Bruce A. McKern was born on April 14, 1922, in Jerome, Iowa. He was the son of Eugene Dewey McKern and Coza Miranda Dooley McKern. He was married to Pauline LaVon Hargin Miller.

Bruce entered the service on February 19, 1943, and had trained in California, Colorado, and Nebraska.

A pilot on the C-47 42-92742, McKern was killed in the crash of their airplane while approaching the Vélizy-Villacoublay Airbase in France. The plane was shot down by the antiaircraft fire and crashed, killing all four crew members. The origin of the fire remains unknown. The aircraft departed from Spanhoe, England, on February 21, 1945, flying to Welford Park, England, and picking up a glider. The glider was towed to A50 (North of Orleans), where the aircraft developed engine trouble and remained overnight. Departing A50 on February 22, 1945, the aircraft proceeded to A54 for refueling. Not being able to procure fuel at A54, the aircraft flew to A42 (Villacoublay, France). The aircraft departed A42 at 1426 hours on February 22, 1945, for Spanhoe.

The crew members were:
S/Sgt Morey Cutler
2nd Lt Miles C. Matthews
2nd Lt Bruce A. McKern
Sgt Thomas J. Quattrene

2Lt McKern's remains were never found. He was declared Missing in Action and is memorialized at the Tablets of the Missing, Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupré, Belgium.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, https://www.baaa-acro.com, https://aviation-safety.net, www.abmc.gov