Gerald Duval

Author Spotlight - Gerald A. Duval

Wings and Barbed Wire: A POW's Story!The life of a prisoner of war can be one of the most grueling incidents a human can endure.Gerald A. Duval recounts his experience as a prisoner of war after being captured by the Nazi SS during the Second World War, in his book Wings and Barbed Wire: A POW's Story, published by 1stBooks Library in June 2001.

As a Gunner on a B-24 Liberator with the famous 459th Bomb Group, Duval was high over Austria when his plane was hit by German fire, sending the craft into a flat spin and crashing.Miraculously, Duval survived-only to be taken prisoner by members of the German Luftwaffe.Suffering from broken bones, and bleeding badly from bullet wounds to various parts of his body, Duval was taken directly to a labor camp where he was bandaged up and imprisoned.The conditions were dire, and the medical supplies were few, yet Duval survived.Through his captivity, he survived the horrors of two labor camps and one prison camp until the Russian army liberated Duval's last camp, situated on the Baltic Sea.

Wings and Barbed Wire: A POW's Story is the true story of one American's life in a Nazi prison camp and the horrors that were involved in his captivity.Duval does an excellent job of making the reader believe he is his right there with him.

Gerald A. Duval was born in Remer, Minnesota in 1923.In 1942, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corp, and trained as a Radio Operator.Later, he was transferred to Tucson's Davis Monthan Field where he joined the 459th Bomb Squadron as both a Radio Operator and a Gunner.After his training he was sent, along with the 15th Air Force, to Giulia, Italy.After being taken captive and liberated, he received an honorable medical discharge and sent home in 1945.He was married in 1947 and had two sons, meanwhile returning to active duty in the Army during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, respectively.He currently resides in Panama City Beach, Florida with his wife.

GERALD A. DUVAL, died on February 18, 2006 in Pittsburg, KS. Gerald was a life member of AXPOW and a charter member of the Hutchison-Poplawski Chapter, Panama City, FL where he was active until April, 2005. During WW II Gerald served with the 459th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force. He was shot down and captured by the Germans on April 2, 1944. He was liberated by the Russians near the end of the war in Europe. Gerald was preceded in death by Thelma, his wife of 57 years, and is survived by a son, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

MACR: 3889

S/Sgt. Gerald A Duval was assigned to the 459th BG 759th Squadron.
Military Occupational Specialty (MOS): Radio Operator.

The following information on Gerald Duval is gathered and extracted from military records. We have many documents and copies of documents, including military award documents. It is from these documents that we have found this information on S/Sgt. Duval. These serviceman's records are nowhere near complete and we are always looking for more material. If you can help add to Gerald Duval's military record please contact us.