Sherwood Porter Ruster was born on March 26, 1924, in Muskegon, Muskegon County, Michigan. He was the son of M.P. Higgins. He entered military service in the fall of 1942 and received his pilot observer wings and commission at Brooks Field, San Antonio, Texas, in July 1943. His training included several months of bombing instruction, transition training on four-engine bombers, graduation from Hobbs Field, New Mexico, and additional combat preparation at Dyersburg, Tennessee, before deploying overseas. He served in the 347th Bomber Squadron, 99th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Pilot of B-17G #42-32097 nicknamed "Slipstream" during World War II.

On December 18, 1944, Slipstream took part in a major bombing mission against the Odertal refinery as part of the 99th Bombardment Group’s strategic air campaign. A veteran aircraft with about 90 completed missions, Slipstream flew in the last squadron of the formation. After bombs were released, the aircraft fell slightly behind and was attacked by German FW-190 fighters, sustaining severe damage that knocked out its controls and set parts of the bomber ablaze. As the crew attempted to abandon the aircraft, additional attacks and centrifugal forces inside the spinning bomber killed several airmen before they could escape. The aircraft ultimately exploded and crashed near Bystrovany, along the Bystřice River in the present-day Czech Republic, scattering wreckage across nearby fields and villages. Seven crew members were killed, while three survived by parachuting and were captured by German forces.

2nd Lt Ruster was captured by enemy forces, taken prisoner of war, and held at Stalag Luft 1 Barth-Vogelsang, Prussia. He died on August 1, 2009, and currently, we don't have details about his burial location.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, http://www.leteckabadatelna.cz/