James Oblack served as a Ball Turret Gunner in the 44th Bomb Group / 67th Bomb Squadron. On his first mission, 4 October 1943 with Pilot Robert G. Stamos, their B-24 #42-72873 "Raggedy Ann II" was attacked head on by enemy fighters. Badly damaged, the plane begin to spin down and when Stamos gave the order to bail out, Navigator John A. Must and Bombardier Donald G. Campbell jumped out and drowned in the North Sea. Stamos and his Co-Pilot Howard W. Metts later regained control of the plane and managed to fly it back to England. Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 5149. James Oblack was wounded, shot through the cheek, and survived. He never flew again and went to ground support work.