SSgt. Merrill Demas flew on the low level Ploesti mission aboard the B-24D, Tarfu, as the tail gunner. He came home with shrapnel in his back from this mission. He was first assigned as a waist gunner, then, later, was a tail gunner for his remaining missions.



SSgt. Demas flew with these B-24 pilots :

Roper - 4 missions on, Yardbird - Exterminator

Cowart - 2 missions on, Thar She Blows

Hurd - 9 missions on, Tarfu - Queenie

Sedevic - 2 missions on, The Valient Virgin

Kemp - 8 missions on, God Bless Our Ship