“José Carioca”.Over Ploesti Oil Fields.

1st Lt. Nicholas Stampolis served as pilot of B-24D 42-40617 on the 93rd Bomb Group's mission to Ploesti on 1 August 1943. The 93rd Bombardment Group certificate signed by Maj. Henri Z. Lake, Intelligence Officer, confirmed him missing over target on that date. His aircraft received a direct flak hit in the bomb bay at approximately 1400 hours while flying at extremely low altitude over Ploesti. The plane crashed and exploded in the center of the city with no crew members observed bailing out. Stampolis was reported as a battle casualty. His father, Peter Stampolis, resided at 230 East Vine Street, Columbus, Michigan.

2nd Lt. Ivan Canfield served as co-pilot aboard B-24D 42-40617 on the 1 August 1943 Ploesti mission. He was listed as a battle casualty on the Missing Air Crew Report filed 14 July 1944. The aircraft crashed and exploded in the center of Ploesti after a flak hit to the bomb bay. No crew members were seen to bail out. His mother, Mrs. Jamil Canfield, was listed as next of kin at 800 East Josephine Street, San Antonio, Texas.

2nd Lt. Max S. Dailey served as navigator aboard B-24D 42-40617 on the low-level Ploesti raid of 1 August 1943. He was reported as a battle casualty when the aircraft was lost over target. The aircraft crashed into a building in the center of Ploesti and exploded. Eyewitnesses reported no survivors. His father, Verla Willis Dailey, was listed as next of kin at 616 Hudson Court, Union Rapids, Iowa.

2nd Lt. Byron E. Michaelis served as bombardier aboard B-24D 42-40617 on the 1 August 1943 mission to Ploesti. He was reported as a battle casualty on the Missing Air Crew Report. His aircraft was struck by flak in the bomb bay at low altitude over Ploesti and crashed in the city center. No crew members escaped. His wife, Mrs. Norma J. Michaelis, was listed as next of kin at 1645 Lake Street, Salt Lake City, Utah.

T/Sgt. Elton L. McGillips served as engineer aboard B-24D 42-40617 on the 1 August 1943 Ploesti raid. He was reported as a battle casualty when the aircraft was lost over the target. The aircraft crashed in flames in the center of Ploesti after a direct flak hit. No survivors were observed. His father, Joe John McGillips, was listed as next of kin at 1615 Schiller Place, Houston, Texas.

S/Sgt. Milo R. Belson served as radio operator aboard B-24D 42-40617 on the 1 August 1943 mission to Ploesti. He was reported as a battle casualty on the Missing Air Crew Report. The aircraft was struck by flak at low altitude and exploded in the city center. No crew members were seen to escape. His wife, Mrs. Lorraine D. Belson, was listed as next of kin at 1600 Grand Avenue, Superior, Wisconsin.

Sgt. Walter L. Newport served as ball turret gunner aboard B-24D 42-40617 on the 1 August 1943 mission to Ploesti. He was reported as a battle casualty when the aircraft was lost over the target. The aircraft received a direct flak hit in the bomb bay at approximately 1400 hours and crashed into a building in the center of Ploesti, exploding on impact. No survivors were observed. His wife, Mrs. Ruth Newport, was listed as next of kin.

Sgt. Raymond R. Rogers served as waist gunner aboard B-24D 42-40617 on the 1 August 1943 Ploesti mission. He was reported as a battle casualty when the aircraft failed to return. The aircraft crashed and exploded in Ploesti after receiving a direct flak hit in the bomb bay. No survivors were observed by eyewitnesses. His grandmother, Mrs. Max Riley, was listed as next of kin at 100 East French Street, Covington, Kentucky.

Sgt. Gene H. White served as waist gunner aboard B-24D 42-40617 on the low-level Ploesti raid of 1 August 1943. He was reported as a battle casualty on the Missing Air Crew Report. His aircraft was hit by flak in the bomb bay and crashed in flames in the center of Ploesti. Eyewitnesses confirmed no crew members escaped. His mother, Mrs. Ruth J. White, was listed as next of kin at 1600 11th Street, Rock Island, Illinois.

Sgt. Glenn R. McCarthy served as tail gunner aboard B-24D 42-40617 on the 1 August 1943 Ploesti mission. He was reported as a battle casualty on the Missing Air Crew Report. The aircraft was destroyed by flak and crashed in the center of Ploesti. Eyewitness accounts confirmed no crew members survived. His mother, Mrs. Agnes McCarthy, was listed as next of kin at 400 Laramie Street, Maryville, Kansas.