Raymond Franklin Feilbach was born on July 16, 1916, in Bethlehem, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of George Feilbach. He was first married to Margaret V. Cudd Taichman and later to Edith Geraldine "Little Gerry" Young Meredith Feilbach. He was trained at Selman Field and was promoted to First Lieutenant in January 1944. He served in the 423rd Bomber Squadron, 306th Bomber Group, Heavy, and Navigator of B17G #4231388 during World War II.

On February 11, 1944, B-17G #42-31388 departed from Thurleigh, Bedfordshire, on a daylight bombing mission toward Germany but was heavily damaged by anti-aircraft fire and enemy fighters while en route to Frankfurt. Unable to remain in formation and losing fuel and altitude over France, the crew was forced to abandon the aircraft; S/Sgt James H. Coleman was killed, while the surviving crew members parachuted into the Oise region, where some were captured, and others escaped with the aid of the French Resistance. The aircraft continued briefly without its crew before crashing at La Cour de la Bruyère, in the commune of Campremy.

1Lt Feilbach was captured and held as a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft 1, Barth-Vogelsang, Prussia. He died on February 22, 1993, and is now buried in the Marietta National Cemetery, Marietta, Cobb County, Georgia, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.americanairmuseum.com, francecrashes39-45.net