Reuben F Baganz

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-22965.jpeg UPL 22965 SSGT Reuben F. Baganz
Ball Turret Gunner
William Waldron Crew
487th BG - 836th BS
KIA 24 December 1944

Object Number - UPL 22965 - SSGT Reuben F. Baganz Ball Turret Gunner William Waldron Crew 487th BG - 836th BS KIA 24 December 1944

Killed in Action (KIA) when B-17G #43-38926 'Weary Willy' piloted by Lieutenant William J. Waldron was attacked by fighters on 24 Dec 1944.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 487th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 487th Bomb Group 836th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 487th Bomb Group 836th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Officers of the 487th Bomb Group outside the 838th Bomb Squadron operations room.
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Lavenham/Alpheton Airfield

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Kewaunee, WI 54216, USA 1 August 1925

Died

Rouvreux, 4140 Sprimont, Belgium 24 December 1944 On December 24, 1944, the 8th Air Force launched mission #760, the largest aerial mission of the war, which involved more than 2000 heavy bombers. The mission was to bomb German airfields and supply lines, to stem the German offensive in the Ardennes known as the Battle of the Bulge. The 487th Bomb Group led the entire 8th Air Force that day. Lt Waldron's crew flew B-17G 43-38926 in the number nine position in the Low Squadron of the 487th Bomb Group formation. The Group's target was the airfield at Babenhausen, Germany, but the formation was attacked by German fighters before reaching the target. S/Sgt Baganz and five of his crew mates were killed in action when their aircraft was shot down by German fighters south of Liege, Belgium. Three men were blown clear and survived when the aircraft exploded in the air. The B-17 crashed near Rouvreux, Belgium, about 15 miles south of Liege
Brodhead, WI 53520, USA
Milwaukee, WI, USA 2902 North 27th Street

Buried

Springfield, IL, USA Camp Butler National Cemetery Springfield Sangamon County Illinois, USA Plot: Section 3, Site 855-J1

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / The History of the 487th BG Roll of Honor pp. 302-5 and account pp 197-8 MACR 11675 / http://www.487thbg.org/Photos/WaldronCrew.shtml ,

Reuben F Baganz: Gallery (2 items)