Ira was a pilot of a heavy bomber 15th Airforce B-17.  The forst trip out was sufficiently shot up so as to be unservisable for the next operation, He was given a B-24 for the second trip- flying tail position. It was ‘Operation Ploestic Oil Fields’. His plane was shot up to the extent that he was not able to get back to base.  One of the crew members was not able to bail out, so consequently, five bailed out and five stayed.  The five that bailed out eventually returned to base.  The bomber crash landed in Albania.  The five were seen to walk away from the ship including the fighter pilot.  Ira was missing in Action April 16, 1944.