Banner was born in
Chicago and served as a P-47 pilot during
World War II. He was shot down over Italy, and held in a German
POW camp until April 29, 1945. After the war, Banner attended
Purdue University, graduating with a BSEE in 1948. He earned his Juris Doctor in 1952 from the
University of Detroit. He later went on to earn his Master of Patent Law in 1958, and his
Doctor of Laws in 1979 from the
John Marshall Law School. ==Political career==