Staff Sergeant John P Brunner was the son of George S and Minnie C Brunner. He was born on January 7, 1922, and died April 19, 2011, at the age of 89. They resided at 1610 Erie Avenue, Renovo, PA.

John entered the Air Force as an Aviator Cadet September 21, 1942. Prior to his entry, he was employed by the Lockheed Aircraft Co. of Burbank, California as an aircraft builder. He received his training in California, Colorado, Indiana, Utah, Nebraska, and Florida, and graduated from the AAF Flexible Gunnery School at Las Vegas, Nevada, receiving his silver wings May 13, 1944.

He left for overseas duty with his crew in a Flying Fortress (B-17) from Florida. They flew to Maine, Newfoundland, Canada, Azores, North Africa, and Italy. In Italy, they were assigned to the 15th Army Air Force and were stationed in Foggia with the 346th Bomb Squadron, 99th Bomb Group.

He flew his first combat mission on October 12, 1944, and his 60th on April 17, 1945. Bombing important targets in the following countries and cities: Italy (Brenner Pass); Austria (Vienna); Rumania, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Czechoslovakia (Prague) and Germany. Cities he bombed in Germany included Munich, Frankfurt, Bonn, Cologne, Blechhammer, Silesia, and Berlin. The mission to Germany’s capital, (Berlin) was one of the longest flights in the European Theatre. He was a gunner in the bottom turret of the plane.

S Sgt Brunner was awarded the Air Medal for Meritorious Achievement in aerial flight while participating in sustained operational activities against the enemy. The 99th Bomb Group has been twice awarded the Presidential Citation, the highest honor which can be bestowed on a combat unit, at impressive ceremonies held on September 27, 1944, and November 7, 1944, upon completing 300 missions.

John left Naples, Italy on a troop ship for the USA and was two days at sea when Germany surrendered. He arrived in Boston, Mass. on May 15, 1945, and was sent to train at Camp Beale, California. Upon receiving a furlough, he hitched a ride by air back East flying on a B-24 and a C-47 Army transport plane. After furlough John returned to Santa Ana Air Base, California for his next assignment.

John was the brother of William Brunner of South Renovo. Roberta Brunner, his niece, remembers John telling her the story that his plane was shot down in Italy and the Italians helped him escape.