Help Retirement Homes for Veterans and Restoration of the Bomber
Limited Edition Artist Print of “Bye Bye Betty” Painting by Alec Durr:
About America’s most decorated Marine pilot in history,
With 57 decorations, including 2 Navy Cross medals and 4 Purple Hearts.
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WW II / Aviation Collector’s Item. 2nd Lt. Kenneth L. Reusser was flying his first mission on….
15 October 1942. He was assigned to VMF 122 based on Espiritu Santo, about 550 miles east of Guadalcanal. A search mission, consisting of three 4-plane divisions of F4Fs, took off at about 1300 looking for downed pilots. Ken’s position was the farthest left spot. They flew at 1000 feet and no enemy aircraft were expected for the flight of 3 hours out and 3 hours back. Suddenly, Ken saw a speck at his 10 o’clock, low on the water. As the speck came closer, he reported “Japanese bomber, low on the deck, opposite heading”. There was no response. – - No one heard him. His radio was inoperative. He chased the enemy plane for miles, managed to shoot it down and watched it disappear into the waves. Ken realized that his plane was damaged, and he was lost and he would run out of fuel before getting back to home base. When he ditched his plane, the sharp jolt of landing, threw his head forward into the gun sight. Shoulder harnesses had not been invented. Bleeding profusely and fighting to remain conscious, he managed to pull the toggles of his Mae West. All else sank with his plane. He was in the water and bleeding. Soon there were sharks and all he could do was pray that his parents would not be given the news that their 22 year old son had been killed. Later he realized that, miraculously, the sharks had left. After several hours, he was rescued and then cared for by natives who bandaged his head and kept the gauze wet with warm sea water.
Two weeks of gentle care and trying to reach the “Coast Watchers” before a Navy PBY rescue plane was sent to pick up Ken. The corpsman on the PBY removed the soggy bandage and both were shocked to see that his eyeball was hanging on his cheek. He was sent to the Naval Hospital in San Diego for “repairs”. Miraculously, his eye sight was restored. Within three weeks, he reported “ready for action”. Ironically, he never received a Purple Heart for this injury.
Reusser’s exploits have been written about by many. These stories include one about using his wingman’s and his own prop to bring down a Japanese surveillance plane in 1945 when all guns were frozen. That was a Navy Cross for each. In Korea, he flew into heavy anti-aircraft fire at window level to identify enemy targets; a second Navy Cross.. In 1967 he was badly burned as a rescue pilot in Viet Nam and was retired in 1968 after 28 years of service.
He flew 213 combat missions in WWII, Korea, and Viet Nam. His medals include two of the Navy Cross, the Legion of Merit with Combat V, five of the Distinguished Flying Cross, an incredible 19 Air Medals, and four Purple Hearts. A total of 57 medals and ribbons.
He was a member of the Legion of Valor, the Golden Eagles, the Quiet Birdmen, the Columbia Aviation Association, First and Third Marine Division Associations, the Chosin Few, Marine Corps Coordinating Council, First Baptist Church of Beaverton and of Cloverdale, the Executive Club of Oregon, and several veterans’ groups. Col. Reusser passed on in 2009 at age 89.
When the story was published, called “One-Eyed Miracle at Guadalcanal”, it inspired the award-winning aviation artist, Alex Durr, to create a painting which shows both planes, with the enemy “Betty” in flames. This painting, named “Bye Bye Betty”, is one of four about Col. Reusser by this artist. A limited edition of 500 archival quality prints, measuring 18” x 24” are a good investment. Fellow members of the organizations listed above receive a 25% discount. Included with the print are: a Certificate of Authenticity, a copy (hard copy and on-line) of the published story and Ken Reusser’s 6-page biography. A portion of the proceeds will be dedicated to retirement homes for veterans and to the restoration of “The Bomber” in Milwaukie, OR.
Ken’s widow, Trudy Reusser, lives at 3400 SE Hill Rd, Milwaukie, OR, 97267, Phone 503-810-5977. She will provide a personal dedication upon request. Please make checks payable to HTA.
$195 retail, $145 for fellow members of organizations listed above, and customers of “The Bomber”.