Crew E-31 or Rustand's Crew

323rd Squadron

Hay Burner -

Serial #  297956 OR L

Crew names not in order & missing one name

Hanford "Rusty" J. Rustand, Pilot; Henry A. Schwartz, Navigator; Wyndham "Wyn" M. W. Peck , Co-pilot; George E. Roach, Gunner; John P. Murphy, AE; John A. Griffith, Radio Operator; John S. Gercovich, AR; Gilbert "Gil" (NMI) Crotte, Engineer; Roger T. Keys, Bombardier

Rustand's Crew Factoid - The crew was shot down during the Merseburg raid.

Dear Mrs. Rustand,

    I am now at home on a delay en route after which I report to Miami Beach, Florida. I am writing this letter in hopes that it will relieve you somewhat of the suspense and anxiety you probably still feel about your husband.

    We were flying the last position in the formation that on November 2 bombed Merseburg oil refinery. We had just dropped our bomb-load over our target when we were attacked by many German fighters. (F. W. 190's). Our fighter escorts were far outnumbered. We put up a good fight against the attack, but because of the great number of enemy fighters there were too many for us to handle.

    Suddenly our plane was hit and all electrical power was broken, causing our interphone system to rail, also all our turrets. The bomb-bays were on fire, also our oxygen tanks. The controls evidently were shot away because the plane was completely out of control and heading straight for the ground. The navigator, being closest to the escape door, was the first man out of the plane. I followed the navigator.

    After being captured I was placed in a cell for six days and transferred to a camp in Frankfurt, where interrogation took place. On the way to this camp I met Lt. Peck, our co-pilot. He explained how he was miraculously blown out of the airplane and regained consciousness while descending in his parachute. All the men that were captured from the raid that we participated in were transferred in a unit to this camp in Frankfurt. The only men from our plane to appear in this group were Lt. Peck, Lt. Schwarz, and myself.

    Your husband, the co-pilot, navigator, Sgt. Keys, and I were in the forward part of the plane, for whom there was one escape hatch. In the back of the ship, beyond the bomb-bays, was Griffith, Murphy, and Gercovich, for whom there was the side door for escape. The tail-gunner had his own escape hatch.

    Please remember that all this happened in such a few seconds that the chances of everyone leaving the plane before the explosion are very slim.

    This was our ninth and last mission with the finest and bravest crew any man was ever privileged to fly with. And now, more than ever, I realize what their friendship meant to me.

Sincerely,

/s/ Gil Crotte