325th Fighter Group 07/10/1943
ACCOUNT OF ESCAPE
NAME (In full) WILLIAM RAYMOND REED
ASN or Personal Number 0430942
(RAF)
RANK Captain
ORGANIZATION 317th Fighter Squadron, 325th Fighter Group
SHOT DOWN 10 July 1943
CAPTURED 18 July 1943
REACHED SAFETY 23 July 1943 The Chief of Police took Captain Reed to the Para-Troopers Headquarters in Trapani
Captain Reed led his squadron of 16 P-40’s with two other squadrons on a bombing mission escorting B-25’s of the 321st Bombardment Group over Trapani/Milo Airdrome in Sicily on 10 July, 1943. While covering the rear of the bomber formation his squadron was attacked by 25 Me-109’s and Ma-202’s. During a combat with four enemy planes and while on a head-on attack his engine was hit, catching fire and forcing him to bail out at 2,000 feet. While descending Captain Reed observed that one enemy plane took a shot at him but did not follow him down. He landed in the sea about two miles west of Trapani and immediately inflated his life preserver. Since the automatic gas release on the raft did not work, he had to inflate the raft with a hand pump. Captain Reed spent the first night in his raft and in the morning found himself drifting toward a lighthouse about four miles west of Trapani. The lighthouse was situated on a round concrete foundation approximately 80 feet in diameter, and about six feet above the water. Inasmuch as the lighthouse was not inhabited Captain Reed decided he would hide on this man made island and avoid being captured by the Italians. Even though there was no water available he made this lighthouse his home for seven days, spending most of his time sleeping and swimming. During this time he subsisted on the concentrated foods of his “Escape Kit”. Captain Reed stated that the escape kit was a blessing and if water had been available he could have stayed in the lighthouse for another 10 days. Finally, on his eighth day without water Captain Reed paddled a mile and a half out to a Sicilian fishing boat and persuaded them to sell him some water. After giving him the water, the Sicilians refused to take him back to the lighthouse and realizing the futility of trying to get back in his raft he decided to go to the mainland with the boatmen. Upon reaching the shore south of Trapani he was picked up by a coast patrol unit which in turn took him to their Headquarters.
The Italians started asking numerous questions and at the same time graciously offered wine and cognac to the prisoner. Captain Reed gave his name, rank, and serial number and refused to answer any further questions. During his six day confinement in Trapani various officers tried to question him, some with friendly curiosity and others with boisterous bellows, making disparaging remarks about the United States. All in all, he said the treatment was good. On 23 July, the Chief of Police took Captain Reed to the American Para-Troopers Headquarters in Trapani. After being released he met F/O J. F. Rauth, 319th Fighter Squadron, and they both visited Lt. D. R. Clark, 317th Fighter Squadron, who was convalescing in a hospital in Trapani. With the help of American units Captain Reed and F/O Rauth were able to reach Ponte Olivio where they received air transportation back to North Africa. Captain Reed returned to his squadron on 27 July, none the worse from his ordeal.
Interviewed by STANLEY ROSEN, 2nd Lt., Air Corps, on 28 July, 1943.
S-2 Officer
at APO 525
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by William Reed of the 325th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of William Reed's combat experience.
William Reed: Personnel File
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