The B-24D, Liberator, 41-11819, Raunchy, in the 344th Bombardment Squadron, in the 98th Bombardment Group, and the 9th Air Force. Crashed and was lost on the low level bombing mission to Ploesti, Romania. The airplane was hit by flak explosions and was damaged over it's target, The Astra Romano refinery complex,. Already hit and damaged by flak, it was, finally, downed by an explosive charge on an anti aircraft barrage balloon cable, which contacted, Raunchy's, wing and blew it off of the plane, which crashed into the ground flames from an altitude of only 150 feet. 8 KIA. 2 WIA-POW. 1 Aug 1943.