Robert C Peterson
Military
media-379077.jpg
FRE 641
First Lieutenant Robert C. Peterson, a navigator of the 44th Bomb Group, sits inside the B-24 Liberator he serves on with the aircraft's dog mascot: Pilot Officer "Rusty".
Image stamped with Ministry of Information press censor, 25 October 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Pilot Officer "Rusty" - dog of many missions. Pilot Officer "Rusty" - mascot of a liberator operating from this country, was flown to England from the U.S. He has "taken part" in numerous bombing raids including that made on the oilfields at Ploesti. Associated Press Photo Shows: "Rusty" with his owner, 1st Lt. Robert C Peterson, of Ogden, Utah., Navigator of the Liberator. TET 261673/4/5 251043Y.'
NB: the phrase 'including that made on the oilfields at Ploesti' has been crossed out by censor. Roger Freeman Collection
Image stamped with Ministry of Information press censor, 25 October 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Pilot Officer "Rusty" - dog of many missions. Pilot Officer "Rusty" - mascot of a liberator operating from this country, was flown to England from the U.S. He has "taken part" in numerous bombing raids including that made on the oilfields at Ploesti. Associated Press Photo Shows: "Rusty" with his owner, 1st Lt. Robert C Peterson, of Ogden, Utah., Navigator of the Liberator. TET 261673/4/5 251043Y.'
NB: the phrase 'including that made on the oilfields at Ploesti' has been crossed out by censor. Roger Freeman Collection
Associated Rusty
Robert Peterson served as a navigator with the 44th Bomb Group, flying missions out of Shipdham, England.
Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying B-24 Liberator 41-23788.
Peterson was the owner of Pilot Officer Rusty, a spaniel which served as the group's Mascot
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Mascot
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group
- Highest Rank: Pilot Officer
- Role/Job: Mascot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Avenger
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 1 August 1943
- Official Description:
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Pathway
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Ogden, Utah, USA |
Revisions
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources
Caption information given in FRE 641: https://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/94
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / http://8thairforce.com/44thbg/search/perlastname.asp