Rapid City- Peter P. Laco, Lt. Col. USAF Retired, 92, Rapid City, died Friday June 18th, 2010, at Golden Living Center- Bella Vista. He was born August 1st, 1917, in Johnstown, PA. The son of a Slovakian Coal Miner, and one of seven children. Peter worked at local Steel Mills, after completing High School, until the late 1930s when he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps from 1934-1937. He became a Crew Leader prior to answering the call to join the U.S. Army. Assignment to a Half Track Squadron soon occurred. Shortly thereafter he responded to requests for Army Air Force flyers and applied to Flight School. Peter was accepted to Bombardier School. He excelled in his class and became a skilled Bombardier. He met Olivia Hood, of Commerce, GA and they married February of 1943. Assignment to the 15th Air Force placed him in Italy in December of 1943. His first mission was on January 18th, 1944. Notable targets included the Cassino Monastery, a German stronghold in Italy, Vienna, Austria, and several missions to the Oil Refineries at Ploesti, Romania. He was appointed Squadron Bombardier on April 20th, 1944 and lead his Squadron, the 416th, on various strategic missions over Vienna and Ploesti. By May 6th, 1944 he received credit for 50 missions and was sent back to the United States. Post WWII, he was temporarily placed on Inactive Status but soon thereafter was reinstated as a Sergeant. The upgrade to Lieutenant came within a few years and in the early 1950s he became a Captain and was involved in the installation of the first Early Warning radar sites in Iceland. He continued his Radar work at Ft. Knox, KY, Randolph Field in Texas, and Keesler A.F.B. in Mississippi. Peter was transferred to Ellsworth A.F.B. in South Dakota in January, 1959. He was assigned to a B-52 crew as an Electronic Warfare Officer and participated in 100 combat missions in S.E. Asia during the 1960s. Peter retired in 1970, after logging over 5,000 hours in a B-52, at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. His post Air Force years saw him employed by several local construction companies. His favorite was Corner Construction of Rapid City. In later years he enjoyed traveling with his son, Carl, and visited relatives in Pennsylvania, went Salmon fishing in Alaska, and traveled to Europe to find his roots in Slovakia. Peter was quite active in the V.F.W. and the American Legion. He was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed gardening, hunting and fishing in the Black Hills with many friends. Peter and jeweler Jerry Negebauer used to go on Gem Hunting expeditions to Wyoming. Peter even learned to ski at Terry Peak. He was preceded in death by his wife, Olivia, in 1992. The Laco family appreciates the care and attention provided by the Golden Living Center Bella Vista employees. Services will be at 12:00 P.M. Tuesday, June 22nd at Osheim and Schmidt Funeral Home with Chaplain (Ret.) Herb B. Cleveland officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services. Burial with military honors by E.A.F.B. Honor Guard will be at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis at 1:30 P.M. .