Two excellent books to ready about B-24’s in the Pacific. There is a chance that the veteran was in the group in “Finish Forty [missions] and Home” by Phil Scearce; his own story of his time as a B-24 crew chief and gunner during WWII.
The second is “Unbroken - the story of Louis Zamperini” by Laura Hillenbrand
“Unbroken - the story of Louis Zamperini” by Laura Hillenbrand is one of the very best books I have read.