64th Fighter Squadron ship #37
Dad standing next to a burned P-47. I am not sure if this was one of the planes that he flew. I do remember him telling was about one of his first missions. He said his plane got a hit from either ground fire or flak. The damage caused fuel to accumulate in the supercharger ducting and it caught fire. He kept hearing these occasional explosions and thinking it was more flak he kept flying a zigzag course until the guy he was flying with asked what he was doing. “Avoiding flak” was Dad’s response. “Not necessary since we have been well within friendly territory for a while now” came the reply.
Another of the planes Dad flew that caught some flak just forward of the cockpit.
Unknown 64th Fighter Squadron pilot in the cockpit of his plane
Unknown 64th Fighter Squadron pilot in the cockpit of his plane
Unknown 64th Fighter Squadron pilot in the cockpit of his plane
Lt. Ray Garcia, next to #13, "La Lou"
Unknown 64th Fighter Squadron pilot in the cockpit of his plane
Unknown 64th Fighter Squadron pilot in the cockpit of his plane
Lt. Ray Garcia, in "La Lou". From Ray: "My ship was named after my best friend Louis Eugene Fraser who was shot down at Piacenza, Italy around January 29, 1945. Louis was captured by the Germans, and was a POW. Naming my plane "La Lou" kept Louis flying with me! La Lou stands for "Louisiana Louis." Louis was from Many, Louisiana. Louis was "Best Man" when I married Gloria. We named our first son Louis. Louis Fraser passed in 1995. I gave the Eulogy at his funeral service. We remain in close touch with his wife, Audrey, and family. Bob Nielsen was one of our classmates at P-47 combat training at Wendover, Utah. The title block below the windshield says: Pilot Lt. Ray Garcia, CC S/Sgt E. Saboski, Asst. Cpl. E. Farley, Arm. Sgt L. Grybos”
