World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Raymond M. Rahner
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Queens, New York
Honored By
John Peterson
HE ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS, SERVING AS THE NAVIGATOR OF A B-17 AIRCRAFT DURING WWII, WHEN HE WAS SHOT DOWN OVER FRANCE APRIL 3, 1943. DURING 2 1/2 YEARS AS A PRISONER OF WAR IN STALAG LUFT III, HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER CAMP BEFORE THE ESCAPE TOOK PLACE. IT WAS DURING HIS TIME AS A PRISONER OF WAR THAT HE WOULD DISCOVER HIS TALENT FOR ENTERTAINING, NAMELY THROUGH HIS FELLOW PRISONERS AND HIS GERMAN CAPTORS.