Billy G. Ray was born on October 5, 1916, in Sedgwick, Sedgwick County, Colorado. He was married to Hilda M. Huddleson Ray. After graduating from Deuel County High School and attending Nebraska Wesleyan University, he worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. During World War II, Billy enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942 and served as a B-24 bomber pilot with the 15th Air Force, 454th Bombardment Group, 737th Squadron. As a First Lieutenant and Pilot of the B-24H Liberator #42-52313, nicknamed Rough Cobb, he completed 49 missions before being shot down during his 50th and final mission.

On August 29, 1944, during a major bombing mission (Mission 263) conducted by the 454th Bombardment Group of the 15th Air Force from San Giovanni, Italy, the B-24H-15-FO Liberator “Rough Cobb” (serial 42-52313) of the 737th Bombardment Squadron suffered mechanical problems. The aircraft fell behind formation after its No. 2 engine failed, which soon caught fire and spread into the wing. Losing altitude over the rugged terrain of the White Carpathian Mountains near Antonstál (now part of Nemšová, Slovakia), the pilot ordered the crew to bail out. The bomber crashed in the Trenčín District near Antonstál, and among the crew, Staff Sergeant Andrew A. Solock was killed in action during the bailout, and the remaining crew members survived and were captured, becoming prisoners of war.

1Lt Ray was captured and taken as a prisoner of war at Stalag 9C Bad Sulza, Saxe-Weimar. Returning home, he founded a successful insurance agency that he operated for six decades, served as Mayor of Chappell, and took on leadership roles on the local school, hospital, and airport boards. Deeply involved in civic development, he helped establish the Chappell Airport Authority and played a major role in creating a local airport and recreation area. His advocacy also contributed to the passage of the 1980 Federal Crop Insurance Act. A passionate aviator, Billy continued flying until the age of 88 and was honored with the renaming of the Chappell Municipal Airport as the Billy G. Ray Field in 1990. His lifelong commitment to aviation earned him a place in the Nebraska Aviation Hall of Fame in 1999.

Ray died on September 23, 2006, and is now buried in the Chappell Cemetery, Chappell, Deuel County, Nebraska, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.leteckabitvakarpaty.cz