William Norman Reed

William Norman Reed (January 8, 1917 – December 19, 1944) was a World War II fighter pilot, first with the Flying Tigers, then with the Chinese-American Composite Wing, Fourteenth Air Force, United States Army Air Forces. He is credited with nine aerial victories (three with the Tigers, six with the Army), making him an ace.

Early life Born in Stone City, Iowa, William Reed, commonly called "Bill", grew up in Marion. He graduated from Marion High School in 1935 and cum laude from Loras College in Dubuque in 1939.

Military service In February 1940, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps and was commissioned a second lieutenant. He served as a flight instructor at Barksdale Field in Louisiana.

After the Tigers were disbanded on July 4, 1942, Reed returned home to Marion, where he embarked on war bond drives. However, he re-enlisted and was commissioned a major in the Army Air Forces in February 1943. He returned to China, joining the Fourteenth Air Force, which was led by Claire Chennault, his old Flying Tigers commander. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel at some point and was placed in command of the 3rd Fighter Group. or ran out of fuel. He bailed out, but apparently struck his head on the tail section and did not open his parachute. His body was recovered, and he was interred in Anamosa, Iowa.

He was inducted into the Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame in 1997.

A full-scale replica of a Curtiss P-40B fighter, painted with the same markings as the one flown by Reed, was installed at the Iowa Gold Star Museum in October 2012.