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name
RUSTAND, Hanford James "Rusty" - Date of
birth
18 March 1922 -
Age
22 -
Place of birth
Grant, Washington County, Minnesota -
Hometown
Otter Tail County, Minnesota
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-748255 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
323rd Bombardment Squadron,
91st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
2 November 1944 - Place of
death
Near Libehna, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| H | 10 | 92 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Iver L. Rustand (father)
Ella F. (Ricks) Rustand (mother)
Ronald L. Rustand (brother)
Ellis D. Rustand (brother)
Irene C. Rustand (sister)
Joyce M. Rustand (sister)
Mary F. (Rieman) Rustand (wife)
James F. Rustand (son)
Marilynn Rustand (daughter)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-97956 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Pard
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil refineries
MACR: 10148
More information
1st Lt Hanford J. Rustand was an actor before he joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army in San Francisco, California on 13 June 1941.1st Lt Richard F. Colip:
No eyewitness statement is available this headquarters. Aircraft B-17G, 42-97956, was one of thirteen ships missing in action, from this group, 2 November 1944, and it is believed that subject aircraft was hit by enemy fighter fire in the Vicinity of Merseburg, Germany.
1st Lt Wyndham M. W. Peck:
It is my belief that the pilot, radio operator, ball turret gunner, waist gunner and tail gunner were still in the plane when it hit the ground.
He was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery in Grand-Failly, France.
He is remembered at the Hereford Cemetery in Wendell, Grant County, Minnesota.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Bushaw Family Tree, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.findagrave.com – Shane O / T Burt
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – LuxAmCem / T Burt, www.ancestry.com – G. G. Greenfield