Bruce Becker was the son of Walter and Grace Becker of Cressona, Pennsylvania.  He ha a sister named Jean and a brother named Carl who served in the US Navy. He attended Cressona High School and the Kutztown State Teachers’ College where he was the capitain of the wrestling team. He entered the serice in February of 1943 and shipped to Europe in November 1944. He was a bombadier on a B-17 Flying Fortress (42-102490)that was part of the 323 Squadron of the 91st Bomb Group. The bomber was nicknamed The Wicked Witch and the crew’s pilot was 1LT Eddie McKnight.   While on a mission to bomb Nürenburg in Germany on 20 February 1945, The Wicked Witch suffered a direct hit from anti-aircraft fire that caused an explosion that killed Becker and four other members of the crew.  He was 24 years old.  The bomber’s Flight Engineer, William L. Hudson, is also buried at the Ardennes American Cemetery.  The Ball Turret Gunner, Joe Montpetit, and the waist gunner, Morley Calvin, are buried at the Loraine American Cemetery.
Information provided by Erwin Derhaag and the American Air Museum.