Earl Fred Hustwit was born on February 23, 1921, in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Fred Hustwit and Marie (nee Harrington) Hustwit. On May 1, 1942, Earl married Miss Betty J. Chandler, in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

On September 21, 1942, Earl enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was sent for training as a Pilot and became a fighter plane pilot. On July 26, 1944, 2nd Lt. Earl F. Hustwit was assigned to the 8th Air Force, 4th Fighter Group, 336th Fighter Squadron, and was stationed at Royal Air Force Debden Aerodrome in England.

On March 26, 1945, during a Fighter Sweep Mission from Worms to Weimar, Plauen, and Crailsheim area of Germany, Lt. Earl F. Hustwig was flying P-51D-5-NA (Mustang), serial No. 44-13325 VF-Z, nicknamed "Bobby Lee." His aircraft developed a coolant leak causing the engine to catch fire near Aachen, Germany. He bailed out of the plane, but his parachute struck the tail just after he left the aircraft, and he was Killed in Action.

1Lt Hustwit is now buried in the South Side Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com