Robert C Peterson

Military
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 oi 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

Associated Rusty

Object Number - 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:...

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

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
B-24 Liberators of the 44th Bomb Group line up for takeoff at Shipdham in 1943. The 'Flying Eight-Ball' emblem of the 68th Bomb Squadron is visible on the nose of the leading aircraft. Image stamped with field press censor, 1943. Press Agency photograph- original printed caption has been removed.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Pilot Officer "Rusty", the mascot of the 44th Bomb Group, stands in front of a B-24 Liberator at Shipdham. 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" sits noncha
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Mascot
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Pilot Officer
  • Role/Job: Mascot

Aircraft

First Lieutenant Robert C. Peterson of the 44th Bomb Group in the cockpit of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-23788) with the aircraft's dog mascot: Pilot-Officer "Rusty". A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse, however this has been removed. Handwritten caption on reverse of print: '44BG B-24 Liberator Avenger showing 19 fighter claims and 18 bomb markings including Ploesti. 123788 I.' On reverse: Associated Press [Stamp]. Associated News Story: 'Pilot Officer "Rusty" - dog of many mi
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Avenger
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description
Ogden, Utah, USA

Revisions

Date
Changes
Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Caption information given in FRE 641: https://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/94

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes

Robert C Peterson: Gallery (4 items)