Lonnie Howard Bumgardner was born on April 17, 1916, in North Carolina. He was the son of Alonzo "Lon" Bumgardner and Amanda Esma Whisenant Bumgardner. He was married to Almetta P. Bumgardner. He graduated from Thomasville High School. Entered service on May 14, 1942, and received his gunner's wings at Fort Meyers, Florida, on November 21, 1943. In 1944, he went overseas and was assigned to the 20th Bomb Squadron, 2nd Bomb Group as a Flight Engineer/ Top Turret Gunner in a B-17 #42-32048, nicknamed "Queen," and was on 16th missions during World War II.

On August 29, 1944, the B-17G “Queen” (42-32048) was shot down near Krhov, close to Bojkovice, during the Air Battle over the White Carpathians. Flying in the Dog 4 position on Mission 263, the bomber was struck by German fighters, caught fire, and exploded. Several crewmen tried to escape, but most were killed when their parachutes failed or ignited; only the co-pilot, Irving Thompson, survived and was captured, later held at Stalag Luft I. All aircraft of the 20th Bomber Squadron were lost, resulting in 41 airmen killed, 28 of whom were buried in a mass grave, while 4 managed to evade capture, and 55 were taken as prisoners of war.

TSgt Bumgardner was one of the 28 U.S. airmen laid to rest in a mass grave at Slavicin, Czechoslovakia, before being exhumed and reinterred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Lemay Township, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA. Because of the difficult identification, he was buried in a common grave with 6 other crew members KIA during the same mission.

Source of information: www.leteckabitvakarpaty.cz