Belly Gunner of a B-24, S/Sgt Ray Schwartz flew missions over Germany, Austria and Romania. The first time he bailed out of his plane was over Genoa, Italy, when German ME 109s shot up his aircraft.

The jump caused serious fractures of his right ankle, causing him to spend six weeks in a local army hospital. He returned to duty and went on a mission he was very fortunate to have survived:

The oil fields and refineries in Ploesti, Romania contributed to at least one third of the fuel used by the German military. Its elimination was vital to the Allied effort.

Ray's bomb group was included in the attack on Ploesti on August 1st, 1943. To accomplish this mission, 177 American bombers, mainly B-24s, took off from different Allied airfields.

Although the B-24 is a high-flying aircraft, they were ordered to fly in low at 200 feet to assure accuracy of their targets. In many instances, the rising black billowing smoke resulting from the fires of the previously dropped bombs made visibility almost impossible.

The long flight over enemy territory alerted hundreds of German fighters, and 200 anti-aircraft guns were waiting for the B-24s. The Germans had more anti-aircraft guns in Ploesti than they had protecting Berlin, again indicating the importance of these refineries to the German effort.

Of the 177 B-24s that set out for the oil fields, only 163 made it over the target. 54 planes were shot down, and 145 American parachuting airmen were captured. German fighters pursued the damaged, but still flying, returning bombers. It is estimated that 300 men were killed, and that the Americans suffered a 55% casualty rate.

Ray's aircraft, already damaged from flack, was one of those returning bombers attacked by the Germans. The pilot managed to keep the plane in the air until he could avoid water below and permit his crew to bail out over flat land. Ray's chute landed in a tree, but, after freeing himself from his harness, he slid down a slope fracturing two lower lumbar vertebrae. His body broken, he has suffered a lifetime of pain from his injuries.

During intermittent periods of unconsciousness, the Chetniks gave him over to Yugoslav partisans, who safely carried him in a wheelbarrow to American lines. Apparently these "pro-Allied fighters" were well remunerated for returning fallen airmen.

Other previous and subsequent Allied air missions over Ploesti suffered similar treatment. The oil refineries were finally destroyed. The cost of American and British lives was tremendous.

My friend Ray did make it home and married a wonderful gal, fathered a delightful family, became successful in business and tries to sing like Perry Como. Ray and his wife Faye visit with us every year. They are dear friends.


An Escort of P-38s

Now Hedy Lammar is a beautiful girl
And Madeline Carole is too.
But, you'll find if you query
A different theory
Amongst any bomber crew.
For the loveliest thing
Of which one could sing
This side of the heavenly gates,
Is no blond or brunette of the Hollywood set
But an escort of P-38s.

Yes, in days that have passed
When the tables were massed
With Scotch or champagne.
It was true that the sight was a thing of delight
Us intent on feeling no pain.
But no longer is the same nowadays this game,
When we head north from Messina Straits.
Take the sparkling wine, but every time make mine
An escort of P-38s.

Byron, Shelly, and Keats ran a dozen dead heats
Describing the views from the hills;
Of the valleys in May, when the winds gently sway
An army of bright daffodils.
Take the daffodils, Byron, the wildflowers. Shelly,
Yours is the myrtle friend Keats.
Just reserve me those cuties, American Beauties
An escort of P-38s

Sure, we're braver than hell. On the ground, all is well.
In the air it's a different story;
As we sweat out our track through the fighters and flak
We're willing to split up the glory:
Oh! They wouldn't reject us, so heaven protect us
Until all the shooting abates.
Give us the courage to fight them,
And one other small item
An escort of P-38s.