Pfc. Melbourne Roy “Bud” Rieke, 24, Burlington, Iowa was a top-turret gunner on a B-17 that was entering the Ardmore base flight pattern to land when No. 1 cylinder blew on No. 1 engine at 2,000-ft. The aircraft caught fire and the crew of 9 was ordered to bail out. Three died in their parachute attempt. The flight engineer dropped his chute overboard and climbed on back of the co-pilot. When the chute opened, he lost his grip. The navigator failed to fasten his chute on one side and died. Rieke, for some reason, exited the aircraft too late for his chute to open properly. Picture is Burlington, Iowa HS Yearbook senior picture 6 years earlier. Reike’s wife was pregnant and had their child in Feb. 1945. Top Turret Gunner, B-17. Died September 24, 1944.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Pfc. Melbourne Roy "Bud" Rieke
Pfc. Melbourne Roy “Bud” Rieke, 24, Burlington, Iowa was a top-turret gunner on a B-17 that was entering the Ardmore base flight pattern to land when No. 1 cylinder blew on No. 1 engine at 2,000-ft. The aircraft caught fire and the crew of 9 was ordered to bail out. Three died in their parachute attempt. The flight engineer dropped his chute overboard and climbed on back of the co-pilot. When the chute opened, he lost his grip. The navigator failed to fasten his chute on one side and died. Rieke, for some reason, exited the aircraft too late for his chute to open properly. Picture is Burlington, Iowa HS Yearbook senior picture 6 years earlier. Reike’s wife was pregnant and had their child in Feb. 1945. Top Turret Gunner, B-17. Died September 24, 1944.
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