Frederick Gaul was born on October 11, 1923 and was from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. . He served as the Flight Engineer of a B-24.
On December 17, 1943 B-24J (44-41016) piloted by 1LT Thomas West, flying out of Torretta, Italy as part of the 765th Bomber Squadron, 461st Bomber Group, 49th Bomber Wing, 15th Airforce, on a raid to bomb the Odertal Oil Refinery in Germany. The formation was attacked by enemy aircraft and shot down. The plane crashed near Troubky in the present-day Czech Republic. Six of the crew perished; 4 were able to parachute to safety and were captured. Gaul was killed in the crash.

The town of Troubky buried the downed airmen and remembered them in a beautiful grave/memorial in the town cemetery. The American Flag is flown over the grave every December 17 and July 4th.


His brother, SSgt Gerald Franklin Gaul, was also KIA during the war flying on a B-24 in the Pacific with the 5th US Air Force and is listed as Missing in Action. He flew on B-24D "Lady Lucy" #41-11901, 321st Bomber Squadron, 90th Bomber Group.