Walter Russell Rusch

Military

Walter Rusch was Ball Turret gunner on B-17G #42-38033 "Man O'War" shot down by fighters on return from the 20 March 1944 mission to Frankfurt. Crashed near Breuil, 20km NW of Reims, France. Captured in Unchair, about 3km South of the crash site, on 20 March 1944. Prisoner of War (POW).

Connections

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Units served with

A pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8258) of the 401st Bomb Group. Image by Robert Astrella. Written on slide casing: '48258 14 A, Mount Farm.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37231127
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34601869
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-745054
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33289777
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-690106
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Man OWar
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Bailed out

20 March 1944 of B-17G #42-38033 "Man O'War", over Breuil, France

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

20 March 1944 captured in Unchair, 3km south of Breuil

Born

California

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 3332

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3332, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces, http://www.401bg.org/Main/History/Members/Details.aspx?ID=621