I'm the son of Frenchy Girouard a top turret gunner on two planes - He flew two B-24's, the first in 1943, Squirrely Shirley which got shot down, and then The Red Headed Woman until his release in 1945. My Dad is of French Canadian decent, hence his nickname from his then french accent. His crew members were the following. 
Pilot - Gustav O Lee (origin - Irene, SD)
Co Pilot - Robert Anglis ( South Ozone Park, NY)
Navigator - Roman Bonczek ( Wallkill, NY)
Engineer - Eddy Beck ( McKees Rocks, PA)
Bombardier - Vernon Dicktel (Hill City, Minn)
Tail Gunner - Fred Barnum (Canandaiqua, NY)
Ball Turret - W.L. Braeger- (Rhinelander, Wisc)
Nose Gunner - Joe Bauer (Chicago, Ill)
Radio Man - Robert Baca (San Pedro, Cal/Socoro, New Mexico)
Top Turret - Frenchy Girouard (Fitchburg, Mass)
 
I've done some searching in different areas and have come up empty. I'm not sure if some of these folks have relocated, are deceased etc but Dad was hoping to connect with one of his crew. Dad flew over 40 missions with these guys.
Thanks
Gary

I FOUND THE FOLLOWING LISTINGS AND SPOKE WITH ROMAN BONCZEK.  HE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR CALL AND TO SPEAKING WITH YOU DAD.  I LEFT A MESSAGE FOR GUSTAVO LEE.  FRED BARNUM AND WALTER BRAEGER DID NOT ANSWER.  I'M NOT SURE IF THEY ARE THE CORRECT PARTIES BUT THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE AS THE AGES ARE RIGHT.  THE LISTING FOR WALTER BRAEGER IS MOST LIKELY A GRANDSON.  MR. BONCZEK MENTIONED THAT HE KEEPS IN TOUCH WITH VERNON DICKTEL AND THAT VERNON IS IN POOR HEALTH.  BEST WISHES TO YOU AND YOUR DAD. - JIM MCCABE


Bonczek, Roman & Oldina
1109 Joy Ln
Little Falls, MN 56345-2511
(320) 632-6416

Lee, Gustavo
132 Woodsedge Dr
Painted Post, NY 14870-9050
(607) 937-0723

Braeger, Walter
3001 Oak Rd
Webb Lake, WI 54830-9591
(715) 259-4234

Barnum, Fred C
8680 Lake Rd
Barker, NY 14012
(716) 795-3779
 
ANOTHER GOOD POSSIBILITY, I LEFT A MESSAGE.
 
Baca, Robert P
Magdalena, NM
(505) 854-2395

Jim McCabe
My father, Lt. Mike McCabe(deceased 4/26/05), 307th BG, 424th BS, was a Navigator based at Morotai. Mission dates ranged from 2/20/45-8/1/45.

Jim,
A huge THANK YOU! I spoke with Dad a few minutes ago and he's excited to talk to Roman. I really appreciate the effort and quick response!
Gary

PICS of...
 
SQUIRRELY SHIRLEY
http://www.b24bestweb.com/Pics-S-SQUI-SS.htm
 
RED HEADED WOMAN
http://www.b24bestweb.com/Pics-R-RED_HA-RED_HN.htm

Daniel L. Stockton "B-24 Best Web"
http://www.b24bestweb.com/

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Hi Everyone
WL BRaeger was my dad. Sadly, he died about 5 years ago. Mom said he never talked about the war. Said it was something he could never forget. We live in Minneapolis, MN and my sister lives in rochester, ny and frequently boats on Canadiagua lake just outside of there. I see that Fred Barnum has that address. Small world. I still have my Dad's flight cap which shows 45 "bomb stamp" imprints which I presume are the missions they flew together. Having just read Fly Boys and Flags of our Fathers, I'm truly in awe of the courage and sacrifice the veterans made for our country. An uncommon valor from common man is how James Bradley put it.

I just discovered this very informative website and would like to add more information on my uncle, Walter L. Braeger, 13th AF, 72nd Squadron 5th Bomber Group crew 207.  I will have to get the exact date that he passed away, as my cousin, Walter, his son did not have exact information either.  What I would like to say is that as his son indicated, he did not discuss his combat missons on a regular basis, but did allow me to interview him for a high school project many years ago and I made a tape recording of it, just can't locate it right now.  Uncle Walt was a very different man when he returned from service, and had quite a taste  for alcoholic beverages, with that being said, he was one of the most intelligent and well-read people I have ever met and he was certainly a huge influence in my life.  I had at least weekly contact with him over the last ten or so years of his life and I have him to thank for my love of reading and the awesome authors he introduced me to, most notably GONZO himself, the fabulous Hunter S. Thompson.  Walt spent the last years of his life as a Greenskeeper at a golf course he truly loved, not being a golfer himself, he just enjoyed the interaction with others. His request for his remains were to be cremated and spread about the course he loved, but this didn't fly with the folks in charge at the course.  Let's just say that his last request was carried out by myself and his friends at the golf course may have found some funny grey residue on their golf balls when they retrieved them from the cups!!!  I loved my uncle very  much and am a better person for having known him.  I will try to find some photos to post at a later date.