Ray Phillip Reeves

Military

Ray Reeves had trained as radio operator and flew in that capacity on many missions with the James E. Hill Jr crew, including Ploesti and Wiener Neustadt.



In December 1943, due to ear and nose problems, he was taken temporarily off duty. As he had used a camera on some operations to film bomb strikes, he became familiar with the men in the 44th BG photographic section while recuperating. As his position in the Hill crew had in the meantime been filled by Sgt Chase (P V Chase?), he was asked to fly as a photographer on the 21 January 1944 mission with the Howington crew on B-24H "Ram It-Dam' It" 42-7635. After bombs away, the plane was attacked over France by German fighters and was shot down. It turned out to be Reeves' first and last mission as a photographer. Reeves was one of the 5 evaders. He landed near Sommereux (Oise), France and was in Auneuil the same evening.



For the following 5 1/2 months, he was fed, clothed, transported, sheltered in many places, among them Beauvais, Paris, Beauvais again, then back in Paris. Left Paris by train towards the South of France and, guided by Belgian members of the Comet evasion network, he crossed the Pyrénées mountains in the night of 7-8 May 1944. He was led across Spain to Gibraltar, arriving there on 6 June 1944. He left Gibraltar by air the following day and landed in Bristol, England on 8 June 1944. Escape & Evasion Report E&E 729.

See the full story of his evasion at http://www.evasioncomete.be/freevesrp.html

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The 'semiofficial' insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
B-24 Liberators of the 44th Bomb Group line up for takeoff at Shipdham in 1943. The 'Flying Eight-Ball' emblem of the 68th Bomb Squadron is visible on the nose of the leading aircraft. Image stamped with field press censor, 1943. Press Agency photograph- original printed caption has been removed.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14151313
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39831745
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18162569
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35037588 at enlistment, then O-741141
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11052903 at enlistment, then O-748585
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Calaban
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 67th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Ram-It-DamIt
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Alanreed, Texas, USA 6 April 1922

Enlisted

27 July 1942 Lubbock, Texas

Other

1 August 1943 Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying B-24 Liberator 41-24232.

Other

Bailed out

21 January 1944 of 42-7635, over France

Other

Landed in parachute

21 January 1944 near Sommereux (Oise), France

Other

Evaded capture

21 January 1944 - 6 June 1944 Helped by French citizens and members of the Résistance

Died

3 July 2001 Houston, Texas
Alanreed, Gray County, Texas, USA

Buried

Ray Reeves rests at the Brookside Memorial Park in Houston, Texas

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Updated website address : www.evasioncomete.be...

Date
Changes
Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 2357
NARA WWII Enlistment Records
Escape & Evasion Report E&E 729 - https://catalog.archives.gov/id/5555369
Personal research for his page at http://www.evasioncomete.org/freevesrp.html

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

MACR 2357 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database