World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Russell F. Gustke
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Port Huron, Michigan
Honored By
Family
ENTERED AIR CORPS CADET PROGRAM IN SEPTEMBER 1941 AND WAS COMMISSIONED 2ND LIEUTENANT APRIL 1942. SERVED IN EUROPEAN THEATER; FLEW MORE THAN 165 COMBAT MISSIONS IN P-38 AND P-51 FIGHTER PLANES AND LOGGED 650 COMBAT FLYING HOURS. SHOT DOWN AND CAPTURED IN AFRICA 1942, BUT ESCAPED TO REJOIN HIS UNIT AND FLY AGAIN. DISCHARGED FROM ACTIVE DUTY IN 1946 BUT REMAINED IN AIR FORCE RESERVE. AWARDED SILVER STAR, LEGION OF MERIT, DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS (4 TIMES, CLUSTERS), MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL, AIR MEDAL (18 TIMES, CLUSTERS), PURPLE HEART, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, OUTSTANDING UNIT MEDAL, COMBAT READINESS MEDAL, EUROPEAN THEATER MEDAL WITH 7 BATTLE STARS AND EUROPEAN VICTORY MEDAL. FLEW OVER 7000 AIRCRAFT HOURS DURING HIS AIR FORCE CAREER. RETIRED FROM AIR FORCE RESERVE AS MAJOR GENERAL 1991.