JOHN THOMAS BRINKMAN, 81, of Houston, Texas, passed away December 5, 2006. He was born in Cumberland, Maryland on February 24, 1925. To quote Mr. B, "I graduated from high school at the age of 17. A doctored birth certificate enabled me to join the Army Air Corps five days later, 5 June 1942". He joined the Greatest Generation serving as a crew member and Ball Turret Gunner in the 368th Squadron of the 306th Bomb Group. Aboard the "Eager Beaver", he completed 25 combat missions between 10 July and 27 November 1942. Among his missions were the "First Over Germany" and the first two Scheweinfurt raids. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Air Offensive Europe Campaign Ribbon with one star. After the war he continued a successful career in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a Senior Master Sergeant in 1962. Mr. Brinkman then became an engineer with Lockheed Aircraft, on the initial team that designed and built the C5 Galaxy aircraft. Upon his retirement, he moved to a farm outside Cartersville, Georgia. During his retirement, he was active in the "Mighty 8th" Air Force Association. He came to Houston in 2004 to be near his daughter's family. On June 29, 1946 he married Barbara Milne in a service in Gerrards Cross, England. This past June, they celebrated 60 years together. "Gumps" is survived by his loving wife, Barbara; son, John F. Brinkman of Florida; his daughter and son-in-law, Bobbie and John Nau of Houston; 3 grandchildren, Elizabeth Stepanian of Richmond, Virginia, Victoria Nau of Houston, and Estelle Brinkman Carpenter of Atlanta, Georgia; and 3 great grandchildren, Katharine Stepanian, John Reese Stepanian and Lannie Carpenter. Interment and service will be held in the future at the Houston National Cemetery. Mr. B asked that any memorials be sent to either: The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum, P. O. Box 1992, Savannah, GA 31402, Attn: Jean Moore; or the Historic Wendover Airfield, Inc., 1940 East 10980 South, Sandy, Utah 84092, Attn: Jim Petersen.

(as read in Houston Chronicle)