John R. Rudy
S/Sgt John R. Rudy (ASN 33502427), born 2 December 1923, was the tail gunner aboard the aircraft shot down on 13 June 1944 during a bombing mission over NW France. He departed from Station 104 at 1630. Of three planes shot down that day, Rudy was the only crew member to successfully evade capture. He had completed 31 missions and had 17 months of service at the time. He lived at 820 Lancaster Ave, York, Pennsylvania.
Rudy bailed out at 15,000 feet. All six crew members who bailed out were shot at while descending; two were killed during the descent and three were captured. Rudy survived uninjured. He remained hidden in a field for two days while German forces searched the area. After leaving the field, he was sheltered at a farm and then picked up by the French Maquis, staying with them near Hennebont for approximately two months.
The Maquis eventually transported Rudy by car to Brest, where he joined American troops. He arrived back in the UK on 19 August 1944. He used French francs (2,000) from his escape purse to purchase cigarettes and food during his evasion, and used a map of France from his escape kit.
Sortie Log
29 APR 1944 — 13 JUN 1944
The sorties below are those we have been able to document for this airman, drawn from flight logs, mission records, and archival sources. It is not necessarily a complete account of every mission flown; gaps may reflect missing documentation, transferred assignments, or records lost to time.