Bill Reed was a 1934 Marion High School graduate who achieved the status of true American Hero fame and died 10 years later.
Now, almost 80 years later, representatives of the Marion Historical Society have been asked to present the case for memorializing Flying Tiger Ace Bill Reed by designating and naming the runway area of the Marion Airport as “Lieutenant Colonel Bill Reed Memorial Field.” If the city council agrees, Bill will become the third Flying Tiger so recognized.
Former Governor Terry Branstad, who recently returned from his position of Ambassador to China, is quoted as saying that Reed is still known and honored in that country for his service during World War II. Again, according to Faulkner, history is not just past, it is present and will be in the future.
The complete story of Bill can be found in the 2020 biography “Flying Tiger Ace – The Story of Bill Reed, China’s Shining Mark” by Carl Molesworth. The book is available for check out at the Marion Public Library or through most area bookstores.
