James R. Vest.

S/Sgt James R. Vest served as waist gunner on the August 1, 1943 Ploesti mission. Reed listed him as 'freed.' Vest was wounded; his face was bleeding before the bailout. His parachute opened successfully.

After landing, Vest was brought to Reed at a house while both were prisoners of Romanian forces. Both men were told that Lt. Warner was alive. Vest was eventually freed, most likely after Romania's surrender in August 1944, and returned to duty.