Obituary

Sgt. Jesse E. Brenneman was a member of the crew of a B-17 Flying Fortress. His station was turret gunner. His plane failed to return from a bombardment mission over Wiener-Neudorf, Austria, on July 26, 1944. He was a member of the Fifteenth Air Force.

The ship's formation was attacked by enemy fighter planes while over the target. Jesse's ship was severely damaged by the fire of the intercepting planes ans almost immediately thereafter the stricken aircraft fell out of the formation and disappeared in the dense clouds. Before the crew passed out of view of accompanying planes, five parachutes emerged and it was hoped that Jesse,s was among them. For outstanding performance beyond the call of duty he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross as well as the Air Medal.

His father passed away in January 1945. Besides his mother, he leaves two brothers, Lawrence of Newton and Corporal Roy Brenneman, who saw service in the Philippine Islands and a sister, Mrs. Russell [Marie] Partridge, also of Newton.