, near Osterholz-Scharmbeck, 12 miles north of Bremen.
Brother Reichold is one of five SigEp Patriots laid to rest at Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten, Netherlands.
Source: Imperial War Museums
Source: americanairmuseum.com
Source: U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
Source: Sigma Phi Epsilon
World War II Veteran & New York Delta President Second Lieutenant Walter Reichold, U.S. Army Air Forces gave his life during a bombing mission to Bremen, Germany while serving as a B-17 (Flying Fortress) pilot & aircraft commander aboard aircraft 42-37851. The Connecticut native was found listed in a SigEp Journal as the president of the NY Delta chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1942.
In MAY that year, Walter enlisted in the Army, and was assigned to flight training. He was subsequently assigned to the 527th Bombardment Squadron, 379th Bombardment Group (Heavy) which began overseas movement in Spring 1943 where they were assigned to 1st Bombardment Division, 8th Air Force (out of RAF Kimbolton aka Allied Air Field Station 117 in England).
Between late MAY and mid-DEC 1943, Brother Reichold co-piloted 15 missions. His first mission as aircraft leader was the successful execution of the squadron’s 49th mission, and mission 50 took them to Bremen for the third consecutive time – this time against the FW-190 (Shrike) plant there.
Just after the bombs were dropped, his aircraft was attacked by German fighters. The last reporting of Walter's B-17 was that engines 1 & 2 of his aircraft were on fire as it descended, and the plane crashed in Westerbek, near Osterholz-Scharmbeck, 12 miles north of Bremen.
Brother Reichold is one of five SigEp Patriots laid to rest at Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten, Netherlands.
Source: Imperial War Museums
Source: americanairmuseum.com
Source: U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
Source: Sigma Phi Epsilon
In MAY that year, Walter enlisted in the Army, and was assigned to flight training. He was subsequently assigned to the 527th Bombardment Squadron, 379th Bombardment Group (Heavy) which began overseas movement in Spring 1943 where they were assigned to 1st Bombardment Division, 8th Air Force (out of RAF Kimbolton aka Allied Air Field Station 117 in England).
Between late MAY and mid-DEC 1943, Brother Reichold co-piloted 15 missions. His first mission as aircraft leader was the successful execution of the squadron’s 49th mission, and mission 50 took them to Bremen for the third consecutive time – this time against the FW-190 (Shrike) plant there.
Just after the bombs were dropped, his aircraft was attacked by German fighters. The last reporting of Walter's B-17 was that engines 1 & 2 of his aircraft were on fire as it descended, and the plane crashed in Westerbek, near Osterholz-Scharmbeck, 12 miles north of Bremen.
Brother Reichold is one of five SigEp Patriots laid to rest at Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten, Netherlands.
Source: Imperial War Museums
Source: americanairmuseum.com
Source: U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
Source: Sigma Phi Epsilon
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Connecticut.
