John Ernest Linwood Huse was born on May 2, 1916, in Maine. He was the son of Harry Merton Huse. He was married to Nell Bogar Sample. He attended Morse High School and later enrolled at Stanton Preparatory School in Cornwall-on-Hudson to prepare for admission to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he commenced his studies in July 1935. After graduating in 1939 as an Infantry officer, Huse followed his true passion, aviation, beginning flight training in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and later continuing at Randolph Field and Kelly Field, where he immersed himself in the rapidly developing field of air warfare on the eve of World War II.

John continued intensive training as a co-pilot. In October 1941, he joined the 19th Bombardment Group Detachment, flying B-17D bombers from March Field, California, to the Philippines, where the unit was stationed at Clark Field when Japan launched its attack. On December 24, 1941, while stationed at Del Monte, Mindanao, Huse risked his life to help change a damaged tire on a B-17 bomber during an air raid. Despite enemy aircraft approaching, he continued working until the plane was strafed, allowing the aircraft and crew to complete their mission.

On February 3, 1942, during a test flight over Malang, Java, 1Lt Huse and Lieutenant Ray Cox were attacked by three Japanese Zeros after failing to hear warnings from the control tower. Their B-17 was shot down and was found burned the next day. His name is memorialized in the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines. He also has a cenotaph in the Oak Grove Cemetery, Bath, Sagadahoc County, Maine, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, alumni.westpointaog.org