Name: Reuben F Baganz
First Name(s): Reuben F
Last Name: Baganz
Place of birth: Wisconcin, Dewaunee Cnty, Kewaunee
Rank: S/Sgt Ball Turret Gunner
ASN: 16157552
Company: 836th Bomb Sqdrn
Unit: 487th Bomber Grp (H) 8th USAAF
Reported as: KIA
Date of incident: 24-12-1944
Place of incident: Warnoumont area, Sprimont
note: Aircraft type B-17G Fortress #43-38926 nickname: ‘Weary Willy’; the 836th Bomb group was attacked by German FW-190’s attacked from the tail. The airplane was riddled from this attack, the whole right wing was aflame and there was fire in the bomb bay. The Pilot, 2 Lt Waldron, held it as long as he could but it was uncontrollable and fell off in a spin. He went down to the galley-way and saw 2 Lt Eshleman, F/O Shuster, T/Sgt Andrew thrown against the right side of the airplane unable to move. 2 Lt Waldron tried to throw them out but couldn’t on account of the centrifugal force. He had just put his hand on his parachute when the airplane blew up and the concussion forced him out the escape hatch. The plane crashed in Warnoumont area near Sprimont, Belgium.
Ball Turret Gunner S/Sgt Reuben F Baganz died near Sprimont about 15 miles south of Liege, Belgium.
Destination: Babenhausen, Germany
Mission: Tactical Bombing
MACR: 11675
History of 487th Bombardment Group
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Waldron Crew|836th Squadron
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