George Reeden
| Date and Place of Birth: | July 2, 1930 Washington, DC |
| Date and Place of Death: | December 11, 1953 Saint Andrew Bay, nr. Panama City, FL |
| Baseball Experience: | Minor League |
| Position: | Third Base |
| Rank: | Second Lieutenant |
| Military Unit: | 3626th Flying Training Group USAF |
| Area Served: | United States |
George C. Reeden (born George C. Von Reeden) was born on July 2, 1930
in Washington, DC. His father - Charles Von Reeden - was a professional
boxer. George originally atteneded Eastern High School in Washington,
DC, but transferred to Anacostia High School so he could play more
baseball. The young third baseman signed with the Lexington A's of the
Class D North Carolina State League in 1950, but made only a handful of
appearances.
By September 1952, Reeden was a new cadet at Greenville Air Force Base,
South Carolina. He later transferred to the 3626th Flying Training Group
at Tyndall Air Force Base, near Panama City, Florida.
On December 11, 1953, Second Lieutenant Reeden was piloting a North
American F-86D Sabre that had a faulty fire warning signal. He had been
trained to turn the power off and did not eject but stayed with the jet
as it crashed into Saint Andrew Bay, near the DuPont Bridge, about a
mile northwest of Tyndall AFB. It was the third F-86D crash at Tyndall
in as many months.
George Reeden was survived by his widow Valentina (Swierzynsky) Reeden,
a daughter Kathleen Anne, and his parents, Charles and Ernestine, who
were living in Wheaton, Maryland. Memorial services were held at Tyndall
AFB on December 14, before burial took place at Arlington National
Cemetery, Section 7, Site 10060.
Date Added February 18, 2013
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