475th's Aces
Captain Horace B. "Bo" Reeves
 |
|
| Stamford, Texas was the birthplace of Horace Bickley "Bo" Reeves on 16 April 1922. He
grew up in Lamesa and attended the University of Texas before entering the Army Air Forces
in June 1942. Following primary training at Ryan Field, California and basic at Marana,
Arizona, he graduated and was commissioned at Williams Field, Arizona on 1 October 1943.
He then took P-38 transition training at Salinas and North Island, California before being
sent to the southwest Pacific. Assigned to the 431st Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group based at Hollandia, New Guinea, Reeves scored his first victory on 16 June 1944. The 431st Fighter Squadron was escorting B-25 staffers to Jefman Island, New Guinea when Reeves downed an Oscar just after noon. Moving up to the Philippines, he downed three Zekes, one each on 12 and 26 December, and 4 January 1945. On 28 March, Lieutenant Reeves had his best day in combat and became an ace. Flying to Ben Goi Bay, French Indochina, Reeves downed two Hamps to become the last of the 475th's 32 aces. During his tour, Reeves flew 137 combat missions with over 700 combat hours. Reeves left active duty on 7 January 1946 but returned to the Air Force on 9 April 1947. Initially serving as a flight instructor, he later graduated from navigator and radar bombardier schools. He flew with the first B-47 wing, (306th) and after 4 1/2 years transferred to SAC's reconnaissance operations, flying RB-57s and U-2s. Promoted to lieutenant colonel on 26 October 1957, he spent the last five years of his career in the SR-71 program, retiring in February 1970 |
