Veteran of World War II. Recipient of the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 OLC, Air Medal with 9 OLC, Chinese Cloud Banner. Commissioned as a second lieutenant in October 1940. Granted leave of absence from the service, he left for Burma with the AVG to assist China in protecting the Burma Road. He served in the 3rd Squadron, "Hell's Angels" and flew 75 missions with 3 confirmed aerial victories, eight on the ground and other probables. Disbanded in July 4, 1942, he returned home to Iowa.
Commissioned a Major in 1943, he returned to the Chinese theater to fight again under General Chennault with the Chinese American Composite Wing, 14th Army Air Force. Flew 66 mission, with 6 confirmed aerial victories, 9 on the ground and many other probables. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and Commander of the Third Fighter Group.
Killed while returning from a mission over Pengpu when he was forced to bail out and the chute did not open. He was returned to Iowa after the war and is buried beside his parents, Mary Ellen Dearborn Reed and Edward Reed. He is Iowa's most decorated pilot of World War II.
Extracted from information provided by Edward Reed to the Flying Tiger Web Site.
He is credited with nine aerial victories (three with the Tigers, six with the Army), making him an ace.
SILVER STAR AWARDED FOR ACTIONS DURING World War II
Service: Army Air Forces
Battalion: 7th Fighter Squadron
Division: Chinese-American Composite Wing
GENERAL ORDERS: CITATION: (Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) William Norman Reed (ASN: 0-398589), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action against the enemy 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. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army Air Forces.
Source: Hall of Valor website
Commissioned a Major in 1943, he returned to the Chinese theater to fight again under General Chennault with the Chinese American Composite Wing, 14th Army Air Force. Flew 66 mission, with 6 confirmed aerial victories, 9 on the ground and many other probables. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and Commander of the Third Fighter Group.
Killed while returning from a mission over Pengpu when he was forced to bail out and the chute did not open. He was returned to Iowa after the war and is buried beside his parents, Mary Ellen Dearborn Reed and Edward Reed. He is Iowa's most decorated pilot of World War II.
Extracted from information provided by Edward Reed to the Flying Tiger Web Site.
He is credited with nine aerial victories (three with the Tigers, six with the Army), making him an ace.
SILVER STAR AWARDED FOR ACTIONS DURING World War II
Service: Army Air Forces
Battalion: 7th Fighter Squadron
Division: Chinese-American Composite Wing
GENERAL ORDERS: CITATION: (Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) William Norman Reed (ASN: 0-398589), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action against the enemy 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. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army Air Forces.
Source: Hall of Valor website
Veteran of World War II. Recipient of the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 OLC, Air Medal with 9 OLC, Chinese Cloud Banner. Commissioned as a second lieutenant in October 1940. Granted leave of absence from the service, he left for Burma with the AVG to assist China in protecting the Burma Road. He served in the 3rd Squadron, "Hell's Angels" and flew 75 missions with 3 confirmed aerial victories, eight on the ground and other probables. Disbanded in July 4, 1942, he returned home to Iowa.
Commissioned a Major in 1943, he returned to the Chinese theater to fight again under General Chennault with the Chinese American Composite Wing, 14th Army Air Force. Flew 66 mission, with 6 confirmed aerial victories, 9 on the ground and many other probables. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and Commander of the Third Fighter Group.
Killed while returning from a mission over Pengpu when he was forced to bail out and the chute did not open. He was returned to Iowa after the war and is buried beside his parents, Mary Ellen Dearborn Reed and Edward Reed. He is Iowa's most decorated pilot of World War II.
Extracted from information provided by Edward Reed to the Flying Tiger Web Site.
He is credited with nine aerial victories (three with the Tigers, six with the Army), making him an ace.
SILVER STAR AWARDED FOR ACTIONS DURING World War II
Service: Army Air Forces
Battalion: 7th Fighter Squadron
Division: Chinese-American Composite Wing
GENERAL ORDERS: CITATION: (Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) William Norman Reed (ASN: 0-398589), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action against the enemy 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. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army Air Forces.
Source: Hall of Valor website
Commissioned a Major in 1943, he returned to the Chinese theater to fight again under General Chennault with the Chinese American Composite Wing, 14th Army Air Force. Flew 66 mission, with 6 confirmed aerial victories, 9 on the ground and many other probables. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and Commander of the Third Fighter Group.
Killed while returning from a mission over Pengpu when he was forced to bail out and the chute did not open. He was returned to Iowa after the war and is buried beside his parents, Mary Ellen Dearborn Reed and Edward Reed. He is Iowa's most decorated pilot of World War II.
Extracted from information provided by Edward Reed to the Flying Tiger Web Site.
He is credited with nine aerial victories (three with the Tigers, six with the Army), making him an ace.
SILVER STAR AWARDED FOR ACTIONS DURING World War II
Service: Army Air Forces
Battalion: 7th Fighter Squadron
Division: Chinese-American Composite Wing
GENERAL ORDERS: CITATION: (Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) William Norman Reed (ASN: 0-398589), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action against the enemy 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. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army Air Forces.
Source: Hall of Valor website
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