Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

Friday, August 17, 1945 was no different from any other summer day.
The heat was stifling, as usual, and the late summer humidity simply added to the oppressive Texas sun. The war in Europe was over and the Japanese had finally been defeated in the Pacific. Hopes of a future were beginning to return to the American spirit as the worst war in world history was coming to a close.
The horrors of the war, however, would be re-lived on that day in the small north Texas town of Weatherford, Texas. And a Tyrone man was part of it.
Sgt. Donald E. Reed was a gunner aboard a B-29 bomber out of Alamogordo Airfield. He was tragically killed when the plane he was in hit another B-29 bomber from Clovis Field in New Mexico, while on a routine training run.
Reed will be honored in the fall, along with 19 other airmen, who’s fate was decided in the skies over Weatherford that night.
The city of Weatherford, 28 miles west of Fort Worth, will honor the crews of both planes by erecting a bronze plaque at the local library that will tell their story and list the name and hometown of each man. Eighteen of the 20 men died that night, but two managed to survive and are now 80- and 83-years-old. Both will attend the ceremony, along with military and civilian personnel and relatives of those who died in the crash.
Bob Hopkins, a member of the Parker County Heritage Society is interested in speaking with any family members of Reed. He can be reached at RHop169812@aol.com or 817-596-9745.
“I just want to reach the family members of this honorable man to let them know what we’re trying to do,” said Hopkins. “I’ve been contacted by some family members of other people, but haven’t heard anything about Mr. Reed. It’s important to us and important to his family.”

By Rick