Brian Bumpas, who made scores of contributions to the community following an illustrious military career, died on June 30. He was 89 years old.
A memorial service will be held on Friday at 11 a.m. at the National Cemetery in Riverside. He will be buried with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a scholarship in his name, which will be established at Hamilton High School.
Born in Los Angeles on Jan. 27, 1921,a graduate of Hamilton High School in June 1940, Mr. Bumpas enlisted in the Army Air Force while attending Los Angeles City College.
He took preflight training at Santa Ana Army Air Force Base.
During World War II, Mr. Bumpas flew B-25s and C-47s, He was a “hump pilot” during the China-Burma-India campaign. He flew 382 missions with the 1st Combat Cargo, 4th Squadron, and he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with two Bronze Clusters for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight.
In 2005, Mr. Bumpas returned to China to be honored by their government as a member of the Hump Pilots and Flying Tigers who fought there during World War II.
Discharged from the service in December 1945, he took up a career in newspaper distribution.
Mr. Bumpas was married to his high school sweetheart, Patricia, for 68 years, and they had three children.
He also forged other lengthy relationships, counting Syd Kronenthal, the legendary retired director of Parks and Recreation, and retired Asst. Fire Chief, Ray Moselle among his lifelong friends.
The three of them served as an important institutional memory for local historians.
Mr. Kronenthal was Mr. Bumpas’s Physical training instructor at Santa Ana Army Air Force Base.
According to Mr.Kronenthal, Mr. Bumpas held the Air Force record for chin-ups (78), beating out future football star Glen Davis. Mr. Bumpas and his wife were were active members of the Culver City Historical Society.
Their children are Patricia, who was born while her father was in combat; Pam Ragan, who resides in Evergreen, CO, and one son, Brian, who lives in Long Beach.
Besides his widow and children, he is survived by eight grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
Mr. Bumpas and classmate, Barbara Geissler – Hager founded the Hamilton High School Alumni Assn., and he served as editor of the Yankee Bugle, the Association's official newsletter, for many years.
Mr. Hawkins may be contacted at rjhculvercity@aol.com
