Home | About | Pre WWI | WWI | WWII | Korea | Vietnam | Post Vietnam | Non Wartime | Wounded | Decorated | Contact Us | Search

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

Baseball's Greatest Sacrifice is associated with Baseball Almanac

Baseball's Greatest Sacrifice is proud to be sponsored by

Big League Chew