James Raymond “Ray” Carnahan was born on January 30, 1923, in Clinton Township, Vermillion County, Indiana. He was the son of Vernon Carnahan and Turah Ellen Holt Carnahan. He was married to Helen L Carnahan. He was a graduate of Fairview High School; he also attended the University of Dayton. He had been stationed in England since September 1942 after enlisting at Wright Field about a year and a half earlier. He completed his basic flight training at Stockton, Texas, and earned his wings on January 4, 1943, in La Junta, Colorado. He served in the 328th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Pilot of B-24 #42-7614 nicknamed ''Buckeye" during World War II.

On January 7, 1944, the B-24 Liberator Buckeye participated in a strategic bombing mission against Ludwigshafen, Germany, a major center for the production of synthetic fuel and chemicals. Before reaching its target, the bomber sustained anti-aircraft damage when flak struck the cooling system of Engine No. 4. After completing the bombing run, the aircraft began its return flight to England, but Engine No. 4 was hit again and failed, forcing the Buckeye to leave the formation as it steadily lost speed and altitude. Shortly afterward, Engine No. 2 was also disabled by anti-aircraft fire, while ruptured fuel lines filled the aircraft with gasoline fumes, requiring the crew to wear their oxygen masks for protection. As the damaged bomber crossed occupied France, it passed over the Eiffel Tower before turning west, only to come under heavy German anti-aircraft fire again near Melun and Pringy. Additional flak destroyed the aircraft's radio, intercom, and compasses, wounded the flight engineer and radio operator, and left one engine ablaze. With the aircraft no longer controllable, the pilot ordered the crew to bail out. The Buckeye crashed near Pringy, Seine-et-Marne, while its ten-man crew parachuted from the stricken aircraft. Two airmen were killed in the incident, three were wounded, and five escaped without injury. Of the eight survivors, five were captured. They became prisoners of war, while the remaining three successfully evaded capture with the assistance of the French Resistance and escape networks before eventually returning to Allied control.

2Lt Carnahan successfully bailed out of the aircraft but was captured by German forces and held as a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft I in Barth-Vogelsang, Prussia. After World War II, he resumed active military service and later served in the Korean War. He retired from the U.S. Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel. He died on June 13, 1994, and is now buried in the Globe Cemetery, Globe, Gila County, Arizona, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, americanarchive.iwm.org.uk