Ray Noury July 17, 1923 and was from Rhode Island. He served as the Right Waist Gunner on B-24 “Miss Fortune” (42-73138) of the 343rd Bomber Squadron, 98th Bomber Group “The Pyramiders”, 47th Bomb Wing of the 15th Air Force flying out of Italy.
On February 22, 1944 B-24 “Miss Fortune” flying out of Fortunate Cesare Air Base (Lecce), Italy, was on a Bombing mission during the “BIG WEEK” of February 1944 to Regensburg, Germany to destroy enemy aircraft manufacturing capabilities. After bombing the target, the formation was attacked by over a dozen enemy aircraft and was under severe anti-aircraft fire. “Miss Fortune” was hit and right wing badly damaged. The planed crashed near Nepomuk, in the present day Czech Republic.
All of the crew, except for the Radio Operator, T/SGT Raymond Noury, perished in the crash. Noury was able to parachute out landing in a damaged parachute in a snow bank and was taken prisoner for the rest of the war which he spent in Luft Stalag IV in 4 Gross-Tychow. (Reference Missing Aircraft Report {MACR} 2726)
A memorial is located at the crash site on Dubec Hill (Nepomuk) and in the center of the Village of Prádlo remember the crew. A cenotaph in the Prádlo cemetery. Remembers the crew’s burial location until they were repatriated ot the US. in the
The fallen crew members were interred together on June 16, 1950, Jefferson Barracks St. Louis, MO in SECTION 84 SITE 148
The crew's sacrifice for freedom is told in in the book "Miss Fortune's Last Mission" by Bill Boyce and John H. Torrison (2015).
FROM FIND A GRAVE: From the Woonsocket Patch, December 26, 2013 Raymond A. Noury, 90, of Pascoag, formerly of Woonsocket, died Friday, Dec. 20 at the Providence Veterans Administration Medical Center, according to Menard-Lacouture Funeral Home. He was the husband of Therese (Deshaie) Noury and the late Francoise E. (Daigle) Noury. Born in Central Falls, he was a son of the late Joseph and Marie-Jeanne (Noury) Noury. He was raised in Central Falls and graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Central Falls. Noury served in the U. S. Army Air Corps during WWII. Initially serving on the Atlantic coast on patrol for U-boats he later transferred to become a crew member of the B-24 Liberator bombers. His unit saw service in North Africa and then went to England* to fly missions targeting German military and industrial targets. Mr. Noury saw action during 17 missions over Nazi-occupied Europe and was the sole surviving member of his plane when it was shot down over the Czech Republic on February 22, 1944. He was taken prisoner and remained in a German POW Camp until the end of the war. For his service to his country Noury was awarded the Purple Heart, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, European African Middle-Eastern Theatre Campaign Ribbon, Distinguished Unit Badge, Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Campaign Ribbon and American Defense Service Medal. During his working career Mr. Noury was employed at Kayeem Meats Inc., H. P. Hood Inc. and was the owner and proprietor of the former Chapel Four Corners Market in Cumberland. Later in life Ray went on to earn his college degree from Roger Williams University. Ray maintained a lifelong concern for his fellow veterans through his membership and involvement in the American Legion Alphonse Yelle Post 9 in Manville, the Central Falls VFW, and the Disabled American Veterans and though his supports of numerous veterans charities. He was also a member of the Cercle Laurier, Le Club Par-X, and the Italian Workingmen’s Club in Woonsocket. His hobbies included golfing and bowling. Ray will be remembered as a loving husband and father and cherished his role as a grandfather and great-grandfather. In addition to his wife he is survived by three sons Paul Noury (Pauline) of Seekonk, MA, Michael Noury (Robin) of Ashaway, and Robert Noury (Pam) of Pawtucket, three daughters Rachel Noury of Bristol, Denise Arrighi (Paul) of Pawtucket, Cheryl Noury of Warren and a step-daughter Denise Ethier (David) of Pascoag. He was the brother of Ernest Noury of Central Falls, Claire Pierce of Woonsocket and the late Rene Noury. He is also survived by 19 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was the grandfather of the late Raymond J. Noury who passed away in 2011. His World War 2 story was chronicled in the book; "Miss Fortune's Last Mission" by William J. Boyce/John H. Torrison with John DeMers (Bright Sky Press) *Mr Noury went to Italy, not England as reported in the original obituary. Thank you Mr. Torrison for the correction. 6/19/2017