Lieutenant Romuald Joseph Franey

Air Medal

Romuald Joseph Franey was born on September 12, 1919 to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Franey in Deming NM. Graduating from Deming HS, he entered NMAMC in the fall of 1940, attending school for one year. In September 1941 he enlisted in the USAAF and was subsequently trained as a Bombardier aboard B-24’s. In May 1944 he was assigned to B-24 #44-50334 at Lincoln Nebraska. The pilot, Lt Spain was also from Deming NM. The plane and crew was subsequently assigned to the 375th BS, 308th BG, 14th AF operating out of China. The 308th received a Distinguished Unit Citation for their dangerous and lengthy flights out of Kunming and Hsinching China to attack shipping off of French Indo China. On 22 March 1945 his B-24 was last reported attacking shipping off of Hainan Island. It was never heard from again. The only subsequent sign of the crew members were the remains of the navigator that were recovered after the war.

Lt Romuald Franey is memorialized at the Manila American Memorial. He was 24 years of age at the time of his death.