Enlists in Army Air Corps
Bernard Brunsting who enlisted in the Army Air Corps in Omaha the day after his marriage, was called there to be sworn in last week, but did not receive the notice as he was visiting in Waterloo at the time. He returned to Sioux Center Tuesday, and left Wednesday evening for Omaha to be sworn in.
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 10, 1942 p 14
Following is the address of Bernard Brunsting: Pvt. Bernard R. Brunsting 17131742, Flight A, 116th T.S.S., U. S. Army Air Corps, Jefferson Barracks, Mo.
Source: Sioux Center News Mar. 4, 1943 p 10
Hospitalized
Bernard Brunsting writes that he has been hospitalized and is suffering from a touch of pneumonia. The fact that he was able to write the news himself is somewhat encouraging, but his friends and family are eagerly awaiting his next letter hoping he will be on the road to recovery soon.
Source: Sioux Center News Mar. 18, 1943 p 8
Bernard Brunsting is over his bout with pneumonia and has been transferred to the following address: Pvt. B. R. Brunsting, Hdq. 70th C.T.D. Frat. Barracks, Albion College, Albion, Mich.
Source: Sioux Center News Apr. 1, 1943 p 10
Rev. Brunsting will leave by train Friday evening for Albion, Mich. where he will spend Sunday with his son, Pvt. Bernard Brunsting, who is at Albion College there.
Source: Sioux Center News Apr. 15, 1943 p 4
Rev. L. A. Brunsting will leave the latter part of this week ... and plans to spend next Sunday with his son Pvt. Bernard Brunsting at Albion, Mich.
Source: Sioux Center News May 13, 1943 p 3
Pvt. Bernard Brunsting who is stationed at Albion College, Albion, Mich. heard the Sioux Center church bells ring Sunday morning when he called his parents, Rev. and Mrs. L. A. Brunsting by telephone at the same time that the church bells were ringing. Bernard is getting along well and said that he would begin flying on Monday morning. His wife, the former Alice Nixon, is staying with him.
Source: Sioux Center News July 22, 1943 p 2
Bernard Brunsting has been moved to San Antonio, Texas from Albion, Mich. and now has this new address:
A. S. B. Brunsting
AAFCC, SAACC, Sqd. 108, Flt. A.
San Antonio, Texas
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 19, 1943 p 8
Mrs. Bernard Brunsting recently flew from Philadelphia to Texas to be with her husband A-S Bernard Brunsting. She had breakfast and dinner in the air. Mrs. Brunsting has rented a small apartment and will remain with her husband for some time.
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 30, 1943 p 2
A/C Bernard Brunsting has been transferred to Brady, Texas. Here is his complete address:
A/C Bernard Brunsting
Sqd. A. Fl. 1
Curtis Field, 44F
Brady, Texas
Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 17, 1944 p 10
This is the new address of A/C Bernard Brunsting. 17131742, B.A.A.F., Bks. 18T32, I44F, Waco, Texas.
Source: Sioux Center News Apr. 27, 1944 p 2
Receives Wings
(photo)
LT. BERNARD ROBERT BRUNSTING
Pictured above is 2nd Lt. Bernard Robert Brunsting, son of Rev. and Mrs. L. Brunsting. He received his wings on June 27, graduating from Blackland Air Field, twin engine advanced school at Waco, Texas. Bernard received his C.F.D. training at Albion College, Mich., Primary at Ticks Field, Fort Worth, Texas, and his basic training at Curtis Field, Brady, Texas.
He was married on Nov. 1942 to the former Alice Nixon, of Newton, Penn., and both are graduates of Central College. They are expected to arrive home this week to spend a furlough with relatives here. This is his first furlough since he entered the service.
Source: Sioux Center News June 29, 1944 p 1
Flying Instructor
Lt. Bernard Brunsting who is spending his furlough here following his graduation at Waco, Texas, expects to return there as instructor for a time at the expiration of his furlough.
Source: Sioux Center News July 6, 1944 p 2
Lt. and Mrs. Bernard Brunsting arrived at the parental Rev. Brunsting home Wednesday morning to spend a week's furlough with them and will report back to Lincoln, Nebr. next week Wednesday.
Source: Sioux Center News July 27, 1944 p 8
In Combat Crew
Lt. Bernard Brunsting is now stationed at Sioux City in a Combat Crew in a B-17. Bernard expects to be shipped out of the states the latter part of September.
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 17, 1944 p 10
NEWS OF OUR MEN and WOMEN IN UNIFORM
Lt. and Mrs. Bernard Brunsting of the Sioux City Air Base spent last Friday at the parental Rev. Brunsting home.
Source: Sioux Center News, August 31, 1944
Lt. and Mrs. Bernard Brunsting of the Sioux City air base were Sunday evening supper guests at the parental Rev. Brunsting home. Bernard is finishing up his training at Sioux City air base and will be ready to leave for overseas duty in the near future.
Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 7, 1944 p 2
Overseas
2nd Lt. Bernard R. Brunsting has received his overseas orders, and by this time may have left the states. His wife returned here from Lincoln, Neb. a few days ago, where she had been staying with him, and Wed. received his overseas address: 0-2062437, A.A.F. APO 16637, AA 166, New York, N.Y.
Source: Sioux Center News Nov. 9, 1944 p 1
Rev. and Mrs. L. A. Brunsting received word Saturday evening that a son had been born to Lt. and Mrs. Bernard Brunsting at the St. Frances Hospital at Trenton, New Jersey on Saturday afternoon. He has been named Albert and the father is in England.
Source: Sioux Center News Mar. 29, 1945 p 4
Gen’l Dolittle Commends 8th Air Force England, VE Day – Among the 185,000 men and women of the Eighth Air Force congratulated today by Lt. Gen. James H. Doolittle, who assumed command of the Eighth in January, 1944, is S/Sgt. Richard J. Kroon, 32, a supply clerk in the 78th Fighter Group, whose wife, Mrs. Geraldine M. Kroon, and father, John Kroon, live in Sioux Center, Iowa; 2nd Lt. Bernard L. Brunsting, son of Rev. and Mrs. L. A. Brunsting, and Cpl. Albert Tamminga, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jake Tamminga. “I wish to extend my personal congratulations and my heartfelt appreciation to every one of you for the magnificent job you have done,” Gen. Doolittle said in a message to all personnel. “Each of you,” he continued, “may be proud of your part in the defeat of Germany. I am proud of you. The world is proud of you.” The Eighth Air Force was the world's mightiest strategic bombing force. Its personnel of 185,000 was the equivalent of 12 infantry divisions, and it could send 21,000 airmen in 2000 four-engine bombers and 1000 fighters over Germany at one time, a combat effort possible only through the support of tens of thousands of non-flying specialists.
Source: Sioux Center News May 31, 1945, p 1
Home on Furlough
(photo)
LT. BERNARD BRUNSTING
Lt. Bernard Brunsting, who arrived in the states a few weeks ago after six months overseas service, and his wife and son Albert of Newton, Penn. arrived at the parental L. A. Brunsting home on Thursday evening to spend the remainder of his leave with them.
Lt. Brunsting expects to go to California to pilot planes which are used in a radar school there. He is to report back to Fort Dix, N. J. July 16th.
Source: Sioux Center News July 5, 1945 p 1
Lt. Bernard Brunsting, home on furlough from overseas, was the guest speaker at the First Reformed Church C. E. meeting on Sunday evening and gave an interesting talk on the tpoic, "When Molehills become Mountains" and also told of many interesting experiences he had since he left the States.
Source: Sioux Center News July 19, 1945 p 6
New Address
Lt. Bern. Brunsting 0-2062437
Victorville Army Air Base
Victorville, Calif.
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 9, 1945 p 2
Will Continue To Fly After Discharge
(photo)
LT. BERNARD BRUNSTING
Lt. Bernard Brunsting, son of Rev. and Mrs. L. A. Brunsting will receive his official discharge from the U. S. Army Air Corps October 12th. He spent a few days here visiting his parents before returning east where his wife and baby reside at Newton, Pennsylvania. Bernard said he has been assured of a job with a commercial airlines company. While details have not been settled, he says his family will continue to live in the east, and that he hopes to start his new civilian job shortly after the first of next year, after a brief training period.
Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 20, 1945 p 1
Bernard “Bern” Brunsting was born May 31, 1922 to Lukas A. “Luke” and Margaret “Maggie” De Jong Brunsting. He died Sept. 11, 2001 and is buried in Memory Gardens Sioux Center Cemetery, Sioux Center, IA.
Lt. Brunsting served in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps 812th Bomb Squadron, 482nd Bomb Group as a bomber pilot in the European Theater. Rev. Brunsting was chaplain to the American and British embassies in Moscow during the Stalin regime. He was a close associate of Norman VIncent Peale and served as president of the Dutch Reformed Church. His sermons were published in “Plus Magazine” and he also authored six books of humor, including “The Ultimate Guide to Good Clean Humor”.
Source: ancestry.com
