Sgt Victor Ciganek was assigned to the 91st Bomb Group 322nd Squadron based at Bassingbourn. Victor served as radio operator on the B-17 #42-3119 "Destiny's Tot" on the Hamburg mission of 26 July 1943. Upon returning the B-17 ditched into the North Sea due to a malfunction of the fuel tank. The crew were picked up by Air-Sea rescue.

On 17 August 1943 mission to Schweinfurt Sgt Ciganek was shot down in B-17 #42-2990 "Dame Satan." Due to his injuries, Victor was immediately captured and taken to the local hospital in Jemappes, Belgium. He was then transferred to Stalag IXC in Obermassfeld where he spent Christmas of 1943. In 1944 he was transferred to Stalag Luft VI Heydakrug, then was moved to Stalag Luft IV Gross Tychow via train and cargo ship SS Masuren. On 6 Feb 1945 Sgt Ciganek began the March to freedom and was met by the Timberwolf outfit on 25 April 1945.