668th BS Patch

416th Bombardment Group (L)

Sgt. Reed Ludvig Ernstrom

Airplane Armorer - Gunner,  19171760

Killed In Action - Jun 29, 1944

668th Bombardment Squadron (L)

 WWII-Medal

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      Born: 26-Sep-1923, Garfield County, Utah

Entered Military Service: Date: 13-Nov-1942 At: Salt Lake City, UT From: Salt Lake County, Utah

Buried: Draper City Cemetery, Draper, Utah, Plot: A-179-2

On-line Memorials:
National World War II Registry
Find-A-Grave


Sgt. Reed L. Ernstrom ... Airman reported killed in France.

Sgt. Reed L. Ernstrom, killed, was born in Garfield July 27, 1923. A graduate of Jordan high school, he was a former carrier-salesman for The Salt Lake Telegram and was employed at the Utah ordnance plant prior to entering the service in November, 1942.

After receiving aerial gunnery training at various United States bases, he left for duty overseas in May, 1944, and was reported missing over France June 29.

He is survived by his parents, two brothers, Lt. Anthon Ernstrom, U S M C R, and Wayne Ernstrom, Draper; a sister, Helen Ernstrom, Draper, and a grandfather,A. J. Nielsen, Arco, Idaho.

Extracted from Newspapers.com


See also Sgt Reed Ludvig Ernstrom Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF)
(Courtesy of Geoff Gentilini, Golden Arrow Research, LLC)
 Disclaimer: IDPF files document efforts to locate, identify, move, notify relatives and provide final resting for Soldier Dead,
often months or years after death, thus some pages may contain potentially disturbing or distressing information.
If you are sensitive, please consider whether to read this or not.
 Click Here for information on WWII IDPFs.

On 29 June 1944, Flight Officer Bruce Baxter, with gunners Ssgt Reed L. Enstrom and Ssgt Harold A. Potter was assigned to a low level mission against St. Hillaire-Vitre railroad junnction in the east of Brittany, France. The aircraft received a direct hit by flak over the target and went down in flames. No chutes were seen, but Ssgt Potter did survive and was captured - escaping and returning to his unit. F/O Baxter and Ssgt Enstrom were Killed in Action. This was Sergeant Enstrom's second mission.



Notes:
A/C Seen to Crash. Lost as a result of Enemy Anti-Aircraft. Acrft hit by flak over target area. Left engine was set afire. Acrft stalled and slipped down to the left, Kept burning after crash but did not explode.

Description:
One aircraft was hit by enemy fire at St. Lo and was seen to crash northeast of that city. The pilot was Flight Officer Bruce E. Baxter. His two gunners were Sgt. R.L. Ernstrom and Sgt. H.A. Potter. One chute was seen to emerge from the falling plane. All are listed as "Missing in Action." It had been F/O Baxter's first operational mission.
(416th BG History 1944)

See also MACR 6192 and Mission # 87



Photos and Documents
1930 US Census
1940 US Census
Military Record
Military Record
Military Record
Military Record
Death Certificate
Unknown
Unknown
The Salt Lake Tribune (Salt Lake City, Utah) 4 May 1945, Fri Page 20
The Salt Lake Tribune (Salt Lake City, Utah) 12 Sep 1948, Sun Page 48
The Salt Lake Tribune (Salt Lake City, Utah) 22 Aug 1948, Sun Page 32
Headstone Application
Headstone Application
Burial Register
Headstone
WW II Army and Army Air Force Casualty List
National World War II Memorial Registry
 
 
 
 


Source information can be viewed at WWII Military Service Fatalities Sources