Claud V. Busta

Pvt. Busta served with the 3018th Base Unit Flexible Gunnery School during World War II. He was killed when B-17G Flying Fortress #42-31296 collided with P-39Q Airacobra #44-2378 on an aerial gunnery training mission, 20 miles northwest of the Kingman Army Airfield, Arizona.
The P-39's role was to conduct mock passes at the B-17s that were flying in a "V" pattern formation, with the gunners aboard the bombers taking turns at defending against the fighter's attack. But as Second Lt. Martin H Campbell Jr, an experienced pilot who had recently returned stateside from an overseas deployment, made a third run at the bombers, he either misjudged or did not see the B-17. He attempted an abrupt banking turn, but his starboard wing collided with the port wing of the B-17, shearing off the P-39's wing and instantly killing him. The flying fortress went out of control and crashed onto the desert floor, killing all fourteen aboard