More than 1,100 American air crews became prisoners of war in Axis-aligned Romania.

Colonel James A. Gunn, the commanding officer of the 454thBomb Group, led his B-24s during the strike.

This included Colonel Gunns bomber.

Shown in this photo are US Army Air Force strategic bombers attacking Ploesti, Romania. This was the beginning of what we now know as Operation Gunn. One of the bombers was piloted by Lt. Col. Gunn. It was shot down and he survived. Gunn was housed with allied prisoners of war held by Romania. Fortunately, Gunn was able to hitch a ride with Romanian Captain Constantin Cantacuzino who was able to transport him to the Fifteenth Air Force headquarters base at San Giovanni airfield.

USAAF B-24s strike Ploesti, Romania. On one of these missions, Lt. Col. James Gunn was shot down and became a POW in August 1944. Image: NARA

Most of his crew bailed out safely, and were quickly captured.

This was the existing protocol among the Axis partners.

Romanian officials interrogated him, but Gunn was not harmed.

In this photo, three B-24 bombers fly low over a field as they make a bombing run on the oil refinery in Rumania. A fighter group based near there was the source of repatriation for the Americans through Operation Reunion. While Germans were bombing elsewhere, Popesti airfield personnel and Romanian fighters were able to avoid the Soviet occupation.

B-24 Liberators sometimes went in very low during their Ploesti bombing raids. Image: NARA

Even so, living conditions at the prison were terrible, with food and medical treatment in short supply.

Panic gripped the Romanians as they faced the prospect of occupation by the hated Soviets.

An immediate concern for the Romanians was the increasing level of German air attacks against Bucharest.

This photo shows columns of smoke rising up from burning petroleum at a refinery that was hit by a B-24 raid. This was the kind of bombing raid that led directly to Operation Gunn.

Columns of smoke rise up from the Ploesti oil refineries in the wake of an attack by B-24 bombers. Image: NARA

Colonel Gunn agreed to have 15thAir Force bombers strike Luftwaffe airfields in Romania to neutralize the threat.

Back at the field, Colonel Gunn was approached by Capt.

Constantine Cantacuzino, who offered to fly him to Italy in the belly of his Messerschmitt Bf 109G.

This photo shows a German 37mm AA gun set up to defend the Ploesti oil facilities in Romania. The image shows three German soldiers with ammunition and the gun in a trench. In the foreground is a blot action rifle. The soldiers are all wearing helmets and uniform trench coats. One of the soldiers has visible hobnailed boots.

A German 37mm AA gun set up to defend the Ploesti oil facilities in Romania. Image: Author’s collection

Captain Cantacuzino was a highly experienced pilot and the leadingAeronautica Regala Romanaace with 53 victories.

It was a risky plan, but time was of the essence.

There would be no way for him to bail out if Cantacuzinos aircraft ran into trouble.

In this photo we can see how Germans in World War II used rail cars to mount and move large anti-aircraft guns around. This gave the German military the flexibility to move defensive emplacements to catch Allied bombers off guard and ambush attacking B-17s, B-24s and B-25s.

German 128mm AA guns mounted on train cars near the Ploesti fields. Image: NARA

It was going to be a long, cold, and cramped flight for Gunn with very little oxygen.

A large American flag was crudely painted on both sides of the fuselage.

Appropriately, the rescue plan was named Operation Gunn.

This is a photo of the Romanian Bf 109 that was used to rescue Lt. Col. Gunn. The hand painted American flag of the United States is on the body of the plane. The flag painted on the side by the fighter pilot who flew the plane wanted to arrange for the USAF and OSS to meet them after landing on arrival at the US airbase. This is the stuff of legend.

The crude U.S. flag markings applied to Capt. Constantine Cantacuzino’s Bf 109. Courtesy of Paul Johnson.

Rescue flights began soon after airstrikes temporarily neutralized Luftwaffe units in the Bucharest area.

Both pilots survived the war.

Colonel James Gunn returned to the United States and enjoyed a successful business career.

This photo shows the markings on Cantacuzino’s Messerschmitt. It has tail number 166133. The Bf 109 was a tail dragger like most of the fighters in the second world war.

This photo shows the markings on Cantacuzino’s Messerschmitt. Courtesy of Paul Johnson.

Consequently, he emigrated to Spain after the war and passed away in 1958.

The historic photo shows the Messerschmitt fighter plane used by Lieutenant Colonel James Alexander Gunn III to escape the Germans in Romania. A member of the Fifteenth Air Force in World War II, he was the commander of the 454th Bombing Group and flew the lead B-24 bomber when he was shot down over Romania.

The hand-painted flag and stars were intended to identify the Messerschmitt as “friendly” to Allied aircraft. Courtesy of Paul Johnson.

This is the photo of the prop plane Gunn made his escape in. Although he was not a member of the royal family in Romania, Gunn was treated very well and Cantacuzino flew him to Italy at risk to himself. Read more on this affair in the author’s article.

The Messerschmitt made it through to Allied-controlled Italy. Against all odds, the incredible plan worked. Courtesy of Paul Johnson.

This photo shows air crews examining how Lt. Col. Gunn was able to hide in the radio compartment of the Messerschmitt. It was cramped and dangerous, but he made it.

Men of the 15th Air Force examine how Lt. Col. Gunn made his escape in the radio compartment of Cantacuzino’s Bf 109G. NARA

This is an image of Lt. Col. Gunn and Captain Cantacuzino celebrating their successful escape with a meal and a drink in Italy.

Lt. Col. Gunn and Captain Cantacuzino celebrate their successful escape with a meal and a drink. Image: NARA

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