Bruce L. Kustaborder was born on June 23, 1923, in Tyrone, Blair County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Jeremiah Myer "Jerry" Kustaborder and Dorothy Marden McNeal Kustaborder. He served in the 751st Bomber Squadron, 457th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Tail Gunner of B-17 (42-97465) known as ''Scarlet Harlot'' during World War II.

On April 9, 1944, "Scarlet Harlot" took part in a large-scale bombing operation over the Baltic coast, targeting German factories involved in Focke-Wulf aircraft production near Gdynia (then Gotenhafen). During the mission, "Scarlet Harlot" was hit by intense German anti-aircraft fire and eventually went down near Osiek Lęborski, Poland. While the pilot did not survive the crash, most of the crew managed to parachute out, though they were soon captured and taken as prisoners of war. Tragically, two crew members who bailed out were later found deceased due to injuries sustained during their descent. Sgt Kustaborder was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial, Neuville-en-Condroz, Arrondissement de Liège, Liège, Belgium.

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