SSgt Raymond H. Allaby, tail gunner of the B-17 42-29792, took off from station 105 Chelveston, Northamptonshire, UK on a bombing mission over Saint Nazaire’s submarine pens. His plane was hit by flak over the target area, exploding in mid-air. He was the sole survivor. Taken prisoner, he was sent to Stalag Luft 4 in Gross-Tychow. After the war, he erected a monument in memory of the crash and his fellow crew members.
From find a Grave:
Husband of Clare (Tuite) (Parenteau) Allaby and the late Charlotte (Parsons) Allaby to whom he was married for 36 years. Son of the late Lawson and Dora (Gamble) Allaby. He was educated in the Lowell school system, and graduated from Lowell High School.

He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, with the 365th Bombardment Group. [366th Bomber Squadron, 305th Bomber Group]. He attained the rank of staff sergeant and was assigned to the B-17 as a tail gunner. He was a sole survivor on a bombing mission to bomb submarine pens off the coast of St. Nazaire, France. After the plane was shot down, he was brought by German soldiers to a hospital where he spent 10 months recovering. Following his recovery, he was transported to a POW camp in Lithuania and after the Russians advanced the POWs were taken to Poland. In October 1997, Mr. Allaby and his wife were invited by the French to join them in a memorial dedication for him and his fallen crew at St. Nazaire.

Before retiring, he had worked as a photographer for Raytheon Co. for 35 years. Previously, he was employed by the Lowell Sun as a photographer from 1948-1957. In 1955 while still working for the Lowell Sun, he was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for pictures he had taken of a Lowell police officer rescuing a young boy who was drowning, family members said.

He enjoyed time with his family. He was a private pilot, at one time owning his own airplane, a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), and he was an avid golfer.