Reuben F. Baganz was born at Kewaunee, Kewaunee County, Wisconsin on August 1, 1925. His parents were Reverend Louis William Baganz (29 Mar 1888 – 25 Apr 1975) and Rosalina 'Rose' (Zimmerman) Baganz (23 Jul 1891 – 27 Nov 1975), who were born in Wisconsin and married about 1913. His father was a clergyman in the Lutheran Church. He had three older brothers: Reverend Theophil Adolph Baganz (31 Jul 1914 – 2 Jan 2008); Paul Conrad Baganz (18 Feb 1917 – 21 Nov 2008), who in 1940 was a high school languages teacher; and Carl Louis Baganz (12 Apr 1920 – 10 Apr 2001). In 1930 the family lived at Burlington, Racine County, Wisconsin. In 1940 the family lived at Brodhead, Green County, Wisconsin, where his mother ran a laundry service and his father was a retired minister. By 1942 the family lived at 2902 North 27th Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He completed four years of high school, and was single, without dependents, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army at Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 28, 1943. His home of record at that time was 2711 West Locust Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
After training, he was assigned as ball turret gunner on the heavy bomber crew of Lt William J. Waldron. The Waldron crew completed B-17 operational training at Ardmore, Oklahoma, and was assigned to the 836th Bomb Squadron of the 487th Bomb Group. This Group was based at Army Air Forces Station 137, near the village of Lavenham, Suffolk, England. The crew arrived at Station 137 by October 19, 1944, and became part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe.
On December 24, 1944, the 8th Air Force launched mission #760, the largest aerial mission of the war, which involved more than 2000 heavy bombers. The mission was to bomb German airfields and supply lines, to stem the German offensive in the Ardennes known as the Battle of the Bulge. The 487th Bomb Group led the entire 8th Air Force that day. Lt Waldron's crew flew B-17G 43-38926 in the number nine position in the Low Squadron of the 487th Bomb Group formation. The Group's target was the airfield at Babenhausen, Germany, but the formation was attacked by German fighters before reaching the target. S/Sgt Baganz and five of his crew mates were killed in action when their aircraft was shot down by German fighters south of Liege, Belgium. Three men were blown clear and survived when the aircraft exploded in the air. The B-17 crashed near Rouvreux, Belgium, about 15 miles south of Liege.
S/Sgt Baganz's remains were returned to the United States after the war, and reinterred at Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois.
B-17G 43-38926 crew:
• Waldron, William J – 2/Lt – Pilot – Safe
• Eshleman, Oscar F – 2/Lt – Copilot – KIA
• Shuster, Joseph S – F/O – Navigator – KIA
• Neu, Russell C – 2/Lt – Bombardier – Safe
• Andrew, Benedict A – S/Sgt – Engineer – KIA
• Ferenchak, George J – S/Sgt – Radio operator – KIA
• Baganz, Reuben F – S/Sgt – Ball turret gunner – KIA
• Isley, Eugene S – S/Sgt – Waist gunner – Safe
• Naughton, James P – S/Sgt – Tail gunner – KIA
Source of information: Paul Webber, www.findagrave.com