Wilbur Roy Giraud was born on August 1, 1918 and graduated from Eastern State Normal College in 1938. For two years he taught in the junior high and was assistant coach and scoutmaster at Gary, South Dakota. He returned to college at Illinois State Normal University and then Northwestern University where as a senior he entered the Army in May of 1942.



T/Sgt Wilbur Giraud flew his first combat mission on 28 Mar 43. Mission reports where he flew in combat, are summarized as follows:



28 Mar 43-target Rouen, France, pilot Lt Hanes, aircraft serial 42-5404 named Geezil

31 Mar 43-target Schiedam, Holland, pilot Lt. Hanes, aircraft serial 41-24629

4 Apr 43-target Paris, France, pilot Lt. Watson, aircraft serial 42-29658

16 Apr 43-target Lorient, France, pilot Lt. Watson, aircraft serial 42-29658

17 Apr 43-target Bremen, Germany, pilot Lt. Watson, aircraft serial 42-29658.



Killed in Action (KIA). Shot down 17 April 1943 in B-17 42-29658.



Hit in the tail by flak after bombs away over target Bremen. Attacked by fighters, the a/c went into a slow roll and Watson and co-pilot Kemp fought to keep it upright as ME 109's attacked. Bailout ordered from smoke filled plane which crashed at Stotel.



5 were Killed in Action, and 5 became Prisoners of War. Some reports claim that Giraud may have been shot upon reaching the ground after bailing out.



Wilbur Roy Giraud is buried or memorialized at Plot H Row 19 Grave 18, Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands. This is an American Battle Monuments Commission location.