T/Sgt John J Reda;

S/Sgt John J Reda has recently been sent to Camp McCoy Seperation Center for discharge. He has been an Armorer-Gunner with the 321s Bomb Group, Reda holds the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, The Amer. Defense Ribbon and the ETO Campaign with 2 Battle Stars. (* Engineer/Gunner, Sgt John J Reda (out 25 June, 1945) = 321st Roster…. From the 21 Sept.1945 Dane Country History /Mirror /Mirror / "The Madison Mirror" 1925-1969**

John Joseph Reda Birth: Apr. 11, 1923 Death: Jan. 27, 1996

T SGT, US AIR FORCE

Burial: Santa Fe National Cemetery Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, New Mexico, USA

Imported from: US Veteran's Affairs

Record added: Feb 26, 2000 Find A Grave Memorial# 1107917

Texas Death Index, 1903-2000 Name: John Reda Death Date: 27 Jan 1996

Death County: El Paso Gender: Male

Social Security Death Index Name: John J. Reda Last Residence: 79912 El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America Born: 11 Apr 1923 Died: 27 Jan 1996
State (Year) SSN issued: Wisconsin (Before 1951)
88

321st Bomb Group, 446th Bomb Squad War-Diary;

Reda, John J., Sgt., engineer-gunner, bombardier

First mention - First mission 26 Dec 44

A/C No. 43-27678 Tail # 40 “Lemmon Lu” P Cressman, Jack E., 1Lt CP Long, Emmett N., 2Lt N None B Vannah, Harold P., Jr., F/O E Reda, John J., Sgt R Ross, Harry K., S/Sgt G Dickey, Jack F., Jr., S/Sgt F None

No regular ship or crew. Two pilots he flew with most were Lt Roland B. Jackson and Lt Paul L. Heaberlin

The closest he ever came to a regular ship and crew was with this crew for a couple of missions in Apr 45 – however, each mission one of the other crew members would be different.

A/C No. 43-4097 Tail # 28 “Darlene” (previously “Tiny?”) P Jackson, Roland B., 1Lt CP Rooker, John C., 2Lt N None B Reda, John J., Sgt E Freeman, Harold W., S/Sgt R Taylor, James M., Sgt G Darnielle, George W., Sgt F None

Last mission 20 Apr 45:

A/C No. 43-35967 Tail # 48 P Crisp, Glenn S., Jr., Capt CP Crandall, Lawrence A., 2Lt N Codd, Russell G., 2Lt B McCullough, John E., Jr., 1Lt E Reda, John J., Sgt R Cubbage, Robert (NMI), T/Sgt G Alberico, Camillo A., S/Sgt F None

Going Home:

25 Jun 45 - 446th BS War Diary: 1st Lieuts. Gahm, McCloud, Berge, Chandley, Weihe, French, Golden, Dunn, Williams, and 2nd Lieuts. Huntsley, Rooker, McNeal, Crandall, Sykes, and Flight Officer Johnson, as well as Ems Taylor, Jeczewski, Reda, Reinartsen, Peterson, Chase, Sanders, Krider, Harrison, and Stewart have been transferred to the 515th Air Service Group.

I can account for 40 missions, including spares, early returns, etc

Dec 44 2

Jan 4

Feb 9

Mar 14

Apr 11

Total 40

Ships he flew on:

43-3989 Tail # 37 “Miss Margie”

43-4020 Tail # 26 “Bourbon Baby”

43-4074 Tail # 27 (picture of seated lady - no name/lettering)

43-4077 Tail # 43 “Stormy Weather” (Previously 447th ship “Ann’s Little Boy Val”)

43-4097 Tail # 28 “Darlene” (previously “Tiny?”)

43-27477 Tail # 32 “Boots”

43-27480 Tail # 44

43-27497 Tail # 29

43-27503 Tail # 46 “My Georgia Peach”

43-27678 Tail # 40 “Lemmon Lu”

43-27699 Tail # 33 “Jessie” (later name dropped from nose art)

43-27745 Tail # 47

43-27747 Tail # 42 “Spider’s Frolic Pad” (first # 42)

43-35967 Tail # 48

43-36224 Tail # 34 probably ”Hauling Ass II”

321st Bomb Group History Team; (446thBS) John T Fitzgerald, (446thBS) Patti Johnson and (447thBS) Historian Barbara Ennis Connolly.