By Deborah Larsen
Valentine James Braun
Valentine James Braun was born in Brooklyn, New York, on August 24, 1922, the son of Valentine and Emma Kruse Braun. He attended high school in Mount Clemens, Michigan, and then enrolled in the University of Michigan. Valentine and his mother moved to Avon Township about 1941. He worked as a supervisor at Avon Specialty Company on Avon Road before the war.
In October 1942, Valentine interrupted his studies at the University of Michigan to enlist in the U.S. Army Air Forces. He completed training as a B-24 pilot in February 1944 and was sent overseas, where he was attached to the 15th Air Force in Italy. Valentine completed 38 combat missions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal.
While home on furlough on June 7, 1945, Valentine visited his uncle, Dr. Otis McKinley of Fraser, Michigan. Dr. McKinley was a private pilot and offered to take Valentine up in his biplane for a local flight. The airplane went out of control and spun into the ground near 14 Mile Road in Fraser, killing Valentine Braun and seriously injuring Dr. McKinley.
Valentine James Braun died at age 23 on June 7, 1945, and was laid to rest at White Chapel Memorial Cemetery.