S/Sgt Rueben P. Staub
My name is Daniel Staub and I live in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
My Grandfather was with the 415th stationed in Leece, Italy
in 1944. His name was S/SGT Rueben P. Staub - On a mission
to Ploesti June 6, 1944 his particular plane was over Romania
and hit by flak badly after dropping their bombs. The pilot
2nd LT Lewis A. Kalb gave the order to bail out and my Grandfather
and four others did. The pilot was able to extinguish the fire
on number one engine by shutting off the fuel to that engine.
The forward crew had not bailed out and the plane joined with
the closest squadron which was the 376th.
However at that time the 376th had not yet dropped its bombs on its target
which was a Marshalling Yard in Craiova. So 415th plane followed the 376th
Bomb Group on there mission. When they got closer the 415th was hit by 4
ME109 fighters and shot up some more. The plane was able to make it back
to base with the 376th.
I got this information off of a MACR for my Grandfather. He passed away
in 1969 from Cancer.
I am 34 years old and never got to meet him but I am trying to document
his crew and achievements. He was MIA for 2 months and made it back to base
safely. I have 2 photos of him with planes and both are crew photos one was
named "Military Secrets" #322 and the other all I can see is the large #884
under the pilots window. The caption on the back says it was taken just before
a mission.
What I was wondering if you could help me locate possible photographs of
this particular incident or Photos of the plane when it got back to base.
I don't know the planes name or number. But if you could get my story out
to Veterans that flew that day I am sure they would remember that day. From
what I read in the 98th Bomb Group Vol. 1" the ship arrived back at base
scarcely more than a wreck." Page 90 the story called PLOESTI: THE STORY
OF A TARGET written by Maj. Harry C. Bauer and Cpt. Mason W.. Gross.
I have contacted Herb Harper and he doesn't have to much information on
this group. Could you please help me out? These photos are the missing link
to a great story.
Thank you for your time,
Daniel Staub
1252 Cardinal Lane
Green Bay, Wisconsin 54313
(920) 434-7529
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