Name: Peter Herman Krusi
Rank/Branch: O4/US Navy
Unit: USS CONSTELLATION
Date of Birth: 04 June 1930
Home City of Record: Smithfield UT
Date of Loss: 03 November 1967
Country of Loss: South Vietnam/Over Water
Loss Coordinates: 18128N 1071800E (YF423865)
Status (in 1973): Killed/Body Not Recovered
Category: 5
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: KA3B
Other Personnel In Incident:
Hans H. Grauert (missing); Richard W. Sanifer
(killed, body recovered)
Source:
Compiled by Homecoming II Project 15 October 1990 from one or more of
the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with
POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews.
REMARKS:
SYNOPSIS:
LCdr. Peter H. Krusi, pilot; LtJg. Hans H. Grauert, co-pilot; and Lt.
Richard W. Sanifer, crewman, launched from the USS CONSTELLATION on November 3,
1967 in their KA3B tanker about 1900 hours in support of a combat mission. Their
responsibility was to circle outside the combat area for accompanying fighter
jets to return to their area for refueling.
Upon takeoff, the tanker crashed, and all aboard were killed. Subsequent searches yielded the body of Richard Sanifer, but the bodies of the rest of the crew were not located. Krusi and Grauert were placed in the category of Killed/Body Not Recovered. There is no hope that their remains can be recovered.
The crew of the KA3B lost on November 3, 1967 are listed with honor among the missing because no remains were found. Their cases seem quite clear. For others who are listed missing, resolution is not as simple. Many were known to have survived their loss incident. Quite a few were in radio contact with search teams and describing an advancing enemy. Some were photographed or recorded in captivity. Others simply vanished without a trace.
Reports continue to mount that we abandoned hundreds of Americans to the enemy when we left Southeast Asia. While the crew of the KA3B may not be among them, one can imagine their proud willingness to fly one more mission to make sure their freedom flights have the fuel to bring them to safety.
