Captain Percy Henry Kramer (O-677287) was the pilot. He was born on 19 December 1918 in Savannah, GA, the son of mechanic Frederick William Kramer, Sr. (1898-1964) and Frances Ocea (Melmey) Kramer (1900-1991).

He married Gladys Maurine Brandon (1923-2015) on 24 January 1942 in Carter County, OK.

On 6 April 1945, he was awarded the Silver Star while missing in action. The award stated:

For gallantry in action as pilot of a B-24 type aircraft. on 21 February 1945 led a formation on a bombing mission against vital enemy communications installations in Austria. Despite severe and adverse weather conditions encountered enroute which precluded a successful completion of the mission, Capt. Kramer brought his formation directly to the target. On the bombing run intense, accurate, and heavy anti-aircraft fire. Despite the imminent danger of explosion, realizing the importance of this vital target, Capt. Kramer courageously led the formation through the enemy defenses for a highly successful bombing run, inflicting grave damage to vital enemy installations and supplies. Leaving the objective, after rallying his formation from the target, Capt. Kramer aircraft, still under control, dropped from the protective formation and at least nine of the crew were seen to bail out before the aircraft crashed an exploded. By his conspicuous gallantry, professional skill and devotion to duty, as evidenced throughout 22 missions against the enemy, Capt. Kramer has reflected great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States of America.

After the war the couple had three children. In 1948, Kramer was the public information officer at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, AZ and later Chatham Field in Savannah, GA.

Captain Percy H. Kramer's crew was captured near Wiener Neustadt and brought to Vienna. There he had to leave the train because of an air raid and was led through the streets of Vienna, where a crowd of people insulted, spat at and mistreated him (throwing stones).

He continued to serve in the U.S. Air Force at San Antonio, TX and attained the rank of Colonel.

He died on26 June 2010 in Lewisville, TX. He was 91 years old. He was buried in the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.

Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery

Crash of B-24 Liberator 44-49858 MACR 12554