Pilot B-24 #41-11896 flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, returning safely to Libya.

DSC Citation:
"Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) Julian M. Bleyer, United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a B-24 Heavy Bomber in Headquarters, 98th Bombardment Group (H), NINTH Air Force, while participating in a bombing mission on 1 August 1943, against the Ploesti Oil Refineries in Rumania. During a long and hazardous attack against a vital enemy oil installation made at low-altitude by a formation of B-24 type aircraft, Lieutenant Colonel Bleyer flew through heavy enemy fire against impossible odds, and then brought his crew safely back to base without the loss of a single man. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Colonel Bleyer on this occasion, even when confronted with practically certain destruction, exemplified the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces."

Service

Events

Event	Location	Date
Born	Dawson, Tulsa, OK 74115, USA	18 April 1915
Pilot training		1936
Primary flight training - 1936
Enlisted		February 1936
Pilot training		February 1936
Basic flight training - 1936
Pilot training		1937 – 20 June 1937
Advanced flight training - 1937
Promotion		20 June 1937
Promoted 2nd Lieutenant.
Promotion		9 September 1940
Promoted 1st Lieutenant.
Promotion		1 February 1942
Promoted Captain.
Assigned	Benghazi, Libya	1943 – 1944
343rd BS, 98th BG, 9th AF.
Promotion		7 May 1943
Promoted Major.
Survived Ploesti	Ploiești, Romania	1 August 1943
Pilot B-24 #41-11896 flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, returning safely to Libya.
Promotion		27 April 1944
Promoted Lieutenant Colonel.
Died	Brevard County, FL, USA	4 March 2002
Buried	320 Spring St, Cocoa, FL 32927, USA	April 2002
Brevard Memorial Park Cocoa Brevard County, FL