Captain C. Deane Cavit of Campbell, CA enlisted as a cadet in Army Air Corp in 1942. He attended pilot flight school and upon graduation was assigned to Lt. McGraw’s crew as a co-pilot in March 1943. The crew was assigned B-24s in the 389th Bomb Group and was dispatched to England in 8th Air Force.
The 389th then went to Africa to fly combat in the Mediterranean Theater. On Aug 1st, 1943, they flew the Low Level Ploesti, Romania oil refinery mission while on loan to the 98th BG, 9th AF. His plane was shot down, and Capt Cavit spent 13 months as a Prisoner of War in Romania.
Capt. Cavit was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, a Presidential Citation, the Purple Heart and three campaign medals. He received disability retirement.