Raymond P. Warner

2nd Lt. Raymond P. Warner (O-796633) served as navigator on the Ploesti mission of 1 August 1943. Born 19 September 1917, he was an engineering student in civilian life with three years and two months of service. He had been decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Warner was severely wounded on the mission, sustaining 17 pieces of flak in his head, 18 in his left shoulder, and burns on his face, right calf, and buttocks. He bailed out at approximately 180 to 200 feet altitude southeast of Ploesti and was captured.

Warner was held in a POW camp in Romania along with other Ploesti raid survivors from August 1943 through mid-1944. During captivity he engaged in escape planning with Capt. Taylor, helped construct escape maps using a light table he built, and participated in at least one failed escape attempt through a cellar window, which was thwarted by a Romanian guard.

In his E&E report Warner provided detailed accounts of camp conditions, Romanian guard behavior, a suspected German informant (Sgt. Treichler of the 98th BG), disciplinary problems with the senior American officer (Major Yeager/Yaeger), and intelligence activities including counting oil trains and copying maps for potential escape use.

Warner eventually evaded and made his way out of Romania. He signed a security certificate in Bari, Italy on 4 September 1944, arrived at Gibraltar on 6 September 1944, and returned to the UK on 6 September 1944.