Reed, Merlin Howard

Individual Personnel Data
Name Reed, Merlin Howard   ‡
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-670612   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #121 dated 18 October 1943, effective 18 October 1943.
Duty Pilot
MOS1091 - Pilot, B-17
Last Duty Date 9 March 1944
Results Missing In Action
Final Resting Place or Memorial: Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, The Netherlands: Tablets of the Missing
Reed's remains were identified by DPAA on 5 December 2025. Disposition awaits a decision by the Reed Family.
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 3 March 1917
  • On 23 February 2026, The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced that U.S. Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Merlin H. Reed, 27, killed during World War II, and declared Missing In Action, was accounted for Dec. 5, 2025. The complete accounting of Reed's case will be published once the family receives their full briefing.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 3005⇓ (31.437 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Reed, Merlin HowardPilotMIA
2nd Lt. Rininsland, Bruce Martin⇗Co-pilotKIA
2nd Lt. Heiss, John Lawrence⇗BombardierKIA
T/SGT. Wellman, Robert Francis⇗Radio Operator / GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Johnson, Robert O (1943)⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerMIA
S/SGT. Osepchook, Arthur John⇗Ball Turret GunnerPOW
PVT. Hardy, Emmet Francis⇗Tail GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Plotz, John James⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Casey, Robert Joseph⇗Flexible GunnerCT
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 19 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
--⇗ 30 October 1943 Target: Marshaling Yard
Type: Transportation
Location: Geilenkirchen, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑29636⇗ Sortie Report⇗
34⇗ 3 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Wilhelmshafen, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑30033⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
35⇗ 5 November 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Pilot 42‑29636⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
39⇗ 1 December 1943 Target: Non-Ferrous Metals Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Solingen, Germany 		Pilot 42‑29723⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
46⇗ 24 December 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Croisette, France 		Pilot 42‑29723⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Composite group.
Sortie Report⇗
47⇗ 30 December 1943 Target: I. G. Farben Industrie, Chemical/Synthetic Rubber Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Pilot 42‑29723⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Flying Spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
50⇗ 5 January 1944 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Kiel, Germany 		Pilot 41‑24578⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
54⇗ 21 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France 		Pilot 42‑29723⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
41B Group. Turned back at 1350 hrs over Beachy Head because 'this aircraft took off late and could not find a position open in the formation.'
Sortie Report⇗
55⇗ 29 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Pilot 42‑29723⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report⇗
56⇗ 30 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany 		Pilot 42‑31222⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Lead group. Turned back at Sleaford at 1000 hrs because of runaway prop on #2 engine.
Sortie Report⇗
57⇗ 3 February 1944 Target: Submarines (under construction)
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany 		Pilot 42‑29723⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group.
Sortie Report⇗
58⇗ 4 February 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Pilot 42‑29723⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group, 41st A Combat Wing.
Sortie Report⇗
59⇗ 5 February 1944 Target: Bricy Aerodrome, Luftwaffe Training and Bomber Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Orleans, France 		Pilot 42‑29723⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
60⇗ 6 February 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France 		Pilot 42‑29723⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
63⇗ 20 February 1944 Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig & Bernburg, Germany 		Pilot 42‑29723⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report⇗
66⇗ 24 February 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Pilot 42‑37792⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron, low group.
Sortie Report⇗
67⇗ 25 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Ball Bearings Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Augsburg & Stuttgart, Germany 		Pilot 42‑37885⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group, Ground Spare aircraft. Replaced 42‑31211.
Sortie Report⇗
68⇗ 28 February 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France 		Pilot 42‑31211⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
69⇗ 2 March 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant and Machine Shop
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Pilot 42‑37801⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group, high Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
70⇗ 3 March 1944 Target: Roller-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Pilot 42‑31375⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
72⇗ 6 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Pilot 42‑37781⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High Squadron deputy, high group, 40th Composite Combat Bomb Wing. Returned to base after group leader abandoned attempt to join assigned combat wing.
Sortie Report⇗
73⇗ 8 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Pilot 42‑37781⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
74⇗ 9 March 1944 Target: Heinkel Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany 		Pilot 42‑37781⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Lost after bombs away when bombs from high group (379BG) hit this aircraft, knocking tail completely off in front of stabilizer; aircraft dived straight down into a spin with all four engines going; no chutes observed. MACR 3005
Sortie Report⇗

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