Olivari, of Calabasas, flew 26 missions over Germany as a togglier gunner beginning in February 1945. Olivari suffered minor injuries when a brass ammunition casing broke through the plexiglass nose of the plane and struck him in the stomach. Another time, however, he came close to death when he passed out because he couldn't reach his oxygen tank as the plane flew upwards of 25,000 feet in 50-below tem