Bruno Salvatore Procopio was born in Freeland, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania on August 8, 1920. His parents, both immigrants from Italy, were Salvatore Procopio (2 Oct 1886 – 29 Apr 1970) and Seraphine (Ranieri) Procopio (27 Oct 1898 – Apr 1984). His father was a saloon keeper and later owned a cigar store. He had at least four siblings: Gaetano, born in 1916; Joseph, born in 1917; Lucia (or Lucille), born in 1924; and Elizabeth, born in 1925. The family lived at 520 Ridge Street in Freeland, Pennsylvania. Bruno completed two years of college, and was single when he enlisted in the U.S. Army at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on February 27, 1942.

He completed Army Air Forces navigation training, and was assigned to the 487th Bomb Group (Heavy) at Army Air Forces Station 137, near Lavenham, Suffolk, England. His unit was part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. He was eventually assigned as radar navigator on the lead crew of 1st Lieutenant Robert W. Harriman in the 836th Bomb Squadron of the Group.

On December 24, 1944, the 8th Air Force launched mission #760, the largest aerial mission of the war, which involved more than 2000 heavy bombers. The mission was to bomb German airfields and supply lines to stop the German offensive in the Ardennes known as the Battle of the Bulge. Lt Harriman's lead crew was chosen to lead the 487th Bomb Group, which led the entire 8th Air Force that day.

Brigadier General Frederick W. Castle, Commanding Officer of the 4th Bomb Wing, flew as air leader with Harriman's crew. The 487th Bomb Group's target was the airfield at Babenhausen, Germany, but the formation was attacked by German fighters before reaching the target. Lt Procopio was severely wounded when his crew's aircraft, B-17G 44-8444, was shot down by German fighters south of Liege, just south of Rotheux-Rimiere, Belgium. He was wounded in the aircraft, but managed to bail out. He died at a hospital in Liege, Belgium on December 25, 1944. Four of his crewmates—Lt Harriman, Brig Gen Castle, Lt Rowe, and T/Sgt Swain—were also killed in action. Five crew members survived.

Lt Procopio's remains were returned to the United States and reinterred at Saint Anthony's Cemetery in Freeland, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, on November 12, 1947.

B-17G 44-8444 crew:
• Harriman, Robert W – 1/Lt – Pilot – KIA
• Castle, Frederick W – Brig Gen – Air Leader/Copilot – KIA
• MacArty, Henry D – 1/Lt – Navigator – Safe
• Auer, Edmund F – Capt – Pilotage Navigator – Safe
• Biri, Paul L – 1/Lt – Bombardier – Safe
• Procopio, Bruno S – 1/Lt – Radar Operator – KIA
• Rowe Jr, Claude L – 1/Lt – Officer Tail Gunner – KIA
• Hudson, Lowell B – S/Sgt – Waist Gunner – Safe
• Jeffers, Quentin W – T/Sgt – Engineer Gunner – Safe
• Swain, Lawrence H – T/Sgt – Radio Operator – KIA

Source of information: Paul M. Webber, www.findagrave.com