"Aircraft Action Report" 12 June 1944 (pg 1 of 5)

Aircraft Action Report (5 pages) for the first combat mission flown by Ens Gustin.

Ens Gustin was in the second group of aircraft to attack Orote Airfield the morning of June 12th 1944. This was VT-1's first taste of combat and certainly Ens Gustin would have been quite nervous and apprehensive. To add to that, just before they took off, they likely heard the radio transmission from the first strike group stating that Lt Merrell's plane was hit and went down.

VT-1 would encounter intense antiaircraft fire that day. According to radioman Horace Harris "…didn't see how it was humanly possible for a plane to go through the barrage without being hit. I said my most fervent prayers right. It worked - we came through without a scratch, while nearly every plane in the formation was hit."

Ens Gustin would eventually fly a total of 17 combat missions while aboard the USS Yorktown. The names of his gunner and radioman are not known.

The Monroe News Star (Louisiana) Sep 15th1944

George A Gustin, Jr